Annabelle

by Russell Cornhill

Annabelle is sixteen when she is summoned by the Eldest, the oldest living tree in The Land. The Eldest gives her a mission: she must convince the ruler of the humans that the dust of progress is about the envelop The Land, killing every living thing.

To save The Land, the humans, particularly The Company, must change their ways.

Accompanied by a white owl and an eagle, Annabelle makes her way back to the city. She encounters different people, machines and hybrids - some helpful, some not. Will the ruler even deign to see her? Will anybody important talk with her? Will anybody listen?

The Eldest also gave her a side quest: to collect a pumpkin. No one, not even Annabelle, realises that the future of the human race depends on her and something a cook might use to make a pie.

And all the time the dust is getting thicker ...

150 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2022

Reviews

[Ron Bell]

Ok no spoilers here, I enjoyed reading this one and at first, though it seemed a little slow to take off ( or perhaps I just didn’t give it the time it was ultimately due) it certainly picked up the pace as it went along. In the end I couldn’t put it down.

You know those books that leave you thinking “hmm” for a long time to come? Well this is one of them…

Looking forward to the next one for sure.

Good job Russell.

You left me hanging… In a good way (-;

[Abby Dinsmore]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Thought-Provoking Modern Fable That Lingers Long After the Last Page

Annabelle by Russell Cornhill is one of those rare stories that feels both timeless and strikingly relevant. From the moment the Eldest entrusts a sixteen-year-old girl with a message to save The Land, I was pulled into a world where innocence meets destiny and where every choice carries a deeper meaning.

Cornhill’s storytelling blends allegory, fantasy, and social reflection with beautiful subtlety. The world he’s built where hybrids, machines, and nature all struggle for survival mirrors our own in ways that make you pause and think. Through Annabelle’s eyes, we’re reminded of what’s lost when humanity drifts too far from compassion, balance, and the natural world.

The prose is lyrical yet accessible, and every encounter along Annabelle’s journey adds another layer of wisdom and heart. This isn’t just a fantasy story it’s a mirror held up to our times.

Highly recommended for readers who love stories that carry meaning like The Alchemist or Life of Pi and who believe that imagination can still change the way we see the world.