The Black Tattoo
by Sam Enthoven
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 218)
Read in April, 2008
Jack's best friend Charlie has been sucked into a demon-fighting secret brotherhood and Jack's just along for the ride. Charlie suddenly has super-powers and an attitude to match, while Jack is just the same 14-year-old boy he was yesterday. As the brotherhood begins to disintegrate, a powerful demon named the scourge begins to take over and Jack and Charlie are forced to venture into Hell.
The book began with promise but quickly nose-dived after that. The main bad-guy, The Scourge, (sound's ...more
The book began with promise but quickly nose-dived after that. The main bad-guy, The Scourge, (sound's ...more
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Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven is in the style of Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, although less whimsical. Set in London, Jack's life is absolutely normal. Everything that happens to him is typical, it just figured that it is his cool friend Charlie that gets the magic powers and is going to save the world. The Scourge is coming and he wants to wake the dragon and send the world back into the void from whence it came.
Although it is a thick book, it is a quick read. The st...more
Although it is a thick book, it is a quick read. The st...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Kate by:
Read a Dread Central review of itrecommends it for: YAs with a strong taste for action-horror
Basically, three teens play varying roles in trying to aid/stop the Scourge, an immortal super-baddie trying to bring about the end of creation itself.
Enthoven has some original concepts in Black Tattoo: aforementioned tattoo as a manifestation of demonic possession; Hellish nourishment that even turned my stomach a bit; and a variety of well-described and unique demons.
It also has a main character who's just one heck of a likable guy, even when he's got a hankering for Chinj vomit.
...more
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Read in October, 2007
This is a vastly entertaining fantasy about demons and Hell that is not at all a horror story, but more a fantastical and often amusing adventure in the "lower" realms. The heroes, teens Jack and Charlie, are out to stop an ancient nemesis called the Scourge, with the help of a secret society known as The Brotherhood. The Scourge's ultimate goal is to bring the universe to an end by awakening the Dragon--the creator of all that exists. Throw in a little ninja martial arts action and...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
YA readers
Charlie and Jack are best friends...Charlie wakes up one morning with a black tattoo that moves all over his body. The boys then meet Esme and the adventure begins. They are pitted against demons from hell and the Scourge who is trying to end the universe as we know it. Some parts in this book at times get confusing, but the basic story is good. Charlie is a very likeable character who just gets caught up in the whole Power Thing, Jack will do whatever it takes to save his friend and Esme ha...more
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Read in April, 2008
There are so many quotes on the back of this book talking about how exciting it is and how fast-paced... and they're all lying. Except for the last fifty pages or so, which were pretty well-paced, the rest of the book was slow. I just recently finished this book, and I've been trying to read it since February. It was just too slow to hold my attention. And Jack the Hero wasn't at all what he was made out to be in the description. That blurb was one big piece of false advertising. The only ...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of Fantasy Fiction
the Scourge is back, and has a plan to enact a plan to go back to Hell and awake "The Dragon" who will destroy everything. Now that he has a host body (via a black tattoo he gave to Charlie), he can put his plan in motion.
From the point of view of Jack, who can't stop his best friend from getting involved, from the Scourge, and from Esme who is a martial arts experts, this is action-packed, full of tension, humor, horror and good ol' good vs. evil fantasy.
From the point of view of Jack, who can't stop his best friend from getting involved, from the Scourge, and from Esme who is a martial arts experts, this is action-packed, full of tension, humor, horror and good ol' good vs. evil fantasy.
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Read in March, 2008
This book sounded good but was disappointing. It wasn't scary, though it takes place in Hell with demons all around. It was mildly funny (especially the Jack character), but it wasn't as funny as say, a Christopher Moore book, because it seemed to take itself seriously. It seems to be a Young Adult fantasy, but there was little of the "life lessons learned" that is usually found in good YA fiction. Lesson to be learned here: a good cover does not a good book make.
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Deborah by:
Phoeberecommends it for: odd people
So there were parts of this book that I liked, but there were also huge chunks that blew chunks.
The storyline that took place in our dimension (Earth) were good and had a ton of potential. However, the parts that took place in Hell were just plain weird and difficult to get through. Hell was very abstract, the characters too foreign and hard to relate to(think The Edge Chronicles, Beyond the Deep Woods by Paul Stewart).
The storyline that took place in our dimension (Earth) were good and had a ton of potential. However, the parts that took place in Hell were just plain weird and difficult to get through. Hell was very abstract, the characters too foreign and hard to relate to(think The Edge Chronicles, Beyond the Deep Woods by Paul Stewart).
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Read in December, 2007
I read the publisher's hype for this book and was optimistic. The premise was interesting enought-- a boy thinks he's recruited to fight demons, but is actually possessed by one in the process. The whole book was a huge disappointment-- the author's pulpit for his personal brand of atheism. Most of the book takes place in Hell. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, let alone a young adult.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
no one
if u would like to read a book about a pain in the ass kid who has superpowers, no idea what is going on and a lil bid of dumb luck and a kid who is in no way remarkable at all and has little or no luck than this is the book for you, if u would rather not waist a few hrs of your life and be really angry that u just read a really stupid book because u thought the cover was cool than it is not
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Read in June, 2007
I only made it about a third of the way through this one. I am a very fast reader, but it just wasn't holding my attention. The fight scenes feel pretty cliched, and the main character isn't likable enough to inspire much interest. The storyline also felt like it was going to be too predictable, though of course I'm not the best reviewer - given that I did not finish the book!
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Read in May, 2008
I will admit I had a little trouble at the start - the main character is an igit and a git! but I got sucked in...The "fracture" being the entrance to hell is found in a bar on the West Side of London (of course.) Unlikely teenagers saving the universe. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and will look into Enthoven's next book.
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Read in April, 2008
This book seemed to wander and was really too long for the amount of character development. I would think the book was about to end and realized I was only half way through the discs. I would be interested in it as a movie because you could get very creative with the demons and aspects of Hell mentioned.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2008
I like this book - it was a fun action-packed read and liked that most of it took place in Hell. I think in some places it dragged on -- like the gladitor fight scenes...but then it was written for boys, so I'm sure they got all geeked about that. Not a bad read and I'll probably pick up his next book.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story
We thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was an interesting story with clever twists and takes on things. John Lee did an excellent job in reading this book. He had a different voice for every character including the narrator. I think half of our enjoyment of the story was his reading.
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Read in May, 2008
The story was interesting and fun to read. I really enjoyed the Heaven/Hell, creation, God and the Devil aspect. In fact, I loved it. The story was quick paced, clean (no sex, minimal violence and no really bad words) and a good read for the target audience- teens.
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Just as you think you now whats happening, you realize there can't be a happy ending yet because there is still half of the book. It pokes some fun at Christianity, but is still a great book, without relying on a series to get people excited.
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
Fantasy lovers.
This is a debut fantasy novel from a british author; he is simply an amazing writer. He creates his own Hell, complete with all the creepy demons and creatures you'd ever even imagine. By far one of the most creative books I've ever read.
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Read in November, 2007
recommended to Jo by:
Texas Lone Star Listrecommends it for: no one
2007 - 2008 Texas Lone Star List:
Demons. . . "god" is a historian in Hell. The protagonist goes to Hell. I really did not enjoy this. Maybe I missed some really great correlations. . .maybe I just didn't get it.
Demons. . . "god" is a historian in Hell. The protagonist goes to Hell. I really did not enjoy this. Maybe I missed some really great correlations. . .maybe I just didn't get it.
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