[[davidgatward]]Most 13-year-olds probably aren’t out foretelling the end of the world, but then again, Seth Crow isn’t like other kids his age. He’s been dragged around from one religious festival to the next by his parents as they perform their travelling doomsday show. Seth’s alter ego ‘Apocalypse Boy’ is the star of the show, handing down his predictions of the end times. Then he meets Lily, who shows him a bleak future he never could have predicted.

After tragedy strikes Seth, Lily hands him the *really *bad news: it turns out that Seth is none other than Conquest, one of the four riders of the Apocalypse. Since it’s his job to bring about the end of the world, some very well-connected and dangerous people want him dead. The only chance he has at survival is to find the other three riders – Strife, Famine and Death. But how can he hope to succeed against the god-like Protector and his Chosen?

Doom Rider is a truly original take on the horsemen of the apocalypse tale, and one framed by a world of religion taken to extremes. As with Gatward’s previous series, The Dead trilogy, this is high-action stuff, and definitely for the horror fans out there. The scary elements are sure to hook even the most reluctant readers, and the compelling story will keep them going.

[[hollyharperpicture]] Holly Harper is a children’s bookseller at Readings Carlton where she organises the kids and Young Adult enews’. She also writes books for younger readers under the name H.J. Harper. Find out more about her