Book Tour: The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Middle Grade, historical fantasy

Length: 200 pages

Published: 21st September 2023

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194226800-the-whistlers-in-the-dark?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whistlers-Dark-Victoria-Williamson/dp/1910895806/

Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country.

On one side of the Antonine Wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland. At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to bring fire and destruction down on them all.

Can Jinny and Felix overcome their differences and soothe the stones back to sleep before it’s too late?

I have always loved the Roman period and learning about its history, so when I read the blurb of The Whistlers in the Dark and saw that it was set in Scotland in 185AD, I was definitely intrigued at representation of the divide, invasion and potential war between the Romans (or “metal men”) and the Damnonii Tribe. Add in Scottish tribal folklore, the Standing Stones and Hallowed Tree, and I was sold.

What really pulled me in was that this was centred around the young, not only in its middle grade audience in making history come to life on a youth level, but also in the young characters who find themselves in an impending war. Within this book, we have Jinny who struggles with her need for revenge and her desire to fight for her tribe, Bram who doesn’t let anyone stop him from fighting to prove his usefulness in spite of all that has occurred, with Felix split between the divide; as a half-Roman, half Damnonii, questioning where his loyalties should lie.

This book contains many themes, including grief, friendship, revenge (the desire to have revenge as well as the need to overcome it), as well as fighting for what is right regardless of your loyalties. I only wished there was more surrounding the Damnonii folklore and the stones.

This is a good middle grade read, especially for those fascinated by a strong character-driven story based in the Roman period of history. This is an easy read for all, which holds your interested throughout.

The Whistlers in the Dark will be published on 21st September! Thanks to Scotland Street Press and The Write Reads for having me on this tour!

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com