Once There Was

Discover a world of extraordinary beasts and unexpected heroes in the dazzling debut from New York Times bestselling author Kiyash Monsef. Perfect for readers aged 9+ and fans of Philip Pullman, Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling and A.F. Steadman. Once was, once wasnt . . . So began the stories Marjans father told her as a little girl tales of mythical beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder: Griffons. Unicorns. Dragons. But Marjan is not a little girl anymore. After her fathers sudden death, she is trying to hold it all together: her schoolwork, her friendships and her dads struggling veterinary practice. But a mysterious visitor soon reveals that Marjans father was no ordinary vet. The creatures from his stories are real and he travelled the world to care for them. Stepping into a secret world hidden in plain sight, where magical creatures are bought and sold, treasured and trapped, Marjan must take her fathers place. The deeper in she gets, the closer she comes to a shocking truth that will put both humans and beasts in terrible danger.