The Spook's Apprentice: Book 1 (The Wardstone Chronicles, 1)

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Mab Mouldheel: a young witch and Mouldheel witch clan leader. Her potent scrying motivates the rival Malkins' creation of Tibb. The Spook’s Apprentice was first published just before I joined Random House Children’s Books (now Penguin Random House Children’s) and so Joe and his totally unique blend of fantasy-horror have been a part of my entire working life. I was so proud to have been his editor for many years. It was frustrating at times – we would meet for a beer in Manchester and in response to my questions he would simply smile and remind me every time that he followed ‘The Bram Stoker’ method of writing (meaning nothing was ever planned or plotted in advance!) so I would have to wait for answers – but it was also of course completely magical as the creatures and characters from his worlds would slowly come into focus, journeying into brilliantly terrifying adventures. I hope he’s with the ghosts of his beloved Lancashire now and that there’s some delicious red wine on tap. We are so very proud to publish him.” Welcome to josephdelaneyauthor.com We would like to thank Penguin Random House as well as all the wonderful people who helped him on his adventure and especially everyone who has read his books. Spook's, published as The Last Apprentice series in the U.S., is a dark fantasy series of books written by British author Joseph Delaney and published in the UK by The Bodley Head division of Random House Publishing. [1] [2] The series consists of three arcs, titled The Wardstone Chronicles, The Starblade Chronicles, and Brother Wulf. [3] Plot [ edit ]

Meg Skelton: the mysterious Lamia witch that lives in John Gregory's winter house in Anglezarke. Formerly Gregory's lover.Though that is also my only complaint. The end. It seemed (to me) as though the author took the safe route when he should have “just gone for it”.

The Spook's trained many, but precious few completed their time," Mam said, "and those that did aren't a patch on him. They're flawed or weak or cowardly. They walk a twisted path taking money for accomplishing little. So there's only you left now, son. You're the last chance. The last hope." Wow. This was fantastic. I was very happy to learn there are 12 other books in this series (13 all together) that I plan on reading. I thought Delaney did a great job with character development, world building, and the illustrations were top notch and were definitely appreciated. I also enjoyed the book within a book we get at the end when we can read Thomas's diary and notes on what Old Gregory (Spook) has taught him so far. He continues to draw upon the folklore of Lancashire and has acquired much local knowledge over the years which he tweaks and modifies to create his fictional world. Another source of inspiration has been Lancashire's varied and atmospheric landscape. Many of the locations in the County are based on actual places in Lancashire. The Spook’s Apprentice is told in the first person, a perspective that is much harder than the third as all events need to be shown through the eyes and thoughts of a single character. Robin Hobb is the master of this style of narrative but Delaney comes close. We are able to get to know Thomas and his thoughts and feelings whilst we also have the bleak yet stirring countryside described in his words. The setting is Lancashire and as I have already mentioned, it can often be bleak but has the ability to completely take one’s breath away – this is something that Delaney gets across to perfection – as the book begins so does the rain – something that Lancashire is renowned for. It was a wonderful story; everything was ideal for the young-adult age group for which it is aimed. My favourite moments of the story were found in the kitchen of the Spook’s home where food magically appears when needed and you are only allowed to go down there when the bell rings, never before or after that time. The house itself stood out as a really magical place, the housekeeper unique and strangely loveable, a real place of warmth and safety in a dangerous world. I was instantly engrossed in the book and its characters – you could say that if Ursula Le Guin and The Sixth Sense merged then the outcome may be as good as The Spook’s Apprentice. I would heavily recommend The Spook’s Apprentice to young adults looking for a fantastic series. Chilling, memorable, full of wonderful characters and written in a fluid style that makes the narrative accessible to all ages.The Spook and his apprentice protect the County from the dark; but not a terrible danger threatens. The witches are rising and the three most powerful clans are uniting to conjure an unimaginable evil âeuro;' the Devil himself. If they succeed; will Tom and his master have the courage to defeat the most powerful enemy of all . . . ? Another thing I liked was that this story was not predictable. You don't know how it's going to end. You don't know the way in which the witch will manifest herself. She could have possessed any one of the people in the house during the climax moments of this story. Half-Minute Horrors (contributing author of "All Fingers and Thumbs" to this short story anthology) – 2009 Joe was writing right up until the end of his life and was about to embark on the next round of edits for the fourth in his Brother Wulf sequence.