The Various

Midge Walters arrives at her uncle's Somerset farm while her mother tours with an orchestra. During her explorations of Mill Farm, she discovers an injured winged horse in a barn - her first encounter with a hidden world of tiny beings who call themselves the Various. The Various are five distinct tribes who live secretly in the Royal Forest, a dense thicket on farm property. These small folk maintain their ancient ways while hiding from the "Gorji" (humans), whom they fear will destroy their way of life. The story follows both Midge's growing involvement with these mysterious beings and the Various tribes themselves as they search for their missing winged horse, navigating the dangers of the human world. The Various explores themes of preservation versus progress, while examining how different cultures can learn to coexist despite their fears and prejudices.

Readers describe The Various as a slower-paced fantasy that takes time to build momentum. Many note it feels more grounded and realistic compared to other children's fantasy novels. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of the countryside setting - Complex characterization of Midge - Believable family dynamics - Detailed world-building of the Various tribes - Natural integration of fantasy elements Common criticisms: - Pacing too slow in first third of book - Some found the dialect of the Various hard to follow - Multiple viewpoint shifts can be confusing - Ending leaves many questions unanswered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (80+ reviews) Reader comments: "The pastoral scenes remind me of classic British children's literature" - Goodreads review "Took a while to get going but worth sticking with" - Amazon review "Wanted more resolution to the Various storylines" - LibraryThing review

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Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins Takes readers into an underground realm beneath New York City where humans coexist with giant talking creatures, focusing on the clash between different societies and survival.

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi Follows children who discover a world of faeries living alongside humans, detailing the interactions between two parallel societies and the protection of hidden magical realms.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy Unveils a secret forest civilization outside Portland where talking animals and mystic beings maintain their own society separate from the human world.

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer Transports readers to a world where fairy tale creatures maintain their own complex societies while remaining hidden from the modern human world.

🌟 The Various is part of what's known as the "Hidden People" genre in fantasy literature, following a rich tradition that includes Mary Norton's "The Borrowers" and Terry Pratchett's "The Wee Free Men." 🌟 Author Steve Augarde worked as a BBC television animator before becoming a writer, bringing his visual storytelling skills to his detailed descriptions of the Various tribes. 🌟 The Somerset countryside setting reflects the author's own connections to the area, which has a rich history of folklore about faeries and little people dating back centuries. 🌟 The unique term "Gorji" used by the Various for humans is similar to real-world terms used by Roma people, who historically used "gadjo" or "gorger" to refer to non-Roma individuals. 🌟 Like many classic portal fantasies, the book was influenced by rural evacuation stories from WWII Britain, when children were sent from cities to live with relatives in the countryside.