Clash of the Demons

Title: Clash of the Demons (published in the UK as The Spook's Sacrifice)

Author: Joseph Delaney [Website][Facebook]; Illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith [Website]

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Series: The Last Apprentice, Bk 6

ISBN: 9780061344633

Length: 395 pages + some entries in "The Journal of Thomas J. Ward"

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I thought this was were I was at in the series.   However, I apparently skipped one, so I'll be starting that soon.

Comments: 

Thomas's mam is back and she needs his help.  She needs him and the Spook to come to Greece and help fight against an old evil.  The Spook's duty is toward the County not Greece.  But a loss could mean danger for everywhere - even the County.  And of course Tom has an additional loyalty for his mam.

But this trip is more than traveling toward evil.  It also means allying themselves with their enemies for the greater good.  And that sacrifice may just be too big.  Which leads to the next book.

So I'll be catching up on two books in this series soon - Bk 5, Wrath of the Bloodeye (The Spook's Mistake) - unless I really did read it after all - and Bk 7, Rise of the Huntress (The Spook's Nightmare).

Oh, and I just found out there's a movie coming out soon!

The Illustrator talking about how he does what he does (very cool creepy art, by the way)...

A slow week ...

Ghoul Interrupted (Ghost Hunter Mystery, Bk 6) by Victoria Laurie (library copy) -

Okay, time to get real.  I feel guilty every time I read one of her books (like I'm betraying my fellow readers), but I've been keeping up with this series anyway.  In doing so, I've managed to witness a miracle.  VL wrote a book with no preaching!  No lectures to us non-believers about how wrong we are and how we'll get ours!  In fact, I'll go so far as to say this is the best book in the series.  In addition to no preaching, Gilley wasn't as annoying, the American Indian theme was interesting, and I guessed the bad guy correctly.

I did a skip and jump (i.e. I read my favorite parts and the main parts) through Guardian of Honor (Summoner series, Bk 1) by Robin D. Owens.

I jumped around through Attack of the Fiend (Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles, Bk 4) by Joseph Delaney.  I had checked it out thinking I hadn't read it yet and soon realized I had.  I continued to randomly jump ahead and refresh my memory so I'm better prepared to read the next book in the series.

I started a couple other things that I should finish and post soon, but for the most part I've been fighting off a reading slump.

Mini-Reviews

I've never done this before, so we'll see how it goes.


Title: Dead Witch Walking
Author: Kim Harrison
ISBN: 9780060572969
Pages: 416
Series: 1st in the Hollows series
Where I got this book: Checked out from Library
Why Now?: I've been hearing good things about this author and series for a while, and it was finally time.
Brief Description: Rachel's a witch on the run from a death threat while trying to make her own way and get the authorities off her back.
My thoughts: It was a fast-paced read that left me interested in more.


Title: The Good, The Bad, and the Undead
Author: Kim Harrison
ISBN: 0060572973
Pages: 453
Series: 2nd in the Hollows series
Where I got this book: Own - Received through PaperBackSwap Game
Why Now?: I'd just finished the 1st book. I like to read series books together.
Brief Description: Rachel's been requested (okay, more like prodded) to assist in finding a serial killer. She sees this as an opportunity to get the guy she holds responsible for a number of wrongs.
My thoughts: The series may move in a direction I don't like, but for now it still has my interest. This book has more insight into Rachel's past, demons, and vampires (in particular, Ivy). Oh, and pixies.


Title: Real Vamps Don't Drink O-Neg
Author: Tawny Taylor
ISBN: 9780758215093
Where I got this book: Owned - PaperBackSwap
Why Now?: I had offered it in a PBS Virtual Box and needed to get it in the mail.
Brief Description: Sophie Hahn's best friend is acting different and seems sick. She has to save him from being drained by his vampire (Lamia) wife. So she hooks up with a vamp of another type in attempt to find some Biblical relics that may help.
My thoughts: I hated it. For a number of reasons, including the sex scenes I glimpsed in the process of skipping over them looked more like what I'd expect to find in erotica, not PR. But also because the characters weren't all that likable. Ric tells Sophie to trust him repeatedly. And she repeatedly does. But he isn't trustworthy, which makes him a jerk and her an idiot. IMO. Anyway, I only finished it because it's so hard for me not to finish a book.


Title: The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane
Author: Joseph Delaney
ISBN: 9780060766214
Pages: 455 + some entries in "The Journal of Thomas J. Ward"
Series: 2nd in the Last Apprentice series, aka The Wardstone Chronicles
Where I got this book: Checked out from the Library
Why Now?: I'd recently read and enjoyed the 1st in the series.
Brief Description: Tom Ward and his master (the Spook) will finally face down the Bane of Priestown (and the County). The Spook had been previously been unsuccessful at this, so how could this time be any different?
My thoughts: Another enjoyable read by Joseph Delaney. I can't believe it took me this long to find this series. Oh, and I appreciated learning more about Tom's parents (and therefore Tom's background).


Title: The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer
Author: Joseph Delaney
ISBN: 9780060766245
Pages: 489 + some entries in "The Journal of Thomas J. Ward"
Series: 3rd in the Last Apprentice series, aka The Wardstone Chronicles
Where I got this book: Checked out from the Library
Why Now?: I'm reading through the series. Hope to get my hands on the 4th soon...
Brief Description: Tom Ward, the Spook, and Alice travel toward their new winter location(s). Tom will finally learn more about the Spook's own past (including his prejudice regarding girls with pointy shoes). And why is it so dark (as in evilness and badness) in that area lately?
My thoughts: The continuing insights into the Spook's history are interesting. Each book has the "WARNING: NOT TO BE READ AFTER DARK" notice, and I'm enjoying discovering just what horror Tom will encounter on the "ESPECIALLY PAGE __" part. =)

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch

Title: The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch (first published in the UK as The Spook's Apprentice)

Author: Joseph Delaney (Illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith)

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Original Copyright Date: 2004

US Copyright Date: 2005

Print Date: September 2005

ISBN: 9780060766191

Pages: 343 + "The Journal of Thomas J. Ward"

Series: 1st in the Wardstone Chronicles (aka The Last Apprentice series)

Book Description (from the dust jacket):

CAPTURING WITCHES
BINDING BOGGARTS
DRIVING AWAY GHOSTS

FOR years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried — some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive.

Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope; the last apprentice.

Can Thomas succeed? Will he learn the difference between a benign witch and a malevolent one? Does the Spook's warning against girls with pointy shoes include Alice? And what will happen if Thomas accidentally frees Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the county ... ?

The Author Speaks:

Harper Collins has an interview with Joseph Delaney available here. Both an author interview video (different discussion) and a video with the illustrator are available if you want to search YouTube. I may embed them in future reviews, but they have to many spoilers for this point of the series.

Series List:

The American titles are:

1 Revenge of the Witch
2 Curse of the Bane
3 Night of the Soul Stealer
4 Attack of the Fiend
5 Wraith of the Bloodeye
6 Clash of the Demons

The British/Australian titles are:

1 The Spook's Apprentice
2 The Spook's Curse
3 The Spook's Secret
4 The Spook's Battle
5 The Spook's Mistake
6 The Spook's Sacrifice

Comments:

 I was browsing the library's book sale room when I came across a book by Joseph Delaney. It sounded interesting, but was obviously from the middle of a series. I'd never heard of the author or series. So I decided to check out the first book in the series and see if I liked it...

It was overdue, and I had run out of renewals before I even started it. But I'm so glad I did start it — instead of just returning it unread (which I considered doing).

As I was about to start I noticed the back cover...

WARNING: NOT TO BE READ AFTER DARK — ESPECIALLY PAGE 148

Seriously. It took all I had to stick with the beginning of the book. But start it I did. And I was immediately drawn in. It was as interesting as it sounded and very different. Tom is apprenticing on as a Spook. A lonely but necessary job keeping/stopping ghosts, witches, boggarts, and other beings of the dark from causing harm in the County. He can see and sense magic, but he doesn't actually practice any. Instead, he's training to be a sort of magical enforcer.

 The story is told in first person by Tom — a great and very likable character. He's a good kid (almost 13, btw), and I could definitely understand all his concerns (loneliness, fear, etc.) and his excitement (Something he could do! Complete with chances to travel, explore, and have new experiences!)... Plus, he makes mistakes along the way, but he works to fix them rather than ignoring them or pretending he's beyond mistakes.

The illustrations and use of black pages really help add this dark and creepy atmosphere — combined with the realness of Tom, it's easy to be sucked into the story.

Anyway, I guess this would technically be a Middle Grade (MG) book (based on Tom's age), but I'm calling it YA. I certainly enjoyed it, and I think it's one of those books any age could enjoy. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series (I already have books 2 and 3 waiting to be picked up at the library). In the meantime, I'm feeling relieved that I didn't miss out on it by returning it too soon.