The Liar of Red Valley

How it reads

The Liar of Red Valley is fantasy (historical fantasy, specifically), and its dominant mood is adventurous. It's driven by momentum, discovery and getting into trouble. The pace is moderate — neither a page-turner nor a slow burn — so it holds up whether you read it in long sittings or short ones.

It's set in a small town setting, in the historical past, told in the third person, staying close to one character. Its central concerns are secrets, power and politics and redemption. In weight it sits in the middle: substantial without being heavy going.

It opens a series. It ends on a cliffhanger, so have the next book ready. At 368 pages it's an ordinary novel's length. It's a hidden gem — known to relatively few readers.