What happens when the freckles on a girl's body suddenly begin to glow with strange green lights? The doors open to a fantastic universe poised to carve out its own unique place in Maltese literature. Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru by Matthew Schembri, newly published by Merlin Publishers, is the first book in an ambitious four-part series titled Ta' Taħt Fuq. The series creates a fantasy world in which personal experiences take on a powerful literary form, and metaphors come alive in a vividly imagined universe.
The story follows Camilla, a 15-year-old girl whose body is covered in freckles. One day, she peers into the mouth of an ancient well - and something extraordinary happens. Her freckles begin to glow with an intense green light, setting her off on an adventure that will change everything. When she meets Mark, the strange events in Camilla's life take a new turn. Everything begins to turn upside down as she slowly uncovers a hidden truth - about who she really is, and what the freckles that have always speckled her body, really mean.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the project, Schembri explains that the original idea had been growing and evolving for more than a decade: "Some ideas don't sleep. This book, this quartet, is a love letter to my mother. But it's also a thank you [...] to cancer. Without the two of them, this project wouldn't have been possible." The series was thus born from the author's personal experience, where illness in the family was transformed into a creative metaphor through which he crafted the story's fantasy world. In the novel, however, the reference to illness is allegorical and cleverly concealed behind a story of magic and adventure that grips readers from the very first page.
Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru draws heavily on literary and cultural references from various sources, including films and television series. When asked about the influences behind his writing, Schembri explained that his work brings together elements from Shakespeare to Stranger Things. Maltese folklore plays a particularly strong role, especially the tales from Ħrejjef Missirijietna by Manwel Magri, which serve as the foundation for the series. The author also draws inspiration from various contemporary literary sources and combines everything into a fantasy world where emotionally rich realities are interwoven with the strange and mysterious.
Schembri is a multimedia artist, writer and poet who won the Youth Literature Prize in 2016 with his debut novel, Stessi. After publishing his poetry collection Ħassartek, he was awarded the Emerging Author Award from the National Book Council in 2022. His work has been translated into English, French and Croatian.
The book's cover, designed by artist Pierre Portelli, offers a powerful visual reflection of the story's themes. The innovative design features the face of an adolescent girl, surrounded by rays of green light beaming from each freckle on her face, with a network of twisting lines circling around her like mysterious root tentacles.
Portelli shares some thoughts about the inspiration that led to the cover idea: "Matthew's writing always sparks vivid images and scenes that inspire visual curiosity and interest. These naturally influence the direction I take in designing the cover. Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru is full of such moments! The girl on the cover seems to call out to you, as if her voice echoes from the bookshelf."
In addition to the story itself, the book includes a QR code that leads readers to a sweet surprise, adding another layer to the immersive world created by the author.
Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru is suitable for children aged 11 and up, but it's just as compelling for readers aged 30, 40, 50 or 99. "My hope is that for you this won't be just a book, but an experience," says Schembri, as he invites readers to explore this magical world alongside Camilla and Mark, and discover where the QR code might lead.
Il-Missjoni tal-Mostru is available for purchase from bookshops or directly from the website www.merlinpublishers.com.