Sentinel - Gripping new fantasy set in Cambridge out now

[Joshua]

The first ever young adult fantasy novel to be set in the historic city of Cambridge is out now.

Sentinel is the first instalment in an exciting trilogy, written by debut author Joshua Winning. Joshua, 29, says: "It’s always surprised me that nobody has set a fantasy series in Cambridge before, as it’s the perfect setting for fantasy. There’s this incredible sense of time and history there; you really believe that anything could happen."

Joshua adds: "Authors often talk about settings in their books being just another character, and that’s definitely true of Sentinel. Cambridge is essential to Sentinel. It’s a city that has moods – it broods in the rain and beams in the sunshine – and it reflects the moods of the characters."

Sentinel sees the historic city beset by uncommon levels of tragedy: a train crash, a brutal attack on an innocent man, and a break-in at the Fitzwilliam Museum, which leads to another man’s death. Meanwhile, beneath the city, in a dank subterranean tomb, a red-haired woman conspires with an ancient deity. As the city is gripped in an unseasonably icy embrace, seventy-one-year-old Sam Wilkins and fifteen-year-old Nicholas Hallow embark on a treacherous journey together. But most mysterious of all is the question of who, or what, are the Sentinels?

A gripping story of grief and hope, Sentinel takes place in a world that everybody knows, but few would recognise.

“There’s just something about adding a layer of fantasy to a grounded, reality-based story,” says Joshua. “If you removed the fantasy elements from Sentinel, hopefully you would still have a gripping story about a boy who’s just lost his parents. That was my aim: to find the fantastical in the everyday and to use fantasy to magnify very real emotion."

Joshua, who was born in Cambridge and then later studied film in the city, is a frequent contributor to magazines including Total Film and Little White Lies. Sentinel marks a long-planned move into fiction. “I’ve always loved fantasy - I grew up reading Roald Dahl and Robin Jarvis, and obsessively watching Labyrinth,” says the author of his influences.

Filled with action and mystery, Sentinel takes the reader on a whirlwind adventure with unconventional heroes and a little bit of magic.

Sentinel is available now at Amazon and Smashwords.

[Rob, Roberator]

Please move this to the author promo section where it belongs.

[Darren]

Also, referring to yourself in the third person is... offputting. Not as much as quoting yourself, as though you were your own herald, though.

[Joshua]

Thanks for the comments, both. Apologies it was posted in the wrong area, bit new to this Goodreads stuff.

Darren, this is actually a news release, should probably have made that clear from the start to avoid herald-like awkwardness!

[Rob, Roberator]

Joshua wrote: "Thanks for the comments, both. Apologies it was posted in the wrong area, bit new to this Goodreads stuff."

No problem. To move you post, click the edit link near the title. It should take you to a page with a drop down where you can pick the Author Promo section.

[RuthAnn]

Joshua - the cover is pretty stinkin badass!

[Joshua]

Thanks Rob, done and dusted.

RuthAnn wrote: Joshua - the cover is pretty stinkin badass!

Thanks RuthAnn, nice of you to say! Let me know if you'd be interested in reviewing. (PS Loving your avatar, too.)