Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden

Book of the Week: 7 May 2017

We get an idea of what kind of place Crosscaper Orphanage is straightaway as its Director, Mr Ackerby, stares out of his office window at children standing in line to get in the library. He despairs. His own bookcases are full of untouched, leather-bound works, whereas the children are queuing for books that are full of magic and imagination and which have been read to pieces.

Denizen Hardwick is one of these book-loving orphans who is amazed to discover, as the story opens, that he has an aunt who wants her to come and live with him. The only downside, in Denizen’s view, is that he will miss his best friend Simon, who has shared his dormitory for the last ten years. At least, this is what Denizen believes is the only disadvantage. But when the charismatic Graham McCarron arrives to take him to his aunt’s house and they encounter a fearsome and fantastical creature on the way, he realizes his life is about to change in all kinds of dangerous ways.

This is a magical debut novel from Dave Rudden which has been compared to books by J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, Derek Landy and Eoin Colfer. The sequel, The Forever Court, is also available to borrow from the School Library.