The Sky Ship
Published on 9. April 2026
336 pages
978-0-00-859506-7 (ISBN)
Description
The second novel in a brilliant fantasy adventure series from the best-selling author of The Huntress trilogy. Perfect for readers 8-12 and fans of Philip Pullman, Abi Elphinstone and Katherine Rundell.
Bea Grimspuddle may not be a dreamstalker yet, but she's already a hero in the magical city of Silvervein after she and her friends defeated the terrifying Queen of Nightmares. And now she's about to begin her dreamstalking apprenticeship and prove she can be part of the secret dream-crafting guild for real...
The dreamstalkers have taken to the skies, basing themselves a giant air ship in a bank of clouds. Aboard the Sky Ship, Bea finds a marvellous world of technology, magic and secrets - but there's also a lot to learn, and some students are resentful of her star status. And Bea soon has even bigger worries... when dreamers begin to disappear, dangerous creatures leak into the waking world and a strange boy falls out of a dream, refusing to speak a word, the disasters and chaos are blamed on Bea, and she is excluded from her guild before she can prove herself.
As a dark power closes in, and with her guild refusing to listen, Bea and a small crew of friends are forced to undertake their own race through the skies. But can they reach the ancient dragon scrys in time... or will a familiar enemy get there first?
Bea Grimspuddle may not be a dreamstalker yet, but she's already a hero in the magical city of Silvervein after she and her friends defeated the terrifying Queen of Nightmares. And now she's about to begin her dreamstalking apprenticeship and prove she can be part of the secret dream-crafting guild for real...
The dreamstalkers have taken to the skies, basing themselves a giant air ship in a bank of clouds. Aboard the Sky Ship, Bea finds a marvellous world of technology, magic and secrets - but there's also a lot to learn, and some students are resentful of her star status. And Bea soon has even bigger worries... when dreamers begin to disappear, dangerous creatures leak into the waking world and a strange boy falls out of a dream, refusing to speak a word, the disasters and chaos are blamed on Bea, and she is excluded from her guild before she can prove herself.
As a dark power closes in, and with her guild refusing to listen, Bea and a small crew of friends are forced to undertake their own race through the skies. But can they reach the ancient dragon scrys in time... or will a familiar enemy get there first?
Reviews / Votes
Praise for Dreamstalkers: The Night Train'[Dreamstalkers: The Night Train] is fast-paced and full of action, with short chapters to encourage the reader to keep turning the pages ... the descriptive writing is beautiful.' - BookTrust
'Full of danger, breathtaking action and spine-tingling atmospherics, and set against a seductive backdrop of dreams, strange shadows and nightmares, this is one of 2024's unmissable adventures!' - Lancashire Evening Post
'A shimmering dragon's wing of an adventure crammed with vivid world-building, feisty characters and a soaring imagination - my absolute favourite sort of fire-side read' - Jasbinder Bilan, Costa award-winning author of Asha and the Spirit Bird
'Unparalleled in imagination and detailed world-building, this is a story which will bring you on an unforgettable train-ride.' - Sinead O'Hart, author of The Silver Road
Praise for Sarah's other books:
'A glorious world, a wild adventure and a fierce heroine. I can't stop thinking about this book!' - Robin Stevens on The Huntress: Sea
'Driver's prose takes flight in Huntress: Sky. Exhilarating, gripping and full of heart' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars on The Huntress: Sky
'A thrillingly wild adventure that crackles with magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song on The Huntress: Storm
'Dark, magical, beautifully written and illustrated, this book gets its witchy hooks into you from the first page and doesn't let go. I absolutely loved it!' - Kieran Larwood, author of The Peculiars on Once We Were Witches
'A new book by Sarah Driver is always something special - this does not disappoint. Vivid storytelling full of magic and sparkle from one of my favourite authors.' Jasbinder Bilan, Costa award-winning author of Asha and the Spirit Bird on Once We Were Witches
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 9 to 13 years
Product notice
Reflowable
File size
2,42 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-00-859506-7 (9780008595067)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Sarah Driver is a graduate of the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People, during which she won the United Agents Most Promising Writer prize in 2014. She is also a qualified nurse and midwife. Sarah started writing stories as a small child and lists her influences as Spellhorn by Berlie Doherty, A Necklace Of Raindrops by Joan Aiken and the Carbonel books by Barbara Sleigh - those gorgeous, magical stories that create and nurture readers.
