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Children of the Tithe
‘Second Star to the right and straight on “till morning”’, she had muttered, and the figure had laughed as its slender fingers enclosed her small hand and pulled her gently to her feet. ‘Yes’, it agreed. ‘Come, little Wendy - Bird’ …
Heidi was always told that she had an old soul for her age, so when she awoke and found herself and other children in a world of enchantment and fear, she knew she needed to get home, no matter what the consequences.
Leading a group of young survivors through an unknown world of savage beauty, Heidi has to keep her head and figure out which of the strange creatures they encounter are friendly ... and which are dangerous.
Some she is going to learn, can be both.
Heidi was always told that she had an old soul for her age, so when she awoke and found herself and other children in a world of enchantment and fear, she knew she needed to get home, no matter what the consequences.
Leading a group of young survivors through an unknown world of savage beauty, Heidi has to keep her head and figure out which of the strange creatures they encounter are friendly ... and which are dangerous.
Some she is going to learn, can be both.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2022
About the author
Tracey M Carvill
3 books6 followersAt the risk of starting off with a cliché, I've been reading and writing stories for as long as I can remember. I was always to be found with a book or a notebook in my hand as a child, and if I'm honest, nothing much has changed except sometimes the books or notes are on my phone!
Despite this, I only really had the nerve to start sending my work out to publishers in 2020 (yes, THAT year), perhaps due to the lack of other distractions. I was lucky enough to stumble upon SmashBear Publishing in 2021 after a recommendation from a friend, and they offered to publish the second story I submitted to them. Since then I moved to Elsewhen Press in 2025.
Other than writing, I have a great love for music and movies of many genres, but I am consistently drawn back to horror, dark fantasy and the spookier ide of things. I write what I would want to read, in other words. If I'm not enjoying it, I don't expect you to! And of course I read a lot - Anne Rice and Stephen King are my staples, along with gothic classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein getting regular revisits. And when I'm not writing or consuming stories, I'm living them - going for walks in nature for inspiration, or acting out stories in tabletop or live action roleplay games (that's right, I'm a HUGE geek and I would never change!).
Right now I live in Rochester in the UK with my black cat familiar Siouxsie, in a house that sadly doesn't quite give me a view of the castle and cathedral from my study window. I regularly wander the high street in the footsteps of Charles Dickens and tell myself off for not reading more of his work. Hey, I've read Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, okay? I'll get round to the others eventually...
As well as novels, I write a lot of short stories, which are occasionally featured on the excellent Scare You to Sleep podcast, read by Shelby Novak.
And the rest? Well, the rest has yet to be written...
Despite this, I only really had the nerve to start sending my work out to publishers in 2020 (yes, THAT year), perhaps due to the lack of other distractions. I was lucky enough to stumble upon SmashBear Publishing in 2021 after a recommendation from a friend, and they offered to publish the second story I submitted to them. Since then I moved to Elsewhen Press in 2025.
Other than writing, I have a great love for music and movies of many genres, but I am consistently drawn back to horror, dark fantasy and the spookier ide of things. I write what I would want to read, in other words. If I'm not enjoying it, I don't expect you to! And of course I read a lot - Anne Rice and Stephen King are my staples, along with gothic classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein getting regular revisits. And when I'm not writing or consuming stories, I'm living them - going for walks in nature for inspiration, or acting out stories in tabletop or live action roleplay games (that's right, I'm a HUGE geek and I would never change!).
Right now I live in Rochester in the UK with my black cat familiar Siouxsie, in a house that sadly doesn't quite give me a view of the castle and cathedral from my study window. I regularly wander the high street in the footsteps of Charles Dickens and tell myself off for not reading more of his work. Hey, I've read Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, okay? I'll get round to the others eventually...
As well as novels, I write a lot of short stories, which are occasionally featured on the excellent Scare You to Sleep podcast, read by Shelby Novak.
And the rest? Well, the rest has yet to be written...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 13, 2023
I heard the first chapter of this book on the Scare You to Sleep podcast and immediately bought it! I am obsessed. There were times I really needed to put this book down, but just could not because I had to know what was coming next! It is a definite page turner and unlike any fantasy book I’ve ever read. It’s horror meets fantasy in the most unexpected way. The twists and turns had me absolutely reeling.
Typically, I am pretty good at predicting what will happen next in a story, but with this one I was always surprised. It’s thrilling, scary, heartwarming, and sad. I haven’t felt this enthralled by a book since I read Harry Potter for the first time. I could not get enough of Children of the Tithe and I am really hoping for a sequel ASAP!!!
Typically, I am pretty good at predicting what will happen next in a story, but with this one I was always surprised. It’s thrilling, scary, heartwarming, and sad. I haven’t felt this enthralled by a book since I read Harry Potter for the first time. I could not get enough of Children of the Tithe and I am really hoping for a sequel ASAP!!!
August 28, 2023
I first heard this first chapter from the Scare You To Sleep podcast I listen to and was hooked on that first chapter and had to know how the story ended. If you loved fairytales as a child and want the nostalgia with a bit more horror thrown in this is the perfect book for you!
June 11, 2026
I bought Children of the Tithe directly from Tracey M Carvill at a local alternative market, and I’ve previously had conversations with her at events. She seems like a very fascinating person with a wide range of interests, and I just had to buy her book. This is her debut novel, but I understand that she has published a book of short stories as well. This one is book 1 of the changeling trilogy, and after reading it I am definitely excited for the other two.
The story starts with Heidi, 12, who wakes up in a strange field surrounded by lots of children, all seemingly lost. With a little band they try to get themselves to safety and start wondering on how to get back home. Soon, they realise they’re in Faerie, surrounded by creatures they’ve never come across, many of them meaning them harm. The quest to find out what happened is dangerous, and trying to find out how to get back to their own world even more so.
Despite taking place in Faerie, this book definitely lands not in a fairytale for children but in the horror category for me. There are a lot of familiar and not so familiar creatures that are all interested in the main characters in one way or another, and the children are facing some hard challenges with very real struggles. I liked the prose, I found the way the children were portrayed and their decision making process very authentic, and I found the little snippets we got of “our world” were placed just right to give a break at an intense moment and a lot of background information. It all felt very realistic, as if something like that could happen to our world at any time.
The tone of the book was enjoyable and stable throughout, it reminded me a lot of the Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski – a world where fairytale characters are real but not usually in the way you want them to be, and the world is dangerous and scary even for the little ones. But where the main character nonetheless tries to make the best decisions possible, and beats himself up about it when he fails anyone, be that monster or human. The emotions are what make it real, even if everything else is fantasy.
Altogether, it was a fantastic read and scratched an itch I wasn’t aware I had, as I’m always on the hunt for more books that make me feel the way the Witcher does. I can’t wait for the next one.
The story starts with Heidi, 12, who wakes up in a strange field surrounded by lots of children, all seemingly lost. With a little band they try to get themselves to safety and start wondering on how to get back home. Soon, they realise they’re in Faerie, surrounded by creatures they’ve never come across, many of them meaning them harm. The quest to find out what happened is dangerous, and trying to find out how to get back to their own world even more so.
Despite taking place in Faerie, this book definitely lands not in a fairytale for children but in the horror category for me. There are a lot of familiar and not so familiar creatures that are all interested in the main characters in one way or another, and the children are facing some hard challenges with very real struggles. I liked the prose, I found the way the children were portrayed and their decision making process very authentic, and I found the little snippets we got of “our world” were placed just right to give a break at an intense moment and a lot of background information. It all felt very realistic, as if something like that could happen to our world at any time.
The tone of the book was enjoyable and stable throughout, it reminded me a lot of the Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski – a world where fairytale characters are real but not usually in the way you want them to be, and the world is dangerous and scary even for the little ones. But where the main character nonetheless tries to make the best decisions possible, and beats himself up about it when he fails anyone, be that monster or human. The emotions are what make it real, even if everything else is fantasy.
Altogether, it was a fantastic read and scratched an itch I wasn’t aware I had, as I’m always on the hunt for more books that make me feel the way the Witcher does. I can’t wait for the next one.
February 9, 2026
I really liked this one! Carvill has crafted a chilling narrative that takes on every parent's worst fear and magnifies it exponentially into a story about the dangers of progress for progress's sake, as well as the fine line that the world walks between civilization and destruction - and how readily that line can be breached. Along the way, she introduces readers to a delightful (and dark) cast of characters drawn from myth and magic and a group of children with indomitable spirit despite a parade of horribles that is truly terrifying.
It's not a story for the faint of heart. This is dark like the original Grimm tales were dark. There is violence and aggression, lies and manipulation - and it's primarily targeted at children. It is tough to read at times as a result, but Carvill does a nice job balancing that weighty darkness with moments of joy and levity and grace - although they are not as frequent as you'll want them to be!
There are allusions to so many stories and iconographies here; it's a delight to see them folded together into a comprehensive world that is gloriously complex and viciously beautiful. The ending definitely leaves this one open for more, which is a good thing because you're definitely going to want to visit this world again, darkness and all!
Thank you to the author and the wonderful folks at Elsewhen Press for my obligation-free review copy.
It's not a story for the faint of heart. This is dark like the original Grimm tales were dark. There is violence and aggression, lies and manipulation - and it's primarily targeted at children. It is tough to read at times as a result, but Carvill does a nice job balancing that weighty darkness with moments of joy and levity and grace - although they are not as frequent as you'll want them to be!
There are allusions to so many stories and iconographies here; it's a delight to see them folded together into a comprehensive world that is gloriously complex and viciously beautiful. The ending definitely leaves this one open for more, which is a good thing because you're definitely going to want to visit this world again, darkness and all!
Thank you to the author and the wonderful folks at Elsewhen Press for my obligation-free review copy.
April 19, 2023
This is the first time I have read this type of book, I’m normally into thrillers or wartime family lives, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and would highly recommend it to any reader especially if you like fantasy stories with real in depth description of the people, ‘things’ and their surroundings during their voyage.
Absolutely loved it.
Absolutely loved it.
December 12, 2023
I'm normally not a fantasy reader but heard the first chapter on the Scare You to Sleep podcast and was hooked. This was such a fun read and a great introduction into the fantasy world for me. The pov from a child's perspective was very good and I had no idea where the story was going to end up. Now I'm impatiently waiting to see if a sequel is coming.
September 8, 2023
Amazing book. Had me hooked right away.
October 18, 2023
A great story, particularly for this time of year!! So atmospheric and such great characters!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews