About the author

Karah Sutton

Karah Sutton is a New Zealand/American author and former bookseller whose debut children’s book A Wolf for a Spell was an American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce selection, a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, and a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Children’s & Middle Grade for 2021. Her second book, The Song of the Swan, was published in October 2023 and was called “enchanting” by Kirkus Reviews.

Karah is the Chief Publishing Officer of video game developer and publisher PikPok, whose games have been downloaded more than half a billion times around the world.

For trivia, author bios, hi res photos, name pronunciation, educator guides, one sheets, and more, please check out the Resources tab!

Resources

THE SONG OF THE SWAN

A magical retelling of Swan Lake, featuring a clever orphan, a castle filled with enchanted swans, and a quest to unearth the secrets of the past.

Olga is an orphan and a thief, relying on trickery and sleight of hand to make her way in the world. But it’s magic, not thievery, that could get her into trouble.

When Olga and her partner-in-crime Pavel learn of a valuable jewel kept in a secluded castle, Olga sees an opportunity to change their lives: a prize so big, they’d never have to steal again. But the castle is not as it seems, ruled by an enchanter who hosts grand balls every night, only for the guests to disappear each morning, replaced by swans. Guided by cryptic clues from the palace spiders, Olga soon realizes she’s in over her head—torn between a bargain with the enchanter, loyalty to Pavel, and determination to understand how the enchanted swans are linked to her own fate.

One thing is certain: there is dark magic behind the castle’s mysteries, and Olga will stop at nothing to unmask it.

Buy on Bookshop.org

“Wise spiders, magical threads, and flawed illusions anchor this traditionally structured fantasy that nods to Swan Lake, focused on a child who uses her magical powers to help her swindling merchant caretaker.”

— Publishers Weekly

“An enchanting fairy tale. . . . The characters are interesting, and the story, lovingly inspired by the ballets Giselle and Swan Lake, moves briskly.”

— Kirkus

“Sutton's prose shines in this fast-paced adventure featuring engaging characters, a unique take on magic, and some truly creepy moments. I loved it!”

— J.A. White, award-winning author of Nightbooks and The Thickety

“Ripe for fairytale fans... Sutton conjures a folkloric Eastern European setting in this Swan Lake retelling, and Illustrator Hannuniemi lends a cozy feel with black-and-white renderings.”

— Booklist

“This is a great, well-paced story about love, connections, hearts, and deceit. . . Readers who love fairy tales and retellings and those with no knowledge of the source material alike will enjoy this look at wishes, deceptions, and true treasures.”

— Teen Librarian Toolbox

“The disparate threads that went into this story come together as a shimmering web. Like her spiders, Karah Sutton is an artist worth watching.”

– Forever Young Adult

A WOLF FOR A SPELL

The Girl Who Drank the Moon meets Pax in this fantastical tale of a wolf who forms an unlikely alliance with Baba Yaga to save the forest from a wicked tsar.

Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans–especially witches–but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga.

Baba Yaga never does magic for free, but it just so happens that she needs a wolf’s keen nose for a secret plan she’s brewing . . . Before Zima knows what’s happening, the witch has cast a switching spell and run off into the woods, while Zima is left behind in Baba Yaga’s hut–and Baba Yaga’s body!

Meanwhile, a young village girl named Nadya is also seeking the witch’s help, and when she meets Zima (in Baba Yaga’s form), they discover that they face a common enemy. With danger closing in, Zima must unite the wolves, the witches and the villagers against an evil that threatens them all.

Buy on Bookshop.org

“This delightfully magical tale is filled with everything readers of fantasy and fairy-tale retellings adore: magic, heroism, and whimsy. . . . not to be missed. A must-purchase where fairy-tale retellings and folklore are loved.”

— School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Sutton conjures up a charming debut filled with magic and friendship. . . . Fun and twisty, this fairy tale that evokes imperial Russia has a timeless air.”

— Publishers Weekly

“An elegant fairy tale retelling that feels both classic and fresh, A Wolf for a Spell beautifully explores the power of generosity, the many ways to be brave, and the magic of finding your own pack. This book is beautiful.”

— Anne Ursu, award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

“Those who have never before ventured into the deep, dark magic of Baba Yaga’s hut will find themselves entranced by Sutton’s engaging style and imagination. Reading this book was like catching up with old friends and hearing about their new adventures.”

— Sofiya Pasternak, award-winning author of Anya and the Dragon

“Karah Sutton has crafted a vivid and rollicking adventure that proves a wolf doesn’t have to be big or bad to win the day!”

— Rosanne Parry, New York Times bestselling author of A Wolf Called Wander

“A Wolf for a Spell is a beautiful fairytale of a novel. As in any story involving Baba Yaga, there are tricks and magic around every corner. The writing is lush and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a truly exceptional middle grade novel. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone!”

KARAH SUTTON