Orson Teller
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When thirteen year old Tom Crawley’s mild mannered, researcher parents go missing and are presumed dead following an accident, he’s sent to live with his never-heard-of-before, slightly eccentric, god mother, Mrs. Alice Ravenwood. They’d been acquainted through work, even if Tom wasn’t aware of what their jobs entailed. Now, though, he’s thrust deep into the secretive world of the Mythological Society, while Alice and her personal assistant, Dougal work hard to keep the world safe from some very peculiar and particular threats.
As we enter the bizarre world of Alice, the reader is taken on an adventurous ride through the picturesque countryside of the South West of England. Indeed, the stunning vistas almost become it’s own, important character with farmers fields, deep woods and Tors making strong impacts. But it’s the town of Glastonbury – often at the heart of many British myths (think King Arthur, Joseph of Amirathea and The Holy Thorn) and not forgetting the legendary music festival – that is where events eventually come to a thrilling head. The religious mythological element is important when it comes to this tale, as heralded by it’s title; Alice Ravenwood and the Tomb of Saint George, the reader is given a brief lesson regarding the likely origins of the English Patron Saint which is brilliantly and organically entwined throughout the tale.
But, it’s not just the stunning countryside of the West Country that’s an important character within Teller’s incredible debut. The actual characters themselves are all just as compelling, with complicated, mysterious and sometimes just outright sweet backstories. There’s also the ambiguous characters – one had me guessing right up until the final moment about whether they’d pull through and do the right thing, such was the way the story wove around them. Although Alice, Tom and Dougal are clearly the heroic mainstays of The Tomb of Saint George, is was the character of Pree who I instantly adored. Smart, sassy and sarcastic all wrapped in a charming West Country accent (for American readers, imagine a pirate crossed with a Ye Olde Englishe Villager, and you might be somewhere near the accent. Either that, or google “Bristolian accent” and that will give you a taste of the charm of that accent). She’s brave and witty and all the things I wish I was at 14.
The only thing left to add is, order this book. Read it, enjoy it, and fall in love with the mysterious Alice Ravenwood and her wonderful contraptions. You won’t be disappointed – apart from waiting for the second book in the series.
S. A.
Alice Ravenwood and the Tomb of Saint George is available on Amazon and to read for free via a Kindle Unlimited Subscription.
First published on Reedsy Discovery as part of their ARC programme. You can read the original review here.