Children of the Sun
'A cult novel with a difference . . . and a wholly unexpected ending' GUARDIAN
Published on 4. January 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
432 pages
978-1-5293-5775-2 (ISBN)
Description
THROUGH THE DARK TIMES, THEY WILL HELP YOU FIND THE LIGHT . . .
***
'Dazzling, chilling, moving and original . . . I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER
'A captivating novel of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again' SOPHIE WARD
'A beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance' CATRIONA SILVEY
'Unique and utterly unforgettable' LOUISE BEECH
'Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending' PHILIPPA EAST
Welcome to Atlas. What would you do for a second chance?
Summer 1982. Deep in the Adirondack Mountains, over three hundred people live off-grid in a secret community. Atlas is a refuge for broken souls who long for a different life. Founded by the enigmatic Sol, the group now prepares for their final ceremony: the opening of the Golden Door. They believe they will cross to another world, to a new life where their past decisions never ended in tragedy.
James Morrow is a rookie New York City reporter intent on making his name with an expose of the crazy cult in the woods. He secures an invitation to the camp on the condition he tell the world of its wonders, but James is a sceptic. He's sure there must be more to the mysterious leader and his endgame than his followers have signed up for.
James soon finds there is a darker side to the cult beyond the prayers and yellow robes. A group of children are treated like gods, there are iron strips embedded in the earth, and nobody talks about what's behind the gates of Sol's private sanctuary. As James learns the stories of the members and how they came to be there, he begins to understand the desperate nature of their beliefs - a desperation he knows all too well.
As the final ceremony draws near, James must ask himself: what will it cost them to reach this other life? And is that a price he's willing to pay?
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'I would give this book ten stars if I could . . . Incredibly clever . . . Heartbreakingly perfect'
'This was an incredible read . . . I loved it'
'Beth Lewis never fails to grab my attention and hold it for every single bit of every single page of her books. This one was no different'
'A really interesting, gripping read'
***
'Dazzling, chilling, moving and original . . . I loved it' CHRIS WHITAKER
'A captivating novel of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again' SOPHIE WARD
'A beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance' CATRIONA SILVEY
'Unique and utterly unforgettable' LOUISE BEECH
'Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending' PHILIPPA EAST
Welcome to Atlas. What would you do for a second chance?
Summer 1982. Deep in the Adirondack Mountains, over three hundred people live off-grid in a secret community. Atlas is a refuge for broken souls who long for a different life. Founded by the enigmatic Sol, the group now prepares for their final ceremony: the opening of the Golden Door. They believe they will cross to another world, to a new life where their past decisions never ended in tragedy.
James Morrow is a rookie New York City reporter intent on making his name with an expose of the crazy cult in the woods. He secures an invitation to the camp on the condition he tell the world of its wonders, but James is a sceptic. He's sure there must be more to the mysterious leader and his endgame than his followers have signed up for.
James soon finds there is a darker side to the cult beyond the prayers and yellow robes. A group of children are treated like gods, there are iron strips embedded in the earth, and nobody talks about what's behind the gates of Sol's private sanctuary. As James learns the stories of the members and how they came to be there, he begins to understand the desperate nature of their beliefs - a desperation he knows all too well.
As the final ceremony draws near, James must ask himself: what will it cost them to reach this other life? And is that a price he's willing to pay?
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
'I would give this book ten stars if I could . . . Incredibly clever . . . Heartbreakingly perfect'
'This was an incredible read . . . I loved it'
'Beth Lewis never fails to grab my attention and hold it for every single bit of every single page of her books. This one was no different'
'A really interesting, gripping read'
Reviews / Votes
A cult novel with a difference . . . An intriguing mystery with a wholly unexpected ending, and a moving exploration of loss, trauma, belief and unintended consequences. -- Guardian Lewis does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension: her portrayal of the cult gradually evolves from comic to sinister. -- Daily Telegraph Compelling and chilling -- Pick of the Week * Sun * If you loved Stranger Things, read: Children of the Sun * Stylist * Gripping * Heat * One of the hottest holiday reads for cool seasonal nights * Belfast Telegraph * Dazzling * Crime Monthly * Dazzling, chilling, moving and original. CHILDREN OF THE SUN defies genre in a way that is both fresh, and now to be expected from the brilliant Beth Lewis. I loved it -- Chris Whitaker Beth Lewis excels at turning her characters' best intentions into a destructive force that ultimately threatens their very lives. Vividly painted and laced with Americana, this haunting, unpredictable story leaves the reader racing through the pages to find the truth. A riveting, eerie and impossibly captivating novel -- Inga Vesper A captivating depiction of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again -- Sophie Ward A beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance, CHILDREN OF THE SUN plays brilliantly with the reader's assumptions, building in atmosphere and emotion towards an ending that changes everything -- Catriona Silvey Children of the Sun is that rare thing - an utterly propulsive, heart-pounding, pacy narrative, with the kind of depth and resonance that makes it linger in the mind long after you've finished reading . . . A beautifully wrought and haunting tale. -- Cailean Steed A really original and captivating book, with atmospheric writing that immediately drew me in. Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending -- Philippa East A brilliant, clever and addictive story with characters you really root for. I couldn't put it down. -- Carly Reagon Beautifully written, unique, and utterly unforgettable -- Louise Beech A literary thriller with a speculative twist, complex and finely crafted * Image Magazine * Clever and chilling. Engaging characters and setting. And a scary cult. What more could you ask for? -- Michael J MaloneMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 40 mm
Weight
301 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5293-5775-2 (9781529357752)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Beth Lewis
Children of the Sun
'A cult novel with a difference . . . and a wholly unexpected ending' GUARDIAN
E-Book
05/2023
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
€2.99
Available for download
Person
Beth Lewis was raised in the wilds of Cornwall and split her childhood between books and the beach. She has travelled extensively throughout the world and has had close encounters with black bears, killer whales, and Great White sharks. She has been, at turns, a bank cashier, fire performer, juggler, and is currently the Publishing Manager at Rebellion. She lives in Oxford with her wife and daughter.