Loki by Melvin Burgess: review

 

My review of Melvin Burgess' new adult novel, LOKI, is in the Guardian on Saturday. You can read it online here.

Two Nature Books reviewed for The London Magazine

I've reviewed two books about nature, Patrick Galbraith's In Search of One Last Song, and Amanda Thomson's Belonging, for the London Magazine.

Wildlord hits the USA

 

I'm absolutely delighted that Wildlord, my teen fantasy novel, has been published in America (by the fabulous team at Little Island). YAbookscentral have published an interview to mark its appearance. You can read it here.

When new books appear, I sometimes feel a bit sad about old ones, so I'm just going to give a little shout out to The Arrow of Apollo, The Double Axe, and The Darkening Path trilogy - all of which are still available. You can buy them here.

Spanish Edition of How to Teach Classics to Your Dog

 I'm thrilled by my editions of the Spanish version of How to Teach Classics to Your Dog, published by Ediciones Paidos and translated by Pablo Hermida Lazcano.

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner: Rereading

 I've done a re-reading column on The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner for The Times, in light of his short-listing for the Booker prize for Treacle Walker. It's online now and will be in the paper on Saturday.

Fairy Tale by Stephen King: review

 

I've reviewed Stephen King's latest novel, Fairy Tale, for The Times Literary Supplement. You can read the review here.

All the Broken Places by John Boyne: review

 I've reviewed John Boyne's latest novel, All the Broken Places, for The Guardian. It's a sequel (of sorts) to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Read it here.

The Bad Angel Brothers by Paul Theroux: review Spectator World

 
I've reviewed Paul Theroux's latest novel, THE BAD ANGEL BROTHERS, for The Spectator World. You can read it here.

We Had to Remove this Post by Hanna Bervoets: review

 I've reviewed Hanna Bervoets' novel about content moderation for the TLS: read it here.

Spanish edition of How to Teach Classics to Your Dog

 It's always a thrill to see a foreign edition of a book, and the translator, Pablo Hermida Lazcano, has kindly alerted me to the Spanish cover of How to Teach Classics to Your Dog. It will be published by Ediciones Paidos.

Children's Round up for July issue, Literary Review

 I've reviewed five children's books for Literary Review's July issue.

Wished by Lissa Evans
Small! by Hannah Moffat

Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna

Escape to the River Sea by Emma Carroll

The Imagination Chamber by Philip Pullman.

The Young Accomplice by Benjamin Wood: review

 

I've reviewed Benjamin Wood's new novel, THE YOUNG ACCOMPLICE, for The Financial Times. Read it here.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy: Rereading

 I was delighted to do a Re-reading column for The Times, about The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy. You can read it here.

The Twilight World by Werner Herzog: review

 

My review of Werner Herzog's novel, THE TWILIGHT WORLD, in Spectator World.

Flint and Mirror by John Crowley: review

 

I've reviewed John Crowley's Flint and Mirror for the Spectator's World Edition. You can read it here.

Bolla by Patjim Statovci

 

I've reviewed Bolla by Patjim Statovci for the Financial Times. Read it here.

Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford: review

 

Good morning all, I reviewed a lovely book by Natalie Standiford called ASTRID SEES ALL, for The Spectator US edition. You can read it here.

WRITE YOUR OWN MYTHS hits Korea.

 I love seeing foreign editions - and the Korean edition of WRITE YOUR OWN MYTHS has appeared. Looks lovely. Published by Booksetong Co.

Dispatches by Philip Womack in the London Magazine

 I'm delighted that my short story, Dispatches, is in the London Magazine. You can read it here.

Three Children's Books for Literary Review

 I've reviewed three children's books for the March issue of Literary Review: Aftershocks by Anne Fine, Furthermoor by Darren Simpson, and Carnival of the Lost by Kieran Larwood. Read the review here.

A Class of Their Own: Adventures in Tutoring the Super-Rich by Matt Knott: review

 

I found much to enjoy in Matt Knott's book about tutoring, A Class of Their Own, reviewed for The Spectator here.

Winchelsea by Alex Preston: review

 I've reviewed Alex Preston's historical novel, Winchelsea, for The Guardian, here.

The Runes Have Been Cast by Robert Irwin: review

 

I've enjoyed Robert Irwin's novels over the years (in particular, Satan Wants Me, a deliciously clever novel about, well, black magic), and so was delighted to be asked to review his latest, The Runes Have Been Cast, for the Times Literary Supplement. You can read the piece here.

Re-reading The Prisoner of Zenda

 I've done a Re-Reading column on The Prisoner of Zenda for The Times. Swoon!

The Liberators: First Paragraph

 

Blackwood darted through the crowds like lightning, his feet pounding on the pavement, splashing in puddles. The chill of December seared through his bones. Around him the press of people on their Friday shopping trips surged and flowed; a flock of pigeons scattered, startled. Blackwood pushed past an old lady, overturning her trolley. He saw a railing ahead of him, checked behind, and leaped over it in one bound, landing lightly on the other side. It was raining, and he was panting, and he could feel the taste of blood in his mouth, and drops of tangy sweat rolled down his cheeks. The stab wound in his shoulder throbbed. He had been running for half an hour, and he had lost all communication with Hunter, and one of the Liberators was just behind him. 

From The Liberators by Philip Womack: get it here.

A Plug for Francis Plug

 

I reviewed the deliciously comic Francis Plug: Writer in Residence by Paul Ewen for Reviews by Writers. Read it here.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors: review

 

Good afternoon, I've reviewed Coco Mellors' debut novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, for Spectator World. You can read the piece here.

The Liberators back in print

I decided to try out Print on Demand, as I like the idea of keeping back list titles alive. The Liberators was my second novel, and it came out 12 years ago. It was about a young boy, Ivo, who comes to London and finds some distinctly strange things going on. It's dark and weird and won some fans (including a girl who told me at the Young Adult Literature Convention that it was her favourite book.) 

It also deals with some of the same themes as my in print books, particularly Wildlord, which sees an older boy going off to Suffolk and encountering a mage-like figure. So I thought I'd bring it back. I hope it may find new readers.

You can buy it on Amazon here.

More Wildlord news and Happy New Year

 Eoin Colfer (whose Artemis Fowl is a classic) runs a wonderful book podcast on which he interviews children's authors. The equally excellent Jonathan Stroud was interviewed in episode 6 - and said some very kind things about Wildlord. You can hear the episode here. 

And meanwhile, Lesley Watts has chosen Wildlord as her book of the week. You can read her lovely review here.

It's a great thrill to hear from readers. With three (very different) books out in 2021, and with all the problems of lockdowns, it's been harder for new books to find their place. 

 I hope that new readers will also look back to my older books - The Double Axe and The Arrow of Apollo, as well as The Darkening Path trilogy. You can buy them all here.

Happy New Year to all!