Book Review: The Whistlers in the Dark

Welcome to an exciting book review ahead! Hope you’re having a great week so far and that your next reads are all 5 stars <3.

The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson

Genre: Middle Grade, historical fantasy
Length: 200 pages
Published: 21st September 2023

Blurb:

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?

Goodreads / Amazon

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

Before starting, I want to mention that I’ve read The Whistlers in the Dark, which will be published on September 21st, as part of a blog tour hosted by @writereadstours. Thank you @The_WriteReads and @Scotland Street Press for having me on this tour!!

This was quite a cute little read. To be honest, I got into it not knowing anything about it (I read the blurb previously but completely forgot it by the time I started reading the book) and I have to say that I am really impressed!

Now, what did I like about The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson?

Well, for starters, it’s a book set in 158 AD in Scotland, precisely in the homeland of the Damnonii’s tribe which is at risk of being divided because of them metal men (the Roman soldiers). Even though it’s a middle grade book, it talks about some serious topics like respecting cultures, invasion, and war to name a few.

I also really liked how the chapters alternate between Jinny‘s POV and Felix‘s POV, it made me realise Felix is not what we might think he is by just reading Jinny‘s POV. Felix is the reason Bram, Jinny‘s sister, was very hurt (or so Jinny claims).

In fact, by the end of the book, Felix became one of my favorite characters! Using such technique really makes us, as the readers, understand more where each character is coming from and feel invested to what becomes of their relationship (from enemies to friends?). Let’s not forget about Bram who despite everything fights to make everyone realise that he’s not any less now than he was before.

Add to all of that folklore legend and we have quite a captivating book you should definitely read soon!