A gorgeous, bewitching story of two outcast girls whose lives are twisted by an ancient prophecy.

Who will be queen of the witches?The babies were born as the clock struck twelve.

A bat fell from the air mid-flight. A silver salmon floated dead to the surface of the river.

Snails withered in their shells, moths turned to dust on the night breeze and an owl ate its young.

The spell had been cast. Poppy Hooper has managed to deceive her father into believing that there is nothing mysterious or unnatural about her.

He ignores the cats that find her wherever she goes, the spiders that weave beautiful lacy patterns for her, even her eyes - one blue, one green with an extra black dot orbiting the pupil. Ember Hawkweed is a pitiful excuse for a witch. When the other girls in her coven brew vile potions, Ember makes soap and perfume.

Fair and pretty, Ember is more like a chaff than a witch.

When the two girls meet, Poppy discovers her powers, and finds out the truth.

Bound by their unlikely friendship and the boy they both love, the girls try and find their place in the world.

But the time of the prophecy draws nearer - and the witches won't give up the throne without a fight.