Yorkshire author’s wrestling-inspired novel FIVE II hits Waterstones after US launch

FIVE II: The IBCW Showdown, written by Yorkshire author Mo Bhana, is now available to buy through Waterstones, adding one of the UK’s best-known booksellers to the growing list of retailers stocking the book.

The news comes after the novel was launched in the US, where it is already available through Walmart, giving the Yorkshire-created story an increasingly international audience.

The second instalment in the FIVE series follows the success of the original book and takes readers into a world of wrestling, superheroes, villains, championship belts and larger-than-life characters.

At the centre of the story is FIVE, who finds himself facing a new threat in the form of The Claw and his army of Clawbots, as the battle for the IBCW Championship intensifies.

Written under the pen name Mo Bhana, the book has already generated significant attention online, with content surrounding the FIVE series attracting more than three million views on Instagram.

The author believes the combination of wrestling, superheroes, humour and action gives FIVE II the potential to move beyond the traditional book market.

The story has already been described by fans as having the potential to be adapted for the screen, with comparisons to the scale and spectacle of major wrestling and superhero franchises and suggestions that it could be well suited to a Netflix-style adaptation.

Bhana said the arrival of FIVE II at Waterstones was another major step for a project that began with a very personal story.

“It’s honestly crazy to see how far FIVE has come,” said Bhana.

“This started with an idea and a story that was very close to home, and it has now developed into a full-blown wrestling adventure that is reaching readers in the UK and the United States.

“Having FIVE II available through Waterstones is a huge moment for me as a Yorkshire author. Then you add Walmart in America and the response we’ve had online – it’s taken the story to a completely different level.

“People have said it feels like something that could be on Netflix or made into a wrestling-style TV series, and obviously that would be an absolute dream. For now, though, I’m just enjoying seeing people pick up the book and get into the world of FIVE.”

The book takes the action even further than the original, introducing readers to the IBC​W Championship Belt, Claw Coin currency, Clawbots and the sinister Dominion of Devastation.

The story also features a series of wrestling-inspired set pieces, including a ladder match and casket match, as FIVE battles to overcome The Claw and protect those around him.

For Bhana, the success of the series is particularly special because of its Yorkshire roots.

The author has built his career in public relations and communications across Yorkshire, while the FIVE story itself has grown from a family-inspired idea into a publishing project with ambitions far beyond the region.

With the book now available through Waterstones and Walmart in the US, Bhana hopes the latest chapter will introduce FIVE to a new generation of readers.

“I wanted FIVE II to be bigger, crazier and more exciting than the first book,” he added.

“It’s got wrestling, superheroes, villains, comedy and loads of action. It’s basically everything I loved growing up, thrown into one story.

“The dream would obviously be to see FIVE on screen one day. Whether that’s Netflix, a film or a wrestling-style animated series, who knows? But when readers and fans start saying those things, you know you’ve created something that connects with people.”

FIVE II: The IBCW Showdown is now available through Waterstones, as well as retailers in the United States including Walmart.

The book is the latest chapter in the growing FIVE universe, with Bhana already looking towards where the story could go next.

FIVE II: The IBCW Showdown is available from Waterstones now.