Jed is a humble Leaf Guilder . but the power of Leaf ripples through his veins. Only by successfully competing in a death-defying tournament, set in a magical Dickensian Britain, can he bring honour to his name! A new standalone adventure story from the best-selling author of The World of Podkin One-Ear. Each year, the six Guilds of Albion compete within it and hope to receive royal favour. Oliver Cromwell is clearly controlling the elderly puppet queen, and there are ruthless Guild members at every turn. Jed, with his piercing green eyes, has just discovered that he has the Guild power of Leaf - and so is whisked away to join the last few members of the weakest Guild in the land. In a crumbling house, he learns how to harness his powers, cover himself over with bark, and talk to the trees! He trains on a strange mechanical contraption to compete at The Punchbowl, a terrifying forested amphitheatre filled with dangerous traps . But Jed is not motivated by winning - he just wants to get home in one piece, and protect the friends he meets along the way.

But it's only by banding together and listening to the trees as well as each other can he and his comrades really triumph.