In addition, though there is no specific mention of Welsh myths and legends, the strong part nature plays in the stories and the settings bring to mind other British children's authors.
Authors like Elizabeth Goudge, noted for The Little White Horse, and Alan Garner, who is perhaps best known for The Owl Service and Elidor, and Susan Cooper, famous for The Dark Is Rising sequence of books, who allude more specifically to British myth and legend in their writings.
The storylines of the respective books incorporate various ecological and animal rights issues, such as badger baiting, fox hunting and industrial development.
In addition, the children fight against the Magician's evil assistant, Matthew Morden, whose quest for power leads him to disturb the magical and ecological balance within Golden Valley.
While Jack and William set out in the storm to try to get help, Mary and Alice stay with Phoebe and try to protect her and the baby from an evil rat which is attempting to prevent the birth from taking place.
Alice also experiences this with a local stray dog called Spot (towards the end of the book Mary also travels with an animal, Jasper the Owl).
Morden is influencing his future descendants, the Crawdens, into buying the land surrounding Golden Lake and turning it into an amusement park on par with Disneyland.
When the children leave Golden Valley at the end of the Summer holidays, Morden increases his negative influence as his powers grow stronger.
The Magician accepts he is an old man and is not able to protect the valley forever, he explains he has been teaching the children all that he knows so that they might pass on this information and guide the newest Tyler at Golden House, Stephanie.
It's revealed towards the end of the book that Stephen Tyler's wishes likely come true, as a glimpse of the future is shown with Stephanie as a teenager still living at Golden House and exploring its secrets.
Corlett drew inspiration from his interactions and observations of these children, infusing elements of their personalities, experiences, and dynamics into the fictional Constant siblings.
This personal connection to real children not only lent authenticity to the characters but also reflected Corlett's keen understanding of young minds and relationships.
The inclusion of these characters in the series highlights Corlett's approach to writing, where he often blended elements of reality with the fantastical, creating a relatable yet magical world for his readers.
The characters of William, Mary, and Alice were inspired by family friends and neighbors from the time Corlett lived in Great Bardfield.
These dedications and character focuses reveal the deep personal connections and inspirations behind Corlett's writing, further illustrating his ability to weave real-life experiences into his captivating narratives.
Her character is also considerably more argumentative and headstrong than in the books, as well as having apparently relocated from Canada to Jack's home country, as had Phoebe, who, like Mary, has a Canadian accent.
Dyson's decision to produce and direct this audiobook can be seen as a tribute to the enduring impact of Corlett's work and her personal connection to the series.