{"title":"Books by Annelise Gray","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781800240582","title":"Circus Maximus: Race to the Death","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCircus Maximus, the greatest sporting stage of the ancient Roman world, where the best horses and charioteers compete in a race to the death, and one girl dreams of glory. \u003ci\u003eBen Hur\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eNational Velvet\u003c\/i\u003e in the ultimate 9-12 adventure story by debut children's author, Annelise Gray. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwelve-year-old Dido dreams of becoming the first female charioteer at the great Circus Maximus. She's lost her heart to Porcellus, a wild, tempestuous horse she longs to train and race. But such ambitions are forbidden to girls and she must be content with helping her father Antonius  – the trainer of Rome's most popular racing team, The Greens – and teaching the rules of racing to Justus, the handsome young nephew of the Greens' wealthy owner. When her father is brutally murdered, she is forced to seek refuge with an unlikely ally. But what of her dream of Circus triumphs and being reunited with the beloved horse she left behind in Rome? And the threat to her life isn't over as she faces a powerful and terrifying new enemy... the emperor Caligula.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'I loved this adventure – full of brilliant horses, and a determined heroine following her dreams against all the odds. Looking forward to discovering what's in store for them next' Pippa Funnell, MBE \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205564039346,"sku":"9781800240582","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800240582_2723899a-78cf-4825-87a9-246fc1741aa4.jpg?v=1786026933"},{"product_id":"9781800240612","title":"Circus Maximus: Rivals On the Track","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDido is the only girl ever to have raced to victory at the Circus Maximus, Rome's greatest sporting arena. Now she and her beloved horse, Porcellus, are in hiding, and Emperor Caligula has put a price on their heads. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCan she outwit the emperor and his bounty hunters? And will a shocking family secret stop her in her tracks, or spur her on to make a daring return, helped by a one-eyed mare with a heart as brave as her own?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHorses, history, mystery, thrilling entertainment and sensational storytelling race neck and neck through the second pulse-pounding adventure in Annelise Gray's 9 + series set in Ancient Rome.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I loved this adventure – full of brilliant horses, and a determined heroine following her dreams against all the odds. Looking forward to discovering what's in store for them next' \u003cb\u003ePippa Funnell, MBE, three-time Equestrian Olympic medalist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205589401778,"sku":"9781800240612","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781800240612.jpg?v=1786026934"},{"product_id":"9781803281070","title":"Circus Maximus: Rider of the Storm","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDido gallops headlong into her third adventure, following her escapades in the riveting and action-packed \u003ci\u003eRace to the Death\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eRivals on the Track\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDido is reconciled to leaving the racing track and staying at home to train horses with Scorpus and Parmenion. But a storm is brewing. It brings with it a fiery black stallion, uncannily like Dido's beloved Porcellus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWord arrives from Rome that her cousin, Abibaal, a talented young charioteer, has been recruited to compete for the evil emperor, Caligula. To save Abibaal, Dido must return to the great Circus Maximus track where she once drove to glory herself, confront her enemy Caligula, and face the toughest, most dangerous race of her life. For 9+.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Rich in period detail, with a few real historical characters – its principal invention the idea that a woman might have been a charioteer – this is an involving, well characterised tale that feels original' \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e, Children's Book of the Week, on \u003ci\u003eRace to the Death\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205704089778,"sku":"9781803281070","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781803281070.jpg?v=1786027018"},{"product_id":"9781803281117","title":"Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHistorical Association \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eYoung Quills Shortlist 2025\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFiv\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003ee Book\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003es\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e BEST NEW BOOKS FOR KIDS 2024\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Imagine \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eREVIEWERS' BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2024\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe conclusion of the Circus Maximus series set in Ancient Rome full of fabulous horses, thrilling adventures and an unforgettable heroine called Dido.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen her beloved horse Porcellus sires a new foal, Dido hopes he will be the missing piece in her quest to train the greatest team ever seen at the Circus Maximus. But grief and a desire for revenge are clouding her judgement.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen her old friend Parmenion asks her to shelter the runaway son of her bitterest rival and help him fulfil his dream of becoming a charioteer. Can Dido and the boy, Damon, help each other find a way out of darkness? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd who will claim the right to be known as the sport’s ultimate champion in one last battle for racing glory?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44582962495666,"sku":"9781803281117","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781803281117_cf48de20-53fe-4df8-8cad-d678d0032f7f.jpg?v=1786027019"},{"product_id":"9781035911011","title":"The Odyssey of Phoebe Quilliam","description":"\u003cp\u003e'An ideal class reader... Highly recommended'  \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Reading List\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Truly original'  \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEnglish 4 – 11 Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A fantastic mythical, timeslip adventure'\u003ci\u003e  \u003cb\u003eJuno Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA mythical timeslip story about family, love, loss and memory, with an epic sea voyage at its heart, inspired by the legend of Odysseus.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhoebe dreams of becoming an artist like her grandmother, Cass, a brilliant storyteller who has passed on her love of Greek myths to Phoebe. But Cass is disappearing before Phoebe’s eyes, lost to a cruel illness that is destroying her memory. When Phoebe ruins Cass's seascape inspired by childhood holidays on the Greek island of Ithaca, she is mysteriously swept away to a fantasy world that resembles her favourite myth of all –  The Odyssey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere Phoebe is caught up in a young boy’s mission to find his long-lost father – a shipbuilder to King Odysseus, last seen going off to fight in the Trojan War – and faces an epic quest of her own. To seek the shape-shifting monster whose ravenous and growing power may hold the key to Phoebe fighting her own demons. Only by defeating the monster and facing her fears, will she have any hope of finding her way home and back to Cass.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55897352995189,"sku":"9781035911011","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781035911011_d70e1a73-2e53-4cdf-bebf-5e336be319cc.jpg?v=1786017358"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-annelise-gray.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}