The Midnight Guardians

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The book is beautiful and whimsical, and sometimes terrifying, it made me laugh and it made me cry. It truly has everything that I love in a book, and I cannot recommend it enough. I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy, and it will definitely sit amongst the more special books on my shelves. The King of Rogues has to be my favourite character. He is everything I look for in a character as he is brave, a master knight and has a constant comedic quarrel with many characters as well as making all the other characters call him just Rogue which creates some comedic arguments. Col’s mother left when he was a baby and his older sister Rose is working in London, so can’t take care of him. When he is let down a few days before Christmas he runs off to his old family’s home where he discovers his three imaginary friends, including Mr Noakes, a Badger. Pendlebury a Tiger and King of Rogues, a knight have been waiting for him. This lovely adventure story has the feel of a classic children's book." Book of the Week, The Week Junior Embark on a mythic, comic, classic adventure with the finest fellowship since Frodo set a hairy foot beyond the Shire. David Solomons

I think this is Ross Montgomery's best book yet: an adventure across WWII wintry Britain with a Kindertransportee, a boy dressed in shorts and his three imaginary friends. Discover a world of magical storytelling with Ross Montgomery. SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTHHIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTHTOPPSTA CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH"One of our finest children's writers." Phil Earle"A master storyteller." Aisling Fowler"Another absolute triumph from one of my favourite children's authors." Catherine Doyle Sometimes at the darkest hour, hope shines the brightest... When Col's childhood imaginary friends come to life, he discovers a world where myths and legends are real. Thirdly, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you’d still enjoy this book still because Christmas is not the main focus. It’s rather a setting for time and more of like a culture rather than a religious matter. Spectacular. A story of real and rare power – one of the best books I’ve read in years.” Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of THE GIRL OF INK AND STARSMontgomery's latest is an enthralling, Narnia-flavoured novel with the folkloric feel of a Christmas classic." Guardian Beautiful. A magical, big-hearted adventure full of wit and warmth. One of the best children's books I've read for ages.\" Anna James

Beautifully drawn fantasy characters ... a story of hope and love underpinned by witty humour.” Daily MailWhen Col’s childhood imaginary friends come to life, he discovers a world where myths and legends are real. Accompanied by his guardians – a six-foot tiger, a badger in a waistcoat and a miniature knight – Col must race to Blitz-bombed London to save his sister. One aspect which I really like about this book is that there was a lot of imagination that went into this book and a lot of creativity as well as having lots of facts and history about World War 2. (I liked how there was a balance between facts about WW2 but I also liked how there was a storyline to it too.) The Midnight Guardians is timeless story-telling with a magical heart; a tale of enchantment and friendship in the cold of adversity; has all the charm of the The Box of Delights, all the magic and fellowship of The Lord of the Rings, all the warmth of a timeless story, told between friends round a winter fire. It's also brilliantly inventive - funny where it needs to be, and true in the way all good stories are. - Thomas Taylor Another thing I really did enjoy reading about, however, was the humour between each of the characters. The jokes were neverending and quite often had me laughing out loud - but again, I feel that the humour was perhaps too sophisticated for some younger readers and may just have confused them. Embark on a mythic, comic, classic adventure with the finest fellowship since Frodo set a hairy foot beyond the Shire." David Solomons