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With Great Innovation Comes the Threat of Misuse
A Fistful of Feathers follows a 13-year-old boy with a strange lump on his neck who realizes he is in danger from the doctors at the clinic and makes an escape from there while forming new friendships. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
With great innovation comes the threat of misuse. The original inspiration for the story came from an image and a scientific breakthrough that first appeared in the press in 1997. It featured a mouse with an ear-shaped cartilage growth on its back, which was both weird and unsettling – yet the potential for growing human organs was becoming a reality. The image stayed with me over the years, but it was only when I watched the original Jurassic Park film with my teenage son that the basis of the story began to form…
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
I wanted the characters to feel real, not superhuman. There might be extraordinary things happening to Jo, but underneath the physical changes was a normal teenage boy, who was desperate to be normal, to be accepted. It was as important to keep the reaction of his friends as natural as possible – although I’m still wondering how I’d react if a friend suddenly sprouted wings!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The key themes at the heart of the book are simple – Friendship, facing up to change and fear.
When will book two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
Books two and three in the series are already available. Book two, Flight and Fight, and book three, Freedom Rising, follow Jo and his friends as he struggles to deal with the incredible changes to his body and his life…
Author Links: Flight and Fight | Freedom Rising | GoodReads | Facebook | Website
All thirteen-year-old Jo has ever wanted, is to be the same as everyone else. To go to school.
To look in a mirror and not see a ‘freak’ staring back. But there’s the clinic and the evil Doctor Bowden to contend with.
When the lump on Jo’s neck begins to move and change – he knows there is only one thing for it…RUN!
Bowden is not going to make this easy. With his men hot on Jo’s heels, it’s a race to stay one step ahead.
Can he discover the truth about what’s happened to him before he’s caught? Soon, it isn’t only Jo who is in danger.
If he doesn’t tell his new friends everything, the chances are they’ll be hurt – and he’ll be dragged back to that clinic.
But – if he exposes his secret, Jo risks alienating the only real friends he has ever known…
A Fistful of Feathers is book one in an intriguing adventure series. With a twist of fantasy and science fiction that will keep the reader guessing – A great read whatever your age!
A Fistful of Feathers
This book hooked me fast. A Fistful of Feathers is a gripping YA fantasy that blends suspense, mystery, and a slow-burning sci-fi twist. It follows Jo Ranson, a kid in a care system that’s more sinister than supportive. Jo is stuck in a brutal cycle of neglect, pain, and confusion, all while dealing with a weird swelling on his neck and he’s not the only one. As the story unfolds, Jo discovers he’s part of something much bigger, and definitely more dangerous, than he ever imagined. With an unrelenting pace and a heavy dose of heart, this first installment of the Fraser Chronicles throws you into a world that feels just a little too close to reality.
The writing is sharp and gutsy without being flashy. The dialogue feels natural, especially between Jo and Dan, his best friend and ride-or-die. There’s a solid rhythm to how the scenes build, each chapter ending just edgy enough to keep you turning pages. I loved the way Jones captures Jo’s voice—sarcastic, wary, and raw. In Chapter One, the way Jo describes the Clinic’s tiles (“eight-hundred-and-twenty-three dingy grey tiles… Seven of them were broken”) instantly shows you he’s observant, stuck, and a little obsessive. It’s those little details that make him feel real. Also, the first interaction with Amy, where they bond over their shared condition, is subtle, sad, and full of the kind of resilience that sneaks up on you.
Without spoiling too much, there’s something growing inside Jo. Something literally. And the scenes where his back shifts and the pain surges, it’s not just body horror, it’s metaphor. You feel the panic. One of the standout moments for me was when Jo, after fleeing the Clinic and hiding in a cave, wakes up to find something fluttering under his skin. It’s terrifying and kind of beautiful, which is a weird combo that Jones pulls off well. And then there’s Dan, the friend we all wish we had. Funny, smart, and fiercely loyal. His plan to disguise Jo as an old woman to escape was ridiculous but genius.
If you like fast-paced reads with a gritty edge and a beating heart, this one’s for you. It’s perfect for teens who love stories that flirt with dystopia but stay grounded in human connection. Think Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets The Maze Runner with a pinch of British grit. Adults who like YA with real stakes and emotional depth will enjoy it too. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.
Pages: 257 | ASIN : B0DCSFQXVP
LITERARY TITAN 