The Arb - Jon Smith

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Résumé :
To find solace, they must embrace the shadows. No one knows much about Sothea, the young Cambodian daughter of the widower who just moved into the old Victorian manor-and that's saying something for a small rural England town that has nothing better to do than gossip. But under her father's intense care, she is protected. She is sheltered. She is hidden. For her own good. The only one who can get close is Gabe, the shy contractor working to restore her house, who is instantly captivated by her quiet demeanor and almost ghostly features. And for Sothea, she can't help but be drawn to his passion and imagination. But amidst their secret trysts, it's clear Sothea's not the only newcomer. Dark and dangerous, a monstrous figure plagues their small town by night, leaving behind death and rot. Despite Gabe's best efforts, he can't stop the whispers that Sothea's family has somehow cursed them all. Suddenly, it's a race to uncover the truth-in their town and in their hearts-before darkness comes to claim. From bestselling author Jon Smith comes a chilling atmospheric tale infused with contemporary gothic vibes, Khmer folklore, and the sweeping fantasy of King Arthur legend....

Biographie:
Jon Smith is the bestselling author of 15 books for children, teens, and adults. His books have sold more than half a million copies and have been published in seven languages. In addition to writing books, Jon is an award-winning screenwriter and musical theatre lyricist and librettist with productions at the Birmingham Hippodrome, Belfast Waterfront, and London's Park, Waterloo East, and Courtyard theatres.A father of four, he lives near Liverpool with his wife and their two school-age children.When he grows up he'd like to be a librarian....

Sommaire:
When a malevolent figure from Khmer folklore awakens, Sothea and Gabe must navigate friendship, family and the monster within to overcome a terrifying supernatural force and protect the society that shunned them. Gabe, a seventeen-year-old labourer, becomes besotted by the enigmatic Sothea after her family moves into the dilapidated manor house he's working on. Both are misfits and find it difficult to communicate with others, but in those brief moments they have together - be it a stolen glance, a whispered exchange, or a secret rendezvous - they begin to discover and explore their true selves and feelings. But this idyllic blossoming romance is shattered when a malevolent figure from Khmer folklore - an arb - roams the night to feed on the unsuspecting. The Arb is a dark coming-of-age tale that follows two neurodiverse teens who struggle to be accepted by a society that has little time, or empathy, for anyone who's different. A contemporary gothic paranormal layered in Arthurian legend with an Asian horror twist....