The Legend of Matilda Peppercorn Book 1: DEFEND

Matilda Peppercorn is being watched.

Weirdy women keep turning up in all sorts of peculiar places - in her garden, at her kick-boxing contest, and even up a tree at the mysterious Ruins where she and her best friend (Mattan, short for Matilda only Swedishly) hang out and practice their embarrassing gymnastics routines.

What's worse, they're not just watching. They appear to be checking her progress against some list or other.

Then she and Mattan are tricked into attending the Ruins, only to find they aren't Ruins at all. And the women aren't just weirdy women. And as for Tilly herself - well, it turns out that she isn't plain old Matilda Peppercorn, adopted Russian orphan and kick-boxer extraordinaire.

Nope. She's destined to become something very, very different.

But surely it can't be true? Even for the unique Matilda Peppercorn, it's going to mean standing up for everything she's ever known ...

From the best-selling author of the Jane Blonde series for girls comes a new heroine. She's funny, she's fearless and she's devoted to her friends and family. But at what cost? Find out as the legend unfolds.