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The Lairdbalor
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Summary
Seven-year-old Jamie tumbles down a long hill and becomes trapped in a shadow world filled with strange creatures, harsh terrain, and near-constant darkness. This realm is inhabited by children's nightmares and fears, most notably the Lairdbalor—Jamie’s own nightmare, born from his anger and anxiety. As Jamie journeys through this frightening land where time moves differently, he changes with each slumber and gains deeper understanding of the life he left behind.
Blending folklore, horror, fantasy, and magical realism, The Lairdbalor offers a darkly imaginative meditation on anxiety, fear, life, death, and the nature of reality, telling the story of a child not meant for children.
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The Lairdbalor
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
A compelling read for young adults who appreciate atmospheric horror and fantasy infused with psychological depth. Ideal for those drawn to stories exploring anxiety, fear, and the boundaries between reality and nightmare.
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See moreSeven-year-old Jamie falls down a very long hill into a nightmare world where nothing is familiar except the Lairdbalor, his personal bogeyman come to life.
- ARC distributed to influencers and various trade publications. - Blogger outreach. - Social Media campaign on Facebook and Twitter. - Email marketing campaign to Turner Publishing subscribers. - Free Book Friday giveaway. - Website marketing on TurnerPublishing.com.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
"I am the stuff of your nightmares . . . you have been writing my name on the walls of your fear your entire life."
When seven-year-old Jamie falls down a very long hill, he finds himself trapped in a world of strange creatures, harsh landscapes, and near-perpetual darkness. Lost and confused, Jamie is desperate to get home. The nightmares, fears, and all manner of what-ifs that inhabit this shadow world are unfamiliar to him—all except one: the Lairdbalor, Jamie's personal nightmare, once relegated to his dreams. In this fantastical land, however, the Lairdbalor and all the fears and nightmares of children are very real.
But Jamie's nightmare is different. It is the sum total of the anger and anxiety that imprisoned him in his former life, and it threatens to consume and rule the nightmare realm, a place where time passes differently. With each slumber, Jamie finds himself inexorably changed. The farther he travels through this terrifying world, the better he understands the one he left behind.
Crossing genres of folklore, horror, fantasy, and magical realism, The Lairdbalor is a story for anyone who lives with anxiety and fear and has ever wondered "what if?" It is the story of a child not meant for children and a darkly imaginative meditation on life, death, fear, and the nature of reality.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Named one of the top three spooky novels to read this Halloween by Brit + Co: "The Lairdbalor might just have you checking in your closet and under your bed for some things that go bump in the night." — Ilana Lucas
"The Babadook meets The Hobbit in this nightmare-riddled fantasy; Kaufman’s subtle horror pulls readers along with a creeping sense of unease, and the Lairdbalor’s scenes are genuinely chilling." — Booklist
"Mythic, haunting, and imaginative, The Lairdbalor is a beautifully-written nightmare where childhood anxieties are brought to raw life." — Jake Marley, Winner of the 2017 Golden Pen Award
"Sweeping, lyrical, and darkly philosophical, The Lairdbalor maps a new world and voice confronting our deepest, darkest fears." — Bram Stoker Award-winning author John Palisano
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781683365877
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 23 November 2017
Country: United States
Imprint: Turner Publishing Company
Illustration: Illustrations
Audience: Children, Teenage
DIMENSIONS
Width: 139.0mm
Height: 215.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 288
About the Author
Kathleen Kaufman is a native Coloradan and long-time resident of Los Angeles, California. She is a University of Southern California alum, teaches high school English, and is a writing and composition adjunct professor at Santa Monica College. In addition to writing, Kathleen is an avid amateur photographer and has published work in The Huffington Post and other publications. When not writing, she probably has a camera in hand or is curled up with a good horror novel. Kathleen currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, terrier, and a pack of cats.
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