The Song of the Underground

by Wendy Reakes

When American tourist, Mark Buzzard, takes a trip after dusk to London’s Highgate Cemetery, he never could have imagined meeting the woman of his dreams; Wren, a beautiful girl in a long, brown Victorian dress. Their encounter in the cemetery that night changes both of their lives, as gentle Wren takes him underground, riding the rails to a subterranean city, beneath London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.

Designed by Christopher Wren, he created Sous Llydum to accommodate the homeless following the Great Fire of London of 1666. Still in existence today, the city is London’s best kept secret.

Without the trappings of the world above, the people of Sous Llyndum lead the way in modern society, as they live by their own values and traditions. Compared to the world above, Sous Llyndum is less corrupt, rich with innovations, and holds a wealth so vast, it could boost the country’s economy.

Newly elected Tory Prime Minister, Alice Burton, enforces plans to take the city back under the control of the government, so that they may build downward to provide unique housing for the rich. No one, except Colonel Geoffrey Barnes knows that she has other rewards in mind; to take the minerals from under their city, to help solve Britain and America’s economic crisis.

While Ben Mason opposes the scheme, his estranged wife, Charlotte Croft, a columnist for The City Limits newspaper, helps Mark Buzzard and the princess Wren to thwart the government’s plans.

Byron the Bird Catcher, the king’s second in command, keeps close guard over the upsiders, while she shows them everything the city has to offer; a veritable feast of wealth and unique industry, including a mineral which could illuminate London for the next hundred years.

As the struggle to gain the city increases, the colonel takes matters into his own hands, as he instigates a plan to destroy the people of Sous Llyndum and to open up the city to the world above.

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2012

About the author

Wendy Reakes is 61 and lives near Bristol with her husband Jake and nineteen-year-old twins.

After an extensive career in the leisure industry, Wendy gave up her job in higher management to write novels and scripts. It became her absolute desire to be a professional writer, honing her craft while being rejected by literary agents time and time again. Now she must self-publish until a sensible agent realises what they're missing.

Today she says, 'I like to think of myself as the Susan Boyle of literature. 'One day I'll step onto that stage and knock their socks off.'

Wendy has published her autobiography 'SAVED' and written over sixteen novels of high concept speculative fiction genre, and thrillers.

https://www.wendyreakes.com/

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of a parallel city beneath London inevitably brough to mind the awesomeness that is Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and thus proved impossible to resist. Unfortunately, though, this turned out to be a rather half-baked affair in which too much in worldbuilding and plot just didn't make all that much sense and the characters remained too flat to be interesting. Also, I never quite figured out how old Wren was supposed to be (if it was mentioned at any point I must have missed it) - old enough to marry, apparently, but between her childish behaviour and naiveté and only being referred to as "child" or "girl" the whole time, she came across as approximately a 12-year-old, which made the romance feel distinctly questionable.

[Valerie Byron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read almost all of Wendy Reakes' books and have found them to be well written, interesting and definitely different. The Song of the Underground is one of my favorites. Rather than nitpick at facts that may appear to be questionable, the reader should throw herself/himself into the story and revel in the fantasy that is weaved throughout this book. The concept is thrilling and I could see the entire book displayed in glorious technicolor on my inner movie screen. I loved the characters (that were well defined) below the earth - and saw how they were threaded to those above. This is a steampunk fantasy where anything can, and does, happen. Put down your cynic's hat and dive into the fun that awaits you within the pages of this book.

[jennifer willing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read.

Found it an interesting story wrapped around a little bit of fact woven into lovely fantasy story of changing times..

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic concept for a book and I loved the idea of modern people coming into contact with people who have been underground for centuries. The story went in a direction I wasn't expecting at all, not only do the people of Sous Llydum know about the modern world but they're in danger of the British and American governments attempting to wade in and take their existence away all, of course, for profit.
Would an underground community have such fluent modern language? but I suppose it wouldn't work as well and the story would be a lot longer if they failed to understand each other. The description of Sous Llydum, especially the forest and the stifling heat of 'Damnation' are wonderful, the British government come across as sufficiently sleazy and underhand while the explanations of how a City can exist underground and provide for their inhabitants is well thought out and explained.
A very entertaining and intriguing book, I just wish there was less padding to help speed the story along.

[Amanda Gorry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it was a bit different

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf - at 43% I realised I didn't care enough about any of the characters to find out where it all ended up. A shame because the idea of the underground world was fascinating.