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Bloodchild
Will lies in a deserted lane. All he knows is that he's had an accident and that his life is slipping away. Against all the odds he survives - but with an almost total loss of memory. He does not even know himself. And that is not all. At night he is tormented by visions, in the daytime by hostile strangers. Why does he have so many enemies? And who is the strange child who seems to have a story to tell him? Something has happened in this town, something terrifying.
Will can sense it but he can't work out what it was. Perhaps the old Will knew. But that was before the accident. The new Will must search for the answers again - and this is a dangerous task. For the town has a secret and there are those who will do everything in their power to preserve it. Even
kill.
Will can sense it but he can't work out what it was. Perhaps the old Will knew. But that was before the accident. The new Will must search for the answers again - and this is a dangerous task. For the town has a secret and there are those who will do everything in their power to preserve it. Even
kill.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Tim Bowler
60 books157 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Tim Bowler is one of the UK’s most compelling and original writers for teenagers. He was born in Leigh-on-Sea and after studying Swedish at University he worked in forestry, the timber trade, teaching and translating before becoming a full-time writer. He lives with his wife in a small village in Devon and his workroom is an old stone outhouse known to friends as ‘Tim’s Bolthole’.
Tim has written twenty books and won fifteen awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for River Boy. His most recent novel is the gripping Bloodchild and his provocative Blade series is being hailed as a groundbreaking work of fiction. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by the Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
Tim Bowler is one of the UK’s most compelling and original writers for teenagers. He was born in Leigh-on-Sea and after studying Swedish at University he worked in forestry, the timber trade, teaching and translating before becoming a full-time writer. He lives with his wife in a small village in Devon and his workroom is an old stone outhouse known to friends as ‘Tim’s Bolthole’.
Tim has written twenty books and won fifteen awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for River Boy. His most recent novel is the gripping Bloodchild and his provocative Blade series is being hailed as a groundbreaking work of fiction. He has been described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the master of the psychological thriller’ and by the Independent as ‘one of the truly individual voices in British teenage fiction’.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 10, 2014
Will is knocked over by a car and then drifts around in the space between before he wakes up after a few days. When he wakes up, he cannot remember anything, not even his parents. The girl with the long black hair and striking blue eyes that he saw in the space between haunts him though. He sees Crow, the homeless man who lives on the beach and the little boy named Muck. Beth tells him that he was on the verge of finding out vital information from Crow before he was knocked over. Muck reminds him of the girl he keeps seeing and also of the five shadow faces. People in Havensmouth are wary of Will, because he keeps ranting and raving about a sickness in the town. There are people who want to stop him, before he reveals their secrets.
Booldchild was an enjoyable read and it had enough of the paranormal to keep me interested. This story is filled with mystery, murder and secrecy and will keep you reading until the very end. It reads easy and the story flows unhindered although everything is only revealed in the last chapters, which makes you wondering what is going to happen all the time. When the secret is revealed it was not what I had expected it to be at all.
Booldchild was an enjoyable read and it had enough of the paranormal to keep me interested. This story is filled with mystery, murder and secrecy and will keep you reading until the very end. It reads easy and the story flows unhindered although everything is only revealed in the last chapters, which makes you wondering what is going to happen all the time. When the secret is revealed it was not what I had expected it to be at all.
June 8, 2011
Tim Bowler definitely has a talent for telling stories, and this one is an enjoyable one. From the moment Will wakes up without his memory the novel has you turning pages trying to figure out what happens next. The reason why I gave novel a three is because I could get into the characters. I am totally a character person. I read books to become friends with someone unique and someone I can relate to. Bloodchild did not meet those needs. With that said, the story is amazing, and if you read for story you will love this book. It mixes crime solving with the supernatural in a wonderful way. Enjoy!
June 17, 2016
this book made me cry and made me laugh. it has twists and it is the best. you could literally feel how the character is feeling. i am just like will... i can see things too :) ...
December 30, 2017
2.5 stars.
This book has been on my shelf for about 9 years. Can finally get rid now.
This book has been on my shelf for about 9 years. Can finally get rid now.
June 17, 2024
3,5 är kanske mer korrekt. Läste den svenska översättningen och språket flyter på. Betyget sänks för att jag tycker att slutet blir lite väl abrupt och tillrättalagt. Alla trådar knyts ihop ganska hastigt. Men fram till dess var det en lagom spännande historia om en annorlunda pojke som får kämpa för att bli trodd av omgivningen.
March 28, 2023
Excellent story telling, maybe for a slightly younger audience
May 22, 2025
I really love this book , I enjoyed how it all came together at the end. I also enjoyed reading about his ' hallucinations ' and ' black hair blue eyes '
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April 26, 2010
Will has to piece his life back together after suffering from amnesia. Gradually he manages to put together the different pieces of the puzzle together to solve the mysterious "sickness" that he feels is in the community.
I found that this book was a real mystery story as I was discovering links and learning about the different characters with Will. An excellent twist on the detective style story. His special heightened intuition is interpreted differently by the people he interacts with, and at some points this does stretch plausibility, but then I believe it is supposed to!
The title didn't inspire me, and I think I might easily have passed this enjoyable read over if I had been browsing in the library or bookshop. Overall, I found the plot engaging and clever. I will certainly look out for more books by this author.
I found that this book was a real mystery story as I was discovering links and learning about the different characters with Will. An excellent twist on the detective style story. His special heightened intuition is interpreted differently by the people he interacts with, and at some points this does stretch plausibility, but then I believe it is supposed to!
The title didn't inspire me, and I think I might easily have passed this enjoyable read over if I had been browsing in the library or bookshop. Overall, I found the plot engaging and clever. I will certainly look out for more books by this author.
June 15, 2014
Tim Bowler is one of the great teenage authors today, and in "Bloodchild" he has beautifully combined a crime matter with superstition. He reveals nothing up to the end and during the book he mesmerizes the reader so that each time you put it down you want to start reading again. The major part of the book is based on conversations that are enjoyable to read.
Within most of the first half, the author has taken his time introducing different characters, so one has to be patient until something happens.
In my opinion some characteristics are exaggerated, some hate the main character and others are over supportive. This is the only weak point I found.
Conclusion: An amusing novel which is worth spending the time.
Within most of the first half, the author has taken his time introducing different characters, so one has to be patient until something happens.
In my opinion some characteristics are exaggerated, some hate the main character and others are over supportive. This is the only weak point I found.
Conclusion: An amusing novel which is worth spending the time.
February 2, 2015
This was actually the first book by Tim Bowler I ever read, and to this day, it still remains my favourite. I was well and truly gripped right from the first page. I didn't just want to know what happened to Will; I NEEDED to know. The story itself explores some quite dark areas, which was an element of the book I really enjoyed. I won't post any spoilers here, but I can say that I definitely approved of the ending! The book as whole was superbly written and I can't recommend it enough.
December 9, 2015
Before I start my review, may I just say that the cover totally CREEPED ME OUT.
Onto the review then:
I had never read something like this in terms of plot and theme, however it did not fail to bewitch me.
I would recommend it to those who love creepy stories with a bit of a twist in the end. The book deals with a few mature-ish matters, so my age-based rating would be somewhere in the early teens, or maybe 12.
Onto the review then:
I had never read something like this in terms of plot and theme, however it did not fail to bewitch me.
I would recommend it to those who love creepy stories with a bit of a twist in the end. The book deals with a few mature-ish matters, so my age-based rating would be somewhere in the early teens, or maybe 12.
November 6, 2022
Tim Bowler writes some wonderful chilling suspenseful books for young adults. His books tend to be aimed squarely at the teen market. This book, like many others he has written, is quite dark but never overpoweringly so.
In Bloodchild, the adventure starts when a teenage boy has an accident and loses all his memories. He discovers that he is not an average teenager in any case - he has some special needs, but also he is drawn to a younger child living with a tramp on the beach.
In Bloodchild, the adventure starts when a teenage boy has an accident and loses all his memories. He discovers that he is not an average teenager in any case - he has some special needs, but also he is drawn to a younger child living with a tramp on the beach.
September 19, 2010
One of the most mysterious and gripping novels I've read. Bowler definitely knows how to keep his readers on the edge of their seats!
May 26, 2012
Not my favourite teen book, but it was OK.
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October 28, 2012an amazing book. i love the style of this author:the way he doesnt tell you everything you need to know
February 27, 2013
it was really good, when I was reading it I couldnt put it down :-) I would recommend it
September 17, 2015
I actually enjoyed this book very much, my interest rising over the charts as I reached the climax near the end. This book is definitely worth reading- i would recomend this to anyone!
April 10, 2016
Gripping story that will keep you guessing till the very end
March 25, 2018
have read it twice. Still fantastic
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews