Book Tour: The Boy Who Spoke to Stars by Reuben Miles

About the Book

Title: The Boy Who Spoke to Stars

Author: Reuben Miles

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Book 1 of The Astral Strings Series

Secrets. Forgiveness. Death.
Nothing has been right in Kasper’s life for quite some time. Then the eclipse comes, and his father is stolen away. When the police arrive, instead of trying to help, they drag off his mother too. Down at the station later, the desk sergeant claims to know nothing about Kasper’s mum, and insists that the detective who arrested her doesn’t exist.
Loki, Kasper’s cousin, is the only one who really understands him. Her parents promise to keep him safe until his mum and dad return, but soon they are gone as well. There’s no-one for Kasper and Loki to turn to – except Tenrō, a dangerous older boy who knows more than he should, and claims to be a star…
As they set off into the night, they have no way of knowing what they will have to face. The secrets they are about to uncover will change their lives. Their actions will seal the fates of every living thing in the universe.
Somewhere in the dark, the truth is waiting. And the stars are watching.

Author Bio

Reuben Miles grew up in London until his parents decided that they needed fresher air. They bundled themselves up and drove to Devon, which is in the South West of UK. He spent the rest of his childhood climbing trees and telling stories and writing music in a tumbledown cottage with friends.

Reuben studied Artificial Intelligence and Psychology in Bristol, followed by a degree in Music and Engineering. In 2008 he moved to Brighton to play in a band. When it became clear that no one really wanted to listen to their music, he started working for Children’s Centres and writing stories instead.

Reuben is a dog person. He thinks that if you prefer cats there is probably something very wrong with you. Possibly the cat has brainwashed you, in which case it’s not really your fault, but you should seek help all the same.

Links

Ghostwood Books: http://gwdbooks.com/books/the-boy-who-spoke-to-stars/
Reuben Miles' website: http://www.reubenmiles.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Spoke-Stars-Astral-Strings/dp/0993507743/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461147259&sr=8-1&keywords=the+boy+who+spoke+to+stars

Book Excerpts

Excerpt 1

From the other side of the car park, a man and a woman were watching him check the door handles. Kasper tried his best not to look guilty, which just made him look exceptionally guilty. The man whispered something to the woman and pulled a phone from his pocket. Kasper scowled at them, but moved away, crossing the road as casually as he could, cursing the man under his breath. He had no way of proving the car belonged to his dad, and it would take ages to explain to the police. Not that the police would believe him anyway, not after all the trouble he caused them last summer. He stopped to give the man his most furious glare before turning the corner.

And that’s when he saw it.

The man across the car park, moving uncomfortably, as if he’d not long learnt how to walk, or like someone had twisted and pinched his synapses. Even from this distance Kasper could tell he wasn’t blinking. His eyes were stretched wide and glassy, like a lizard’s. They caught the low sun. The woman tugged at his arm, calling his name, but he wouldn’t pay her any attention. He took a lurching step toward Kasper, who decided it was time to run.

Excerpt 2

It felt like a good dream turning sour. Kasper stood in the field at the back of Malt Wood, blinking. Something wasn’t right. The grass was knee-high, and motes of pollen spun in the evening light. Pine and larch edged the meadow along the north side. Their roots and trunks were blue with shade. The low sun cast a long shadow off a distant sycamore, its boughs groaning like cellos as they swung in the breeze, calling sorry warnings.

... And a gloom roamed underneath the larches, drumming on a carpet of dead pine needles.

Thud, thud, thud.

Soft.

Dangerous.

Like a tiger’s purr.

And Kasper knew it wanted him. The darkness wanted him. It always did.

Excerpt 3

“I only caught bits of it,” Loki said, as if holding something delicate in mind, something that might shatter if she looked at it too hard. “Mum and dad were arguing last night when they thought I was asleep. It sounded like they were involved in something. Maybe something dangerous. And they thought it was over, but now your dad’s gone missing and they’re frightened it’s all about to come back. They don’t want it to come back. They want to keep it hidden.”

“Keep what hidden?” Kasper asked, releasing the breath he’d been holding without realising.

“The past,” she said, turning to him. “They’ve got secrets, I’m sure of it... I want to know what they are.”

Kasper hesitated. “I don’t know, Loki. I just want Dad back. I don’t know about any secrets.”

She pressed her head against the glass and a bead of water slid past her cheek. “Well that’s because you don’t know what secrets can do,” she said.

He didn’t know what she meant, but before he could ask, a loud knock came from the front door.