A fantasy novel set in Durham city exploring the folklore of the North East is set to arrive in bookshops next week.

The book, written by T.J. Oswald will be released on July 25 by Olympia Publishers.

The plot revolves around the epic quest of Sophie Scott when she finds herself following in the footsteps of Northumbrian hero King Oswald.

In the novel, Sunderland-born Sophie and her friends travel to the City of Durham and venture into the Cathedral as they seek to locate the legendary Caenterstaff, an ancient artefact that is being sought by an unseen evil force that threatens the North East.

The story's in-universe lore explores the legacy of regional saints such as King Oswald and St. Cuthbert, all while they tackle monsters known as Redcaps, murderous goblins who are derived from Northumbrian border folklore.

In this story, however, the mythological concept has been improvised as a metaphor for anti-social behaviour in our region.

T.J Oswald, who is from Sunderland and graduated from Durham University, has long held the Cathedral city close to his heart.

His inspiration to write the novel was driven by his desire to create a hero that the North East could truly call "its own" and to seek the rejuvenation of the region by reinventing its folklore and mythology in a modern dynamic. 

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He said: "I truly love the North East and Sunderland."

"Durham in particular is a very special place to me which is a beautiful representation of our region's rich history.

"I can never grow tired of the experience of visiting. I should hope The North Star helps better contribute to our appreciation for who we are."