Atmospheric, dramatic, stylish and intensely engaging, Katherine Langrish's Troll Fell is the real thing. I've rarely read a more confident and assured first novel that was so mature and had as many of the ingredients that are needed to herald the arrival of a significant writing talent. Troll Fell is in turns gritty and bleak, and also magical and uplifting. I think Langrish is a natural storyteller and I look forward to discovering more of her imagination in years to come. John McLay

Katherine grew up in Yorkshire and has been writing stories most of her life. She took a First Class Honours BA degree in English from the University of London, winning the Sir Charles Harris Prize for External Students. Married with two daughters, Katherine and her family lived in Fontainebleau, where she began storytelling to classes at the International School. In 1997 Katherine and her family relocated again to Corning, New York State. There, Katherine joined Literacy Volunteers of America, a voluntary organisation for teaching reading and numeracy. Katherine and her family currently live in England.