The Next Harry Potter.

A Review By My Den.
For those who are still suffering from withdrawal symptoms, now that the saga of the boy wizard is truly over, take a dose of Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams.

First published in Britain in March 2005 as The Highfield Mole, about a young boy, Will Burrows, who discovers a secret underground world while searching for his missing father, the book was a result of the laying off of Roderick Gordon, an investment banker, in 2001. Instead of hunting for a new job, Gordon decided to write, first a screenplay and then a children's book, with his artist and actor friend, Brian Williams.

Unable to find a publisher, Gordon financed the self-publication of their book by selling his country cottage. The gamble paid off. Not only was the original print run of 2,500 copies quickly snapped up, the book also caught the eye of Barry Cunningham, the founder of publishing house - Chicken House. Cunningham was the man who, 10 years earlier, took a chance on an unknown writer named J.K. Rowling, the wildly successful author of the Harry Potter series.

Renaming the book Tunnels, the publisher re-released it in July this year. Heavily hyped as the next Harry Potter, the book sold more than 50,000 copies in Britain alone within the first month and is set to be translated into 27 languages for a worldwide release.

With the film rights to the planned five- or six-book series snapped up by Relativity Media, the duo have already completed the sequel, to be published next year and are currently working on the third book. Hmm...seems like some gambles do paid off in life.

*Related post :
- Life After Harry Potter.
- What is J.k.Rowling Working On Next?

Life After Harry Potter.

A Review by MyDen
So you have finished the last Harry Potter book. Suffering from withdrawal symptoms? Re-reading the entire series and reluctant to return to the mundane Muggle world? Well, no need for further and unnecessary suffering, as here are other new fantasy titles vying to be Harry's heir.

The Black Book Of Secrets by F.E. Higgins
This book received a lot of attention and comparisons to Harry Potter when it was released last year and with it's healthy appetite for gory descriptions, reminds one of another beloved British writer, Roald Dahl. The protagonist is a street urchin, Ludlow Fitch, raised by his drunken parents to be a pickpocket, who managed to run away when Ma and Pa try to sell his teeth. He is taken under the wing of an ecentric and unusual "secrets" pawnbroker who accepts junk and secrets from the impoverished townfolk. Thus begins an intriguing blend of adventure, fantasy and historical fiction. Higgins creates a fascinating novel peopled with colorful characters and imbued with clever plot twists. The reader’s interest is sustained throughout the book, and the novel’s climax is both excellent and surprising. With Higgins planning the story over 3 or 4 books, expect a sizeable readership for this engrossing series. The Black Book Of Secrets is available here.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
A mix of fantasy and old-fashioned romance, this book has already spawned two sequels with a fourth book coming out next year. It was such a hit in the United States that an accidental early shipment of the third book about a week before it's release date resulted in online fan sites voluntarily shutting down to prevent spoilers. The book stars 17 year-old Isabella Swan, who moves to a new high school and meets the handsome Edward Cullen. His mysterious ways eventually leads her to discover that he is a reformed vampire who substitutes animal blood for human blood. The series is driven by the complications of love between a vampire and a human. Meyer has achieved quite a feat by making this scenario completely human and believable. She begins with a familiar premise (the new kid in school) and lulls us into thinking that this will be just another young adult novel. Meyer's writing lifts this wonderful novel beyond the limitations of the horror genre to a place among the best of young adult fiction.
Available here :
Twilight
New Moon (Twilight Book 2)
Eclipse (Twilight Book 3)