Starspill - Catherine Fisher

 

Zac lives in the town of Starspill, where fog has dominated everywhere since the Wolf swallowed the sun 140 years earlier (except 3 slivers that were saved by a cat and scattered).  Living with his brother Gryff and his wife Martha, making lamps from stars to provide light, Zac just wants to live a simple life, but when he wakes one night to find a conclave of cats demanding to be let into his room, his life takes a dramatic turn for the cats demand that he steal one of the three Embers of the Sun...

This is a fantasy novel that creates a dark and mysterious atmosphere from the start.  With the sun gone, the darkness dominates and the fog is everywhere; in fact it's a character in its own right - a chilling one at times. 

In a world where cats have access to any building, they are both scheming and fun to read.  As a conclave, they appear menacing and devious; however, Jinx shows a lighter side to these creatures: full of confidence, his bright attitude is in contrast to the rest of the cats.  Zac is their intended victim and the one they choose to steal the first ember; however, Zac wants nothing more than a quiet life listening to stories and helping his brother, the starsmith.  If it wasn't for Zac's treasured map which the cats are holding to ransom, Zac wouldn't entertain their demands.  What ensues is a quest to return light to the darkness in one heck of an adventure. 

Legend and magic mixes with fantasy and mystery in Starspill which is available to buy now.