The Undying of Obedience Wellrest

by Nicholas Bowling

To the horror of young gravedigger, Ned, bodysnatchers have been visiting his churchyard in the dead of night. Until now, he'd been daydreaming about another visitor – daughter of the manor, Obedience Wellrest.

But sixteen-year-old Obedience has troubles of her own: her loving but overbearing father, and his wish to see her married to a rich man of science, Phineas Mordaunt.

When Mordaunt starts to poke his nose into her family history – in particular, the ruinous research of late Uncle Herbert – Obedience enters into a dangerous game with Death, and Ned might be the only person who can save her …

Paperback

About the author

Nicholas Bowling is an author, stand-up comic, musician, and Latin teacher from London. He graduated from Oxford University in 2007 with a BA in Classics and English, and again in 2010 with a Masters in Greek and Latin Language and Literature, before moving to his first teaching job at Trinity School, Croydon. While writing Witchborn, he also performed a solo show at the Edinburgh festival, and has co-written, recorded and released an album and two EPs with soul-folk singer Mary Erskine, Me For Queen. Witchborn is his debut novel.

Reviews

[the_sugercoatedlibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the undying of obedience wellrest. The story was a dark, gothic, mystery loved Ned & Obed. Their bond & loved facted story had plot twist half way though. Definitely will be reading books 📚 by Nicholas Bowling in the future 👌

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️1/3

[Samantha Pitchers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book at first i was thinking what this book about and then got half way through so good

100%

[Victoria Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark little gothic gem I didn’t know I needed.
Deliciously eerie, cleverly written, and laced with science, secrets, and stubborn girls who refuse to be buried by expectation.

Obedience “Bede” Wellrest would rather dissect frogs than settle into marriage – and I loved her for it. When she meets Ned, a quiet grave-digger’s apprentice, their paths intertwine in a story full of graveyards, shadowy societies, and forbidden experiments.

The atmosphere is classic Victorian gothic: ivy-covered secrets, dusty libraries, strange rituals, and that slow-building unease that creeps under your skin. It feels like Frankenstein meets Dangerous Remedy, but with a younger YA twist and a feminist undercurrent that gave it real depth.

🕯 Secret societies
🧪 Science and sisterhood
⚰ Grave-digging, ghost-whispers, and rebellion
📚 YA with grown-up soul

Dark academia lovers, goth hearts, and fans of spooky-but-not-too-spooky tales will adore this. Ideal for readers 13+, but satisfying for adults too.

Would you dig your own grave to uncover the truth?
Because Obedience Wellrest just might.

Thank you to Chicken House Books for the ARC and to Nicholas Bowling for crafting something truly clever, eerie, and unforgettable.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit hard to read the first half, last half got more interesting, but it's not amazing. Easy read tho.

[Rosie Nother · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was an okay read the characters were good but just not something I liked reading would be good if you liked supernatural stuff