Sunlit Lands

Madeline, a teenager with terminal lung disease, meets a mysterious stranger who offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service in his world, the Sunlit Lands. Madeline and her friend Jason travel to the Sunlit Lands to work for the Elenil people. There is much to discover and enjoy as privileged members of the fantastical Elenil society, but Madeline and Jason soon learn that magic must be bought at a high price.

After destroying the Crescent Stone, Madeline returns home, bringing Shula and Yenil with her. As her health continues to deteriorate, Madeline feels the Sunlit Lands calling her back. Meanwhile, Jason, Darius, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Sunlit Lands fight for survival and freedom. The magic that fuels the land is failing, threatening to destroy them all. Will Madeline's return save the land and its people? Matt's signature humor and epic storytelling are once again on full display in The Heartwood Crown.

In the Sunlit Lands, teenagers fight in a magic war against a terrible enemy. But, once a year, all such things are set aside for a Christmas celebration, with kids from around the world sharing their traditions, their stories, and their memories of home. Join Madeline Oliver, Jason Wu, and Shula Bishara as each one shares their own moving Christmas tale.

A cursed city. A hidden enemy. An ancient wrong. Bumbling goofball Jason Wu reunites with the incomparable warrior Baileya in an attempt to find a happy ending for a city of people who are frozen in time, unable to connect with the outside world. This standalone story takes place between The Heartwood Crown and The Story King, from The Sunlit Lands series.