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Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf
Unlock the power of music, magic, and memory.
Since the first secret was lost, the Narrowers have collected and stored every forgotten hope, promise, and memory in a boundless dimension known as the Narrowing Vent.
Now, in a time of great change and unease, where faith is forbidden and policed from the shadows, twelve-year-old Sadie Madison learns of the Narrowers in a fanciful bedtime story. Stirred by the tale, Sadie performs a haunting piano melody, unheard for an age. The mysterious music possesses her best friend, exposes dark family secrets, and sparks the flame of belief once more. But echoes of the melody ripple through the Narrowing Vent. Whispers gather of a child whose power can manipulate every forgotten hope, promise, and memory.
Afraid to endure alone, Sadie forges a strange companion from stardust and shadow. Can they work together to release Sadie’s best friend, untangle the Madison family history, and evade the Narrowers, before an awakening evil steals her incredible power for his own?
His Dark Materials meets The Mortal Engines in Neil J Hart’s award-winning supernatural fantasy adventure where the fabric of reality is threatened by those who would give their lives to glimpse the past and kill to save the future.
“Brimming with whimsy and wonder, Sadie Madison is a magical tale that readers of all ages will enjoy!”
–Elana A. Mugdan, author of The Shadow War Saga
Since the first secret was lost, the Narrowers have collected and stored every forgotten hope, promise, and memory in a boundless dimension known as the Narrowing Vent.
Now, in a time of great change and unease, where faith is forbidden and policed from the shadows, twelve-year-old Sadie Madison learns of the Narrowers in a fanciful bedtime story. Stirred by the tale, Sadie performs a haunting piano melody, unheard for an age. The mysterious music possesses her best friend, exposes dark family secrets, and sparks the flame of belief once more. But echoes of the melody ripple through the Narrowing Vent. Whispers gather of a child whose power can manipulate every forgotten hope, promise, and memory.
Afraid to endure alone, Sadie forges a strange companion from stardust and shadow. Can they work together to release Sadie’s best friend, untangle the Madison family history, and evade the Narrowers, before an awakening evil steals her incredible power for his own?
His Dark Materials meets The Mortal Engines in Neil J Hart’s award-winning supernatural fantasy adventure where the fabric of reality is threatened by those who would give their lives to glimpse the past and kill to save the future.
“Brimming with whimsy and wonder, Sadie Madison is a magical tale that readers of all ages will enjoy!”
–Elana A. Mugdan, author of The Shadow War Saga
444 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2024
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Neil J Hart
4 books15 followersNeil J Hart has won awards for his haunting YA fantasy adventure novels ‘The Last Scarecrow’ (Nightmare Before Christmas meets Return to Oz) and 'Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf' (His Dark Materials meets City of Ghosts).
His latest book, 'Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows' is a YA sci-fi mystery inspired by the adventure of Star Wars and magic of Harry Potter.
He is currently working on sequels to all a three series with audiobooks in the works too.
Neil also works as a graphic designer and a musician. He fosters for Cats Protection. Relies on coffee. Adores a perfectly made cheese and cucumber sandwich. And collects Tomb Raider memorabilia.
His latest book, 'Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows' is a YA sci-fi mystery inspired by the adventure of Star Wars and magic of Harry Potter.
He is currently working on sequels to all a three series with audiobooks in the works too.
Neil also works as a graphic designer and a musician. He fosters for Cats Protection. Relies on coffee. Adores a perfectly made cheese and cucumber sandwich. And collects Tomb Raider memorabilia.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 15, 2024
Where was this book when I graduated from Goosebumps but wasnt quite ready for Stephen King yet??
It's really well done-Sadie is a great, complex character. When she unknowingly releases a power no one can explain, she feels alone, isolated and frightened. But in a cool little twist, she find a companion to assist her figuring this power out and saving her best friend.
Really enjoyed it.
It's really well done-Sadie is a great, complex character. When she unknowingly releases a power no one can explain, she feels alone, isolated and frightened. But in a cool little twist, she find a companion to assist her figuring this power out and saving her best friend.
Really enjoyed it.
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November 17, 2024I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I LOVED the world created in this, this dark magical steampunk setting refreshingly set the tone with its familiar characters and pulling you into the adventure. Enough chill to it to make it both horror and fantasy. Sadie and Oliver with the ghosts or the scene with Hobbsworth may have been my favourite. It’s warm and it’s confusing and it’s scary at the same time and while it can be confusing and a bit crammed I really do recommend it as it has so much potential.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I LOVED the world created in this, this dark magical steampunk setting refreshingly set the tone with its familiar characters and pulling you into the adventure. Enough chill to it to make it both horror and fantasy. Sadie and Oliver with the ghosts or the scene with Hobbsworth may have been my favourite. It’s warm and it’s confusing and it’s scary at the same time and while it can be confusing and a bit crammed I really do recommend it as it has so much potential.
November 25, 2024
I could not put this book down! It was fantastic and beautifully written.
Not only does it have great characters and world building but it also has magic, monsters, adventure, prophecy and little horror element to it.
It also has some stories throughout the book that are fascinating to read but also dark and twisted and I ate them up.
I absolutely love Neil’s writing style and I always get so consumed by the plot and the characters. He is definitely an auto read/buy author for me. I cannot wait to read more of his work and I can’t wait to see where this story goes.
Not only does it have great characters and world building but it also has magic, monsters, adventure, prophecy and little horror element to it.
It also has some stories throughout the book that are fascinating to read but also dark and twisted and I ate them up.
I absolutely love Neil’s writing style and I always get so consumed by the plot and the characters. He is definitely an auto read/buy author for me. I cannot wait to read more of his work and I can’t wait to see where this story goes.
November 15, 2024
What I Did Like:
+Oliver is intriguing. No spoilers but I like the way he played out.
+The use of music is beautiful. As a music fan myself, I appreciated the role it played. I often say music has power. This took that up a level, in a great way.
+Interesting fantasy world. This one blends fantasy with historical eras in a cool way. I did enjoy the way they came together.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of historical fiction who want a meld with fantasy.
-Reluctant chosen one fans.
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/11/...
+Oliver is intriguing. No spoilers but I like the way he played out.
+The use of music is beautiful. As a music fan myself, I appreciated the role it played. I often say music has power. This took that up a level, in a great way.
+Interesting fantasy world. This one blends fantasy with historical eras in a cool way. I did enjoy the way they came together.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of historical fiction who want a meld with fantasy.
-Reluctant chosen one fans.
My Rating: 3 Stars
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2024/11/...
December 8, 2024
I wavered on my star rating for this book, but decided to err to the positive. I’d consider this a solid 4.5 stars. It never hurts to help inventive authors with brand new ideas, though!
This first book in the Sadie Madison series harkens to what the author refers to as “penny dreadfuls and horror grimoires”. I’d say it’s meant for a teen audience. The main character is a thirteen year old girl. There is no swearing or sexual content, but there is alcohol use and violence. I am reviewing as an adult who often reads teen/YA books and expects as pristine writing for this age range as any other.
This is a story of a young girl, Sadie Madison, that discovers that everything she thought she knew about herself and family is not what it seems as her thirteenth birthday approaches. She could possibly be one of a few candidates that encompass a great Fortelling. For Sadie’s part, a boy with a crimson scarf appears but it seems only she can see him at first. Together they must discover Sadies’s past, what is real and maybe whether “real” is even important.
The book starts right into the action. I was drawn in by the author’s descriptive writing immediately! I love good vocabulary, used properly, and that was plentiful. There was a lot of mystery built in, but I assumed we’d be let in to some of it by the close of the book. We did get some answers, but many more questions by then.
The author slid a few sporadic chapters of his own fairytales into the novel. This was a fun surprise and I enjoyed them. I think they’ll help with some of the very large cast of characters and monsters and huge world as we progress.
Herein was my big complaint, a preteen/teen reader could possibly get bogged down in the extensive world building required early to mid book. Sometimes the story itself got a little lost trying to keep up with the details! This is a new world, new magic system, new technology system, new monsters, new myths and Gods. It’s a lot to take in as a reader. But having started Wheel of Time as a teen myself, some will be up to the task and devour every last word!
Hats off to Neil J Hart for this ambitious book. It is unique and well written. The story is interesting and the world building is impressive. I don’t know where he will head in the next, but it would be fun to follow each of the candidates he mentions in this book, with their own stories and abilities. I would love to be kept captivated wondering which candidate will fulfill the Fortelling. I’ll wait with bated breath regardless!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I feel like my review is fair and honest.
This first book in the Sadie Madison series harkens to what the author refers to as “penny dreadfuls and horror grimoires”. I’d say it’s meant for a teen audience. The main character is a thirteen year old girl. There is no swearing or sexual content, but there is alcohol use and violence. I am reviewing as an adult who often reads teen/YA books and expects as pristine writing for this age range as any other.
This is a story of a young girl, Sadie Madison, that discovers that everything she thought she knew about herself and family is not what it seems as her thirteenth birthday approaches. She could possibly be one of a few candidates that encompass a great Fortelling. For Sadie’s part, a boy with a crimson scarf appears but it seems only she can see him at first. Together they must discover Sadies’s past, what is real and maybe whether “real” is even important.
The book starts right into the action. I was drawn in by the author’s descriptive writing immediately! I love good vocabulary, used properly, and that was plentiful. There was a lot of mystery built in, but I assumed we’d be let in to some of it by the close of the book. We did get some answers, but many more questions by then.
The author slid a few sporadic chapters of his own fairytales into the novel. This was a fun surprise and I enjoyed them. I think they’ll help with some of the very large cast of characters and monsters and huge world as we progress.
Herein was my big complaint, a preteen/teen reader could possibly get bogged down in the extensive world building required early to mid book. Sometimes the story itself got a little lost trying to keep up with the details! This is a new world, new magic system, new technology system, new monsters, new myths and Gods. It’s a lot to take in as a reader. But having started Wheel of Time as a teen myself, some will be up to the task and devour every last word!
Hats off to Neil J Hart for this ambitious book. It is unique and well written. The story is interesting and the world building is impressive. I don’t know where he will head in the next, but it would be fun to follow each of the candidates he mentions in this book, with their own stories and abilities. I would love to be kept captivated wondering which candidate will fulfill the Fortelling. I’ll wait with bated breath regardless!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I feel like my review is fair and honest.
November 19, 2024
I really liked it 😁. Came accross this book when it was recommended to me through booksirens.
It was a really enjoyable read the setting was very engrossing too. I also enjoyed the writing style very, my only ick was that i felt some sentences were unnecessarily longer than they could have been but other than that it was a really amazing read the writing made it feel enchanting espetially the use of music in the story i also loved oliver and eli too. The mystery and magical elements in the book wee really good too.
So anyways don't know if this review even makes sense 😅 but i am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book
It was a really enjoyable read the setting was very engrossing too. I also enjoyed the writing style very, my only ick was that i felt some sentences were unnecessarily longer than they could have been but other than that it was a really amazing read the writing made it feel enchanting espetially the use of music in the story i also loved oliver and eli too. The mystery and magical elements in the book wee really good too.
So anyways don't know if this review even makes sense 😅 but i am looking forward to getting my hands on the next book
December 5, 2024
This is a YA. This was perfect to read as a family. My kids enjoyed this book, too. They begged me to read it every night. We even read more than just a chapter a night because they enjoyed the book that much. They are already asking me about the second book. This was beautifully written from the characters to the world building. The magic atmosphere really came to life. My favorite was the monsters and the adventure within this book. There is a little bit of horror, so little kids might find it on the scary side.
I/we can not wait for book two and what happens next.
I/we can not wait for book two and what happens next.
June 11, 2025
Wow... This book was everything I needed when I was a teenager, and I'm so glad it came to me now!
As a fan of The Last Scarecrow, I knew I was in for a wonderful story and man... Sadie Madison absolutely delivers. The voice was so deliciously written, and I was completely sucked into this magical world. I loved this book so much, and I'm very excited to see what comes next in this series.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've obviously gotta read Harper Hale now lol
As a fan of The Last Scarecrow, I knew I was in for a wonderful story and man... Sadie Madison absolutely delivers. The voice was so deliciously written, and I was completely sucked into this magical world. I loved this book so much, and I'm very excited to see what comes next in this series.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've obviously gotta read Harper Hale now lol
December 23, 2024
First and foremost, for a YA book, it’s pretty intriguing. The magic system and the secrets in the family were awesome. Very different from any other books in the same genre. Appreciated having the opportunity to read this as an arc. Would DEFINITELY read more by this author!
May 31, 2025
I was sad to finish reading this! Looking forward to the next one already 🤞
December 22, 2024
"Hypnotic Worlds Await in Neil J Hart's Spellbinding Tale"
" Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf" by Neil J Hart is the first installment in the magical dark fantasy series The Madison Chronicles . It cast its spell on me from the very beginning and held me enthralled until the mind-blowing ending, leaving me desperately craving the sequel.
"Music filled the room with heat and colour. It pirouetted through the air and into her heart."
Sadie Madison's melodies are as powerful and irresistible as her creator's whimsical writing. With each stroke of his pen, Neil J Hart sweeps readers away to an enthralling dark world brimming with mystery, magic, and adventure. His characters, barely contained by the pages, whisper a mesmerizing tale that will linger in the minds of readers longer than they dare to imagine.
In this alluring installment, Neil J Hart has created a journey that goes beyond the ordinary realm of fantasy. This is not merely a story but an invitation to an unforgettable adventure. Dive into this tale and let your imagination take flight.
" Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf" by Neil J Hart is the first installment in the magical dark fantasy series The Madison Chronicles . It cast its spell on me from the very beginning and held me enthralled until the mind-blowing ending, leaving me desperately craving the sequel.
"Music filled the room with heat and colour. It pirouetted through the air and into her heart."
Sadie Madison's melodies are as powerful and irresistible as her creator's whimsical writing. With each stroke of his pen, Neil J Hart sweeps readers away to an enthralling dark world brimming with mystery, magic, and adventure. His characters, barely contained by the pages, whisper a mesmerizing tale that will linger in the minds of readers longer than they dare to imagine.
In this alluring installment, Neil J Hart has created a journey that goes beyond the ordinary realm of fantasy. This is not merely a story but an invitation to an unforgettable adventure. Dive into this tale and let your imagination take flight.
December 27, 2024
My gosh... Where do I even begin? I'm still processing this absolutely MINDBLOWING book.
I was excited for Sadie Madison from the moment I saw the pre-orders and spoke with the author at Birmingham Book Extravaganza. I began with the ARC and it was honestly incredible and then I immediately had to reread it in physical when the book showed up on my doorstep.
My GOODNESS this book is stellar. Utterly spellbinding. Imaginative, creative, unique, truly an amazing story from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and deep and I loved sinking my teeth into the details. The story is unlike anything I've read before. Sure, there's deep and beautiful notes of Mortal Engines, His Dark Materials, Power of Five, and other such fantasies of my childhood but the way in which those inspirations are painted into something wholly new and vibrant are simply incredible.
There were moments I had to set the book down and pace around my kitchen just THINKING solidly about the story that's how much it had me in a complete GRIP.
Sadie is a great protagonist. Believably her age and so very human in her ways. I love her learning and growing and I feel her pain and strife. This book is an emotional rollercoaster for her and I want nothing more than the best for her.
Oliver is fantastically spoopy and sweet at the same time. I loved his growth and all the twists and revelations about him.
I absolutely CANNOT wait for book 2!!!
I was excited for Sadie Madison from the moment I saw the pre-orders and spoke with the author at Birmingham Book Extravaganza. I began with the ARC and it was honestly incredible and then I immediately had to reread it in physical when the book showed up on my doorstep.
My GOODNESS this book is stellar. Utterly spellbinding. Imaginative, creative, unique, truly an amazing story from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and deep and I loved sinking my teeth into the details. The story is unlike anything I've read before. Sure, there's deep and beautiful notes of Mortal Engines, His Dark Materials, Power of Five, and other such fantasies of my childhood but the way in which those inspirations are painted into something wholly new and vibrant are simply incredible.
There were moments I had to set the book down and pace around my kitchen just THINKING solidly about the story that's how much it had me in a complete GRIP.
Sadie is a great protagonist. Believably her age and so very human in her ways. I love her learning and growing and I feel her pain and strife. This book is an emotional rollercoaster for her and I want nothing more than the best for her.
Oliver is fantastically spoopy and sweet at the same time. I loved his growth and all the twists and revelations about him.
I absolutely CANNOT wait for book 2!!!
March 25, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I've got to be honest, I almost DNF this book. In the beginning, it felt like it was the second in a series and not the first in a series. It started off confusing and, admittedly, a little slow for me. I mean that in a sense of I would have to read it slower than normal to make sure I was processing everything. There were also some words that as a full-grown adult, I had to google the definition of! It took me a short while to get used to the author's writing style, but once I did, that made it a little bit easier for me and made it much more enjoyable to read.
As I kept going on -- I refuse to DNF a book unless I truly can't stand it -- I found that even though it was sometimes confusing, or felt like it read very slowly, that I was intrigued about what was going on with Sadie and what it was all leading to. I found that even if I might have stumbled through it or needed to push through it sometimes, that I was just as determined as Sadie figure out what was going on in her life, where her friend seemed to disappear to, and what was in store for her as we learned more and more about the secrets her father was keeping from her.
I did eventually come to really enjoy the book, but it didn't quite reach four or five stars for me because of the reasons stated above. It felt a little drawn out at times, there were some words that I didn't even know the meaning of, and sometimes it felt like the plot was a little too overall confusing -- or maybe that was the intent all along? If so, I applaud the author for that!
I definitely would like to see a sequel, however, just because I'm itching to know what happens to Sadie and what the very last chapter has to do with her!
I've got to be honest, I almost DNF this book. In the beginning, it felt like it was the second in a series and not the first in a series. It started off confusing and, admittedly, a little slow for me. I mean that in a sense of I would have to read it slower than normal to make sure I was processing everything. There were also some words that as a full-grown adult, I had to google the definition of! It took me a short while to get used to the author's writing style, but once I did, that made it a little bit easier for me and made it much more enjoyable to read.
As I kept going on -- I refuse to DNF a book unless I truly can't stand it -- I found that even though it was sometimes confusing, or felt like it read very slowly, that I was intrigued about what was going on with Sadie and what it was all leading to. I found that even if I might have stumbled through it or needed to push through it sometimes, that I was just as determined as Sadie figure out what was going on in her life, where her friend seemed to disappear to, and what was in store for her as we learned more and more about the secrets her father was keeping from her.
I did eventually come to really enjoy the book, but it didn't quite reach four or five stars for me because of the reasons stated above. It felt a little drawn out at times, there were some words that I didn't even know the meaning of, and sometimes it felt like the plot was a little too overall confusing -- or maybe that was the intent all along? If so, I applaud the author for that!
I definitely would like to see a sequel, however, just because I'm itching to know what happens to Sadie and what the very last chapter has to do with her!
March 5, 2023
I loved the storyline and it kept me interested the entire time.
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January 1, 2025As a fan of historical fiction and fantasy, I felt this blended the two in a way that was quite intriguing and I loved the way the author melded them together to craft a story that was not just the same old tropes as others in similar genres. I also found the character of Oliver to be one that was easy to connect with and who was intriguing - I wanted to know more. I am a little sad the same could not be said for the character of Sadie, however.
With that in mind, I feel as if this story fell into a trap that a lot of historical fantasies do; if was slow. The pacing was inconsistent in the beginning, and the story seemed to drag on a little and felt as if it wasn't getting where it needed to go fast enough. This is a danger that a lot of books in this genre face, so I was not entirely surprised, but would have liked to see more consistent and captivating pacing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
With that in mind, I feel as if this story fell into a trap that a lot of historical fantasies do; if was slow. The pacing was inconsistent in the beginning, and the story seemed to drag on a little and felt as if it wasn't getting where it needed to go fast enough. This is a danger that a lot of books in this genre face, so I was not entirely surprised, but would have liked to see more consistent and captivating pacing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 12, 2024
Not only did this book suck me in from the beginning, it kept my attention throughout the entire story. I loved all the characters too. Sadie is probably the best character. Her age is almost irrelevant. She makes decisions that I expected of her age, but her curiosity and tenacity had me hooked from page to page. The plot and secrets unraveled beautifully. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I look forward to more from this author and series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews