What creature would you include in your fantasy story?

Midnight Treasure

Written by: Piers Torday @PiersTorday

Cover Illustrasion by: Alla Khatkevich

Published by: Quercus Children’s Books @HachetteKids

Published on: September 2024

Price: £14.99 (hardback)

First line: A chain of lanterns winds slowly through the night over the dark sands.

Genre: Fantasy

Thanks to Toppsta for the review copy.

What’s it all about? A magical story with a vast array of creative characters (werewolves, vampirs, children with bow and arrows, honey bears, buffalo etc). The vampir and werewolves and mortal and immortals have been battling each other for generations; however, the Baron wants this to change. He is looking for the lantern that has such strong magic he can defeat anyone; however, the only person who can get it doesn’t really trust him. And so begins a long quest with trust  evaporating.

Why should I read it? One of my favourite books of all time, is the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes, and without fail, every time the clocks go back, the nights draw in, and Christmas is mentioned far too often, I go back to read a bit of it, as the cold and dark of the stories warms me up inside literally and metaphorically. This book is no different. The light and dark battles throughout the story and you can virtually see the sea mist or London fog covering every inch of the prose, making the reader climb deeper down into their blanket or duvet and envelop themselves within the story carcass. The cover illustration is beautiful. My favourite part is: ‘”There are only three things on earth that matter to people. Nightmares, which we run away from, and dreams that we run towards.” Tibor thought of the Professor, sobbing on the balcony. “I’m beginning to understand. But what’s the third thing?” “What lies between those two – the truth.”‘