by
Qwyrk is having a bad day; several, in fact. One of the Shadow folk tasked with keeping an eye on humanity, she’s ready for a well-earned break in Yorkshire, but now she’s (literally) run into a girl, Jilly, who just saw something quite supernatural and truly awful happen in her town.
As Qwyrk tries to unravel the mystery, layers of villainy are exposed, and she’s stuck with an assortment of unlikely folk that she’d rather not have “helping” her. Together, they confront ancient magic, medieval conspiracies, and the possible end of the world (that again?). It’s not the holiday Qwyrk was hoping for!
Qwyrk is the first in a series of four novels about the adventures of a group of misfits at the edge of reality in modern northern England, a world of shadows, Nighttime Nasties, sorcery, intergalactic councils, tacky nightclub attire, an abundance of sarcasm, and even elves…
though they are a bit silly.
Publisher: Armin Lear Press
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Tropes: Band of Misfits, Found Family, Modern Human in Fantasy World, Old Person in the Woods, Parallel Worlds, Vengeful Spirit, Waiting/Sleeping Evil, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 100000
Setting: Small town, Yorkshire, Scotland
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Band of Misfits, Found Family, Modern Human in Fantasy World, Old Person in the Woods, Parallel Worlds, Vengeful Spirit, Waiting/Sleeping Evil, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 100000
Setting: Small town, Yorkshire, Scotland
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Diana L. Paxson, author of Sword of Avalon on Tim Rayborn wrote:“I liked this book a great deal! Charming and funny, the characters are delightful, and it’s scary exactly where it should be. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
Donovan’s Literary Services/Midwest Book Review on Donovan's Literary Services wrote:“Qwyrk, by Tim Rayborn, is, for starters, delightfully… quirky. Rayborn’s ear for culture is as good as his ear for music, and his fantasy romp through a small British town has some of the same wacky flavor we find in the mythic send-ups written by Tom Holt/K.J. Parker.
"Rayborn’s elves may be updated, but human nature remains the same. As Qwyrk herself tells Jilly, her kind visit our world ‘To give children a little nudge when they need it… and sometimes remind adults of what they’ve been missing.’ In times when we all need distraction, here is a tale to take your mind off your troubles for a while.”
“It’s a quest, it’s a lark that romps through human and magical worlds alike, and it’s a whimsical and delightful story set in Northern England. Qwyrk is engaging, endearing, and unpredictable in its human and magical relationships and conundrums.
"Fans of fantasy who enjoy magical realism injected into the everyday milieu of Britain will relish the nature of Qwyrk, first in a projected series of stories about misfits and the sometimes-hilarious mishaps that evolve from seemingly good intentions.”