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Helga the Fair

By S. J. Taylor
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Brief Description
Helga the Fair is a heartwarming fantasy inspired by the Icelandic sagas, about a girl and her friends who must save their found family when a swarm of terrifying undead invade their village. It's perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase. The... Read More
Format: Hardback
$3799
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Releases 29th September 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Helga the Fair" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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A heartwarming fantasy inspired by the Icelandic sagas about a girl and her friends who must save their found family when a swarm of rowdy and terrifying undead invade their village, perfect for fans of Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Helga the Fair is a heartwarming fantasy inspired by the Icelandic sagas, about a girl and her friends who must save their found family when a swarm of terrifying undead invade their village. It's perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase.

The undead are up to no good.

Helga doesn’t know where she comes from. All she knows is life with Goat-Thigh, who found her as a baby in the highlands and gave her a home. Goat-Thigh used to be plagued with fits of berserk fury—a battle rage that made him dangerous to everyone around—until he took in Helga. Now, Helga won’t ever leave his side, even if their neighbours shun him.

But their lives are disrupted when a nearby haunted mountain cracks open and a mob of vengeful undead invades the land. In the chaos, Goat-Thigh’s berserk fits are triggered…and he’s unable to break free.

To save her adoptive father, Helga will need the help of some unlikely friends to banish the undead—from mischievous ox tails to rowdy house crashers and frightening monsters with family secrets. Can Helga and her allies outsmart these spectres and confront the deep wounds from their tangled pasts?

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781665974493

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 16 July 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Illustration: 6C jacket (sfx: metallic stock, spot gloss uv), matte film; b-w int ill. (35 pcs); digital

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Alla Khatkevich

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 438g

Pages: 368

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Kids & YA Pre-orders LGBTQ+ Pre-order Books Pre-Order Children's Books Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date S. J. Taylor Young Adult

About the Author

S. J. Taylor writes stories steeped in folklore and magic, where young protagonists tackle big adventures and bigger questions. Although she grew up in Arizona’s desert, her heart yearns for the Nordic lands. When she’s not writing, she can often be found knitting yet another sweater (sweater weather is the best weather). She lives with her family in Connecticut. Visit her at SJTaylorbooks.com.

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