When her mum goes on honeymoon with her new husband, Anna is sent to stay with her dad and his new family at Fairy Hill in Sligo for the summer. Unhappy with the situation and unused to her new life, Anna initially struggles, wishing that things could go back to the way they used to be. However, as the days move on, Anna starts to settle into life in Sligo, especially enjoying her time with her three-year-old brother Jack and her cousin Jenny.
But it isn’t long before Anna senses something isn’t quite right. Jack keeps wandering off with strange women and girls, Anna makes a secretive new friend called Daniel, her precious bracelet disappears and then her stepmum’s pottery studio is trashed. Anna speaks to her grandaunt, Lily, who tells her about the magical sidhe – supernatural fairy folk.
Anna begins to wonder if they are playing a part in the mysterious goings on. Then one day Jack really does go missing, and only Anna knows how to save him …
Fairy Hill is a story that touches you deep inside your heart and allows you to spend a summer in Sligo without ever leaving your home! It is immediately captivating as Marita Conlon- McKenna has created a highly engaging cast of characters, as well as a plot that just begs to be read.
The tales of the sidhe blend in seamlessly with the ordinary everyday life that Anna experiences in Sligo and, once started, this is a book that is hard to put down. All in all, a fantastic read!
Fairy Hill is published by O’Brien Press (2025)