Sherwood resident C J Dalling has released a new urban fantasy novel, HIDDEN (Book One of the Conclave), which brings supernatural warfare to the streets of Nottingham. The book blends fast-paced action, dark mythology, and gritty mystery, drawing on Dalling's three decades of living in the city and her deep knowledge of its history and atmosphere.
Plot and Characters
The story follows Benjamin Williams, a man who first died in the fifteenth century after striking a desperate deal with Hell. Centuries later, Ben still walks the earth as a Hunter for The Conclave—a fragile, secret alliance between angels and demons tasked with maintaining the balance between good and evil. Now operating in modern-day Nottingham, Ben faces a terrifying shift as the city's monsters begin behaving strangely and growing in power. When a dangerous old adversary escapes from Hell and preys on innocent locals, Ben is thrown into a race against time. He is forced to work alongside a newly appointed police inspector who shares the same name as his long-dead wife, forcing him to confront painful memories he has spent centuries running from.
Author's Inspiration
Inspired by renowned urban fantasy giants like Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files) and Benedict Jacka (Alex Verus), Dalling's writing is packed with flawed heroes, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes trouble that start with 'this is probably a bad idea' and rapidly get worse. When not plotting supernatural chaos, Dalling reads, drinks tea, and works alongside her dog, which she describes as a 'catastrophically ineffective office assistant' whose only talents involve demanding attention and supervising household snacks.
Availability
HIDDEN is available now on Amazon in both paperback and ebook formats. For future releases and more about the world beneath the city, visit the C J Dalling Official Website.
