This blog appears to be turning into a Victoria Williamson fan site. The Whistlers in the Dark is the third of Victoria’s books I have recently reviewed, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams and Norah’s Ark being the other two. All three are very different and also highly recommended reads. Spoiler alert…there will be a fourth very soon!

Anyway, on with this one…

Blurb

Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country. 

On one side of the Antonine wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland.

At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to bring fire and destruction down on them all. Can Jinny and Felix overcome their differences and soothe the stones back to sleep before it’s too late?

The Whistlers in the Dark is an historical fantasy for Middle Grade readers. Set at the Roman fort in the author’s hometown of Kirkintilloch, it tells the story of friendship overcoming the desire for revenge and leading to forgiveness.

Based on the historical records of the Antonine wall and the tribes of Central Scotland, it brings these together with Scottish legends of standing stones going walking at night to weave a tale of courage and adventure.

Review

Once again, as she did so effectively in Norah’s Ark, Victoria Williamson uses alternate chapters to tell us the story from two characters’ points of view. This means we can more fully empathise with both Jinny and Felix as they negotiate the difficult relationships with each other and those around them.

Their difficulties with one another, whilst stemming from their respective cultures, become increasingly worse because of decisions they make that then have unintended consequences on each other, themselves and those around around them.

Neither Jinny nor Felix has life easy, those around them having ingrained attitudes towards them (due to their previous behaviour and, in Felix’s case, who he is related to) and treating them accordingly.

Once again, the author does not shy away from confronting difficult themes, instead creating a story that brings them to the fore, prompting thinking and discussions around growing up, bullying, belonging, trust, grief, disability, respecting the culture of others, invasion and beliefs.

As well as developing well rounded characters, Williamson also breathes life into the children’s eerily spine chilling belief that they have awoken the ancient stones causing the stones to walk, intent on causing them harm. You will have to read the book yourself to find out how this impacts on the characters and their thinking.

A special mention to the superbly evocative cover by Elise Carmichael (@elisecillustr8).

Thank you to @ScotStreetPress and @The_WriteReads for the ARC for the purposes of this review.