A strange imp boy is born in the underworld. Immediately compelled to escape, he joins up with a hilarious gang of crabby chocolate-loving gargoyles and makes his way above ground to the world of the humans. The boy isn’t quite sure who he is or where he belongs. Assisted by a kind angel, hebegins to learn about his new surroundings and finds a family that may be his, but when a baby is taken away he must re-enter the dark, gloomy and dangerous world beneath the earth to try to rescue her.

In this hectic, magical, monster world there are brownies, goblins, pixies and a terrible ogre kingnamed Thunderguts, who seems to have his own plans for the boy. With shades of The Labyrinth, Artemis Fowl and A Most Magical Girl, this exciting debut novel from a Perth-based author is a witty fantasy adventure perfect for readers aged 9+.

Kim Gruschow is the children’s book buyer at Readings St Kilda.