Seekers of the Wild Realm

  Lilja descends rapidly, each beat of her wings stirring up a gust of wind, and I smile. “I think we’ll be ready for it.”

  Ari and I climb onto Lilja’s back, and she doesn’t need any direction from us to know where to go. She soars over the Wild Realm, which is lit now by the red and purple rays of sundown. As we climb higher into the air, the land spreads out before us—the mountain peaks and low canyons, the glaciers and lakes, the enchanted forests and ashy volcanoes. All of it brimming with magic.

  And we have the rest of our lives to explore every inch.

  With Ari and Lilja beside me, I can’t wait to begin.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This book started as a few sentences scribbled in a notebook four years ago. Bringing it to life would never have been possible without the support of many people to whom I owe my deepest gratitude.

  My brilliant editorial team, Alyson Heller and Tricia Lin, gave me so much guidance and helped me find the heart of Bryn’s story. I am also grateful to Cathleen McAllister, who created the stunning cover art, and to everyone at Aladdin for all that they do.

  Endless thanks to my agent, Victoria Doherty Munro, who is my constant champion and guided this story through all its early stages until we found what it needed to be.

  The unsung heroes behind this book are Alexandrina Brant, Rachel Done, and Allison Pauli, who faithfully read my long first drafts and provided invaluable insight. I couldn’t have done this without you.

  Many wonderful educators, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, and readers have graciously supported me and my books, and I am so grateful to all of you.

  Thank you to Penny and Ivy, who both inspired Lilja in their own ways and brought me so much joy.

  Finally, to Mom, Dad, and Katie: I love you. Thanks for everything.

  More from the Author

  The Shadow Thieves

  Rules for Thieves

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Alexandra Ott writes fiction for young readers, including her debut fantasy novel, Rules for Thieves, and its sequel, The Shadow Thieves. She graduated from the University of Tulsa and is now a freelance editor. In her spare time, she eats a lot of chocolate and reads just about everything. She currently lives in Oklahoma with her tiny canine overlord. Visit her online at www.alexandraott.com.

  Aladdin

  Simon & Schuster, New York

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/kids

  www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/Alexandra-Ott

  ALSO BY ALEXANDRA OTT

  Rules for Thieves

  The Shadow Thieves

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ALADDIN

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Aladdin hardcover edition June 2020

  Text copyright © 2020 by Alexandra Ott

  Jacket illustrations copyright © 2020 by Cathleen McAllister

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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  Jacket designed by Heather Palisi

  Author photograph by D. Young

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Ott, Alexandra, author.

  Title: Seekers of the Wild Realm / Alexandra Ott.

  Description: New York : Aladdin, 2020. | Series: Seekers of the wild realm ; 1 | Audience: Ages 8-12. | Audience: Grades 4-6. | Summary:

  Twelve-year-old Bryn’s only hope of becoming a Seeker like her father is to help rival Ari train a baby dragon in exchange for sharing his training, but holds many secrets.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2019056876 (print) | LCCN 2019056877 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534438583 (hc) | ISBN 9781534438606 (eBook)

  Subjects: CYAC: Dragons—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Sex role—Fiction. |

  Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. | Fantasy.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.O88 See 2020 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.O88 (eBook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056876

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056877