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Darkwells
Taken from the swaying grass of the open savannah to the neat green fields of the West Country, Manu Wardgrave is a boy out of place. His struggle with his identity and his discovery of the reality behind the dream he had of England will decide, in fire and battle on the strange and ancient hill that overlooks his enigma of a new school, more than just his fate and place in the world.
Heather Evynstone is a girl living on the margins. Ashamed of her fortune teller mother and her rough narrowboat home, she dreams that her genius for costume design will drag her into a better life. The future of the world will hang on how she deals with the darkness she finds in Darkwells.
Henry Grenville carries an old and famous name. He is kind and funny and likeable and should be happy and content. He has a tragic and traumatic past and finds himself isolated and alone. He resists the apathy and nihilism that threatens to engulf him and desperately seeks the prophesied ‘key to his future’.
From the wide empty wilds of the African bush to the lonely, ancient Tor in the West Country, Darkwells is a story of friendship and destiny and duty. It is about loyalty and love and how both is lost and found. It is a tale of magic and adventure, of friendship and destiny and duty. It is a novel that explores the shifting sense of self and culture that Henry, Heather and Manu have to face as they struggle with things long broken and with promises unfulfilled.
Old myths and new beginnings clash in a storm of magic on England’s most magical hill. Who will emerge triumphant from the smoke and fire on the Tor?
Heather Evynstone is a girl living on the margins. Ashamed of her fortune teller mother and her rough narrowboat home, she dreams that her genius for costume design will drag her into a better life. The future of the world will hang on how she deals with the darkness she finds in Darkwells.
Henry Grenville carries an old and famous name. He is kind and funny and likeable and should be happy and content. He has a tragic and traumatic past and finds himself isolated and alone. He resists the apathy and nihilism that threatens to engulf him and desperately seeks the prophesied ‘key to his future’.
From the wide empty wilds of the African bush to the lonely, ancient Tor in the West Country, Darkwells is a story of friendship and destiny and duty. It is about loyalty and love and how both is lost and found. It is a tale of magic and adventure, of friendship and destiny and duty. It is a novel that explores the shifting sense of self and culture that Henry, Heather and Manu have to face as they struggle with things long broken and with promises unfulfilled.
Old myths and new beginnings clash in a storm of magic on England’s most magical hill. Who will emerge triumphant from the smoke and fire on the Tor?
- GenresFantasy
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2013
97 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 14, 2013
Haven't enjoyed a book this much in ages.
The novel starts in a slow haze of dazzling landscapes and exotic African scenes. The main protagonist, a half Maori, half English boy called Manu, goes through his strange, romantic life, always struggling with his sense of identity and belonging. All the while the sense of mystery and magic seep in at the corners until he is whisked off to the old and famous Darkwells school, where he finds his destiny.
Jumping continents we meet Heather, who is the poor girl trying to make good. Talented, beautiful and vulnerable, her perilous path through Darkwells is heart warming and heart wrenching in equal measure.
Finally we meet Henry, who carries the burden of an old wound and a family disaster, as well as the secrets to a magical world that few others know about. He strives to live up to his famous family name and to be something close to what his talents, arcane and otherwise, should make him.
For the whirlwind of original settings and unique, memorable characters this one makes it into my favourites shelf. It manages to be complex and deep while still managing to be a rollicking page turner and I don’t think I can ask for more than that.
It is a captivating and entrancing novel from a complete unknown and personally, I can’t wait for the next one.
The novel starts in a slow haze of dazzling landscapes and exotic African scenes. The main protagonist, a half Maori, half English boy called Manu, goes through his strange, romantic life, always struggling with his sense of identity and belonging. All the while the sense of mystery and magic seep in at the corners until he is whisked off to the old and famous Darkwells school, where he finds his destiny.
Jumping continents we meet Heather, who is the poor girl trying to make good. Talented, beautiful and vulnerable, her perilous path through Darkwells is heart warming and heart wrenching in equal measure.
Finally we meet Henry, who carries the burden of an old wound and a family disaster, as well as the secrets to a magical world that few others know about. He strives to live up to his famous family name and to be something close to what his talents, arcane and otherwise, should make him.
For the whirlwind of original settings and unique, memorable characters this one makes it into my favourites shelf. It manages to be complex and deep while still managing to be a rollicking page turner and I don’t think I can ask for more than that.
It is a captivating and entrancing novel from a complete unknown and personally, I can’t wait for the next one.
January 27, 2014
Review to come http://woodsadrienne.wordpress.com Monday 27/01
i was given this book by the author for my honest review.
I love fantasy. Always have and always will. Manu is half Moari, half Engish boy that struggles with what most boys go through in life. Finding themselves and whether they belong or not. It’s a good recipe that has worked for many novels. Humphry’s vivid descriptions pull you immediately into the novel.
Magic is always present in the novel but not as much in the beginning as when Manu goes to Darkwells. A school where he would finally find himself and fit in,
We meet all sorts of characters and my favorite is Heather. I think Humphry has done an awesome job by creating her. She is well developed an very likable. Henry is another one of his character. A bit more dark, mysterious and hid plenty of secrets.
I loved Darkwells for it’s setting, story line and characters. Although I do feel, Heather was the most developed, and at times I did feel that the others could be a bit more fine tuned but it didn’t made me stop wanting to find out what would happen next.
So in my opinion, this is a page turner and one I would recommend to everyone.
i was given this book by the author for my honest review.
I love fantasy. Always have and always will. Manu is half Moari, half Engish boy that struggles with what most boys go through in life. Finding themselves and whether they belong or not. It’s a good recipe that has worked for many novels. Humphry’s vivid descriptions pull you immediately into the novel.
Magic is always present in the novel but not as much in the beginning as when Manu goes to Darkwells. A school where he would finally find himself and fit in,
We meet all sorts of characters and my favorite is Heather. I think Humphry has done an awesome job by creating her. She is well developed an very likable. Henry is another one of his character. A bit more dark, mysterious and hid plenty of secrets.
I loved Darkwells for it’s setting, story line and characters. Although I do feel, Heather was the most developed, and at times I did feel that the others could be a bit more fine tuned but it didn’t made me stop wanting to find out what would happen next.
So in my opinion, this is a page turner and one I would recommend to everyone.
December 31, 2013
My full review will be on my blog in 2014, www.ashleyisee.com.
There is potential, but I do feel it was all over the place and characters that needed more space weren't given enough.
Oddly enough, I loved all the Heather's scenes, until the end. Her character saved the work for me and I wish the author could have focused on the gifts with her character instead of two others that didn't make sense and developed at an odd pace.
There is potential, but I do feel it was all over the place and characters that needed more space weren't given enough.
Oddly enough, I loved all the Heather's scenes, until the end. Her character saved the work for me and I wish the author could have focused on the gifts with her character instead of two others that didn't make sense and developed at an odd pace.
October 7, 2013
Darkwells got me with the book cover and I have to say that is a great title. Maybe the book has been edited since the first reviewer blasted it for grammar errors, but I didn’t see them. But then I was rather caught up with Henry, Manu, and Heather. They are having a grand adventure in England. They throw witty dialogue around like they do magic and both are very amusing. I passed this book onto my niece as it is suitable for adults and teens.
February 12, 2014
A magical book about a half Maori boy and his friends. It is one that I would share with anyone. It is charming beyond words. The Ddarkwells school was the most magical of places. The whole book is good from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews