An “expansive magical adventure” – Publishers Weekly on Tinderbox, Book 1 of ‘Tales from the Riven Isles’
The Hatter's Daughter is the third book set in W.A. Simpson's Riven Isles universe.
There is more to the Vine than mortals and immortals know. It reaches its branches and tendrils into realms beyond the Riven Isles. On the night Faith was born, her mother perished, but not before sending Faith to safety, in Underneath. Discovered by The Mad Hatter, he takes Faith home to raise as his own. When the Rot invades, Faith determines to fight. She won’t do it alone. Her childhood friend, Prince Rowan accompanies her. Faith must return to her birthplace to find a Legendary Heroine. But Overland is dangerous, and the minions of the Rot are in pursuit. If she doesn’t succeed, the minions of the Rot will destroy everything they know.
Tales from the Riven Isles is a dark fantasy series set in a world outside of our own, where the characters of myth and fairy-tales exist, and their legends live on. Featuring the novels: 'Tinderbox', 'Tarotmancer', and 'The Hatter's Daughter'.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to excellent original writing in horror, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress. Awarded independent publisher of 2024 by the British Fantasy Society.
Wendy A. Simpson is an award‑winning author of fantasy and science fiction whose work blends emotional resonance with genre‑defying imagination. She began writing at five and completed her first novel by fourteen, starting with mysteries before discovering speculative fiction through the influence of Ray Bradbury. Her contemporary, character‑driven style often centers strong, complex female protagonists navigating richly built worlds.
Her debut novel, Tinderbox, and its sequel, Tarotmancer, launched the Tales from the Riven Isles series with Flame Tree Press. Tinderbox reached the Top 100 on Amazon’s Best Sellers List in Black & African American Fantasy Fiction and won the 2022 Foreword INDIES Gold Award for Fantasy. The third installment, The Hatter’s Daughter, released in April 2025, and the final volume, Steelbound, arrives June 9, 2026. Critics have compared her work to N. K. Jemisin, L. Penelope, and Sarah J. Maas.
Wendy is currently developing several new projects for her readers, including The Girl of Morning Glory (MG contemporary fantasy), The Last Storyteller (grimdark fantasy), The Good Guys (AU contemporary fantasy), and Immortal Stream (science‑fantasy).
A proud Delaware native, she lives with her older brother — fondly known as Big Brother — and two diva cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, gaming, and streaming on Twitch as Runic Nightshade. Visit her at www.authorwasimpson.com to explore her works‑in‑progress and connect.
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