Changeling—Also known as a crimbil, a changeling is a Fae child left in the place of a human child for any of a number of reasons. It is said that they have powerful screams, an affinity for music, and one leg longer than the other.
Gnome—Diminutive earthen Fae ranging from a few inches to a few feet tall, they are said to be generally benevolent creatures possessing a great deal of secret knowledge. It is said that gnomes have a power all their own, which they use to reward or punish people as they see fit.
Gwragedd Annwn—Also known as the water wives, these are Welsh fairies known for living in villages underwater. They are known for being incredibly gentle, such that even a playful slap on the back can cause one to retreat back into the water for years. They are considered by some to be a type of Tylwyth Teg, but are notably separate from the Bendith y Mamau.
Gwyllion—Known as the Old Woman of the Mountain, a Gwyllion is a hag known to lead lost travelers astray. It is considered to be a close cousin to the Bendith y Mamau.
Knocker—Said to be spirits, knockers are subterranean Fae who live in mines. They seldom venture to the surface, and can most often be found by the knocking sounds they make while they work. They are said to be benevolent, even protective by some. Others say they are dangerous, with pranks ranging from annoying to lethal.
Nymph—An elemental nature spirit known to inhabit a specific area of nature, such as a tree or a river.
Phooka—An Irish shape-shifter known for causing trouble and wreaking havoc. In spite of this reputation, however, they have never been known to directly attack a human.
Pixie—A tiny, mischievous fairy who delights in playing pranks. Pixies are numerous and, generally, their behaviors are benign.
Redcap—Malicious Fae who prefer to hunt those who have strayed too far from their home. It is said that a redcap’s name comes from the hat it wears, dyed with the blood of its victims. The redcap must continuously seek out new victims to maintain the color of its hat.
Seelie—A court of Fae often associated with daylight and summer, the Seelie are considered to be the Fae most likely to treat a human with kindness. However, they are still instinctively mischievous, and do not take kindly to mistreatment of their territory.
Shadeling—A type of impish Fae known only to Bryn, these once-brownies can travel through shadows and demonstrate incredible loyalty. However, like most Fae, if for any reason that loyalty is lost, it can be impossible to regain.
Unseelie—A court of Fae often associated with night and winter, the Unseelie court is home to the truly malicious. Often, the Unseelie are openly hostile to others, especially to humans, and their mischief is known to give way to true harm.
Will-o’-the-Wisp—A dancing light often found in dark, marshy, or foggy places, will-o’-the-wisps are said to lead travelers through the dark. Sometimes, it may be a way home or to great treasure. Sometimes, they may only lead a traveler deeper into the dark, abandoning them when they are lost.
About the Author
When C.M. MCGUIRE, author of Ironspark, was a child, she drove her family crazy with her nonstop stories. Lucky for them, she eventually learned to write and gave their ears a rest. This love of stories led her to college where she pursued history (semi-nonfictional storytelling), anthropology (where stories come from), and theater (attention-seeking storytelling). When she isn’t writing, she’s painting, crocheting, gardening, baking, and teaching the next generation to love stories as much as she does. Find her on Twitter and Instagram at @SeeEmMcGuire. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Twenty-Seven
Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Nine
Thirty
Thirty-One
Thirty-Two
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Glossary
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 by C.M. McGuire
A Swoon Reads Book
An Imprint of Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Publishing Group LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
Swoonreads.com
All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McGuire, C. M., author.
Title: Ironspark / C. M. McGuire.
Description: First edition. | New York : Swoon Reads, 2020. | Audience: Ages 13–18. | Audience: Grades 10–12. | Summary: High school senior Bryn Johnson works with new friends to keep her family and town safe from murderous Fae while also dealing with panic attacks, family issues, and a lesbian love triangle.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019036131 | ISBN 9781250245267 (hardcover)
Subjects: CYAC: Supernatural—Fiction. | Fairies—Fiction. | Panic attacks—Fiction. | Family life—Fiction. | Lesbians—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.M443527 Iro 2020 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019036131
First hardcover edition 2020
eBook edition 2020
eISBN 978-1-250-24527-4
Ironspark Page 27