They Do Things Differently Here

The Invisible College #1

by Owen W. Knight

When the Waldens move to Templewood, teenagers Emily and Peter find that leaving the City for 'a quieter life in the country' is the least of their problems. Bubbling beneath the surface of their new home are challenges that could change their world forever ...and end ours.

Templewood is so isolated it is not on the map and has no communications links with the outside world. The village is home to the Sect, a divided organisation planning an apocalyptic event intended to establish world domination, but which may destroy the planet.

Emily and Peter's arrival is no accident; their parents may know more than they admit. Could Peter really hold the key to trigger a world-changing event? One by one, mysteries are uncovered, until the terrifying objective of the Sect becomes clear.

There is little time in which to find who is responsible. How far will they go? Should they be stopped? Can they be stopped? If you were the only ones who could save the world, where would you start? Who would you trust?

'1984 Meets the Book of Revelation'

306 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2015

About the author

Owen W. Knight writes contemporary and speculative fiction.

He creates worlds based on documented myths, with elements of dystopia, mystery and science fiction to highlight the use and abuse of power and the conflicts associated with maintaining ethical values.

His works include Conditions Are Different After Dark, which combines contemporary horror with alternative history, The Visitors, a grounded sci-fi ‘first contact’ novel, Another Life, a retelling of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for the 21st Century’ and The Invisible College Trilogy, an apocalyptic dystopian conspiracy tale for young adults, described as ‘1984 Meets the Book of Revelation’.

Owen lives in Essex, England, close to the countryside that inspires his writing.

Reviews

[Hannah]

I finished this book yesterday and WOW the ending was good.
The book started off quite slowly, but it gave a good introduction to the characters. We are introduced to the village of Templewood as they are. At first it just seems like a village in the middle of nowhere which is living in the past. But gradually it seems to be a bit more sinister.
The cricket match is where things really start getting interesting, soon followed by a strange death which completely surprised me!
I had no idea where this book was going to lead and, being the debut book from an unknown author there weren't any clues in reviews online! So I pretty much went into this blind.
However I'm glad I did. It is a brilliant mystery story and it really keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.
The beginning of the end seemed to give a reason for all the strangeness, but it didn't quite make sense, neither to me, nor to the main characters! There are still many questions I want to know the answer to and so I've just ordered the second book in the trilogy.
To be quite honest I have no idea what genre this falls into. Mystery meets dystopian fiction? Even though there is no specific mention of magic, there are hints at supernatural things, so maybe a fantasy book?!
Either way, this book definitely needs to be more widely known, especially as I reckon it would make a brilliant TV series.

[Nelli Lakatos]

This mesmerizing cover caught my attention immediately and the flawless writing style didn't let me go. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʜᴇʀᴇ was unlike anything I've ever read before. I felt myself completely absorbed by this mysterious, unique tale, transported into Templewood, into the pages of this unexpected journey and I had the absolute best time exploring this strange little village.

I highly recommend checking out this beautiful novel. ♡

[James Bryan]

This book surprised me in a good way. Really enjoyed it.

[Lewis Walker]

I bought this book based on a recommendation from a friend, so I had high hopes for it! Ultimately I was not disappointed, though I must admit it did take me a few chapters to get into it. However I realise these chapters are necessary to set the scene.
It quickly picks up the pace though, with a few deaths and lots of intrigue. I've seen the book compared to the Wicker Man, which I can see, however to me it felt more like a modern day, fantasy version of the Prisoner!
I had little predictions all the way through, though none turned out to be correct! I'd say this is a good thing, because it was not a predictable book in the slightest!
The sequel has recently been released and I am excited to start on it, as I can't wait to see what happens next

[Holly Annaleisha]

This was such an intriguing and completely different read! From the moment Emily and Peter arrive in the isolated village of Templewood, there’s this constant unsettling feeling that something just isn’t quite right, and I really enjoyed trying to figure out exactly what was going on. The mystery surrounding the village, its strange community and the Sect kept me questioning who could actually be trusted, and I loved how what initially seems like a family looking for a quieter life gradually turns into something much darker and bigger. The mixture of mystery, conspiracy, dystopian and sci-fi elements made this feel really unique, and there were definitely some moments I wasn't expecting.

It did take me a little while to fully settle into the story, as there’s quite a lot of information and world-building to take in and I occasionally wanted the pace to pick up. Once everything started coming together though, I became much more hooked and really wanted answers! That ending has also left me with SO many questions, and knowing this is only the beginning definitely makes me curious to see where the story goes next. A clever, unusual and thought-provoking read with a brilliantly eerie atmosphere that kept me guessing.

[Miss E]

This is Book 1 in the invisible college trilogy, a YA speculative/sciFi fiction novel.

The Walden’s move to Templewood see’s Teenagers Emily and Peter exploring the new surroundings and finding all is not as it seems from the off.

From the very beginning we as a reader are searching for clues and wondering what is amiss. Villagers saying ‘poor children’ as they pass and the feeling that something/someone is watching.

There is no mention per se of magic/ fantasy elements being factual and at play but there is just a feeling that is the case. There are deaths that have you questioning things and this book really does have you scratching your head trying to second guess whats next-you wont!

The ending of this one is really good, it leaves lots of unanswered questions and leads into book 2 wondering why they are the centre of attention and the prophecy about the survival or destruction of the planet and what will happen next?

thanks to the author for this copy of your very imaginative book which i think would be enjoyed by a wide audience who also enjoy small town/mystery books.

[Toni Ashleigh sistersplusbooks]

This book was nothing like anything we have read! It was a slow start but soon had us engaged and making us second guess everything.

We were instantly intrigued by the different characters in the village as they all seem to be hiding something. Many we definitely don't trust! We definitely want to know more about the dad, we feel like he definitely knows more than hes letting on!

There is many mysterys and secrets throughout which keeps you guessing and douting yourself whether you actually know what's happening, we felt like we had an idea of what was going to happen next and how wrong we were 😂

This is highlighted as a YA however we believe that it could have the target audience for adults too.

We definitely would read the next in the series as would love to see what happens next to the characters and have a few questions that we want answered. Definitely recommend to those who want a different read!

[Donna Morfett]

The premise of this sounded fantastic and it did not disappoint at all. I do love a dystopian read, and this is YA, although I dont feel like that was noticeable in any way.
It follows Emily and Peter as they move with their parents to an isolated village. Its totally isolated, not on the map and out of touch with the rest of the world.
As they realise there is more than meets the eye in this village, Emily and Peter set out to find the truth.
The different ideas interwoven here, modern, ancient and mythological ideas, is absolutely brilliant. The author has clearly done his research, and enjoyed it, and it shows.
It was a totally addictive read that i couldn't get through quick enough, and i'm thrilled to see its the first of a trilogy as I need to get back into their world and find out what happens next!

[Janice]

Templewood is a chilling, thought-provoking thriller that blends dystopian tension with apocalyptic horror, delivering a story that feels both intimate and world-shattering. What begins as a familiar “escape the City for a quieter life” premise quickly unravels into something far darker, more dangerous, and deeply unsettling.

Emily and Peter are compelling, believable protagonists, thrust into a nightmare where isolation is absolute and trust is a luxury they can’t afford. Templewood itself is masterfully imagined—off the map, cut off from the world, and pulsing with menace. The Sect is not just a shadowy threat, but a fractured, fanatical organisation whose internal divisions make it even more unpredictable and terrifying.

[Melissa]

I have to say this one was a little weird, but like an interesting weird, and I like it! They Do Things Differently Here certainly describes it well. There are odd things happening with the town and its people. Peter and Emily, who just moved there with their parents, see and hear things they don’t understand and have to try to figure out. There are secrets galore and a big twist in the end that clears the path for the next book in the series. I’m looking forward to reading it!

They Do Things Differently Here: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kimmie Johnson]

A brilliant and intriguing start to the series! The Invisible College #1: They Do Things Differently Here completely pulled me in with its smart storytelling, layered characters, and mysterious atmosphere. The author writes with confidence and originality, creating a world that feels immersive and thought-provoking. I was hooked from beginning to end and can’t wait for the next book. Highly recommended!

[Mike]

This was a great read! The author kept me engaged from beginning to end, and the writing style was clear and easy to follow. I learned a lot and genuinely enjoyed the experience. Definitely worth the purchase.

[Jennet Luna]

There is something about teenagers who move to a village not on any map with no communications to the outside world, only to discover their arrival was no accident. That line about whether Peter really holds the key to trigger a world changing event stayed with me.

[Daisy Bourne]

An intriguing story!

[Darien McCormack]

I found this to be the lower age range for young adults.

[Oliver]

Good pacing and interesting ideas.

[Gregory]

The author explains things in such a relatable way.

[`Drake]

Definitely one of the better books I’ve read recently.

[Brittany]

I won a copy of this book through goodreads giveaways. All opinions are my own.

I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book since there are not many reviews on it yet. The description of the book did make it sound like it would be a great book but It just fell short for me. When it got close to the end of the book I started wondering how it would all wrap up before the end with so few pages left. Once I finished the book, I was pretty let down because it seemed like nothing had been answered. The last chapter of the book is titled "So Many Unanswered Questions" which is pretty spot on because there were exactly that - so many unanswered questions.

[Owen Knight]

Author comment: Hope you enjoy!