Twilight Hauntings: Enchanter's Child, Book 1

Quirky characters and mild magical adventures make this story from the author of the Septimus Heap series a winner for younger fantasy fans. There's also a sweetness to Twilight Hauntings, too, that you don't often see in stories battling oppressive kingdoms. It's embodied in Benn's grandmother, Nella. Benn is friend of the main character, Alex. Throughout the story, Nella takes in everyone who comes to the door of her quaint country house -- even a strange old man and a thorny teen boy who appears to work for the enemy. Nella feeds them homemade breads and jams, gives them advice, and fends off one of the most pernicious of the hauntings, a Grey Walker, by sealing the house up against it every evening. She also knows what Alex should do to keep herself safe, but Alex is not the type of character to run away from her problems.

Near the climax of Alex's adventures, two more matronly figures emerge, one of whom is quite good at knitting octopuses. They also have answers for Alex and Alex's long-lost father, the quirkiest character in the story -- or maybe that's the king, you decide. The ending sets up a new, very big problem for Alex and her father, leading us to more magical adventures in the series.