A young novelist with a passion for history has written an action-packed debut novel set in the midst of World War Two.

Ashley Wright hails from Oldham and holds a first-class honours degree in history and graduated with a master's degree in the same field in 2020.

A self-proclaimed lover of sci-fi and "affinity for the past", the novelist has set off on his literary journey with the release of his first young adult novel, Heller's Angels.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

The historical fantasy book follows the protagonist, Leo Avery, a young boy who finds himself drawn into battle against monsters known as 'dreadfoul' in the midst of World War Two.

Set in September 1943, when the world is at war, Leo Avery has been left with nothing.

The synopsis reveals his home has been destroyed in the Blitz whilst his only family member, his father, has "mysteriously vanished".

It continues: "When Leo is attacked by a terrifying creature, he is saved from death by a group of strangers calling themselves Angels.

"Led by the enigmatic Dr Heller, this rag-tag band of hunters wield strange, arcane powers, using them in the fight against monsters they know as ‘dreadfoul’.

"Leo is soon thrust into a war against the very worst man and myth have to offer, battling both the dreadfoul and the men who intend to use them to create an unstoppable army.

"With the threat of Armageddon looming ever closer, Leo quickly finds himself torn between his new destiny and the search for his missing father – only to find the two are more closely linked than he could ever have possibly imagined."

The author's passion for history bleeds into the book and lends authenticity to this unique story.

Ashley explains: "Writing has always been my passion, but so has history.

"The past is a galaxy of alien worlds, packed with lives and experiences we can only look back on and imagine today, so why not dare to imagine?

"Tanks, tombs, myths, monsters—I wanted to take the most absorbing aspects of our history and combine them into the most exciting, action-packed adventure I possibly could.

"Besides history, my inspirations are many.

"The source of the Angels’ echoes (abilities drawn from the power of their most traumatic memories), for example, is inspired by the mindset of people I have known who have struggled with trauma.

"One individual in particular once told me of his self-harm scars, telling me he was once ashamed of them but now displayed them proudly as a source of strength and resilience.

"I hope my characters inspire the same."

Heller's Angels is due to be published on March 28 this year by the independent book publishing company, The Book Guild Ltd, for £9.99. 

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.