The Land of Roar

Written by Jenny McLachlan and Ben Mantle

Narrated by Billy Ashcroft

The first in a new children’s fantasy adventure series, full of imagination, humour and heart, and with echoes of Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Neverending Story and Jumanji.

The Land of Roar is perfect for children aged 8 to 12, and can sit on their bookshelf next to Nevermoor, Wizards of Once and How to Train Your Dragon. Readers can bring their fantasy world to life and meet dragons, unicorns, mermaids and more in this beautifully illustrated children’s book.

Believing is just the beginning …

When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their grandad’s attic. Roar was filled with things they loved – dragons, mermaids, ninja wizards and adventure – as well as things that scared them (including a very creepy scarecrow…)

Now the twins are eleven, Roar is just a memory. But when they help Grandad clean out the attic, Arthur is horrified as Grandad is pulled into the folding bed and vanishes. Is he playing a joke? Or is Roar … real?

'This funny, captivating story is filled with the painful pangs of growing up and the transporting qualities of imagination' Guardian

'A vividly imagined adventure, […] full of heart, humour and a terrifying villain' Fiona Noble, The Bookseller

‘This is proof, not that it’s needed, that Jenny McLachlan is a writer of enormous heart and versatility. I’m a really big fan’ Phil Earle, award-winning author of Being Billy and co-author of Get Me Out of Here! with Andy McNab

‘Roar is an exhilarating, hilarious, vividly drawn tribute to the power of the childhood imagination, the love of family and the magic we risk losing as we grow up. If you plan to visit one new place in 2019, make it Roar’ Sarah Driver, author of The Huntress trilogy

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Nov 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9780008648268

Jenny McLachlan

Jenny McLachlan is the author of the Dead Good Detective duology and the bestselling Land of Roar series and is author-illustrator of Stink. Before Jenny became a writer, she was Head of English in a secondary school; she now loves visiting schools as an author and delivering funny and inspiring talks and workshops. When Jenny isn’t thinking about stories or writing stories, she enjoys living by the seaside, cycling and running over the South Downs.

Reviews for The Land of Roar

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With gorgeous illustrations bringing the story to life even beyond the wonderful words on the page, The Land of Roar is the most engrossing and fun middle-grade book I've read in ages. McLachlan's characters and world have such a reality and quirkiness to them that the book demands a reader keep going, with the illustrations bringing on just the right sort of emphasis and humor. I just preordered the sequels, and I can't wait for them to arrive. I'd absolutely recommend this to any middle grade readers, especially if they adore fantasy.