Kingdom of the Sunless Winter

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the weight of family responsibility or when a parent is facing a personal crisis that feels impossible to explain to a young mind. It is a powerful allegorical tool for discussing how parents fight internal battles, such as mental health struggles or illness, to protect their children. The story follows Igor, a father cursed by a malevolent serpent, who must choose between a terrible sacrifice and a desperate fight for his family's future. While the high-fantasy setting of pirates, fairies, and magic provides plenty of excitement, the core of the book is about the profound bond between father and son. It validates a child's sense of bravery while reassuring them that they are worth fighting for. Best suited for middle-grade readers aged 8 to 12, this narrative offers a safe, mythological space to explore themes of resilience, the battle between good and evil, and the importance of holding onto hope when things feel dark.