The Arb

by Jon Smith, Nathan Foss (Narrator)

When a malevolent figure from Khmer folklore awakens, Sothea and Gabe must navigate friendship, family and the monster within to overcome a terrifying supernatural force and protect the society that shunned them.

Gabe, a seventeen-year-old labourer, becomes besotted by the enigmatic Sothea after her family moves into the dilapidated manor house he’s working on. Both are misfits and find it difficult to communicate with others, but in those brief moments they have together – be it a stolen glance, a whispered exchange, or a secret rendezvous – they begin to discover and explore their true selves and feelings.

But this idyllic blossoming romance is shattered when a malevolent figure from Khmer folklore – an arb – roams the night to feed on the unsuspecting.

The Arb is a dark coming-of-age tale that follows two neurodiverse teens who struggle to be accepted by a society that has little time, or empathy, for anyone who’s different. A contemporary gothic paranormal layered in Arthurian legend with an Asian horror twist.

Audible Audio

First published July 1, 2023

About the author

Jon 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.

Reviews

[Sarah Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Anita Hofer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. Enjoyed it Would recommend

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Saf · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book, good character relationships and twists and turns to keep you intrigued!