Lionhearts
by Dan Howarth
When Henry Oswald loses everything in a gas explosion in his hometown, he stumbles from disaster to disaster before being picked up by a local community group full of good intentions. Yet beneath their veneer of benevolence lies hatred and division. Half-in and half-out of the group, Henry must make a choice between redemption and darkness, knowing that violence will come with either.
Lionhearts is a violent trip into the backwaters of Northern England, exploring the rage and isolation of the population and delivering a timely message for this broken country of ours.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Sneering, contemptuous, and visceral; Lionhearts is a searing indictment of the real England. Howarth brings us a modern day Taxi Driver with a nasty and hateful main character who is completely twisted by grief.When you're lost and you hold out your hand, be careful who takes you in.
Adam hulse, author of below economic thresholds
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
An unnerving and worryingly timely gut punch of a novel.
Andrew david barker, author of dead leaves and the electric
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
Lionhearts is a searing state-of-the-nation novel that feels dangerously relevant in today’s polarised society. With characters you care about, this is a gritty, realistic story about the slippery road to radicalisation. This Is England meets The Red Riding Quartet.
w.a kelly, author of safe hands and The call back