The Tasks of the Departed

by Junaid Ashraf

Fourteen-year-old Al is horrified when he witnesses his family being abducted by vicious hawk-like creatures and he’s dragged after them into the spirit world by a supernatural robin. Here, he meets his deceased grandfather, Alfred, and learns that spirits like him secretly help their living loved ones.

Aided by a group of powerful beings, Al and Alfred set out to rescue their family from the clutches of an evil spirit bent on using them in his plan to conquer both the spirit world and the living one. Along the way, Al discovers that he himself has unique powers which may save both.

The Tasks of the Departed is perfect for young people and adults who enjoy reading high fantasies blended with a mixture of historical nuggets. Sprinkled with a little Christmas magic too, it is teeming with quirky characters and fantastical creatures, which will make you laugh, cry and warm your heart in equal measure!

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2022

About the author

I am a pharmacist from Birmingham, UK, and The Tasks of the Departed is my debut novel. I first got the idea for it at university, inspired largely by my love of the supernatural and Dickens' A Christmas Carol! Soon after I qualified, I started working on a part time basis in order to get the idea I'd allowed to bloom in my mind on paper. Building a whole fantasy world with an array of quirky characters has been more exhilarating than I can put into words! I will be writing a sequel in due course.

Concerning my other interests, I have a passion for history (especially the Tudors) and feel most at home in castles and cathedrals!