'An elegant, dreamy tale steeped in folklore' - Irish Times on Nettle

A dark, captivating 12+/YA tale of deception and survival, set in the Realm of Never Moon where faeries live in fear of the Owl King, for fans of Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series and Twin Crowns.

Welcome to a world of glittering courts, dangerous bargains and dazzling trickery…

Long ago, kings and queens of the faery realms exchanged talismans with one another to maintain harmony in their world. The Stag King gave up a shard of antler, the Owl King a feather, the Minnow Queen a shimmering, silver scale. But the Owl King has grown restless, and his kingdom has become dangerous as he feeds off the magic of others. Always he hunts for a new bride to sustain him.

When devoted sisters, Ilsette and Lyla, are summoned to court, the Owl King’s eye soon falls on the beautiful Lyla. Determined to save her sister from a terrible fate, Ilsette sets out on a quest to find the prized feather and change the balance of power.

Lyla bewitches the king with her stories, but time is running out. Meanwhile, Ilsette’s search leads her to a realm with two moons and scarlet stars. Here she must trick King Locryn into revealing the feather’s secret whereabouts, so that she can steal it. She’s befriended by a strange magpie and two shadow faeries, but all the while, she faces an impossible truth – to save her sister, she must destroy peace among the realms.

'Owl King is a brilliantly written and highly immersive standalone YA fantasy, weaving folklore and courtly intrigue into a tale of survival and shifting loyalties... perfect for KS3 book clubs. Highly recommended.' * School Reading List, Best Children's Books Autumn 2025 *
'A time-stopping, timeless story of love and survival, nigh-impossible tasks and impossibly difficult truths, shot-though with the message that “stories will save you”' * Joanne Owen, LoveReading, Best YA Books 2025 *
'A sumptuous folkloric tale of love, loyalty and dark enchantments' * The Scotsman, Best YA Fiction for Christmas Holidays *
An elegant, dreamy tale steeped in folklore references, featuring a resourceful protagonist doing her best to counter the dark, devious bargains of the faerie world * Irish Times on Nettle *
Nettle is full of wit, wisdom and charm, I was stung on the first page and fell head first into Bex Hogan's magical world. * Kat Dunn, author, on Nettle *
Drenched in magic and beauty, Nettle will transport you into a dark yet gorgeous faery tale you won't ever want to leave * Anna Waterworth, author, on Nettle *

Raised on a healthy diet of fantasy and fairy tales, Bex Hogan spends hours lost in daydreams. Writing her stories down was a natural progression and she enjoys sharing her time between the real world and escaping to her imagination. Owl King is her second novel for Zephyr, following Nettle in the Faery Realms series. A Cornish girl at heart, Bex lives in Cambridgeshire with her family.
Instagram: @bex_hogan | X: @bexhogan | BlueSky: @bexhogan