Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact

Adult author Hartley (Will Power) makes his children's book debut with a dark fantasy adventure, first in a planned series, for readers seeking magical chills. After his parents die, 11-year-old Darwen moves from a small English town to live with his busy aunt in Atlanta. Enrolled in a pompous private school (where he is bullied and ridiculed for his accent and his ignorance of American customs), the miserable Darwen is given a mirror that turns out to be a gateway to the strange world of Silbrica. Captivated by Silbrica's beauty, Darwen seeks refuge there until he's chased out by scrobblers, menacing humanoid beasts that are determined to capture him for nefarious purposes. Worse, the scrobblers are connected to Darwen's world and the school itself; it's up to Darwen and his few friends to prevent major disaster on both sides of the mirror. The excitement builds tentatively as Hartley lays extensive groundwork for his complex fantasy world. Silbrica itself feels thinly drawn and claustrophobic, but solid writing and a genuinely intriguing protagonist set the stage for the next chapter. Ages 9%E2%80%9312. Agent: Dystel & Goderich. (Oct.)