lustucru1700's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaycee_k's review against another edition
3.0
I read this back around Halloween and found it really enjoyable. Even though it's more for middle school ages and was a bit board at times; I liked it. The lead Tom Ward is a strong lead for the story that brings out the action and mystery. Jenny brings such a lightness and helps developed a more dangerous side to the story; as she's just fifteen. During the last few chapters was hard to put down not know how it was going to end. Throughout the book there's parts that I held my breath and 'biting my nails' as I wasn't sure who was going to live or die. The creatures in the book are described so well that I could see they in my head. The writing style is full of description and action. I think that if I was younger I would of liked this book so much more. There was a few parts that I loved and others that I didn't, I just felt that this book could have more to it in a way of getting to know the characters and world better. This is a book for readers who enjoy more action and creatures.
anthonysimon99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
taseenmuhtadi's review against another edition
2.0
I must say I didn't find this book particularly interesting. The characters weren't fully fleshed out. And the story was rushed and patchy.
I've read the Wardstone Chronicles and loved that series. I know most of the characters, but in this book they didn't come accross as well thought-out. And the new enemy wasn't all they were being made out to be. The story didn't make a great deal of sense.
Spoiler
Throughout the previous series Spook Gregory and his apprentice Tom went further and further from regular spook's business and actually went to open war; but it fit-in in context of that series. In this series Grimalkin basically manipulates Tom, now the Chipenden spook, into joining a war. Considering what I know of characters from previous series, neither characters were likely to do that or let it happen.The book has another major flaw. It says you don't have to know the previous series to read this book, but this book was full of flashbacks and references to the Wardstone Chronicles that would make a new reader feel out of place. I didn't like the flashbacks and references even though I've read the Wardstone Chronicles; they just weren't done properly. So overall, this new entry was not up to the mark of Joseph Delaney's preceding series.
nina_bloodsworn's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this Sequel of the Wardstone Chronicles.
If you were a fan of these you should definitely continue reading.
Can't wait for "The Dark Army" ...
If you were a fan of these you should definitely continue reading.
Can't wait for "The Dark Army" ...
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the Last Apprentice series so I'm so glad to be able to see what happens next to Tom Ward. In this book Tom Ward is a Spook, taking over where his master left off. Tom takes on his own apprentice, a girl. That is unheard of! But she is a 7th daughter of a 7th daughter, why not a girl? I enjoyed this book very much and loved getting back up with Tom Ward and his world of things that go bump in the night. If you enjoyed the Last Apprentice series or enjoyed The Seventh Son movie, you should check out this great collection of books in this series and please check this book out as well. You won't be disappointed! I love them all!
cnohero's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
YA Review. This is not an MG series. My son and daughter both recommend it for teens / high school, due to some of the scary / frightening images and the amount of gore.
Thomas Ward was a Spook's apprentice in Chipenden, but his mentor is killed (before the book starts, in another series, so if you like this one, there's a whole other set of books to explore) and he's left to muddle on without him, learning as he goes.
But his mentor's books were destroyed in a fire, so when a creature begins attacking people from the village, he's not sure what it is or how to combat it. Compound that with a young girl, Jenny, who shows up asking to be his apprentice (not realizing he's barely able to cope as it is), and the fact that Thomas buried the Starblade, the only weapon effective against this creature, in his mentor's grave, and it's a recipe for disaster.
A witch named Grimalkin comes to help, or so Thomas and Jenny believe, but she's got an agenda of her own -- fighting the coming army of these creatures, called Kobalos, which want to wipe us out. Of course, her experiments might do the job for them, if Thomas and Jenny can't kill the creatures she sets loose.
I won't spoil the ending, just know it's gruesome in the middle and it doesn't end well for Thomas. There's not even a hint of romance between Thomas and Jenny, although both are full of angst, for their own (backstory) reasons.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, a few YA book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Thomas Ward was a Spook's apprentice in Chipenden, but his mentor is killed (before the book starts, in another series, so if you like this one, there's a whole other set of books to explore) and he's left to muddle on without him, learning as he goes.
But his mentor's books were destroyed in a fire, so when a creature begins attacking people from the village, he's not sure what it is or how to combat it. Compound that with a young girl, Jenny, who shows up asking to be his apprentice (not realizing he's barely able to cope as it is), and the fact that Thomas buried the Starblade, the only weapon effective against this creature, in his mentor's grave, and it's a recipe for disaster.
A witch named Grimalkin comes to help, or so Thomas and Jenny believe, but she's got an agenda of her own -- fighting the coming army of these creatures, called Kobalos, which want to wipe us out. Of course, her experiments might do the job for them, if Thomas and Jenny can't kill the creatures she sets loose.
I won't spoil the ending, just know it's gruesome in the middle and it doesn't end well for Thomas. There's not even a hint of romance between Thomas and Jenny, although both are full of angst, for their own (backstory) reasons.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, a few YA book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
woolfardis's review against another edition
1.0
Just not for me. There were odd phrases and grammatical errors (or purposes?) that jarred the flow. Also never a fan of first person narrative, especially in YA. A shame, since the theme of ghouls etc is something I am interested in. May try others in the series to be doubly sure.