Stephen R. Pratt

The boy with no name. Some say he was born of the woods-where monsters live, and trees don't always stay still. Magic is dying. Steel is rising. And the King who just conquered Ashville has announced a wishing well. That part sounds lovely. What sounds less lovely is that the townspeople will be enslaved to mine the land of its lead- and that anyone who resists is dealt with harshly. Nearby, in the deadly Ash Forest, survival is the only name a boy needs, especially when you've only got one arm and the forest seems hungry.
But when the only person who ever cared for him is sentenced to a very public end in the King's crocodile moat, survival stops being enough. To stop the King and his army of rock demons, the boy must find a fabled sword said "to join the land by splitting it." Its power could restore magic. or tear the world apart. Joined by a girl with a dangerous secret, a giant wolf with a heart of gold, and a wooden puppet with a troubling lack of self-control, the boy with no name is about to discover that you don't have to be whole to save a broken world. Inside this epic (and often funny) adventure, you'll find: Man-eating plants-and other things that bite.
A mythical sword with inconvenient prophecies. A heartfelt quest filled with danger, wonder, and hope.  Ash Forest (and the King's Gold) is a wholesome middle-grade fantasy (ages 8-13) that blends Arthurian legend with Norse grit and a sharp sense of humor. Featuring a brave hero with a limb difference and a strong female lead, it's a story about found family, courage, and standing up to power-told with sword fights, witches, and more than a few surprises.
Perfect for readers who enjoy The Princess Bride, Percy Jackson, and The Lord of the Rings-with an uplifting ending.