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William and the Thirteenth Key
Fate and adventure lie just behind the door...
William Sturnbottom is convinced fate is playing a cruel trick on him. After his mother mysteriously disappears while in Nepal, William is forced to leave his familiar London home for a chilly manor house in Scotland to live with his equally chilly grandfather. With not much to do, young William’s imagination soon runs wild, and he becomes convinced that his grandfather is hiding secrets from him. Secrets that are hidden somewhere in the old man’s manor. But when William enters his grandfather’s forbidden study, he unlocks more than secrets...he unlocks a whole new world.
After discovering a curious looking amulet in the study, William is spirited into the fantastical realm of Corpurnia--a world inhabited by strange and terrifying creatures. For hundreds of years this world has been oppressed by the cruel and powerful Emperor Harbos. Ravaged by time, and his insane desire to retrieve thirteen mythical Keys said to have the ability to unleash an ancient evil, Harbos has brought Corpurnia to the edge of ruin. The seas have been turned to deserts, sand pirates roam the wilds in floating ships, and the once powerful Guild of Key Academics charged with protecting the Keys has been nearly wiped out.
While William is convinced his arrival in Corpurnia is an unfortunate accident, it is anything but--his presence in this new realm had been foretold centuries ago. And as William soon discovers, a terrible burden has fallen on his shoulders.
Now, trapped in Corpurnia and being hunted by Harbos and the might of his Empire, William must rely on the help of some unlikely allies--a grouchy gremlin, a mysterious dark elf, and a wise old Key Academic--to survive. And so begins a bold adventure through Corpurnia, an imaginative new world full of dark goblins, razorback trolls, stormhowlers, and worst of all, the ground wailers. All that keeps William going is the hopes of finding his mother, discovering the way home, and if he can, live up to his destiny as the Key Bearer.
William Sturnbottom is convinced fate is playing a cruel trick on him. After his mother mysteriously disappears while in Nepal, William is forced to leave his familiar London home for a chilly manor house in Scotland to live with his equally chilly grandfather. With not much to do, young William’s imagination soon runs wild, and he becomes convinced that his grandfather is hiding secrets from him. Secrets that are hidden somewhere in the old man’s manor. But when William enters his grandfather’s forbidden study, he unlocks more than secrets...he unlocks a whole new world.
After discovering a curious looking amulet in the study, William is spirited into the fantastical realm of Corpurnia--a world inhabited by strange and terrifying creatures. For hundreds of years this world has been oppressed by the cruel and powerful Emperor Harbos. Ravaged by time, and his insane desire to retrieve thirteen mythical Keys said to have the ability to unleash an ancient evil, Harbos has brought Corpurnia to the edge of ruin. The seas have been turned to deserts, sand pirates roam the wilds in floating ships, and the once powerful Guild of Key Academics charged with protecting the Keys has been nearly wiped out.
While William is convinced his arrival in Corpurnia is an unfortunate accident, it is anything but--his presence in this new realm had been foretold centuries ago. And as William soon discovers, a terrible burden has fallen on his shoulders.
Now, trapped in Corpurnia and being hunted by Harbos and the might of his Empire, William must rely on the help of some unlikely allies--a grouchy gremlin, a mysterious dark elf, and a wise old Key Academic--to survive. And so begins a bold adventure through Corpurnia, an imaginative new world full of dark goblins, razorback trolls, stormhowlers, and worst of all, the ground wailers. All that keeps William going is the hopes of finding his mother, discovering the way home, and if he can, live up to his destiny as the Key Bearer.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2013
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 20, 2014
Excellent debut YA Fantasy
WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is the debut novel by Will Madoc Rees (an accomplished graphic designer and illustrator who worked on some of the iconic scenes in Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and many more). The novel is firmly targeted at the young adult audience, say between 9-12 or 14 years. Although leaning on many tried and true tropes from various classic fantasy and sic-fi adventure books and movies, WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is still infused with its own original hooks and world building.
In a short prologue, William's mother falls prey to some otherworldly beastie, just after having discovered a presumably all-important key that she had been searching for in the mountains of Nepal. She disappears without a trace and is presumed dead.
This leaves young William in the care of his grandfather, kindly but stern Lord Sturnbottom (ahem). A few months pass and William, being an inquisitive boy, defies one of his grandfather's strictest rules and breaks into his study where he discovers a gemstone encased in a complex mechanism. William accidentally activates this "key" and falls through a hole in the floor and the universe in front of the astonished Mrs. McTavish, who is a bit late in arriving to care for William.
Wiliam falls into a new "realm" or planet, Corpurnia, devastated by centuries of conflict and war, all due to a powerful emperor who is searching for the last of thirteen keys that when united control unimaginable powers. Guess who has that last key? Along what starts out as a long trek to get back home (shades of the Wizard of Oz), William picks up a variety of true blue friends including Dribble, a gremlin, and elf and a Yoda-like ancient Key Academic en route to his final battle with the evil emperor.
Corpurnia conjures up mental images of Arrakis, the Dune planet, and Tatooine, where we first meet Luke Skywalker. All the oceans have been dried up, and sand pirates roam and loot and pillage. There is an interesting mix of ancient tech with machines far in advance of what he have today, for example mechanical horse-like machines that fly and are used for transportation, beetles that act as recording courier pigeons and of course immense flying wooden sailing ships pictured on the book's cover or frontispiece that I am sure were created by Mr.Reese. There are not one but two ancient, lost cosmic civilizations, both vying for control of William's mind and his use of the thirteenth key. There are also some nice surprises in the form of aid from unexpected sources, and intentional humor.
The writing is crisp and clear and the pacing and vocabulary are perfect for tweens and teens. There is no bad language or anything to upset anyone. Nevertheless, this is a book that could be shared by parents and children alike. Although there is definite closure at the end, some secrets remain, leaving open the possibility of a sequel. All in all, a very worthy first effort.
Recommended.
J.M. Tepper
Disclosure: The author provided me with an advanced copy of the novel with no strings attached, not even the promise to finish it or review it.
WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is the debut novel by Will Madoc Rees (an accomplished graphic designer and illustrator who worked on some of the iconic scenes in Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and many more). The novel is firmly targeted at the young adult audience, say between 9-12 or 14 years. Although leaning on many tried and true tropes from various classic fantasy and sic-fi adventure books and movies, WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is still infused with its own original hooks and world building.
In a short prologue, William's mother falls prey to some otherworldly beastie, just after having discovered a presumably all-important key that she had been searching for in the mountains of Nepal. She disappears without a trace and is presumed dead.
This leaves young William in the care of his grandfather, kindly but stern Lord Sturnbottom (ahem). A few months pass and William, being an inquisitive boy, defies one of his grandfather's strictest rules and breaks into his study where he discovers a gemstone encased in a complex mechanism. William accidentally activates this "key" and falls through a hole in the floor and the universe in front of the astonished Mrs. McTavish, who is a bit late in arriving to care for William.
Wiliam falls into a new "realm" or planet, Corpurnia, devastated by centuries of conflict and war, all due to a powerful emperor who is searching for the last of thirteen keys that when united control unimaginable powers. Guess who has that last key? Along what starts out as a long trek to get back home (shades of the Wizard of Oz), William picks up a variety of true blue friends including Dribble, a gremlin, and elf and a Yoda-like ancient Key Academic en route to his final battle with the evil emperor.
Corpurnia conjures up mental images of Arrakis, the Dune planet, and Tatooine, where we first meet Luke Skywalker. All the oceans have been dried up, and sand pirates roam and loot and pillage. There is an interesting mix of ancient tech with machines far in advance of what he have today, for example mechanical horse-like machines that fly and are used for transportation, beetles that act as recording courier pigeons and of course immense flying wooden sailing ships pictured on the book's cover or frontispiece that I am sure were created by Mr.Reese. There are not one but two ancient, lost cosmic civilizations, both vying for control of William's mind and his use of the thirteenth key. There are also some nice surprises in the form of aid from unexpected sources, and intentional humor.
The writing is crisp and clear and the pacing and vocabulary are perfect for tweens and teens. There is no bad language or anything to upset anyone. Nevertheless, this is a book that could be shared by parents and children alike. Although there is definite closure at the end, some secrets remain, leaving open the possibility of a sequel. All in all, a very worthy first effort.
Recommended.
J.M. Tepper
Disclosure: The author provided me with an advanced copy of the novel with no strings attached, not even the promise to finish it or review it.
June 11, 2015
Wondrous Adventure Awaits! By Shazza (Amazon Reviewer)
If you're looking for that perfect new adventure story for your young adult, you just found it.
I was enthralled and kept the pages turning. (I read it in 3 days.) Sand Pirates and a whole new world awaits your imagination.
William will capture your heart and you'll LOVE this book.
The visual descriptions create a colorful landscape that I found myself existing in.
If you loved Harry Potter and want something fun and engaging... get William and the Thirteenth Key!
Excellent debut YA fantasy, By James Tepper ( Amazon Vine Voice, Top 1000 Reviewer, Real Name)
WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is the debut novel by Wil Madoc Rees (an accomplished graphic designer and illustrator who worked on some of the iconic scenes in Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and many more). The novel is firmly targeted at the young adult audience, say between 9-12 or 14 years. Although leaning on many tried and true tropes from various classic fantasy and sic-fi adventure books and movies, WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is still infused with its own original hooks and world building.
"A MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE WITH A COLORFUL BLEND OF FANTASY!" by Geraldine Ahearn "Author Geri Ahearn" ( Amazon Top 500 Reviewer, Vine Voice, Real Name)
Wil Madoc Rees delivers an exciting, mysterious adventure that has you hooked in the first chapter.
If you're looking for that perfect new adventure story for your young adult, you just found it.
I was enthralled and kept the pages turning. (I read it in 3 days.) Sand Pirates and a whole new world awaits your imagination.
William will capture your heart and you'll LOVE this book.
The visual descriptions create a colorful landscape that I found myself existing in.
If you loved Harry Potter and want something fun and engaging... get William and the Thirteenth Key!
Excellent debut YA fantasy, By James Tepper ( Amazon Vine Voice, Top 1000 Reviewer, Real Name)
WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is the debut novel by Wil Madoc Rees (an accomplished graphic designer and illustrator who worked on some of the iconic scenes in Thor, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and many more). The novel is firmly targeted at the young adult audience, say between 9-12 or 14 years. Although leaning on many tried and true tropes from various classic fantasy and sic-fi adventure books and movies, WILLIAM AND THE THIRTEENTH KEY is still infused with its own original hooks and world building.
"A MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE WITH A COLORFUL BLEND OF FANTASY!" by Geraldine Ahearn "Author Geri Ahearn" ( Amazon Top 500 Reviewer, Vine Voice, Real Name)
Wil Madoc Rees delivers an exciting, mysterious adventure that has you hooked in the first chapter.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews