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The Arb
To find solace, they must embrace the shadows.
No one knows much about Sothea, the young Cambodian daughter of the widower who just moved into the old Victorian manor—and that’s saying something for a small rural England town that has nothing better to do than gossip. But under her father’s intense care, she is protected. She is sheltered. She is hidden. For her own good.
The only one who can get close is Gabe, the shy contractor working to restore her house, who is instantly captivated by her quiet demeanor and almost ghostly features. And for Sothea, she can’t help but be drawn to his passion and imagination.
But amidst their secret trysts, it’s clear Sothea’s not the only newcomer. Dark and dangerous, a monstrous figure plagues their small town by night, leaving behind death and rot. Despite Gabe’s best efforts, he can’t stop the whispers that Sothea’s family has somehow cursed them all.
Suddenly, it’s a race to uncover the truth—in their town and in their hearts—before darkness comes to claim.
From bestselling author Jon Smith comes a chilling atmospheric tale infused with contemporary gothic vibes, Khmer folklore, and the sweeping fantasy of King Arthur legend.
No one knows much about Sothea, the young Cambodian daughter of the widower who just moved into the old Victorian manor—and that’s saying something for a small rural England town that has nothing better to do than gossip. But under her father’s intense care, she is protected. She is sheltered. She is hidden. For her own good.
The only one who can get close is Gabe, the shy contractor working to restore her house, who is instantly captivated by her quiet demeanor and almost ghostly features. And for Sothea, she can’t help but be drawn to his passion and imagination.
But amidst their secret trysts, it’s clear Sothea’s not the only newcomer. Dark and dangerous, a monstrous figure plagues their small town by night, leaving behind death and rot. Despite Gabe’s best efforts, he can’t stop the whispers that Sothea’s family has somehow cursed them all.
Suddenly, it’s a race to uncover the truth—in their town and in their hearts—before darkness comes to claim.
From bestselling author Jon Smith comes a chilling atmospheric tale infused with contemporary gothic vibes, Khmer folklore, and the sweeping fantasy of King Arthur legend.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2023
9 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
About the author
Jon Smith
25 books15 followersJon Smith is the bestselling, internationally published author of 20 books for children, teens, and adults. His books have sold more than 500,000 copies and are published in seven languages. A Liverpool native, Jon has four children and lives in the Wirral with his wife and two school-age daughters. To find out more, visit www.jonsmith.net or follow @jonsmith_author on Instagram & Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2023
I received an ARC of this and this is my honest review.
I initially found the story took me a bit of time to get into but when the supernatural/horror elements started I enjoyed it. I liked the merging of the Khmer folklore with Arthurian legends.
It was a very different style to The Fifth Horseman so if that is the style that you are looking for you may not enjoy this. I would recommend this if you enjoy gothic horror stories.
I initially found the story took me a bit of time to get into but when the supernatural/horror elements started I enjoyed it. I liked the merging of the Khmer folklore with Arthurian legends.
It was a very different style to The Fifth Horseman so if that is the style that you are looking for you may not enjoy this. I would recommend this if you enjoy gothic horror stories.
June 23, 2023
Having enjoyed the Fifth Horseman, I was delighted to receive an arc E-copy of the Arb from the author. This is my honest opinion.
This dark and gritty young adult fantasy is an intriguing and fascinating mix of Arthurian legend and Khmer mythology. The main characters are lost teenagers that I found myself rooting for the whole story. I loved all the folklore and legends that were weaved throughout and I thought the ending was a fantastic and surprising round up of everything. Brilliant book, I will be thinking about this one for a while!
This dark and gritty young adult fantasy is an intriguing and fascinating mix of Arthurian legend and Khmer mythology. The main characters are lost teenagers that I found myself rooting for the whole story. I loved all the folklore and legends that were weaved throughout and I thought the ending was a fantastic and surprising round up of everything. Brilliant book, I will be thinking about this one for a while!
July 1, 2023
Not my usual genre of read but every now and again I like to mix it up and try something different. Thanks to the author for my Arc for an honest review.
YA dark fantasy, as I say not my normal kind of read but certainly held my interest. It was a bit fantasy, a bit folklore and a bit mythological but all tied up for a good read. Our leading characters Gabe and Sothea are two teenagers who just don’t feel they fit in this world. Well written, informative and knowledgeable with regards to the folklore, King Arthur legends and mythology.
YA dark fantasy, as I say not my normal kind of read but certainly held my interest. It was a bit fantasy, a bit folklore and a bit mythological but all tied up for a good read. Our leading characters Gabe and Sothea are two teenagers who just don’t feel they fit in this world. Well written, informative and knowledgeable with regards to the folklore, King Arthur legends and mythology.
August 1, 2023
Interesting story. Enjoyed it Would recommend
August 9, 2023
Darker and bloodier than expected for a "YA" horror/fantasy but still a worthy read. In short - the world is no longer worthy of men like King Arthur or those who take up his mantle and sword for the benefit of others. Gabe and Sothea are outcast for their otherness but manage to find strength in each other while their fathers each demonstrate the extreme coping possibilities of losing their respective wives which shapes the father/child relationship. The summary includes "two neurodiverse teens" and I was really looking forward what was represented as an autistic angle but other than encyclopedic Arthurian knowledge it turned out to be more socially awkward and response to trauma of parent loss on Gabe's part. Or perhaps it was too nuanced for me to catch. There was also nothing neurodiverse about Sothea in her normal life. I can't really count anxiety resulting from her curse as neurodiverse... sorry.
Thanks a bunch to the author and Voracious Readers Only for the ecopy, this is my honest review.
Thanks a bunch to the author and Voracious Readers Only for the ecopy, this is my honest review.
July 23, 2023
I won this book in a giveaway and am so happy I did. First off thanks to the publisher and author for providing an ARC. I enjoyed this book immensely. I love learning about different cultures, but specifically myths and folklores that exist in those cultures, and this book did not disappoint. It was a bit of everything; adventure, fantasy, mythology, folklore, growing up. Mr. Smith managed to follow the story of two lost teens while weaving in mystery, horror and culture while doing so. This was a book I definetly did not want to put down and I can't wait to see what other stories the author has to share with us. If you like fantasy, folklore, gothic horror, mythology and just good overall written books, this one is for you. Thanks again to the author and publisher for a ARC!
July 2, 2023
A really enjoyable book, good character relationships and twists and turns to keep you intrigued!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews