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For centuries it has been locked away
Lost beneath the sea
Warded from earth, air, water, fire, spirits, thought and sight.
But now magic is rising to the world once more.
And a boy called Gavin, who thinks only that he is a city kid with parents who hate him, and knows only that he sees things no one else will believe, is boarding a train, alone, to Cornwall.
No one will be there to meet him.
Lost beneath the sea
Warded from earth, air, water, fire, spirits, thought and sight.
But now magic is rising to the world once more.
And a boy called Gavin, who thinks only that he is a city kid with parents who hate him, and knows only that he sees things no one else will believe, is boarding a train, alone, to Cornwall.
No one will be there to meet him.
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Reviews
'Treadwell makes marvels from the simplest materials . . . and brings his landscape to frightening and fascinating life. Readers of Susan Cooper and Alan Garner will rejoice'
Treadwell's novel . . . defies description . . . The fantasy at the heart of the story is intricately imagined; sometimes so intricately that it verges on unintelligible. But it is also intriguing, strange, dark, occasionally incoherent and absolutely worth a read. Maybe even a second one, to figure out all the things you missed the first time.
'A beautifully written novel. Treadwell has the mother of all graphs on the English language! A perfect depiction of the perfect setting . . . Classic and unbeatable formula . . . This isn't just any YA novel, this is an astoundingly intelligent YA novel. This is a genuinely gorgeous read, and I can't wait for book two.'
The writing in this book is particularly beautiful and descriptive and captures the allure of the Cornish countryside . . . The darkness, chilling characters and states of abject terror are vivaciously described in this richly filled world . . . a remarkable first novel . . . inventive and innovative
'The first in a trilogy, this is an interesting and original tale, bringing a fresh outlook to old stories, and the characters are well-realised . . . clever twists keep you hooked, and the ending and coda make it well worth the read.'
James Treadwell tells two linked stories in ADVENT, his first (and stunningly ambitious) novel . . . ADVENT's sweeping historical scale and sense of the past infuse it throughout, rising to an unsettling crescendo that feels like the gut thrill of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain . . . I wondered, too, if kids were really up to this level of complexity. Upon reflection, I think yes.
James Treadwell's debut fantasy novel, ADVENT, is nothing short of magical. It is a rich tapestry of light and dark which has been spun deftly thanks to some delicately intricate - yet nonetheless accessible - prose that stimulates the senses magnificently and so begs the reader to learn more, whether aficionados of the genre or not.
'There is something profoundly different about ADVENT. Perhaps it is the atmosphere of history, magic and mystery it exudes, or maybe the curiosity of the characters. Or it could even be the beauty, the manipulation of the English Language that James Treadwell so clearly is a master of. Either way, you know you have something special in your hands even before the story begins . . . '
This mesmerizing fantasy draws aside the thin veil between the magical and the mundane to reveal the chaos that might be unleashed if we had to share our world with creatures long dismissed as legends. Told with great warmth and insight, ADVENT is an epic tale that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.
'Myth and magic in the modern world. A traditional quest tale beautifully told . . . The human characters are realistic and sympathetic, even those who are by any definition, downright odd. The uncanny creatures are sufficiently spooky, horrible, vile and violent. The landscape is alive.'
'This epic debut tale wowed us with the concept of ancient magic returning to the modern world 500 years after its disappearance . . . The first in a trilogy, it's ambitious and echoes Philip Pullman.'
'It's a beautifully written tale - the first in a trilogy - which in one sense feels like a return to old-fashioned storytelling, yet manages to be utterly fresh.'
'This is the fast-paced first instalment of a new fantasy trilogy and an extraordinary adventure that should not be missed.'