Cleverly crafted, this is a masterful horror story that will chill readers to the bone as Jake Harker comes face to face with the evil forces of old witchcraft and its links to Matthew Hopkins, the evil Witchfinder of the sixteenth century. It seems that Jake alone must stand firm against the dark forces of the Demontide but he may not have the power to keep it at bay.
A 'piece of passion' from the editor of Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide:
Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide was my first acquisition for the Oxford University Press children's list and from the first page I was hooked. I knew that I had to be the one to bring this book to the world — even if it meant dabbling in the dark art of breakneck speed publishing ! Luckily the author William Hussey and the team at OUP were up for a bit of ‘Are we crazy - can we really publish a book this quickly?’ and although we only acquired the book in July 2009, Dawn of the Demontide will be in the shops from March 4th – at least a year ahead of a ‘normal’ schedule.
So why the crazy rush? Well, I’d urge you to read it and find out for yourselves. With its mix of magic and science, horror and beautiful writing, it is quite unlike anything I’ve ever read and I envy you your first foray into the world of Witchfinder...
Dawn of the Demontide (Witchfinder series) Synopsis
The first in a terrifying trilogy. Read on if you dare:
"Jake could now see the demon fully. Its body was a mass of steely sinew, its arms roped with muscle. Six fingers sprouted from its hands, each ending in lethal talons. The thing did not possess a nose; instead a large hole, bubbling with green mucus, occupied the middle of its face. Mr Pinch's tongue flickered between his teeth and slurped across his fat lips. He was hungry."
When a violent storm rages around the little village of Hobarron's Hollow, a young boy is sacrificed 'for the greater good'. His blood is used to seal a mystical doorway and prevent an apocalyptic disaster known only as the Demontide. Twenty-five years later, another boy, Jake Harker, is about to be drawn into the nightmare of the Demontide. Witches and their demon familiars stalk his every move and his dreams are plagued by visions of a 17th Century figure known only as the Witchfinder. When his father is abducted, Jake must face the terrible secrets kept by those closest to him and a shocking truth that will change his life forever ...
We have three great Dawn of the Demontide videos for you to watch:
A special trailer -
Author William Hussey reading from the book
An interview with William Hussey, talking to Damian Kelleher
William Hussey is an award-winning author of books for children and Young Adults. As a gay man and a visiting author, he has spoken to hundreds of LGBTQ+ students worldwide. Hearing their stories of modern intolerance, prejudice and the tragic consequences this has can lead to, inspired him to write Hideous Beauty.
