Nian is a boy with a destiny. Taken from his home and family to live in the House of Truth, he must practise his skills of mind-reading, weather lore and manipulation of matter. Once he has achieved mastery, he will become one of the elect, a Lord of Truth.There's only one problem. Nian doesn't want to become a Lord of Truth. He just wants to get away. But his only means of escape is to step into another world. To be precise, into Jacob's front room. In Essex. Just before tea time.Nian doesn't speak English, he doesn't know what to do with a toaster, and he's got no idea what those roaring lumps of metal speeding down the road are.The truth is, this is going to be interesting...
A thought-provoking, Pullmanesque adventure set in two worlds
The Times
There are no bounds to Prue's imagination and invention and this is the first of an interlocking series of stories, so much fun and many thrills to come.
Adle Geras
This delightful fantasy puts one in mind of the early work of Diana Wynne Jones with its light touch, quirky humour and brisk pace that avoids making heavy weather of the mechanics of parallel worlds, whilst at the same time exploring the complex nature of different forms of truth. It should be an absorbing read for both girls and boys of nine and up.
School Librarian
[Of Cold Tom]:'This is one of those rare, strange, wonderful books that makes you see the world through different eyes
The Guardian
This is an excellent book. It is gripping and exciting - you never want to put it down!
The Sunday Express
An outstanding debut novel
The Sunday Times
So compelling it almost defies description
Manchester Evening News