Iron Hooks and Holy Books
The Adventures of Ava Aldeberg is a series of fantastical adventures as Ava ventures into the mystical world of Terranaefre. Tensions are high between the pirates, mermaids, and pixies as they all vie for control of the port and the magical dust the pixies mine from the mountains, but Ava doesn’t want any part of that. She just wants to find her little brother. Explore the high seas, ancient maps, sisterly devotion, and terrifying magical creatures in this fantastical adventure.
adventure/weird/eldritch/fantasy/YA/upper-middle-grade readers (PG)
SUMMER 2026 RELEASE
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The Adventures of Ava Aldeberg
Iron Hooks and Holy Books
The children of Hamelin disappeared four years ago, and no one remembers them except for Ava. Determined to remember the lost souls of the missing children, and her little brother, Ava seeks to take the habit and join a convent. The local Abbey connects her with Sister Gisela, and Ava's first task during her postulancy is to accompany Sister Gisela and the noble Lady Markhein to a mysterious land called Terranaefre.
But Sister Gisela is not who she appears to be, and out on the high seas, they are waylaid by pirates. Ava is thrown overboard and saved from drowning by a mysterious mermaid who takes her back to Mermaid Cove.
2. The Three Mermaids
Ava never thought she would be stranded on Terrenaefre, yet here she was. The three mermaids of Terranaefre are hospitable to her, but despite Doris and Amalthea’s best efforts, Ava doesn’t feel like she belongs. She is unable to give up her former life.
In an effort to ease her homesickness, Doris takes Ava around the island. Where they meet Captain James, and Ava is reunited with the Buccaneer who took her to this strange land and then left her, and her missing companion, to drown.
Will Ava discover the fate of Sister Gisela? And what about the missing children?
3. Needs Must, and Pixie Dust
Ava overhears Doris and James conspiring to steal the newest batch of children from the pixies. She decides to join the conspiracy to spare the children from same fate as her little brother; a life of torture and servitude. But will Captain James let her join his crew?
Ava is sent to Portsmouth to pose as a barmaid where she meets Maggie, and Laverne. But Laverne doesn’t like Ava very much, and does everything she can to turn Ava into the Harbor Master. Ava must gather information under Laverne’s watchful eye until Captain James can get a message to her…
In a land where magical dust makes whatever you believe comes to be: Ava’s conviction is tested.
4. The Ancient Anchor
Captured by the Harbor Master, Ava is imprisoned in the Mountain Hall, along with two other stowaways.
There, while they wait for the pixie court to arrive, Ava sees what happens to the stolen children.
Thanks to Captain James, the pixies agree to release her and the others into the Harbor Master’s care. A cruel and dastardly fellow—the Harbor Master has other plans for his prisoners. He takes them down to the docks to be tried again, this time by the people of Portsmouth.
The penalty for stowing away is death. Will Ava survive the trial? Where is Captain James when you need him?