Philip Womack - Editor

Edward Pollock lives an ordinary life at his ordinary boarding school, where the food is bad and the teachers are way too serious. But one day he’s inexplicably drawn to a strange and powerful book, and suddenly the boarding school isn’t quite so ordinary anymore. Capable of boosting men to heroism or destroying them in malice and evil, The Other Book has laid dormant for 400 years, waiting for someone to restore it to its original glory. While Edward must do his best to keep The Other book safe, a mysterious new teacher at the school becomes intent of getting a hold of the Book for her own sinister purposes. This dark and thrilling new fantasy takes a look at what happens when bad people control the forces of magic.

On his first trip to London to stay with his glamorous aunt and uncle for Christmas, Ivo Moncrieff steps off the train and stumbles into a nightmare. As the capital seems in danger of sliding into anarchy, Ivo faces a race against time to break the ancient power of the Liberators, a power that has lain dormant for centuries but now threatens to destroy society itself. This is a gripping and thought-provoking tale that entertains at the same time as it explores what it means to be human and to be free.

Dark forces are at work in the House of the Double Axe. Stephan, the thirteen-year-old son of King Minos of Crete, stumbles across a terrifying conspiracy. Is the Minotaur, a half man half bull who eats human flesh, real? Or is something even more dangerous threatening to engulf both the palace and the world? Stephan must race to save his family from a terrible fate and find out what really lurks inside the labyrinth…You think you know the story? Think again.

When Simon’s little sister is mysteriously snatched away to a dark other world, he is sent by a golden messenger on a dizzying quest to get her back. With him is Flora, whose brother has also vanished, and a strange boy who rescues them from a violent attack. To enter the land of the Broken King they must complete three tasks: Eat the Shadow. Steal the Sun. Break the Air. But how do they even begin? And what lies in wait for them, in the land of the Broken King?

‘You are the chosen ones from the other land who will come to seek their siblings and with the hunting horn and the sunsword tear the king’s shadow and overthrow the Broken King.’ Simon and Flora have reached the land of the Broken King in search of their siblings. But here, nothing is quite what it seems. Who can Simon and Flora trust? What does Pike, their mysterious companion, stand to gain? As rumours of war and revolution swirl around them, and as the sinister Knight of the Swan dogs their every move, the pair must confront their terrifying final task. And if they can free their siblings, will they then be able to open the way between the worlds, and return home?

A story of knights and gods, a quest that takes its characters through wild and strange landscapes, a tale of courage and loyalty in the face of terrifying opponents, The King’s Revenge brings Philip Womack’s much lauded Darkening Path trilogy to a thrilling conclusion (though for those who haven’t read the preceding books, it’s a satisfying adventure in its own right). Reunited with their sister and brother, friends Simon and Flora face one final challenge in the world of the Broken King, but it’s their most difficult yet; fail, and everything in the kingdom will die. As they set off on their quest, there’s a wonderful sense of comradeship.  The world Womack creates rings with echoes of favourite myth and history, but is unique to his vision.  The writing is excellent, this is children’s fantasy of the highest order.

Can you tell your Odysseus from your Oedipus?

In this unique introduction, Philip Womack leads his beloved lurcher Una (and us) on a fleet-footed odyssey through the classical world. From Aeneas to Cerberus to Polydorus, you’ll learn about the world of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and, with a bit of luck, you’ll be able to pass it on to your dog. But maybe best leave out that story of the hounds who tore their very own master limb from limb…

The gods are abandoning the earth, tempted by other worlds where they can live in peace. Only a few keep an interest in mortals. In their place, darker, more ancient forces are wakening….

Silvius is given a task by a dying centaur. The dark god Python is rising and massing an army of immense power. The only thing that can save the world is the Arrow of Apollo – but it has been split into two. Silvius and his friend Elissa must travel to the land of their sworn enemies, the Achaeans.

Meanwhile, Tisamenos is facing his own dangers in Achaea. A plot is afoot against him and his father, and it falls to him to stop it.

When Silvius, Elissa and Tisamenos meet, they enter a final, terrifying race to bring together the pieces of the Arrow and use it to lay Python low once more.

Something is menacing Mundham Farm. Does it come from outside – or within?

Who or what are the Samdhya, the supernatural people described in the old handwritten diaries Tom finds in his uncle’s house?

As Tom starts to uncover the truth and learn new details about his parents’ death, he is confronted with a stark choice: on the one hand, infinite power; on the other, freedom. Which will he choose?

Meg and her mother have left their London apartment to go and start a new life in the country, and Meg is unhappy.

One afternoon Meg hears the voice of a child calling her from the garden. Following the child’s pathetic calls, she unearths a toy horse with an obsidian mirror in its forehead. Through this mirror, Meg contacts Jankin, the ghost of a young boy. He tells her that he has been imprisoned for 500 years by a necromancer. Meg feels sorry for him and promises to release him.

But is Jankin the innocent child he appears to be? Or is there something or someone more powerful at play?

A gripping teen fantasy about the defeat of the dark powers of deceit and corruption.

Write Your Own Myths showcases 20 myths, legends, and folktales from many different periods and cultures, and uses them as springboards and prompts to help you write your own versions—or point you in directions you never thought you’d go. You’ll learn about all the important aspects of creative writing:

• Learn about beginnings from The Sword in the Stone.
• Baba Yaga’s chicken house will help you get those settings believable.
• Odysseus will teach you about dialogue and Loki will help you with plot.

Supported with beautiful illustrations that will get your imagination flowing, there are also glossaries, tips and tricks, extra prompts, and more information about each myth or legend.
The final section is packed with even more ideas for further reading and discovery.

Write Your Own Sci-Fi explores the many worlds of science fiction, introducing beloved classics as well as new writing. Using key works as springboards and prompts, you’ll also learn the nuts and bolts that go into writing science fiction that’s out of this world.
• Learn about character with Luke Skywalker.
• Discover how to create convincing space battles, androids, and aliens.
• Polish your plot with Ernest Cline (Ready Player One) and Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy).
• Master world-building with Ursula K. Le Guin (A Wizard of Earthsea).

Filled with fantastic illustrations to set your mind soaring, there are also tips, tricks, and interactive pages to fuel your jetpack and send you into orbit.