Here’s an exciting excerpt from Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro, a new middle grade novel that finds magic in dark places.
Blending the moody Victorian tones of Dickens with Harry Potter’s magic and humor, Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro creates a world where reality and fantasy percolate together into something entirely new.
The novel tells the story of the unfortunate Grubb, a neglected, mostly-nameless chimney sweep forced to slave for a surrogate father. When a wild escape from a vicious punishment (see “Victorian” above) leads Grubb to London, and the rich, strange world of Alistair Grim. Reluctantly accepted by Grim (and his magical companions) Grubb finds himself in a palace of wonders – the Odditorium.
But darkness follows Grubb here as well. Alistair Grim has enemies, magical foes just as brutal as anything Grubb has experienced in his unfortunate life… and less easily swept away than soot from a chimney.
An exclusive excerpt from Alistair Grim’s Odditorium offers a lyrical look at an eerie musical interlude by Mr. Grim. Marvelous as it appears, the impromptu concerto appears to have serious consequences beyond the secret walls of the Odditorium.
The first in a series, Alistair Grim’s Odditorium is author Gregory Funaro’s first book for younger readers. His earlier work, two murder mysteries inspired by classical figures, set the stage for the rich world of Alistair Grim – and both the darkness and light which readers can find there.
Alistair Grim’s Odditorium is available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local independent bookstore.
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