Young adult
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When Alfie’s mother falls gravely ill, doctors say only a miracle can save her.
Having only just moved to the seaside town of Tudllan, Alfie and his dad desperately search to find a cure. Almost at the point of giving up hope, Alfie hears of a local legend about a sacred cup, mentioned in an ancient book, the Book of Tudllan.
Over one and a half thousand years earlier, Cai, a young slave, narrowly escapes with his life from a battle, having sworn to his dying master, one of the last Roman centurions in Britannia, to deliver a mysterious bundle to a man named Gwion, at a remote sanctuary. He later learns that the bundle contains a sacred cup with healing powers, also known as the Holy Grail.
Was that sanctuary Tudllan, and does the ancient Book of Tudllan hold clues to its secret resting place?
Alfie, and his friend Melanie, must race against time to decipher the book’s clues in the hope of finding the cup, before a gang of ruthless treasure hunters do. Alfie believes that it is the only thing that can save his mother. But does the cup really exist, is the legend true and can it be found in time?
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
Feedback for The Book of Tudllan by Tim Hamer Overview: The Book of Tudllan is a well-crafted dual-timeline historical fantasy novel for the 12+ YA audience. With emotional stakes rooted in a young boy’s quest to save his mother, the narrative weaves together ancient legend and modern mystery with elegance and suspense. Author Tim Hamer creates a world that is both grounded in personal grief and elevated by mythic possibility, making this story both deeply human and richly imaginative. Strengths: 1. Powerful Premise & Emotional Core: The novel’s central conflict — Alfie’s race to find a healing artifact before it’s too late — is both urgent and heartfelt. It gives young readers a protagonist they can believe in, and a quest that is relatable through its emotional weight. 2. Evocative World-Building: The Abbey woods, ancient orchards, and the atmospheric ruins are all described with poetic sensitivity. The prose conjures a tangible sense of place that enhances the story’s mythic undercurrent and draws readers into a liminal space between past and present. 3. Pacing and Suspense: The chapter A Mystery in the Wood is particularly strong. It builds tension steadily, with a cinematic sense of timing. The mysterious woman and her tactical entourage are intriguing, and their interaction with the jeweled book immediately raises questions, setting the plot in motion effectively. 4. Characterization & Voice: Alfie’s questions are sincere and introspective, allowing readers to connect with his vulnerability. His friendship with Melanie (hinted in the synopsis) adds balance to his internal journey, and likely serves as a touchpoint of lightness, wit, or logic. Areas for Development: 1. Stakes Integration Within Scenes: In action or discovery scenes, consider threading in more references to Alfie’s motivation — his mother’s illness — to keep emotional tension active alongside the plot. Even brief internal reminders can maintain urgency and deepen reader investment. 2. Refining Descriptive Flow: Some richly detailed sections, especially those describing the natural environment, could be lightly trimmed for pace. Maintaining rhythm and momentum — particularly in early chapters — will keep YA readers turning pages. 3. Antagonist Depth and Motivation: The mysterious group introduced in the woods is visually and tonally compelling. To elevate them from generic ‘treasure hunters,’ consider gradually revealing their ideological motives or personal connections to the Grail — whether spiritual, scientific, or self-serving. 4. Dialogue Distinction: While effective, the dialogue could benefit from subtle stylistic differences among characters, particularly the silver-haired woman. A unique cadence or vocabulary could reinforce her role and give her a memorable presence on the page. Market Positioning & Audience: The Book of Tudllan will resonate with readers of Philippa Pearce, Katherine Rundell, and Susan Cooper, as well as fans of The Dark Is Rising, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Its blend of ancient legend, real-world emotion, and accessible mystery makes it ideal for both leisure reading and classroom discussion. This manuscript is well-suited for: - Traditional publishing with a YA imprint - Educational market licensing - Adaptation into graphic novel or screen format Conclusion: Tim Hamer has written a deeply engaging, emotionally driven adventure with mythic scope and contemporary heart. With fine-tuning of pacing and antagonist development, The Book of Tudllan has the potential to stand proudly within the upper tier of modern YA fantasy. It’s a manuscript worthy of submission, further development, and professional representation.
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Review from Kristine L. ReedsyDiscovery Review: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the-book-of-tudllan-tim-hamer Must read Masterful storytelling propels a vibrant and vivacious plot packed with action, adventure and intrigue. I couldn't put it down! “So long a ruin, could the chapel’s silent stones be hiding the greatest lost treasure in Britain, and the world, only remembered by the chance few lines scribbled in the margin of an ancient Welsh book?” Young Alfie Thomas King aims to find out in this delightful and eminently engaging historical fantasy for young adults. Alfie lives with his mum and dad in a small cottage on a remote headland in a Welsh seaside town named Tudllan. Alfie has recently moved to the small cottage with his ailing mother and eccentric father and the desperate hope that the change of climate will restore his mother’s health. Introspective and thoughtful, Alfie soon makes several discoveries. They include a nearby wood. An ancient Abbey in ruins. A white torchlight and a “rough, deep voice shouting commands.” Three tall men “in combat kit.” And a large black truck. It isn’t long before Alfie also learns about an ancient book that’s been stolen from the British Library. Chapter 3 whisks us back over a thousand years to a centurion’s slave, Cai. The boy has been entrusted with a priceless artifact by his late master. His master’s dying wish was that Cai deliver “a worthless, wooden cup” to someone called Gwion. Meanwhile, Alfie’s dad begins to decline as his mum gets weaker and weaker. Could the key to past and present and treasure untold reside in an ancient book dating back to old Britannia? What’s up with a large white hare? And who’s shooting at Alfie – and why? Top-notch writing glides and guides readers into a rich and multi-textured world packed with action and adventure, mystery, history, and intrigue. The author’s world-building skills are impressive. Masterful storytelling propels a vibrant and vivacious plot rich with historical settings, credible dialogue, three-dimensional characters, and pitch-perfect pacing. It’s like dipping an oar into history, myth, and legend and rowing into intrigue, mystery, and suspense as the author skillfully interweaves past and present into a tightly written historical fantasy. There's also hope. Family. And home. Finally, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a young adult fantasy as much as I did The Book of Tudllan. I couldn’t put it down! We’re talking majorly awesome here. I loved it! You will, too! Note: The door is left open for a sequel. I can’t wait!
