Read by Ann Beach

Verdigris (n.): a blue-green rust that tarnishes ageing and forgotten copper coins, altering them entirely … One evening, Ryan and his friends steal some coins from a well. Soon after, strange things begin to happen. Peculiar burn marks appear on Ryan's knuckles and light bulbs mysteriously explode. Then the well witch appears, with her fountains for eyes and gargled demands. From now on the kids who've stolen from her must serve her-and the wishes rotting at the bottom of her well. "Vivid and imaginative." "Deliciously shiver-inducing…Fans of dark fantasies such as Neil Gaiman's Coraline will find this tale irresistible." "There's no denying Hardinge's power as a storyteller, her ability to create beautiful, precise imagery, or her expectation that her readers will grasp the subtle ideas and reflections woven into the novel." "Inescapably chilling…a dark, polished gem." "A deliciously creepy tale…There is a vividness and energy to Hardinge's imagination that makes almost every moment of this absorbing story shine with light or glossy darkness."

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