DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Ghoulish Song

William Alexander author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group

Published:7th Nov '13

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Ghoulish Song cover

A brave girl flees a ghoul while trying to save her town in this lively, fantastical and fast-paced companion to William Alexander's National Book Award winning debut, Goblin Secrets. 'Subtle, tricky, funny, beautiful. More, please, William Alexander!' Ursula K. Le Guin

A brave girl flees a ghoul while trying to save her town in this lively, fantastical and fast-paced companion to William Alexander's National Book Award winning debut,Goblin Secrets.
'Subtle, tricky, funny, beautiful. More, please, William Alexander!' Ursula K. Le Guin

The last day of Kaile's everyday life does not start well . . .


The crazy city of Zombay is home to all sorts. Its residents include creatures of outlandish shapes, unusual sizes, uncanny skills . . . and Kaile, the baker’s daughter, who simply wants to play music.

When a goblin gifts her a tiny flute carved out of bone Kaile is overjoyed and plays it without hesitation. But the flute’s haunting song separates her from her Shadow: that’s when her ordinary life ends, and her adventures begin.

Banished from her family home, will Kaile and her Shadow learn the flute’s secrets? Can they change its terrible tune in time to save each other – and Zombay itself – from harm?



‘Funny, smart and gorgeously written. When I grow up, I want to be Will!’ Jane Yolen, author of The Pit Dragon Chronicles

A vertiginous adventure shot through with humour in this clever tale. * Wall Street Journal *
William Alexander is a wonderful talent whose breadth of vision and sense of theatricality, sly wit, and wicked whimsy have charmed and enthralled me since I first set eyes on his work. -- Catherynne M. Valente
Ghoulish Song is William Alexander's second book set in the city of Zombay, and this fantastical port city - noisy and wafting with the smell of fresh bread - has secured its place on my map of fantastical places. Alexander paints a picture so vivid, readers can't help but cheer on his protagonist as she fights for her home. -- Emily Nordling * Tor.com *

ISBN: 9781472108760

Dimensions: 134mm x 200mm x 14mm

Weight: 176g

176 pages