The Beguilers

Rilka lives with her family in an extremely structured community, where tradition and routine is fundamental. Change is frowned upon, so Rilka's questioning nature sets her apart from the rest of the villagers, as does her allergy to 'chuffies', the cuddly creatures whose purpose is to lift the spirits of their human companions by absorbing their sorrow.

The villagers are frightened of the mysterious 'beguilers' - spirit-like beings who float around at night, preying on human souls. When Rilka decides to catch one, she embarks on a lonely and dangerous journey to Cloud Mountain, where these spirits originate.

Thompson has successfully created a believable fantasy and highlights the importance of questioning tradition in order to push the boundaries of convention to its limits.