The Mistmantle Chronicles facts for kids
The Mistmantle Chronicles is a series of exciting children's books written by M. I. McAllister. These stories are about animals that act like people, and they follow the adventures of a special red squirrel named Urchin. The very first book in the series, Urchin of the Riding Stars, was published in 2005 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
Contents
The Mistmantle Chronicles Books
Urchin of the Riding Stars (2005)
This book introduces Urchin, a pale squirrel born on a night of "riding stars." A prophecy says he will challenge a powerful leader. Urchin's mother passed away when he was born, and he was lovingly raised by Apple. The island's rulers, Queen Spindle and King Brushen, face trouble when their son is harmed, and two tricky characters try to take over the island. They bring in harsh rules and make animals work hard. Urchin soon realizes he has a very important role to play in saving Mistmantle Island and Captain Crispin from Captain Husk and Lady Aspen.
Urchin and the Heartstone (2006)
The animals of Mistmantle are getting ready for Crispin the squirrel to become king. But then, the special Heartstone goes missing! At the same time, Urchin is taken by some unexpected visitors from an island called Whitewings. Everyone starts to worry. Urchin knows he must escape Whitewings quickly. Crispin and many others risk their lives to rescue Urchin. During his adventure, Urchin makes a new friend and learns a big secret about his past that changes everything for him.
The Heir of Mistmantle (2007)
When Princess Catkin, who is next in line to rule Mistmantle, is taken, everyone searches the island. A mysterious sickness also starts spreading, and rumors begin that the feared Captain Husk, who everyone thought was gone forever, has been seen again. The animals of Mistmantle worry that all these events are connected and that Husk's bad influence might return. Can Urchin and his loyal friend Juniper find Catkin before she is in serious danger?
Urchin and the Raven War (2008)
Life on peaceful Mistmantle Island is disturbed when Lord Arcneck returns, asking for help in a war against fierce ravens. King Crispin and his friends agree to help the Swan Lord. However, their actions soon bring the anger of the ravens down upon Mistmantle itself.
When the vengeful ravens attack Mistmantle Island, King Crispin, Urchin, and the islanders face some of the scariest challenges their home has ever known. Will the animals of Mistmantle work together to defeat this dangerous enemy? And is it true that there is someone on the island who can travel beyond the mysterious mists and return safely?
Urchin and the Rage Tide (2010)
Under King Crispin's wise leadership, the animals of Mistmantle have enjoyed a long time of peace and happiness since the Raven War. But this calm is broken when huge tidal waves threaten to destroy the island. Mossberry, a squirrel who wants power, sees this disaster as a chance to become a leader. Urchin, his helper Corr, and King Crispin's special group must stop Mossberry and bring the islanders to safety. When a beloved friend is swept away by the powerful tide, a great sacrifice must be made.
Islands of the Mistmantle Chronicles
Mistmantle Island
Mistmantle is the main island where most of The Mistmantle Chronicles stories take place. It's a fairly small island surrounded by mists. These mists help keep away those who might want to harm Mistmantle and prevent outsiders from staying. Only a special traveler called a Voyager has been known to leave Mistmantle and return many times. In the books, Mistmantle is the site of several battles, including a major war in the fourth book, Urchin and the Raven War. Mistmantle has its own tower, where the king, queen, and captains live. This tower has sandstone-yellow walls and is attacked in books 1, 2, and 4. To the south of Mistmantle is Anemone Wood, where Urchin and Needle grew up. There's also a good-sized dock near the tower.
Swan Isle
Early in the first book, Crispin travels across the ocean from his home. His journey takes him to two other islands in the same chain as Mistmantle. One was just a bare rock in the sea, and the other was full of giant crabs that he had to fight to escape. Eventually, he reaches an island far from Mistmantle, which is later called Swan Isle. This is where he meets Lord and Lady Arcneck, who rule the island, and Whisper, a female red squirrel who later becomes very important to him. Urchin also arrives here, not knowing he has brought a mole who causes trouble.
Whitewings Island
Whitewings is a large island, especially compared to Mistmantle, and it's about a three-day boat trip away. We first hear about it in Urchin and the Heartstone when Urchin is taken there. Whitewings has a big stone fortress a short distance from the beach. This fortress is destroyed by an earthquake at the end of the book. Deeper into the island, there are several large hills, including Eagle Crag, where Urchin's father, Candle, was believed to have been pushed and killed. There are also silver mines where the animals are forced to work, causing the island to be covered in dust and many animals to have breathing problems. Under the fortress, there are tunnels and caves used by the Larchlings for meetings and as a safe place for those in danger from the island's soldiers.
Ashfire Island
Ashfire is the island where Cedar and Almond originally came from. It has an active volcano, which the books call a "fire mountain." The water on Ashfire is known to be harmful to creatures not from the island. Cedar and Almond left Ashfire when they were young because the volcano erupted. Ashfire is mentioned in books two and five. Sepia lands there in her boat during Urchin and the Rage Tide.
Main Characters of Mistmantle
Urchin
Urchin is a young, lively, and charming red squirrel who looks different from most others. His fur is the color of honey, with only the tips of his ears and tail showing the usual red squirrel color. He was born on a night of riding stars, on the shore opposite Mistmantle Tower. His mother lived just long enough to give him a blessing. He was rescued by Crispin, who was a young helper at the time, and Apple, who adopted him and raised him. Years later, Crispin, now a captain, asked Urchin to be his helper, and Urchin eagerly accepted. Urchin performs many brave deeds throughout his life, like bringing Crispin back and helping to improve Whitewings Island. He becomes a companion to the king in book one, learns about his parents Almond and Candle in book two, joins the king's special group in book three, and becomes a captain by the end of book five. At the end of book five, he asks Sepia to marry him, and she says yes.
Crispin
Crispin is a red squirrel and a Captain of Mistmantle. He found Urchin on the shore when he was a new Captain. In the first book, he was sent away after being wrongly accused of a crime. He ends up on Swan Isle, where he meets and later marries a lovely red squirrel named Whisper. She is later harmed by Gloss the mole. Crispin travels back to Mistmantle with Urchin on the backs of swans and helps save Mistmantle from Husk. At the end of book one, Crispin is declared King by Mistmantle Island's laws after King Brushen passes away. In book two, he refuses to be crowned until Urchin is returned to the island. He falls in love with Cedar, and in book three, they have their first child and heir to Mistmantle, Catkin. He is also the father of Oakleaf and Almondflower. He fights and is seriously injured in book four during the Raven War and passes away at the end of the fifth book.
Husk
Husk is an ambitious squirrel who tries to take control of the island in the first book by making decisions for the king. He becomes very bad when he finds an old pit beneath Mistmantle Tower where past kings made sacrifices. He harms many young animals with physical problems, with the help of his girlfriend and later wife, Lady Aspen. After his plans are discovered by Captain Padra, he is chased and falls into the pit. His body isn't found until book three, when Juniper searches for him to prove that rumors of Husk being alive are false and because Juniper has mixed feelings about Husk being his father.
Padra
Padra is an otter with a face that always looks like he's about to laugh. He is Crispin's best friend. He, Husk, and Crispin are all captains in book one. Padra is very upset when Crispin is sent away from Mistmantle and takes Urchin on as a helper after Crispin leaves. Padra has a long-term girlfriend named Arran, and they get married at the end of book one. In book two, they have twins, Tide (a boy) and Swanfeather (a girl). He is Fingal's older brother. In book five, they have another baby girl otter whom they name Fionn.
Arran
Arran is Padra's longtime girlfriend and later wife. She becomes a Captain of Mistmantle at the end of book one and steps down in book five because she wants to spend more time with her young daughter, Fionn.
Lugg
Lugg is a brave and determined mole who is a member of the Circle (the king's special advisors) and a Captain. In book one, Lugg helps Urchin in his adventures and fights bravely alongside Padra in the battle against Husk. Crispin makes him a captain after he becomes king. In the third book, Lugg passes away after trying to stop Linty from taking Catkin away from the island; his heart gave out. Fingal the otter named his boat after Lugg.
Brother Fir
Brother Fir is Mistmantle's priest in books one to four. He is described as having kind, wise eyes and a deep sense of joy. He passes away peacefully in book four and was said to be very old. Juniper followed him by becoming the next priest.
Sepia
Sepia is a kind, caring squirrel with the sweetest voice on the island, and she leads the Choir. She is introduced in book one at the Spring Festival and becomes a main character throughout the other books. She rescues Princess Catkin in book three because she was the only one calm and kind enough to get past Mistress Linty, Catkin's captor. She and Urchin also develop a relationship throughout the series, with Urchin proposing to her—which she accepts—at the end of book five.
Juniper
Juniper the squirrel is Urchin's loyal friend (they consider each other brothers) who helps him throughout his journeys. He is later found to have special abilities to see the future and limps because of a twisted paw. In book three, he learns who his father was when his foster mother, Damson the squirrel, was very ill. This makes him feel terrible and afraid he will become like his father, Husk. He becomes the island's priest when Brother Fir passes away in book four.
Needle
Needle the hedgehog is Urchin's steady friend who stays with him through all his adventures. She is a little sharper than most hedgehogs. Needle is a seamstress in the castle and becomes part of the Circle with Urchin in book three. Urchin and Lugg rescued Needle's younger brother Scufflen from Husk, who had planned to harm him in book one.
Cedar
Cedar is a squirrel from the island of Whitewings. She first appears in Urchin and the Heartstone, where she is secretly working in King Silverbirch's court. She plays a very important role in helping Urchin escape from King Silverbirch, as well as standing up against Silverbirch. At the end of the book, Cedar goes to Mistmantle and marries King Crispin. In the remaining books, especially The Heir of Mistmantle, she is the queen of Mistmantle and is very helpful as a healer.
