Find a book
Donate

Free Lance and the Lake of Skulls

by Paul Stewart, illustrated by Chris Riddell

Interest age: 5 to 12
Reading age: 8+

Published by Barrington Stoke, 2017

  • Adventure
  • Fantasy
  • Funny

About this book

Free Lance is back for his third adventure! As a Knight with no master, Free Lance continues his journeys, travelling from village to village and castle to castle, competing in tournaments and working for his keep.

Yet when his horse throws a shoe, he is forced to seek shelter overnight in Lord Big Nose's village, and accepts his most dangerous mission yet – retrieving an enchanted crown from the Lake of Skulls.

The dream team of Stewart and Riddell are on fantastic form for this outing. The language is simple (designed to attract reluctant readers) yet loses none of Stewart’s trademark fantasy wit and grandeur. Meanwhile, Riddell’s illustrations are the perfect accompaniment, and as detailed and capturing as ever.

About the author

Paul Stewart is the very funny, very talented author of more than 15 books for children, including The Edge Chronicles, a collaboration with Chris Riddell.

He is a graduate of Lancaster University and of the University of East Anglia's creative writing course. For several years he taught English as a foreign language in Sri Lanka. Returning to England, he continued teaching before becoming a full-time writer.

About the illustrator

Chris Riddell is an award-winning illustrator and acclaimed political cartoonist. He is currently the only artist to have won the Kate Greenaway Medal three times, most recently for his illustrations in Neil Gaiman's The Sleeper and the Spindle. He was recently announced as a BookTrust ambassador.

Chris Riddell has illustrated the work of many celebrated children's authors, including five Neil Gaiman titles and J. K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard. He is the author of the bestselling Goth Girl and Ottoline series and co-creator of the much loved The Edge Chronicles.

He was the Waterstones Children's Laureate from 2015 to 2017.

More books like this

Explore our Bookfinder

Lists of recommended reads

  • Books for reluctant readers (older children)

    There's a book out there for every child, even the most reluctant of readers. Try a few of the books below to see if they click with your child and help them love reading. There's fiction, non-fiction, rhyme and laugh-out-loud moments! Let us know which one works for your 9-12 year old.

Discover more booklists
Share this page Twitter Facebook LinkedIn