The Novice
by Taran Matharu
Published by Hodder, 2015
About this book
Fletcher was found as a baby and taken in by the village blacksmith. His life has revolved around learning how to become a blacksmith and selling iron work in the market. A stranger arrives in the village and brings with him an unusual book. Fletcher is intrigued by the book and from it he learns that he has the ability to summon demons, a skill which may help to save the empire of which his village is a small part. Rather than the discovery of his abilities making his life easier problems ensue almost immediately and Fletcher is forced to leave the village he has called home and seek out people who can help him enhance his talents.
Taran Matharu has brought a fascinating world to life. Those with the gift can call demons from another plane to bond with and serve them. Elves, gnomes and humans who have been fighting now need to join forces to fight the Orc army who are threatening their way of life. Creating a new world is never easy but the author's use of Wattpad to allow readers to engage with the text and advise has certainly enhanced the writing of this novel.
If you enjoyed Eragon by Christopher Paolini or you are a fan of The Hobbit then this is the book for you.
About the author
More books like this
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Contender: The Chosen
by Taran Matharu
11 to 14 years
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Quill and the Last Generation
by C M Lewis, illustrated by Maria Vidal
9 to 14 years
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The Shell Keepers
by Truly Johnston
5 to 14 years
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The Uninvited
by Ross Mackenzie
9 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
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BookTrust Represents: Teen
BookTrust Represents is our programme created to promote children’s authors and illustrators of colour. Books play an important role as mirrors for children: these stories and characters will affect how they see themselves and the world around them, their motivation to read, and their aspirations to become authors and illustrators of the future. However, finding books that truly reflect the diversity of families in the UK is challenging. Over the past 11 years, fewer than 2% of all authors and/or illustrators of children's books published in the UK were British people of colour. As part of the project we have put together this booklist highlighting some of our favourite teen/ya books by authors and illustrators of colour.