A young soldier, a captive princess, witches, wolves and Death walk hand in hand in COSTA AWARD winner Sally Gardner''s gothic retelling of Hans Christian Andersen''s THE TINDERBOX.

Otto Hundebiss is tired of war, but when he defies Death he walks a dangerous path. A half-beast half-man gives him shoes and dice, which will lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire - pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves whose master he becomes. But will all the riches in the world bring him the thing he most desires?

Fairy tales are often the cruellest stories of all; this spellbinding book tells of both great love and great loss.

Beautifully illustrated by David Roberts.

Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2015 and the Kate Greenaway Medal 2015.