Matthew Edwards

Jonah and The Clockwork Goblin Matthew Edwards

Jonah is a fifteen-year-old orphan who thinks he already has enough problems in his life. He's failing all his subjects at school, frequently tormented by the school bully, and can count the people who care about his life (including his cat) on one hand--with fingers to spare. When he faces losing his older brother, he's convinced things couldn't get worse. Then he is awoken in the middle of the night by a clockwork cyborg goblin who robs him of a cherished opal pendant and departs through a magical portal. In his pursuit of the goblin thief, Jonah finds himself cast into a world beneath his own where he must pick his friends wisely, grow up quickly, and choose between an eight-foot evil seductress queen and a thousand-year-old tree nymph if he is to survive --and save the world in the process. ...a grand adventure that explores significant issues of identity, in particular masculinity, through the reluctant hero, Jonah. The novel shows particular strengths in its descriptive passages, the use of humor, the pace and timing of climatic moments within the narrative, and the complexity and originality of the plot... A pleasure to read. Jodie George, University of South Australia Edwards has produced a fine story with well-defined and believable characters, clever cultural settings and, most of all, characters and situations we care enough about to keep reading. Julia Archer, author Jonah will take you on a thrilling, action-packed journey through Godenow, the steampunkesque land within the Earth. You'll battle mechanical creatures, ride steamers and even have a laugh or two as you try to stay alive. This innovative coming of age story will resonate with teens seeking to make sense of their world. Rosanne Hawke, author of The Leopard Princess, Across the Creek and The Wolfchild Tales Matthew Edwards has written and published several short stories and poems. He holds an MA in Creative Writing, and lives in Mt Barker, South Australia, with his wife Rebecca and his cat Buddakhiin. Jonah and the Clockwork Goblin is his first novel.