In a quiet corner of Essex, where the shadows of old stories linger and imagination still seeps through the cracks in everyday life, Jordan Lees began building a world of his own. That world—Wreathenwold—is a labyrinth of forgotten alleyways, secret doors, and peculiar magic, now brought to life in The Whisperwicks series, a breakout in contemporary middle-grade fantasy.
Though new to bookshelves, Lees isn’t new to the magic of storytelling. A lifelong reader shaped by the mythic depth of Neil Gaiman and the emotional resonance of Philip Pullman, he started writing the early threads of The Whisperwicks more than a decade before its publication. At the time, he was working behind the scenes in publishing—first in royalties, then as a literary agent—quietly sketching out the bones of a story that would one day carry a curious boy named Benjamiah Creek into the heart of a living labyrinth.
Lees’s writing is grounded in wonder but never strays far from emotional truth. His stories lean into themes of grief, friendship, and resilience, all set against the backdrop of shape-shifting creatures and sentient cities. Every child in Wreathenwold possesses a magical “poppet”—an object infused with personality, power, and sometimes mischief. But beneath the enchantment is a deeper pulse: an invitation to imagine, to remember, and to believe in the power of stories to heal and transform.
His debut, The Labyrinth of Lost and Found, made an immediate impression, sparking a major publishing deal and capturing interest across Europe with translations into multiple languages. It's a rare first novel that feels both classic and entirely new—lush with world-building yet paced with the urgency of a child navigating loss and discovery.
Born in Scotland and raised in England, Lees draws from both places in his work: the ancient, wind-swept folklore of the north and the cozy, uncanny corners of British suburbia. His voice is lyrical yet grounded, painting vivid scenes that feel ready to step into.
Jordan Lees may be a new name in children's literature, but the world he’s created already feels timeless. With more Whisperwicks books on the horizon, his journey is just beginning—though, as his readers know well, every good story starts with a single door, slightly ajar.
