Here are the occasional reflections of a joyful traveller along the strange pathways of fantasy and adventure. All my reviews are independent and unsolicited. I read many books that I don’t feel sufficiently enthusiastic about to review at all. Rather, this blog is intended as a celebration of the more interesting books I stumble across on my meandering reading journey, and of the important, life-affirming experiences they offer. It is but a very small thank you for the wonderful gifts their writers give.

Thursday 4 November 2021

The Ash House by Angharad Walker



Darkly Original

I admire novels that show startling originality of imagination. However, to be considered worthwhile overall, such books also need engaging storytelling, something interesting to say and writing skilful enough to deliver all of this effectively. Angharad Walker’s stunning debut has all of these things in abundance. Beware, though. It is probably not  a book for the very young; many of its narrative elements could literally become the stuff of nightmare. Whilst it is very much it’s own book, this enigmatic story of displaced and disturbing children, living in the very strange environment of the titular Ash House, is closer in some ways to  Lord of the Flies than it is to Lemmony Snicket or even Miss Peregrine.

Amongst other themes, it explores the tensions between ‘niceness’ and ‘nastiness’ in our society rather unflinchingly, and I found some scenes, like that of the burying of a dead pig, really quite chilling. However, for those ready to cope, this is an intriguing, gripping, and powerfully affecting novel that leaves the reader with a lasting impression - and great deal to think about. The striking, haunting cover by Olia Muza refects the tone of the book beautifully.

It is enormously pleasing to find a new author who isn’t just following the trends, but has a truly original and exciting voice, and a publishers willing to back them. This is my debut of the year so far. (And there isn’t all that much longer to go.)