The Books of Umber

Let the Dragon Games begin!
All is not well in Kurahaven. Happenstance is jolted by a surprising revelation about his origins, and the rivalry between the princes takes a violent turn. When Umber receives a pair of mysterious messages, he and Happenstance are hurled into a wild, epic adventure. Before the final twist, Umber and company will encounter a ring of volcanic fire, a strange island filled with murderous creatures, a man from Umber's past living with a terrible curse, and a land ruled by a cruel tyrant who is eager for Umber to witness his Dragon Games.

New wallpapers for Dragon Games and an avatar right here! And visit the new BooksofUmber.com for special insight, more wallpapers and other surprises in the dark.

Extraordinary praise for Happenstance Found:
“Catanese dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber series by wittily subverting genre tropes. Happenstance, a boy with strange green eyes, wakes up in a cave with no memories of who he is or anything about the fantastic world in which he lives. He soon encounters Lord Umber, an adventurer who seems familiar with our world as well as his own, and his two companions — a brute cursed to be forever truthful and a one-handed artist and archer... As the group attempts to learn about his origins, they're forced to confront a supernatural assassin and secrets from Umber's own mysterious past. Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations, well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. An auspicious start to the series.”
- Publishers Weekly (Starred review)

“Readers, both young and old, will anxiously await future titles in the "Books of Umber" series.” - Children's Literature

“Catanese’s forte is in defining the features of the colorful imaginary world he creates, which is part steampunk, part fairy tale, and has a surprising contemporary twist. Merpeople, leviathans, and sorceresses mingle with Mozart, mirrors, and elevators in this unusual culture…a cinematic quality that will be enjoyed by a wide range of fantasy readers.” - The Horn Book

“Catanese departs from the fairy tale retellings... to create an intriguing intergenerational partnership set in a fantasy world that tantalizes with glimpses of modern-day technology...an engaging and deftly written fantasy.” - Booklist

“Hap's vulnerability and Umber's good-natured exuberance make them both extraordinarily appealing...the characters that surround the two are equally compelling...they emerge as almost archetypal in their symbolic resonance....Rife with grisly horrors and absorbing wonders, Umber's coastal kingdom exerts a fascination that lingers after the last page is turned, and readers will be reassured by indications that a return visit is forthcoming.”
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“You can’t pack much more intrigue into a first chapter than that of P. W. Catanese’s Happenstance Found, in which a boy wakes, “fully conscious and wholly formed” but with no memory of his past, and immediately discovers that he and his companions are in danger from a wormlike beast, that he’s in a tunnel under a mysterious lost city, and that he has in his possession a cryptic message . . . was that an earthquake? Things only get more exciting from here in this inventive fantasy, first in a projected series.”
- Notes from The Horn Book newsletter

Named to ALAN’s Picks, April 2009.
ALAN is The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents. ALAN’s Picks is a monthly book review column that “highlights the latest and greatest in YA Lit.”

Named to the Kid's Indie Next list, Spring 2009.

Audiobook review:
"The first book (Aladdin, 2009) in a new fantasy series by P.W. Catanese features a compelling cast of characters. ..During their travels, Hap learns about the world around him and discovers that he has unique abilities. Lord Umber is also keeping secrets from those around him, and when the two make and share discoveries about themselves and each other, Hap begins to learn about his past and discern his purpose in life. Narrator Richard Poe does an excellent job voicing all the nuances of a caring, bewildered boy. Each character's voice is easily distinguished by tone and cadence. An excellent first title in the projected series." - School Library Journal.

About Happenstance Found:
Happenstance, a boy with unusual green eyes, awakens with no memories. Falling in with the adventurer Lord Umber and his band of misfits, this boy with many uncanny gifts soon discovers that he may be the strangest one of all.

This is a big, exciting tale that should thrill anyone who's enjoyed my previous books. You don't need to read any of my other novels before diving into this. It's a whole new story. And I won't leave you hanging at the end of this book - it's a satisfying read with a real conclusion (and even bigger adventures ahead!).

So far Lord Umber has been compared to Willie Wonka, Sherlock Holmes, the Wizard of Oz, Leonardo DaVinci and Indiana Jones... who will he remind you of?

To purchase Happenstance Found or Dragon Games as a book, Ebook or audiobook, ask your local bookstore -- or click here for links to online booksellers.