Coming late 2027 · Riftburrow Chronicles, book one
The Hollow War
A YA/crossover fantasy novel about a secret city of animals beneath London, and the dark things trying to get in.
Synopsis
Beneath London, something is waking up.
Beneath London lives a hidden civilisation of intelligent animals. They maintain the unseen boundaries between our world and the dark spaces beyond it.
When an old dimensional wound reopens in an abandoned Underground tunnel, a guilt-ridden rat maintenance worker is pulled into a war he never knew existed. It’s a war tied to the death of his best friend, the loss suffered by his pregnant wife, and a cult that believes ending existence is the only mercy left.
YA / crossover fantasySecret LondonTalking animalsFound familyCosmic horror
For readers who love
If you grew up on these, you’ll feel at home down here
Redwall
The cosiness of a whole animal society, with its suppers, rotas and grudges.
Neverwhere
The thrill of a hidden London running just beneath the one you know.
Terry Pratchett
Bureaucratic absurdity and dry wit, even when the world is ending.
His Dark Materials
Real emotional danger, where the choices cost something.
Despereaux & NIMH
Creature-level charm from small heroes in a very big world.
The horror
Horror that gets under the floorboards, not under the skin
The fear in The Hollow War is never gore-first. It’s existential, sensory and emotional, the kind that follows you home.
01
Doors that should not open
Some tunnels were sealed for a reason. Someone has forgotten the reason.
02
Memories being eaten
The worst thing in the dark doesn’t want your body. It wants what you remember.
03
Safe places turning strange
The café, the warren, home: the places you trust are where it gets in first.
04
Villains who almost sound reasonable
…when you’re exhausted enough, and grieving enough, to listen.
Be first through the door
Get updates on The Hollow War
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Book one is on track for release by the end of 2027, with two more to follow.
FAQ
Questions about the novel
Who is The Hollow War for?
It’s YA/crossover fantasy, written for teens and adults alike. If you loved talking-animal stories as a child and now like your fantasy with real stakes, it’s for you.
Is it scary?
It’s unsettling rather than gory. The horror comes from wrong doors, lost memories and familiar places turning strange, balanced with warmth, found family and a lot of dry humour.
When will it be published?
Book one is due out by the end of 2027. Join The Signal and you’ll hear the exact date first.
Is it part of a series?
Yes. The Hollow War is book one of the Riftburrow Chronicles, a planned trilogy.