Evenfall: The Golden Linnet

"An ordinary boy. An extraordinary destiny."

Summarised on the book cover, this quote succinctly captures the journey our young main character Sam must undertake. ‘Must’ because Sam has just turned thirteen and inherited his mother’s necklace, where a hidden world awaits. Sam experiences flashes of a confusing future – fortunately his school friend Ish is very supportive and sensible.

With themes of good versus evil and coming of age, this is a journey of discovery for Sam. Having no mother and a very ill father make Sam fearful and unsure who to trust. Visiting a theme park with his father’s friend Ken, Sam stares at the roller coaster car where “the crumpled heap of metal and fibreglass was the car that Sam had been sitting in, just moments earlier”.

The one constant for Sam is an English folksong 'Green Grow the Rushes' – a song key to understanding who he is, and the significance of that for his community and for the world.

Influenced by Rome, the ‘mystical' North East of England and the storytelling of historical ballads, Alexander Armstong was inspired to write Evenfall – the story he carried in his head for many years. The above influences are woven through the characters and setting to good effect, in this magical story.