Bravepaw and the Fangstone of Flintfall by LM Wilkinson illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

Titch and her friends Huckleberry, Dollop and their new friend a squirrel named Briar are on a quest to heal a crack in the heart of Alluria. Titch has the Heartstone but ...

"It had been a wise old squirrel who told Titch that the Heartstone was incomplete - that there were other gems out there. One of them - the Clawstone - had hung around the nect of the turtle wizard. But there were more to find, which was why they were on their way to the library city of Lexhelm, to learn more about the Gems of Harmony and the history of Bravepaw."

All librarians and Teacher-Librarians will be thrilled that Titch needs to visit a library! BUT how horrid that they are confronted by armoured silversfish and they are holding the head librarian Master Sticklepin, a hedgehog, captive in his own office. Titch, Briar and Huckleberry fight the silverfish but while some are destroyed many just slither away (I hope we don't mee them again in the next Bravepaw book). 

Master Sticklepin explains to the group about the history of Bravepaw - the first was a rabbit princess named Hazel but more importantly they hear about an ancient monster of pure evil called the Deadroot. This monster is responsible for the danger facing Alluria because every hundred years he stirs again.

Titch has the Heartstone on the top of the staff given to her by Prince Vetiver and she now has one of the four Gems of Harmony - Clawstone. The other three are Fangstone, Dreamstone and Songstone. Titch and her group are now on a quest to find the Fangstone and this will involve a journey deep underground to a crystal cavern. It also means their trust will be betrayed. (Spoiler alert) Why is Clover, a very small, white, delicate looking mouse offering to help them? 

The underground scenes in this third installment are so vividly written I felt utterly claustrophobic. Oh and those awful curseworms are at work again and thank goodness the group rescue and meet Raia, the lavender wolf who I am sure will be back again. 

In 2022 I discovered the first book in the Bravepaw series and I fell in love with the characters and these little chapter books. In 2025 I rushed out to buy the second book and it was an equally terrific quest story. Late last week I saw the author LM Wilkinson and illustrator Lavanya Niadu mention the third book had been published early in March - how did I miss this? 

Yesterday I picked up Bravepaw and the Fangstone of Flintfall and I read the whole book as soon as I arrived home. If you haven't found this series you do need to begin with the first book and please take a minute to read my first two blog posts. I wonder how long I will need to wait for the final two installments. If you work in a school library this book set will look so splendid on your shelves. If you haven't added these to your library make sure you do this now - especially because sadly Book One is from 2022 so, unless it is reprinted, copies could become scarce. 

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire by LM Wilkinson illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

Bookseller blurb: Titch and Huckleberry are on an epic quest. They have followed their hearts ... right into the path of a terrifying swamp monster, and a village full of brainwashed squirrels! Maybe their hearts aren't to be trusted? Maybe Titch is just an ordinary little mouse and not Bravepaw after all ...? But Bravepaw or not, Titch is not about to give up. Can she defeat the greedy turtle controlling the squirrels, and discover what his glowing green gem has to do with the legend of Bravepaw and her quest to save Alluria?

This is the swamp monster called a Bogbungler

It is wonderful scene when this slimy loathsome creature is defeated 

by Titch, Huckleberry and their new brave friend, a squirrel named Briar.

Image source: Instagram Lavanya Naidu

This book opens with the prophecy that you might remember from book one:

When the sky fills with shadows

And all is turned to grey

Bravepaw will come.

When hope turns to ashes

And all have lost their way

Bravepaw will come.

The Heart will light the dark

Night will turn to day

When Bravepaw comes.

Titch and Huckleberry have set out on their journey. They find themselves lost in a swampy area. Luckily a new friend named Briar arrives to help them but she then shows them something terrible. This area is a terrific place to find mulberries but somehow all the local squirrels have been enslaved by an evil turtle named Muskeg. Muskeg has a gem around his neck and this seems to be where is power comes from. Titch realised this is connect with the dreadful curseworms you might remember from the first book. At this point I need to stop and say you do need to read Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria in order to make sense of this second installment. So once again Titch and her friends have to defeat several enemies and then find a way to continue their journey and fulfil the prophecy. 

Last night I re-entered the world of Bravepaw and the heroes Titch, Huckleberry and little Dollop. This is the second book in the series but so far I cannot find out how many more are planned. We discover in this second instalment that Titch and her team have to find all the 'Gems of Harmony'.  In this book they have found and restored the Clawstone. We also know they now have to go to the library city of Lexhelm where they will find clues about the other missing gems. So the way is open now for book three!

I was so disappointed Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria did not make the 2025 CBCA Younger Readers Notable list but now it is even more important that you don't lose sight of this series. They should be added to your school library - a great quest, terrific writing, memorable characters, inviting covers, Australian, and perfect for junior readers aged 7+. 

Titch, Huckleberry and Briar are some of my favourite characters in contemporary children’s literature, and a series like this shows that children’s books can be timeless, they can be the kind of book that doesn’t attach themselves to a specific time or era. These can be very powerful, because rather than connecting with readers through a time, place, or items they can recognise, they use themes and what makes us who we are to connect us with the story and the characters.  The Book Muse

Better Reading list three reasons to read Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire:

1. Who says you need to be a giant warrior to be a hero? Titch proves that even the smallest creatures can have the biggest hearts! She might be unsure at first, maybe she’s not Bravepaw after all, but one thing’s for sure: Titch won’t back down. She’s a great example that even when you feel small or ordinary, you’ve still got the power to be a hero. Plus, there are some magical gems along the way that might help too. Extra sparkles for that heroic flair!

2. The best part of any fantasy adventure? Magical prophecies that might come true! Titch needs to discover the truth about her quest, the legendary Bravepaw and the mysterious glowing green gem the turtle is wearing. What’s its connection to the fate of Alluria? How do the Gems of Harmony fit in? 

3. There’s so much mystery and wonder, you’ll want to unravel every single secret hidden in the pages.

Sure, there are monsters and gems, but the real magic in Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire is the unbreakable friendship between Titch and Huckleberry. They stick together, face dangers head-on and remind us that being brave isn’t just about fighting—it’s about supporting your friends, no matter what. This story shows that the strongest heroes are those who can rely on their loyal friends!

When I read the first Bravepaw book I immediately thought of the Redwall series (and other heroic animal stories) and it seems this was one of the inspirations for Lili Wilkinson. That's great but I do hope she only plans to write three or perhaps four books for her series. There are 22 books in the Redwall series - I think I read about four or five before I lost my stamina.

Here is a quote from the teachers notes for the first book:

‘Bravepaw sprung into existence over breakfast with my fabulous publisher Susannah Chambers. Our kids are besties, and we were discussing their reading and play. My kid Banjo loves reading funny, silly books like the Treehouse series and Real Pigeons, but when he plays, it’s deadly serious, high-stakes adventure. I found myself longing to introduce him to the classic children’s fantasy that I loved as a child – Brian Jacques’ Redwall, Tamora Pierce’s Alanna and Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn. But at the time he was still a bit too young for those. The Bravepaw series is an introduction to high fantasy for junior fiction readers. It’s got all the tropes, all the adventure, but packaged in an easy to read, early chapter book format, complete with Lavanya Naidu’s stunning illustrations.'

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by LM Wilkinson illustrated by Lavanya Naidu

Titch (full name Tithonia Proudleaf) has heard the legends of Bravepaw her whole life. Her home is on a very high plateau and no one ever leaves not even to explore the Great Forest below. Titch has one terrific friend - another mouse named Huckleberry. Titch has one important job - to look after the pufflings and on this day she is supposed to move them to a higher pasture but, on the day of this story, Titch and Huckleberry meet an injured warrior. A hare flying a hang glider. He has flown up to their plateau and he tells the startled mice his name is Prince Vetiver. If this was not amazing enough the prince is being pursued by horrid creatures called curseworms. They feed on colour and life. They want the gem Prince Vetiver has had attached to his staff. This gem (it is called a Heartstone) once belonged to Bravepaw. In the battle the staff is thrown down and in an amazing turn of events it is young Titch who picks it up. She is somehow able to wield the power of this precious stone and she manages to defeat the curseworms although they will attack again. What made this happen? Is this somehow linked to the story of Bravepaw? Could Titch have a destiny beyond her wildest imagination? Is this the beginning of the adventure she once craved and if so what other terrible dangers lie ahead? And what of the Prophecy:

When the sky fills with shadows

And all is turned to grey

Bravepaw will come.

When hope turns to ashes

And all have lost their way

Bravepaw will come.

The Heart will light the dark

Night will turn to day

When Bravepaw comes.

Here are a few text quotes to give you a flavour of this story:

"The crystal at the top of the staff blazed into life. A wave of bright light burst from it, flooding the edge of the Plateau with a rainbow of colours. The curseworms were blown away from the warrior like apple blossom in a strong spring breeze."

"There were a strange band of maybe thirty creatures, many different kind. Titch saw frogs and lizards, a hedgehog, a shrew, a sparrow and even a pair of rabbits. They all looked of a type, though, with matted fur and rough, dirty clothes decorated with bones and insect shells. They shouted and hissed at each other as they walked showing off sharp teeth and clows."

These are the grabbers - they raid villages for valuables to sell at the Midnight Market.

"One of the grabbers - a one-eyed lizard - seemed to be in charge. He wore a toad skull on his head and walked at the front of the group, wearing a coat covered in pockets. Each pocket contained an earthenware flask or jar sealed with wax, and a large iron key hung from his belt."

This book is certain to be a CBCA 2025 Younger Readers Notable. We really need more junior novels like this - easy to read, short chapters, and an engrossing action packed story with very likeable characters and just the right amount of tension and drama. Bravepaw is the full package. I love the character names - even the minor ones like Hyssop Buttonbrow and the invented creatures such as the puffling (not related to baby puffins) named Dollop. Along with curseworms we also meet a huge creature called an eaglebear. I have a feeling the eaglebear will return in the second installment and that he will come to the aid of Titch and Huckleberry.

Here is the web page for LM (Lilli) Wilkinson. The illustrations are terrific too by Lavanya Naidu.

You can see the puffling Dollop in this illustration

This promises to be a fantastic illustrated series. Imaginative and full of fast-paced action, the characters are fantastic with carefully chosen names which makes things more exciting. Kids' Book Review

This enchanting tale is about friendship, bravery, believing in yourself and doing the right thing by others.  Filled with adorable characters, from the lovable Titch and her faithful friend Huckleberry to the oh so cute little Dollop. I'm excited to read the next book to see what adventures and dangers await this little trio as they venture on their quest to heal the heart of Alluria. Little Squirrels Booshelf

In the book, Wilkinson creates a richly imagined fantasy world in Alluria, complete with its own lore, magic, and mythical elements. The Heartstone of Alluria, a central plot device, hints at ancient powers and secrets that drive the story. This detailed setting invites readers to escape into a fully-realised universe that’s full of imagination. Better Reading

Here is book two:

I can see the Bravepaw series working so well as a steppingstone to other more complex animal hero and quest stories such as these:

The Legend of Podkin One-Ear

Poppy

Endling

There are fifteen books in this series (including a prequel)