The Twyning

Description

This is the story of Efren, a young ratling born into the Court of Tasting, in the kingdom of rats below the city streets. The kingdom is in turmoil after the death of the old king, assassinated by a human scientist, Dr Henry Ross-Gibbon. Obsessed by an ambition to exterminate all rats, the doctor is assisted by Dogboy, an abandoned thirteen-year-old with a gift for understanding animals. Soon a war to the death rages between the rat kingdom and its mortal enemy: humankind. Hurt and alone, Efren finds shelter with Dogboy and his friend Caz, a runaway eleven-year-old girl. And between these unlikely allies a spark is ignited - first of communication, then of hope. This tumultuous story of creatures caught up in a pitiless war transcends the barriers between animals and humans. What Watership Down did for rabbits, THE TWYNING will do for the kingdom of rats.

Terence Blacker is a columnist for the Independent and has written many books for adults and children. He is an active member of English PEN. www.terenceblacker.com

This novel deserves praise and prizes... powerful stuff and as much a Watership Down for our time as an alternative to the popular Redwall series... Bravo!' * The Times * Skilful plotting, brisk narrative and sharply drawn characters put us firmly on the side of the ratpack and its gripping tale of apocalypse and triumph * Daily Mail * Inspired. A much needed bit of rodent PR * The Sunday Herald * a thoughtful, pacey adventure with a knack for conveying a rat's-eye-view * SFX * The much maligned rat emerges as an intelligent and sensitive creature in this exciting novel * Independent *