Monday 24 March 2008

The Spook's Curse

Well, it's certainly been a chilly Easter here in the UK. Here in Devon we haven't had a white Easter as some parts have but we've had a few flurries and it's been very cold. I've been busy with family most of the time and today is my first free day really, but I have found some time to read, thank goodness. I don't care for days when I can't find any time to read at all.



Anyway, I've just finished The Spook's Curse which is the sequel to The Spook's Apprentice which I blogged about here.

Thomas Ward has been the Spook's Apprentice for six months when the Spook announces that they will be travelling to a town called Priestown, where there is a job to be done. Tom is confused as the Spook normally goes out of his way to avoid this particular town, but it is clear that his master has unfinished business there, so they set off. Along the way Tom is told that in the catacombs of the cathedral in Priestown lives a creature called the Bane. This being is so dangerous it has been confined there for centuries. The Spook has never been able to defeat the Bane but now its influence is spreading as it has found a way to enter the dreams and minds of ordinary people above ground. The Spook must act before someone is made to release the Bane whereupon it will unleash untold damage on the people of the County. To add to their problems the Quisitor has arrived from down south. His mission is to rid the County of witches, warlocks and spooks and he has his sites set on the Spook. Could the situation be any more complicated? Yes... Tom's 'friend' Alice appears on the scene, but is she friend or foe? And can all three of them survive this latest challenge?

Another page-turner from Joseph Delaney. I'm so glad I picked this up at the library at the same time as I got the first book. Delaney maintains the pace and the creepiness and keeps you guessing about his characters and the outcome right until the end. More information is forthcoming too, about's Tom's mother, about the Spook, but not about Alice - her fate will no doubt be dealt with in a later book. I plan to keep reading anyway but now need to go on a mission to find the third book - there are four I believe, with the fifth out in June.

11 comments:

DesLily said...

hmmm, well this sounds like a Fantasy read to me! I know it's not on your list but you can read more than what's on the list!... are you going to link this to the challenge???

http://onceuponatimeii.blogspot.com/

I can't believe they put Easter to early this year !! Easter has never been before my b'day! It beat it by a day this year!! unheard of!

Cath said...

Hi Pat. You know, I really couldn't decide about this book and the challenge, but I think it's officially YA horror, not YA fantasy, so I haven't linked to it. It's a close thing though and I'm still not sure...

I have started my first book for the challenge though, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. Not sure if you've read any of his?

Birthday???? It's your BIRTHDAY??? When? Tomorrow?

DesLily said...

actually today... but i was officially old a number of years ago... as I would say if I still lived in the Valley in CA.. "I don't DO birthdays anymore" lol

Booklogged said...

I love a good page turner. Thanks for the good review. This and the first in the series are going on my list.

I was cold here in Utah for Easter, too. A few of the eggs hid for the grandkids were in snow. Hubby said there won't be another Easter this early in the year for over 200 years.

Cath said...

Happy Birthday, Pat. I sent you a quick e.mail... I was off to bed but I still haven't gone. lol. You're as young as you feel and you're one of the youngest at heart bloggers I know. :-)

Booklogged: Hope you're able to get hold of this series as it's well worth it.

We did the egg hunt in the house this year, the grandkids don't mind as long as there's chocolate. lol. 200 years? That feels rather strange somehow.

Jill said...

This does sound like a fun series. But argh! I don't think I can take another series right now - I'm overloaded with them, sigh. But I will put it on my list to get to...at some point. Maybe they'll all be written by then and I won't have to suffer any cliffhanger waits. :-)

Cath said...

I know exactly what you mean, Darla, about having too many series on the go. That certainly applies to me! I'm not sure what to do about it - it seems that the type of books I like all come in a series and I must have a dozen or so on the go. When I eventually finish them all I shall have nothing to read. LOL.

Jill said...

Yes, I suppose it's better to have all these books waiting patiently - tantalizingly - on my list than not to have enough to read (as if!). My copy of The Hollow Kingdom came in at the library yesterday, and I'm looking forward to starting that one soon!

Cath said...

I hope you enjoy The Hollow Kingdom, Darla. I'm always a bit nervous when someone is reading something I recommended in case they hate it. 8-S

My grandaughter and I started A Hidden Magic last weekend, btw. We both like it already and will carry on when she comes to stay in a couple of weeks.

Jill said...

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying A Hidden Magic - it lends itself well to being read aloud, don't you think? I just started another Vande Velde this morning, Heir Apparent, and I am loving it! It's geared towards a slightly older audience.

I know what you mean about being nervous about recommending books - I feel the same way when I do, too! But I realize that not every book is for everybody. I usually give it 50 pages or so - although from your review of The Hollow Kingdom, I'm fairly sure I'll enjoy it! :-)

Cath said...

Hi Darla. I agree that A Hidden Magic lends itself really well to being read out loud. I have as much fun as my grandaughter doing it too, 54 going on 7. lol.

I'm really looking forward to hearing what you think of The Hollow Kingdom. You're so right about the same books not being for everybody and I try to think carefully about which books I rec to whom... but sometimes my enthusiasm just runs right away with me. :-)