Publication Date: 26 August 2021

The Blurb

Valerie has been living at Lightning Falls nearly all her life. She’s perfectly happy helping Meg and the rest of the family to haunt the guests who come to stay there at the crumbling Ghost House. One night, she sees a strange boy, Joe, up on the viaduct. There she discovers that beneath the river is a bridge – one that will take her to the world of Orbis, which Joe claims is her real home.

A world that is under threat. Plunged into a dangerous adventure, as the link between the two worlds begins to crumble, Valerie is forced to confront the truth about herself . . .

The Review

Atmospheric, chilling, mesmerising storytelling with an opening paragraph that is a masterclass in setting description.

I would love to stay at The Ghost House and travel beyond the rainbow for real, after spending a wonderful afternoon being transported there by Amy. A whole host of well crafted characters surrounded me as I read, most of which I feel would be a pleasure to meet.

Valerie is compelling and complex determined to find out who she really is after discovering that all she has been told might not be true. She is fiercely loyal to her family at the Ghost House and will do whatever she need to protect them from the dangers she believes lie beyond the Falls.

Darker moments are lightened with joyful humour as the House and it’s inhabitants ensure the guests are suitably spooked during their stay.

What I loved most though was being transported to not one, but two, amazing settings. From the supernatural Ghost House and it’s surroundings to the magical world of Orbis with it’s own unique way of life.

Just sublime!

Great for fans of:

• The Book Of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
• The Ash House by Angharad Walker
• The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison
• The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone

The Guest Post – Amy Wilson’s Top Five Places To Visit

Cornwall

I love the rugged coastline, the crashing surf, and the quiet lanes with scrubby grass, and the sense of history in the old buildings. St Ives is very special to me, I had a holiday there when I was a teenager with my best friend, her mum and her nana, and we spent a lot of it watching the harbour from the window, playing cards – and exploring on our own. Every time I go back it’s different, like we’re tracing new patterns on an old map, which I love.

Westonbirt Arboretum

We’re very lucky to live within a fairly short drive to the arboretum, with its ancient trees and walkways. We didn’t visit during lockdown as it’s just that bit too far, so I’m really enjoying being back there now, I love that even when the weather is good and everybody has come out it doesn’t feel crowded, you can find a place where you’re exploring on your own. Well, as alone as you can feel with three kids and two dogs usually in tow!

The Dower House, Bristol

I pass this house when I head into Bristol on the M32 and we’ve visited a few times to walk around it. It’s an amazing building, a yellow giant on the hill, and it’s what inspired Bavar’s house in A Far Away Magic, so every time I pass I wave at him, and wonder what’s going on inside. It has a really interesting history all of its own, so it always gives me plenty to think about, and I see it often.

Italy

Our last holiday abroad before lockdown was to Tuscany. We stayed near Vinci and visited Florence and saw the amazing Christmas lights in Empoli. Italy has been special to me since I read Diana Wynne-Jones’ The Magicians of Caprona, which is set in a fictional, magical version. I loved how she described it, and I love feeling traces of that when I visit.

My friend’s house

It feels like a very special thing to be able to visit someone in their home again. There’s a routine and a familiarity to visiting close friends, and to be a part of their home for a little while is really special. I love seeing what home means to other people, and all of the habits they have – how they spin from place to place as they’re cooking, the chair that they always sit in when they’re drinking coffee – and I also like looking at the books they have on their shelves.

Huge thanks to Macmillan for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for Lightning Falls, and to Amy for her brilliant guest post. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops.