In the shadowed heart of an ancient castle, a tale of magic, mystery, and destiny unfolds. "Cinders and Sparrows," a spellbinding novel by Stefan Bachmann, beckons readers into a world where the line between friend and foe blurs, and the legacy of witchcraft beckons one young girl to discover her true power. Twelve-year-old Zita Brydgeborn, an orphan with nothing to her name but a heart full of courage, finds herself the unexpected heiress to the sinister Blackbird Castle—a place shrouded in dark secrets and a haunting past. As the last of the witching Brydgeborn line, Zita must quickly master the arcane arts and uncover the castle’s mysteries before the shadows of history repeat themselves. With an unlikely band of allies, including a wise crow, a spectral girl with green eyes, and two loyal servants, Zita delves into the castle's enchantments and dangers. Under the tutelage of the enigmatic Mrs. Cantanker, Zita learns that her inheritance is far more perilous than she ever imagined, and her destiny is intertwined with the fate of the castle itself. Bachmann weaves a mesmerizing story of resilience, friendship, and the search for one's place in a world brimming with magic. As Zita faces a formidable enemy that has plagued her ancestors, she must summon the strength to protect her new home and become the witch she is destined to be. "Cinders and Sparrows" is an enthralling journey through a bewitched realm, where every corner holds a new spell to be discovered and every shadow may hide a friend or a foe.