Loukko by 
Original title: Mantikoran
Author: Maria Turtschaninoff
Illustrator: Peter Bergting
Published: 2024
Publisher: SWEDEN: Raben &Sjögren/Förlaget (orig.), FINLAND: Tammi
Genre: Middle Grade (8-12 Years)
Reading material:
Full English PDF & Swedish edition
An illustrated middle grade novel and supernatural thriller that turns a young girl’s emotions into a magic-realistic fantasy adventure - can her new stepmother be trusted or is she a dangerous ancient monster?
The Manticore is told from the perspective of a young girl called Li, who starts suspecting that her stepmother is in fact a Manticore, an ancient monster intending on devouring the protagonist and her baby brother. She realizes that no one can help her because no one would believe her. So as the Manticore starts fattening up the children, the protagonist hunts for a way to defeat her. She soon realizes that the only way to kill a Manticore is with a mythical object: the horn of a unicorn. But where can she possibly find one?
Maria Turtschaninoff is a multiple award-winning fantasy author, published in 30 countries, and Peter Bergting is the author and/or illustrator of over 50 books of fantasy, sci-fi and horror.
"Turtschaninoff, who is a confident stylist, creates a really nasty atmosphere that draws its discomfort from the horror of fairy tales and myths of being eaten by monsters. THE MANTICORE is a tightly wound creepy children's book. The language is nuanced, and Turtschaninoff excels in accurate phrasing about the monster that no longer lives under Li's bed, but lies in the next room beside Dad in the double bed."
- Maria Lassen-Seger of the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper
Download reading materials
Rights sold:
SWEDEN: Raben &Sjögren/Förlaget (orig.), FINLAND: Tammi
DENMARK: Bogoo
UKRAINE: V. Books - XXI/The Black Sheep
