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The Black Tattoo

3.44 of 5 stars 3.44 · rating details · 1,551 ratings · 220 reviews

Debut author Enthoven delivers a sprawling fantasy epic set in modern-day London about a 14-year-old boy, Charlie, who thinks he has been given superpowers. The truth is, however, that Charlie has been possessed by a demon.

Hardcover, 1st Edition, 503 pages

Published October 5th 2006 by Razorbill

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Apr 05, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2008, fantasy, young-adult

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 like...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 03, 2010 Lowed rated it 3 of 5 stars

With all the werewolves and vampire books flooding the bookstores nowadays, I guess YA lit is really going down to hell (pardon my language). I know there are still YA lit with good quality and are worth the effort, but it's becoming harder to come by.

Luckily we do not have any Filipino authors who jumped into the bandwagon in creating "paranormal romance". Else we would be reading TIKBALANGS (humanoid in form but with head and feet of a horse), MANANANGGALS (the old, beautiful woman capable of...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Lolly's rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off, I'd like to break down my rating: I give the book 4 stars for its creative concept, but only 2 stars for execution, which averages out to that 3 stars. Okay, I feel better now.

From what I can gather, despite the book's unusual plot, this is basically a coming-of-age book, concerning teenage growing pains (mental and physical) and the point at which one learns to take responsibility for one's choices. The story essentially centers around two friends, Jack and Charlie, who seem to be yo...more First off, I'd like to break down my rating: I give the book 4 stars for its creative concept, but only 2 stars for execution, which averages out to that 3 stars. Okay, I feel better now.

From what I can gather, despite the book's unusual plot, this is basically a coming-of-age book, concerning teenage growing pains (mental and physical) and the point at which one learns to take responsibility for one's choices. The story essentially centers around two friends, Jack and Charlie, who seem to be your pretty average 14-year-old boys. Charlie's the cool one, the slightly taller, slightly more sophisticated boy whom slightly awkward, slightly clueless Jack would secretly like to be. But Charlie's life isn't all it's cracked up to be. His father's skipped out on the family to shack up with his younger girlfriend, which leaves Charlie and his mom wondering what happened. Which makes Charlie angry. And angry is good for the Scourge, a demon whose only goal is the utter destruction of everything. And this is where things start to get...whimsical.

See, for the past thousand or so years, the Scourge, defeated and imprisoned by a powerful curse, has been watched over by the Brotherhood, one of those super-cool, super-secret societies. (They're not totally cool, though, because the Brotherhood lacks the dramatic costumes and complicated secret handshakes. Shame on them, the slackers.) Now we come to the tricky part. One of the Brotherhood defects the order, frees the Scourge and lets himself be possessed by the demon...to win the affections of a girl, naturally. The treachery is discovered, a war is fought, and the Scourge is once again defeated, or so the Brotherhood believes. Truth is, the Scourge is still free and waiting for the perfect vessel to take over, a nicely gullible, angry, malleable vessel, so that the Scourge can put his plan in action. Little sullen Charlie is the perfect fit.

Eventually, through some twists and turns, the story ends up in Hell- no, I don't mean metaphorically. The characters and storyline move down into Hell, where we encounter some strange and scary demons, the Emperor of Hell, and some rather cute, talking bat-like creatures on the road to the Scourge's plan of utter destruction. Of everything. I'm talking the world, the universe, every single plane of existence from here to eternity.

Now, if I may, I'd like to go off on a side rail for a moment and discuss this "utter destruction" plan. Why do all these super-villains always want to destroy everything? What's the point of gathering enough power to frighten and terrify entire populations, to take over and gloat from the highest mountain top if there's no one around to gloat over? Hell, you, the powerful villain who's accomplished this destruction, wouldn't be around to gloat if you manage to send the entire universe up in smoke. Again, I ask, what's the point? If we're talking about some clinically depressed villain, who could only manage to make himself feel better by destroying everything around him (and admit it, we've run into a few of those), he wouldn't get that far--he'd lack the strength of will to make it to uber-villain status. After the first disappointing reaction to his cool, emo-badness, he would've swallowed some Drano, slit his wrists and jumped off the nearest cliff...not without first writing some really bad poetry about his misunderstood emo-villain nature. So we now, thankfully, come to the point of my rant: Where's the fun in destroying everything? Wouldn't it be better to destroy a little bit--a couple of countries, a planet or two, heck, I'd even support destroying a galaxy if it'd get your point across. Just enough to prove your badness so that you can then sit back on your massive throne of bloody skulls and enjoy the terror of the masses as they come, scraping and bowing and jibbering in fear, before you. Just a thought. (What, me? Pictured myself on said bony throne, laughing maniacally at the petrified expressions on the faces of the peons below me? No, never. Honest.)

To get back to the book, eventually the story rises to the climactic 'good vs. evil' showdown, sacrifices are made, puppy love blooms, lives are lost, and--spoiler alert--good triumphs all. While there's nothing glaringly wrong about the book, there are some points about it which make for a occasionally tedious read. For instance, a third or so into the book, a second secret society, the Sons of the Scorpion Flail, is introduced, for no apparent reason other than to give the protagonists a few more obstacles to overcome on their way to hell. Never mind the convolutions and contortions the story occasionally goes through as well, again with no other purpose, it seems, other than to drag the story out. I think had the story been written a bit tighter, it would've truly been a rip-roaring tale. My opinion only, in case you were confused about that. (less)

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Aug 05, 2008 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: youngadult

Really different. Different from what I was expecting, and different from anything I've read. Wow. It's getting a lot of negative reviews, many of them whining that the protagonist is a self-centered jerk. Um, good morning, readers! That wasn't the protagonist.

This is the story of a sidekick who realizes it's up to him to save the world. This is the story of a hero, trained all her life for one specific task, and how she deals with her world when it all falls apart around her. This is also, mar...more

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Feb 15, 2009 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-realism, young-adult

There will be readers who will enjoy this energetic, enthusiastically written book, but I am not among that company. This young adult novel reads like the half conscious fantasy of a teenage science fiction-comics-video game fan, complete with gladitorial battles, emotionally agonized women with superhuman fighting skills, old, powerful swords, immature tyrants, legacies from dying mentors, terrible tapeworms, and the fate of the world hanging in balance. And, of course, a demon made tattoo magi...more

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Dec 15, 2008 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars

Looking over the other reviews for this book, I can identify with both sides. Part of me really wants to like this book and there are parts of the book that are really likeable. The other part of me was ssooooo bored with the whole thing. The characters were poorly developed. Who was Jack? Why would he follow his best friend to Hell? What about Esme? Why should any reader care about someone she knows nothing about? The plot dragged on and on - 500+ pages. Really? But then there were the Chinj wh...more

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Mar 17, 2009 Erin rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish

Warning: This is more of a rant than a review. Grrr... traitorous, lying cover... The Black Tattoo bears the triple curse of abysmal characters, generic writing, and an excruciatingly slow pace. I made it through book one before I chucked the book into the recycling bin (that's right, I'm not even donating it to Friends of the Library, that's how ticked I am. I want this puppy reincarnated as toilet paper).

The main character, Jack, is laughable as a "hero". He's whiny, spineless, and utterly la...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Ori rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural-things, reviewed, young-adult, fantasy

Went into this book knowing nothing, and sort of just sloughed through it through sheer force of will. A fair number of things kept this book from riveting itself to my hands: the lackluster introduction to this universe's version of magic, the switching POVs (which normally doesn't aggravate me, so I'm not sure what Enthoven did wrong), and, most of all, the fairly bland and annoying main characters (Jack and Charlie -- I'd mistake one for the other earlier on in reading the book. As for Esme,...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Kimberly Bower rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

You could say that The Black Tattoo is another of the countless good vs. evil tales where a trio of characters battle to save planet Earth from the forces of darkness. You could say that. Until you read this book.

The author's cast of characters could be any of the teenagers attending your nearby school. Charlie, the misfit, is bored with school, doesn't do homework, can't get a girlfriend, hates his life and desperately wants to be like his ultra-cool, good-looking, smart and ever-popular frien...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven is a young adult novel that is about friendship, dreams, life and finding ones true goals and worth in the context of the possible end of the world. This is a fast-paced novel, high in action and with a very interesting premise. However, the execution of the idea and the characterization of the major players seemed to be a little lacking.

Black Tattoo is a fantasy novel is a “teens need to save the universe’ story, with the premise being that a demon is released from...more Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven is a young adult novel that is about friendship, dreams, life and finding ones true goals and worth in the context of the possible end of the world. This is a fast-paced novel, high in action and with a very interesting premise. However, the execution of the idea and the characterization of the major players seemed to be a little lacking.

Black Tattoo is a fantasy novel is a “teens need to save the universe’ story, with the premise being that a demon is released from its prison and out to destroy the universe. The demon, The Scourge, has the ability to possess and control humans, sometimes more than one at a time, by preying on their hopes and fears. The Scourge wants to return to Hell and wake up the legendary dragon that will devour the world and return the entire universe to an empty void. Charlie is an angry young man that The Scourge uses to bring his plans to fruition. Jack is Charlie’s best friend, and the narrator for the majority of the story, that is much more down to earth but always seems to get the short end of the stick. Esme has been training all her life to fight The Scourge, and has some hard truths to face in her efforts to defend the world and defeat the deadly demon. The theology that most people use in relation to the terms Hell, demon and God are called into question, with a twist on the stories we have been taught as our creation or history.

The twists on theology, premise and action scenes in Black Tattoo make it an okay read. However, the lack of depth to characters and the use of several cliques and twists I saw coming within the first few chapters keep it from being more than an average read. If you enjoy coming of age tales with strong fantasy flavor that includes demons and strange creatures, then add this to your list of things you might want to read. However, if you are looking for something exciting and new to get you through the dog days of summer I suggest skipping the novel, at least until you are out of other reading material. While Black Tattoo was far from the worst fantasy novel I have read, even when narrowed down to just young adult novels, it was also far from the best. (less)

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May 05, 2010 Susan rated it 2 of 5 stars

YA lit has really been going to Hell. So many characters have been visited by demons or are dropping by the place that they've got quite the frequent flyer miles racking up. But of course, not all books about hell (or its inhabitants are created equal. This one disappoints despite the seemingly edgy/cool allure of its title and some imaginative descriptive passages.

Jack and Charlie, two average kids, stumble into an end-of-the-world scheme. Though they start off with the best of intentions, one...more

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Nov 15, 2009 Alex Matte rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book would definitely be classified as fantasy as one of the main characters finds out that he himself has magical powers. What he doesn’t know is that he is not the one with these powers. That what started out as a blessing, would very soon become a strong curse. The reason why I chose to read this book was, and I’m not going to lie, the title and cover of the book intrigued me. When a teenage boy sees a book with the title “The Black Tattoo” and a guy with a cool looking tattoo on the co...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Charlotte Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, I wouldnt say this was the best book in the Bunch, but nor would I say it was the worst in the bunch. It was different to the other novels that I usually read. It wasn't predictable at all, and there seemed to be no romance in it other than the slightest hint here and there. The story itself was dramatic and vibrant with a lot of energy which seemed to inspire the reader to carry on. But the whole book itself felt a little slow, as if thhey were dragging it out, wanting to get to the point...more Well, I wouldnt say this was the best book in the Bunch, but nor would I say it was the worst in the bunch. It was different to the other novels that I usually read. It wasn't predictable at all, and there seemed to be no romance in it other than the slightest hint here and there. The story itself was dramatic and vibrant with a lot of energy which seemed to inspire the reader to carry on. But the whole book itself felt a little slow, as if thhey were dragging it out, wanting to get to the point but at a slow pace. I did feel though that a lot of thought and depth went into the book in that the author clearly wanted to put as much detail into his story as he possibly could. He wanted it to be entertaining and grasping, not dull and boring.

There was a lot of action goping on and the book was not at any point boring, it was just slow. However the imagery was what kept it entertaining because you were left to envision the good and the bad. You were almost sort of left to make up your own mind about what the creatures and demons of hell looked like, but also as to what hell itself looked like. I liked the fact that the book had a thought provoking essence to it, in that it seemed to question the belief system of heaven and hell, making it all out to be some sort of story that we all believe in. And of course this therefore leaves you wonder, what is really out there at all, if anything?

The book certainly contains a lot of power fictionally within its characters, but also mentally within its words for the readers. The chapters flow with this kind of depth that pulls you in more and more and even though the book is in some places slow you feel this need to carry on. I liked the fact that you had the nosey git who felt he was better than everyone else, the nerd who just didn't get the second glance and the girl that was too tough for her own self but was actually hidden behind the mask. In this sense it just gave the perfect vision of reality, in that these are the three kinds of people that seem to dominate the world. But I loved the fact that this was also envisioned within the demons of hell, because it showed there was a similarity, that in fact perhaps we are our own demons in this sense?

I did enjoy the book, Im just not sure as to whether it is something that I would read again. It was one of those books that was good whilst it lasted, but at the same time felt as if it was something that was merely there to pass the time. I perhaps feel that this is one of the books for the more adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers. Perhaps not for those who seek romance and simplicity. But I did enjoy it none the less.(less)

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Sep 01, 2010 Angel Cardona rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-it

The Black Tattoo is an entertaining book, but not one I'd really recommend. It's childish, mostly because the author tried to write it in the style of an action/adventure cartoon script. The main characters barely get any character development AT ALL, and the way the book is written makes it seem as if the characters are just there to complete a task. What I'd say is missing is the overall THOUGHT. The book is written in a manner like this; Action--->Reaction--->Action--->Dialogue--->Action....more

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Jan 05, 2013 Sadie Forsythe rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book isn't at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be all dark and serious. Instead it falls somewhere closer to the writing of Terry Brookes or Douglas Adams (minus the sci-fi). It is funny. Yes, yes, the universe is in danger of being snuffed out in one abortive act of finality and everyone is in danger, but the characters (Jack especially) are still able to recognise the absurdity of the situation and let an exasperated explicative slip. Jack's insistence that most things in hi...more This book isn't at all what I expected. I thought it was going to be all dark and serious. Instead it falls somewhere closer to the writing of Terry Brookes or Douglas Adams (minus the sci-fi). It is funny. Yes, yes, the universe is in danger of being snuffed out in one abortive act of finality and everyone is in danger, but the characters (Jack especially) are still able to recognise the absurdity of the situation and let an exasperated explicative slip. Jack's insistence that most things in his life are just 'typical,' even when everything around him is most assuredly not is an effective running gag that made me laugh more than once.

Granted, he's a pretty useless hero. I'll admit that for much of the book I lent toward agreeing with other reviewers who disliked him because of this. Even after hints that he might have finally been given a few extra abilities of his own nothing materialises. He remains totally and utterly normal. But toward the the end I started to suspect this was the point. He is the most powerless individual in all of Hell. He is simply below notice of the movers and shakers of the underworld. (view spoiler)

Esme is just plain awesome. I always love a well-honed warrior and just go gaga over a female one. I suppose I should at least mention Charlie. He's a git. He just is.

I got fairly tired of all of the ridiculous descriptions of the different demons. A whole section of the middle seemed dedicated to this. The story seemed to lag a little, bogged down by one description after another. Similarly there seemed to be a lot of 'great black wings wrapping around them' going on. It seems that one description apparently covers a lot of different sounds. All-in-all, I enjoyed it.(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Ellie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-bookshelf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 22, 2012 Rute Canhoto rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

CRÍTICA
Terminei a leitura deste livro a 21 de agosto de 2012. Dou-lhe três estrelas.
Comprei este livro numa promoção, principalmente porque li a sinopse e julguei que talvez me ajudasse na escrita de uma parte em concreto do meu livro, a qual ainda não quero revelar. No entanto, a história acabou por ser muito diferente do que esperava.
A ideia é engraçada, contudo não é o meu género preferido. Lê-se bem e tem muita ação, mas para quem gosta de um bocadinho romance, é melhor esquecê-lo, porque aq...more CRÍTICA
Terminei a leitura deste livro a 21 de agosto de 2012. Dou-lhe três estrelas.
Comprei este livro numa promoção, principalmente porque li a sinopse e julguei que talvez me ajudasse na escrita de uma parte em concreto do meu livro, a qual ainda não quero revelar. No entanto, a história acabou por ser muito diferente do que esperava.
A ideia é engraçada, contudo não é o meu género preferido. Lê-se bem e tem muita ação, mas para quem gosta de um bocadinho romance, é melhor esquecê-lo, porque aqui não há nenhum.
Achei que as coisas às vezes se precipitavam, como se o autor estivesse com pressa de passar à cena seguinte. Alguns diálogos também eram confusos, sem se perceber bem quem estava a falar; só não sei se isto se verifica na versão original ou se é algo relacionado com a tradução.
Por fim, achei que a história era contada de uma forma muito fria. Tudo bem, não há romance, mas não me consegui relacionar com a narrativa que se apresentou como um texto distante. Falta qualquer coisa que faça o leitor sentir empatia.

REVIEW
I finished reading this book on August 21, 2012. I rate it three stars.
I bought this book in a promotion, mainly because I read the synopsis and I thought it might help me in writing a part of my book that I don’t want to reveal yet. However, the story turned out to be much different than expected.
The idea is funny, but it's not my favorite genre. It’s easy to read and it has plenty of action, but for those who enjoy a little romance, you better forget it, because there is none here.
I thought things sometimes rushed, as if the author were in a hurry to move on to the next scene. Some dialogues were also confused, being hard to tell exactly who was talking; I just don’t know if this also happens in the original version or if it is something related to the translation.
Finally, I thought the story was told in a very cold way. Okay, no romance, but I could not relate to the narrative that was just a distant text. It lacks something that will make the reader feel empathy.
(less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Emily Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book years ago and was absolutely in love with it - I thought it was the coolest thing ever and it was a prize in my collection. At some point, like all of my best books, I lent it out and it was never returned, so after a painstaking search through used sellers, I finally found myself a new copy (which looks like it's smeared with blood and has a whole page torn out. Adds character!).
I'm not a big fan of the super-human abilities fights. The whole this fight is so much cooler becau...more

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Nov 14, 2009 Nikoya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2009, fantasy-sci-fi, young-adult-books

The Black Tattoo was a mix of a good ideas and cliches. There were moments when I really enjoyed the story and others where I sighed in frustration from the characters. The relationship of Charlie and Jack has been established through many stories (the popular and the awkward) and honestly half way through the book I really didn't care about either of them. Esme was an interesting character but it seemed that she really didn't get a "clue" until it was too late. Which meant there were many faile...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Connor rated it 1 of 5 stars

Yeah, just not very good. This is one of the few books I have every truly disliked. When people ask me "What was the worst book you ever read?" I answer quickly and confidently: "The Black Tattoo."

The main characters--and pretty much everyone else--were unlikable and annoying. The writing was mediocre, and the story, which could have been good if approached in another way, CRAWLED along.

Readers who have managed to slog through this yawner will get to the end and find what was very likely suppose...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Asia rated it 1 of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying that the plot idea for this book had so much potential... a demon taking the shape of a tattoo and dominates the body of a guy, manipulating him to go to Hell so that it can bring about it's "evil master plan." But the book did not deliver... at all.

There was no character development. I couldn't find myself liking any of the characters but instead irritated by them. The dialogue was mediocre, basic, dull and annoyed me. I felt no emotions from the characters.

Aside fro...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Kell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2005-2006, reviewed-for-author-publisher

*REVIEWED FOR PUBLISHER*

Although I loved the dark, broodiness of The Black Tattoo, I can’t help feeling that Enthoven missed his mark slightly – it reads a little too boyishly and at times the tone feels forced and slightly patronising, but all the elements of a gothic journey into a demonic dimension make it worth while persevering. It’s perhaps a little too long – there are definitely places where I, personally, would have trimmed a bit – but it’s very imaginative and filled with very graphic...more

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Jan 14, 2010 Abby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Why I got it: Saw the cover.... Hmm, The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven... So I turned the page, saw the inside cover, read the back, and smiled.

You always read those books that center around the hero and his chummies, his friends. This fantasy-fiction book has three different point of views that you follow. The main one is not the hero, but the side-kick. Jack is your average British kid, who's best friends with the cool cat and popular-man, Charlie. After learning about things that go bump in t...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, 2012, age-ya, fantasy

In desperate need for an audiobook, I picked this one up despite it being 11 discs long (I prefer 5-6 or fewer). Largely I recalled a library patron talking about this book - she was a middle aged woman who raved about this book and thought there should be more. For some reason, I assumed it must be one of those paranormal romance types (and now I'm wondering if she was really talking about City of Bones)...

The Black Tattoo takes place in London, where after 9,000 years of imprisonment, a demon...more

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Sep 28, 2011 David rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tween-boys, teen, crap-stay-away

I feel bad rating this so low, as it is obviously something the author really worked at. And maybe that is the biggest problem with it-it feels like a random hodge-podge of the authors ideas. He obviously was trying to be unpredictable and random, but this attempt pulls the reader away from the actual plot (which is down there, real deep down). To me honest, it is hard to actually follow all of the characters and their changing roles throughout the film.

Jack's friend is having some problems, hi...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Liz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: z-2012-mmm-challenge

I picked up this book a while ago and had actually started it but somehow couldn't get into it. Must of been due to another book since this time I wanted to finish reading it as soon as I started it! It's a bit far-fetched for me to believe that the main characters of Charlie, Esme and Jack are supposed to be only about 14 years old...but it has been a long time since I was a teenager. I had just thought of them to be older, like 18 or so...but there were some instances where the characters acte...more

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Oct 10, 2009 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sciencefiction, youngadult, novels

Sam Enthoven has written a fun, magical adventure in The Black Tattoo. It seems original in its plot twists and turns while at the same time being very derivative. Jack is the most interesting character in his Sam from The Lord of the Rings way.

The story as a whole is a save-the-universe adventure along with some interesting philosophy and theology all wrapped up in lots of action. There are often three sides to the same plot line going. At times it is slightly past Enthoven’s capacity. There is...more

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Oct 16, 2010 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While this is certainly not the worst YA fantasy novel I've ever read, it also wasn't my favorite. Although the pacing was good, the twists weren't too hard to see coming. The plot was pretty standard: boy inherits magic abilities, boy must decide to use his powers for good or evil, etc., etc. Really not much more to it than that.

I will give Enthoven some credit, though: one notable aspect of this novel that I enjoyed is that, for the first third of the novel or so, the action happens to a chara...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Joey Collomy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to say this was a book that for the first time I actually judged by its cover. The book jacket actually unfolds into an impressive dark fantasy poster and provides adequate enough protection to the book itself. The story is about young adults who happen to stumble upon the truth of Earth's existence and how it is related to Hell. I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that the way they describe Hell's modern day existence is BRILLIANT. And no, before anyone asks, I am not a Sa...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Sandra Strange rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

The intriguing plot of this novel centers around hell, complete with demons, (no Satan, but lots of substitutes), and god, who is a reclusive clerk who created our puny world. The real God, who created everything is an unimaginarily large, red dragon, presently asleep, but who could UNmake all of existence, which is the aim of a sinister force locked on our world until he can find a host to help him waken the dragon. The plot is original and features lots of combat and adventure. The characters...more

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by Robert B. Parker

About Sam Enthoven

My name is Sam Enthoven. I live in London, England, and I write fantastical action thrillers for 11-15 year-olds. If you're reading this, you've reached the 'portal page' of my sinister, ever-evolving internet empire – bwah-ha, bwah-HA-HA-HA! Er, sorry.

With his rollicking 2006 debut THE BLACK TATTOO Sam Enthoven fulfilled his dream to become an internationally published author of fantastical actio...more

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Quotes from The Black Tattoo

“Ooh, a plan," echoed Jack, with utter cotempt. "Wellhooray for that.” — 8 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45709.The_Black_Tattoo?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1170294981l/45709.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45709.The_Black_Tattoo?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven[/url]

The Black Tattoo

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