This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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Originally published in 2023 by Hodder & Stoughton Limited in Great Britain

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2024942664

ISBNs: 978-0-316-53908-1 (hardcover), 978-0-316-53928-9 (ebook)

E3-20240924-JV-NF-ORI

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

PROLOGUE BY HORIZABEL THE GRIMM

Part One

CHAPTER 1: DEATH IN THE PROPHECY

CHAPTER 2: THERE IS NO MAGIC ON PLANET EARTH

CHAPTER 3: VARIOUS IMPOSSIBLE THINGS HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY INDEED

CHAPTER 4: INTRODUCING THE O’HERO-SMITHS

CHAPTER 5: THE HOUSE AT THE CROSSING OF THE WAYS

CHAPTER 6: WHAT ON EARTH WAS GOING ON?

CHAPTER 7: A PHONE CALL WITH HORIZABEL THE GRIMM

CHAPTER 8: STAR-CROSSERS

CHAPTER 9: JUST TWO OF THE THINGS THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG

CHAPTER 10: THE KNOCK ON ANNIPECK’S DOOR

CHAPTER 11: EVERYONE WAS KEEPING SECRETS FROM EVERYONE ELSE

CHAPTER 12: THE MAP THAT K2 DREW

CHAPTER 13: WHICH WAY THERE AND BACK AGAIN

CHAPTER 14: UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES OF GOING THROUGH A WHICH WAY WHILE ACCOMPANIED BY AN UTCHIMABUG

CHAPTER 15: NEVER PLAY GAMES WITH HORIZABEL THE GRIMM

Part Two

CHAPTER 16: THINGS GO TERRIBLY WRONG

CHAPTER 17: IN THE HEART OF UNIVERSAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 18: UNPRECEDENTED CHAOS IN THE BLUE ROOM

CHAPTER 19: THE DARK SIDE OF THE EVERGODS

CHAPTER 20: ON NO ACCOUNT SHOULD YOU EVER VISIT THE PLANET CALLED BLINK 22

CHAPTER 21: MEANWHILE, BACK ON PLANET EARTH…

CHAPTER 22: OH DEAR

CHAPTER 23: OH. MY. GOODNESS…

CHAPTER 24: DOING A DEAL WITH A WEREDREAD ENRAPTOR

CHAPTER 25: THE DEFENSE OF THE HOUSE OF THE O’HERO-SMITHS IS NOW DEPENDING ON ANNIPECK

CHAPTER 26: UNFORTUNATELY BACK ON BLINK 22, THINGS WEREN’T GOING SO WELL…

CHAPTER 27: OH NOOOOOOOO! INDEED

CHAPTER 28: GHOST POWERS

CHAPTER 29: HORIZABEL IS MORE THAN A LITTLE ANNOYED

CHAPTER 30: HORIZABEL GOES VERY FAST

CHAPTER 31: HOWEVER FAST HORIZABEL AND THE O’HERO-SMITHS ARE TRAVELING, IT REALLY ISN’T FAST ENOUGH

CHAPTER 32: THE DEFENSE OF THE HOUSE OF THE O’HERO-SMITHS IS DEPENDING ON ANNIPECK (AND ALSO TEENY-WEENY EVEREST)

CHAPTER 33: ANNIPECK OPENS THE DOOR

CHAPTER 34: UNHAND THE TODDLER, YOU VILLAINOUS BURGLAR!

CHAPTER 35: EVERY STORY HAS A RECKONING, A PRICE TO BE PAID

CHAPTER 36: THE RECKONING OF A STORY

EPILOGUE

Acknowledgments

Cover

Table of Contents

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