William Winch: Origins of a Guardian

by G.P. Hawker

How would you feel about being transported to another world unexpectedly? Join William and his brother, Hugo, as they travel through the Kingdom of Canna, which is under threat from an evil queen. A broken city, vanishing populations and species never seen before by the boys. Along with their new found friends, William and Hugo go in search of a powerful relic, in the hope of bringing peace to Canna once more. Can they help save the kingdom and their friends' families? Will they discover the real power of their family name and understand William's new ability to transport to other worlds?

Scroll up and click buy now to grab your copy today. The Kingdom of Canna is waiting to be explored.

Genres: Fantasy

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2026

Reviews

[Tiffany Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable adventure story following William Winch as he discovers his hidden abilities. This is a fast paced action packed coming of age story perfect for ages 8+

It was easy to be captivated by the realms, creatures and characters in this story and it gave me ‘Peter Pan and the lost boys’ ‘Alice in wonderland’ and also ‘Lord of the Rings’ (for children) vibes throughout.

Felt instantly connected to the characters and a definite soft spot for kit. The ending really warmed me!
There are so many avenues GP Hawker can explore and I am so excited to learn more about the individual characters and their back stories… no pressure haha!

This book is filled with:
Found family
Strong friendships
Loyal companionship
Leadership guidance
Magical elements
Quirky creatures

Can’t wait to get my 8 year old son’s verdict. I know he’s going to love it!

[Zeffie Schatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story moves fast without ever feeling rushed: new places, fights, creatures, an evil empress, and William's powers growing at every step. The urgency and danger are real, and the friendship the teenagers build along the way is the heart of the book.

I couldn't put it down, and I was rooting for these kids from beginning to end. It's an impressive debut that left me with a warm, nostalgic feeling, and I'd have loved to read it as a teenager.

[Markus Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began this story. I’d come off the back of Homer’s The Odyssey and Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses - but I have to say, for a debut effort, this displays a level of assurance and an elegance of characterisation and craft that I don’t find in the work of many established authors.

G. P. Hawker has done something very special here. His lightness of touch and instinctive understanding of his readers are evident throughout. He’s funny and heartfelt, and the guy can pace action as well as anyone I’ve read - and I’m talking long-form, epic action here. It’s clear, enjoyable and, in my 47 years, the only book I’ve ever read in one sitting over the course of a single day.

So, frankly, it doesn’t matter how old you are: this guy writes a great story and great characters. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about? If there’s any justice in the world, he’ll go far - and he’ll have earned it.

I’ll take mine scrambled, please.

[Yasmin McBryde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narnia, Peter Pan Lost Boys, even Marvels Avengers vibes

A wicked dark empress is in search of something powerful that can end worlds. But this group of teenagers and adults will stop at nothing to fight against her. My son’s name is William so he especially resonated with this descriptive story and Master Winch. My favorite character is Kit and I absolutely loved the ending. It’s definitely a fun read for all ages as my son is 8 and I'm 38!

G.P. Hawker is a brilliant and descriptive writer.
I recommend that you add this adventurous book to your TBR :)

Favorite quotes :
"There are possibilities far beyond your imagination."
"Of course I can blooming talk, you cheeky rascal."
"Fear will help you make wise decisions, but do not allow it to control your whole being."

[A.L. Lieske]

Heartwarming and Imaginative Fantasy, Great for YA

The brilliant thing about this book was that it felt so alive. The writing really transported me back to my younger years, where the imagination ran wild with adventure, magic, and wars. There were fun creatures, a magic world with different climates, difficulties to overcome, friends to be had, and inner discoveries for the lads. It's a solid tale for any youth or adult to find themselves lost in without any fear of somthing distasteful popping up. If you want a book that will give you a laugh, an adventure, and a lesson, this is well worth the time. I do look forward to more from this author.

[Bryant Shurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I was eleven years old, I would want to be William Winch.
This is a fun, fast paced portal fantasy adventure perfect for readers aged 10 and up. Adult readers (like myself) will find a cozy nostalgia in this story with epic scope and rough & tumble characters who band together to defeat an unstoppable evil. There’s a great sibling dynamic at the core of the story and a journey of learning to trust each other. The titular character, William, also has to learn to embrace his own destiny while wrestling with the obvious fear and hesitation a kid would have in these extraordinary circumstances. There’s swords, sorcery, crazy beasts, and whimsical witchery. What’s not to love?

[Lisa M Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an adventurous story about two brothers by a very talented author whose descriptive writing puts right into the pages, where you feel like you’re seeing it in front of you. I was hooked, wanting to see what happened next. This story is one for teens, middle grade kids, and adults all alike, who love fantasy, magic, humor and found family. As I said in my video review, this story reminds me of movies I watched as a child in the 80’s and 90’s that are hard to find nowadays. This is the type of book that is missing from today’s world of imagination for this generation, and I look forward to reading the next novel from this writer!!

[miz_bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story! I read this with my sons who are 10 and 12 years old and it’s perfect for this age group. This story is fast paced, engaging and full of adventure. Brothers William and Hugo are unexpectedly transported into a magical kingdom. A land that is battling against an evil queen. They meet the Renegades and join forces with them to try to defeat her. There are some epic battle scenes! Think medieval style fighting with swords and flaming arrows. Not to mention there are so many interesting magical creatures. The Oiks are my favourite! This is a wonderful story for young readers and also for those of us grownups who want to revisit the adventurous stories of our youth. 😊

[Solomon Woytowich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great fantasy story for young readers. Ideally, I think 10-year-olds would really gravitate toward it. It was fun; it was adventurous. There was a strong feeling of brotherhood between William and Hugo. You get to see and experience many different settings throughout the story, which keeps it fresh and moving. If I had one complaint about the book as a whole, it's that the story often moves too quickly. This fast pace would probably be ideal for young readers, but it didn't allow me to form the bonds I wanted with characters or certain events. But overall, an excellent debut novel by G.P. Hawker!

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly fantastic. I couldn’t put it down! It had me hooked from the very beginning. The ending is genius! My heart was racing the whole time, and I could actually see the movie playing in my head.
I love how the story unfolded, and I absolutely loved the creative characters. I had such a fun time reading this book that, funny enough, it felt like I was right there with them in all those magical worlds.
This book will spark your imagination and bring the story to life in your mind like never before.
I can’t recommend this book enough.

[Hannah Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 8 year old son and I read this book together and we both loved it! William Winch immediately pulls you in and keeps you engaged throughout the book, spurring your kid to beg, “Please just one more chapter??”

William is a cool character with a near teleporting ability and his brother Hugo is also great. There is a large cast of great supporting characters and fun magical creatures and lands to explore.

My son said it was one of his favorite books ever and he is anxiously looking forward to the sequel.

[Edward Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely wonderful read. Yes, it's aimed at kids or young adults so it's a relatively easy read but even as an adult, the adventure bounces along at a fair old rate and you're constantly finding yourself wanting to know what happens next. G.P. Hawker is also not afraid of being a bit bloodthirsty in the inevitable battle scenes that a fantasy story like this almost seems to demand, yet pitches it just right to not be scary for younger kids. I for one can't wait for what comes next!

[Caitlynn Needoba · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut novel by G.P. Hawker! This YA novel, perfect for preteens, follows William and his brother Hugo as they help save the Kingdom of Canna. Their epic adventure includes fantastic world building, finding friends who become family (the whole crew of supporting characters are superb), and overcoming fear to help yourself and others. And the ending had me cheering!
I can’t wait to share this story with my son when he is older.

[Michele Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Winch: Origins of a Guardian is an exhilarating adventure that drew me in instantly. I loved the characters, the creatures, and the worlds they transported me to. G.P. Hawker’s world building is vivid and easy to imagine, making it effortless to become immersed in the story.

You most certainly do not need to be a preteen to enjoy this book! If you love fantasy adventures filled with unforgettable characters and exciting twists, this one is well worth picking up.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced and action packed young adult story of brothers Will and Hugo who are transported to a world of strange creatures, magic and adventure. This is fun and engaging. The main characters are relatable and easy to follow along. Not my usual read, but this was a good break from my normal genre.

[K. D. Capener · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

William Winch is a fantastic adventure story that takes William and Hugo on the ride of their lives. Along the way they discover truths about their family and themselves. Some of the situations they find themselves in are wild. Kudos to the author for writing such an imaginative story. Great debut. Highly recommend for kids who maybe struggle with liking to read. I think they will enjoy this one!

[Chlor - The Neverending Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read and a great debut YA book. The characters were lovely, the world was fantastic, the plot action packed, and the magic very interesting. I can see my young nieces and nephews really enjoying this book. The plot is heartwarming and the ending was fantastic!

[Annemarie Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and adventurous page-turner.

GP Hawker did a great job of this adventurous tale. It's one is those journeys designed for YA audiences that can be easily enjoyed by adults. The pacing is solid; the characters engaging.
An enjoyable adventure.

[Donna Kahelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you seriously kidding me? This is a great book for anyone! I absolutely loved this! The whole story is well thought out and keeps your interest. Paced just right, I had to force myself to stop reading. Highly recommend!

[Jon Coley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thoroughly Fun Adventure

Nothing like a bit of portal magic and a mysterious past. Makes for a great story. The cast of characters are easily loveable, even with the fast paced plot. It was a page Turner.

[Clive Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, imaginative adventure full of heart.

[Mother Hen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for middle grade and teens. Unapologetically British. A fast-paced and interesting tale!

[Greg Beadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

GP Hawker (or Hawk) sets up his characters really well. Follow brothers William and Hugo on their crazy adventures!

[Lisandra Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced adventure for all ages

A very good read, fast-paced, it leaves no time to get bored. The characters are fun and so likeable! And the last page literally left me smiling.

[Joe Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading and was a very fun read! Fast-paced plot keeping you interested and a great band of adventurers are the heart of the story. Great read for younger readers and a great debut!

[Kat Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ I loved this story about William Winch!! I can’t wait for my Grandson to read it!!!! Highly recommend:)

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my 13 yo daughter read this and she enjoyed it! She said it was funny and the adventure was exciting. She couldn't put it down and devoured it in 2 days. Great story!

Reluctant guardian
Hidden powers
Tragic backstory
Enemies to allies
Found purpose

[Samantha Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable read! While this type of book isn't my usual genre, I'm glad I picked it up. GP Hawker has created a tantalizing world that makes the imagination run wild. The characters are very well written, with distinct voices and personalities that shine through not only in their dialogue, but also in their actions. William's character growth is especially well done. His maturity develops so subtly throughout the story that it never feels forced, but by the end, you can really see how far he's come. It was understated yet surprisingly powerful, making him feel incredibly real.