C. J. Haslam: Orla and the Serpent’s Curse (Walker Books 2020)
C. J. Haslam: Orla and the Magpie’s Kiss (Walker Books 2022)
Orla arrives in Cornwall on a family holiday with her mother, brothers, Richard and Tom, and their Jack Russell terrier, Dave. But the trip quickly takes a bizarre turn when Orla discovers that the area holds a sinister secret and begins dreaming about a crow. It turns out that Orla is the only chance for Cornwall, and perhaps the entire world. And she has to hurry. Luckily, the family’s close protection specialist and head of household security is always by her side: Dave, The Dog.
Orla is an adroit girl, but she always gets into trouble. She doesn’t look for trouble, but it always finds her. She’s a strange child, but she’s kind-hearted and a true explorer. My favorite character, however, is definitely Dave, who sometimes gives us a glimpse into his thoughts and we can see things from his perspective. It’s not an easy task to protect the whole family. The story, although set in summer, is a perfect autumn read due to its theme. In addition to witchcraft, some characters from Cornish legends also appear in it. Yet it is not scary, but rather an exciting, unputdownable book. It is not a cloudless fairy tale, but rather shows the human side of our imperfect world. Although it is complete together with the second part, I would still like to read more about the characters.
C. J. (Chris) Haslam is a multi-award-winning journalist who works for The Times and The Sunday Times. He has already published three thrillers for adults before writing his first children’s book, Orla and the Serpent’s Curse. The story is a duology, the second volume is titled Orla and the Magpie’s Kiss. He currently lives in the spooky town of King’s Lynn – a Hanseatic port in the wilds of Norfolk, which is where Magpie’s Kiss is set – with his Jack Russell terrier, Dave…
