Ivy North is an adventurer and expert map reader, who can pitch a tent in four minutes flat.
There’s just one problem. She’s afraid to go outside.

When her little brother is transformed into a kestrel, Ivy follows him into Underfell, the strange and magical realm beyond the garden wall.

Battling her dread of being out in the open, can Ivy navigate this extraordinary world of powerful fairies and purple skies to break her brother’s curse?

Debut author Alex Mullarky celebrated the release of The Sky Beneath the Stone with a blog tour. ICYMI, you can catch up with the reviews, guest posts, interviews and more below!

Day 1: My Book Corner

Alex Mullarky weaves the reader through every twist and turn imaginable as the two friends and the ever-faithful Grendel take us on their quest in this fantastic magical adventure full of hope, courage and a little sprinkle of magic when all seems lost. A stunning cover by @diana_renjina sets the scene for this wonderful novel that has OS grid references at every chapter heading – a map lovers dream!

– Sarah Broadley, My Book Corner

Click to read the full review!

Day 2: Armadillo Magazine

It was challenging to write Ivy’s story and lay down my own insight into mental illness in black and white. Like many people, I’ve grappled with anxiety over the course of my life. At the beginning of the story, Ivy’s mum tells her “It’s never a straight road,” and I really wanted to reflect this in Ivy’s journey.

– Alex Mullarky

Read the full guest post

Day 3: Discover Kelpies

Since day 3 fell on a weekend, we decided to share two posts here on our own blog! Discover the magical world of Underfell for yourself with our interactive map, or get stuck in to some fun and educational activities based on the book with our classroom resource pack.

 

 

 

Day 4: K&O: Bonkers about Books

One of the first things I knew about Ivy, the main character of The Sky Beneath the Stone, was that she would have a Border Collie named Grendel. I grew up in a house full of rescue dogs and when I was 13 I adopted my own dog – Snap, a Border Collie who made a funny groaning noise whenever you rubbed her behind the ears.

– Alex Mullarky

Read the full guest post

Day 5: Charlotte Somewhere

Growing up in Cumbria, you can’t travel far without someone pointing out a landmark in the hills and telling you its story. Take the Bishop, near Bassenthwaite Lake: a huge whitewashed stone on the mountainside. My parents told me that it marked the place where a bishop had died after a drunken attempt to ride to the top of the mountain. The story may not be true, yet the stone always has a fresh coat of paint.

– Alex Mullarky

Read the full guest post

Day 6: Roaring Reads

We were captivated by this book, which is filled with folklore, adventure and characters you can’t help but root for, in one of the most original magical worlds we’ve ever travelled through. Plus, reading it has added a few things to our own bucket lists (see hawfinches, visit Long Meg, buy a tup).

– Roaring Reads

Check out the Q & A here

More fun stuff:

Also by Alex Mullarky:

Forced to move to the remote island of Roscoe, Blair is miserable, and determined to get back to her old life on the mainland. But when an otherworldly woman with antlers offers an irresistible deal, Blair discovers that her new home is a darkly magical place, and a fey bargain cannot be broken…

Find out more!