The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham

Praise for The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham:

A 2025 Booklist Editors’ Choice

“A shadow monster on the loose… and that’s just the start of the frights. Tense… fast-moving…and the twists and surprises just keep on coming. My kind of book!“—R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

★ “This isn’t a novel for the fainthearted. But middle-grade readers who enjoy fast-paced adventures set in notoriously perilous eras of the past will find themselves rooting for Nim and his ever-increasing group of orphaned allies. They willingly risk their lives to cure their friends and rid their city of the monster that threatens everyone. An impressive first novel.”—Booklist, starred review

“In his debut, Black conjures a properly terrifying night monster… readers will enjoy the focus on the multiple frantic chases and pursuits through hidden tunnels and shattered buildings…tense climax…Strong on action and punctuated with moments of sharply felt terror.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Ryan James Black’s innate knack for storytelling and witty narrative voice are on full display in his historical fantasy horror debut. Nim and the entire cast of quirky, gritty, and altogether charming characters—including a loveably mangy mutt named Winnie—are already calling me back for a second read, and I am happy to oblige.“—Jenna Lee-Yun, author of The Last Rhee Witch series

“Clever and courageous as its plucky hero, The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham, is an explosive debut. Heart-pounding peril? Perfectly peculiar characters? Ghoulish mysteries buttoned into the gloom of a Blitz-Era London? Sign me up!”—Mary Averling, author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog

“A thrilling debut from Ryan James Black. Set against the backdrop of the London Blitz, The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham is brimming with scares and thrills but also tempered with the longing for family and home. I loved this book. A must-read!”—Ronald L Smith, Award-winning author of Hoodoo and the Black Panther: The Young Prince Trilogy

Ryan James Black is a writer from Manitoba, Canada, where he lives with his wife, two children, and a Jumanji’s worth of pets. When not writing or reading, Ryan enjoys travelling, watching scary movies with all the lights on, and exploring the Great Outdoors with his family.

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