Lancashire author releases YA dark fantasy sequel
Lancashire author, Bruce Martin, has released a young adult gothic fantasy sequel Realm Walker on February 24.
This dark retelling of Alice in Wonderland paints a dark yet touching tale of magic and unknown realities, with an eclectic mix of characters, including a host of fantastical creatures alongside the author's own re-imaginings of the Mad Hatter, Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts.
Alison Wilde lives an ordinary life, until the day she is transported to the Netherworld, a realm of dreams… and nightmares. The Dream Walker series is a dark and twisted young adult fantasy, perfect for horror‑loving teens!
Martin draws on his own experiences with neurodivergence and personal loss, weaving themes of depression, anxiety, and grief into the narrative. “I wanted to explore the darker themes hinted at in Alice in Wonderland,” he explains, “I started writing the book around 15 years ago, when I was between jobs, but as with most things, life got in the way and the book got shelved. Many years later, after the sudden and unexpected loss of my wife in 2022, I felt the desire to revisit the book, mostly because of my baby daughter. I want her to know that no matter what life throws at you, you should never let it stop you from following your dreams.”
Martin has long been fascinated by monsters, alternate realities, and mythology. He says, “I wanted to create a novel that deals with real life situations as well as fantasy, mixing modern everyday life with mythology and horror.”
Dream Walker: Somewhere Between Realm and Reality and Realm Walker: Somewhere Between Mayhem and Madness are available in paperback (£9.99) and Kindle (£2.99).