Chameleons are the ultimate multi-taskers. With distinctive eyes that can rotate and focus separately, these fascinating creatures can spot future trends while winking a fond farewell to past achievements. They can blend in with their surroundings if the mood takes them, or they can adopt a crimson flush to underscore their need to communicate. And when they write, they publish five books across several genres in one year, and look just like Sean Williams.

Reviewers must also play the chameleon when reading Williams’s new book, The Changeling. One eye cannot help but retain an adult perspective while reading this novel, which began its life as a creative work written for Williams’s master’s degree. This adult eye is aware of Williams’s prolific career as a science fiction and fantasy writer, so it automatically scrutinises The Changeling by comparison with his award-winning works for mature readers. However, to appreciate the story, the other eye must adopt the guise of a ten-year-old in search of magic and friendship.