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Mortlock

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 155 ratings · 32 reviews

The sister is a knife-thrower in a magician's stage act, the brother an undertaker's assistant. Neither orphan knows of the other's existence. Until, that is, three terrible aunts descend on the girl's house and imprison her guardian, the Great Cardamom. His dying act is to pass the girl a note with clues to the secret he carries to his grave.

Hardcover

Published by Bloomsbury UK (first published March 2011)

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Oct 21, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, childrens, fiction

As an avid reader of gothic fiction, I was wary of Mortlock from the cover (as a bookseller, I shouldn’t be judging a book by the cover, I know, I know, but I’m only human!). A decayed hand thrust up forth from its grave, an unnaturally sized crow looming forth under the book’s title. One can easily guess the genre from a quick glimpse however, the story itself is prime and well-told. Mayhew uses well-woven threads of mystery and intrigue to form a terrific plot and back-story. Using themes of V...more As an avid reader of gothic fiction, I was wary of Mortlock from the cover (as a bookseller, I shouldn’t be judging a book by the cover, I know, I know, but I’m only human!). A decayed hand thrust up forth from its grave, an unnaturally sized crow looming forth under the book’s title. One can easily guess the genre from a quick glimpse however, the story itself is prime and well-told. Mayhew uses well-woven threads of mystery and intrigue to form a terrific plot and back-story. Using themes of Victorian vaudeville and Stoker-esque, gothic tones, we have before us one of the better fables to emerge in the last decade of children’s books.

These days, it has become exceptionally difficult to find excellent literature for children, particularly in the 9-12 age bracket. The media and more importantly, quite a lot of bookshops have proclaimed a certain boy wizard and his blonde creator as the re-inventors of children’s books. Furthermore, a certain vampiric series of kids books has in conjunction with the boy wizard often been credited with getting kids to read again. As a result, many parents seem to feel that if a book lacks vampires or a boy with a scar on his forehead who happens to be magical, the book isn’t worth reading. I strongly contend this idea. A good storyteller is fundamentally, very different to good writing and few people nowadays seem to be able to tell the difference. Mortlock is not only excellently written, it is fitting for the 9-12 age bracket, a notoriously difficult span to conquer in the chasm of literature. Although, this too is about magic and the unnatural, it lacks all the stereotypical cliches that have come to dominate the genre and importantly, it is a challenging read for the younger generation to get their teeth into. The story is enthralling and likewise, it is fit for adults too.

I’m not going to detail the plot as I despise spoilers, but I do heartily encourage readers to go out and discover the magic that is Mortlock and hopefully, to enjoy it as much as I did.(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Caroline Victoria Murphy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is generally aimed at people younger than me, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. I read this as part of my Halloween book challenge, and it sent chills through my spine more than once. All the characters are well developed, especially the two main characters: twins Josie and Alfie. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Mortlock who is the character mentioned on the cover, and two of his friends Chrimes and Corvis. They are searching for a flower called an Amarant, bu...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reading this one for school. I has arrived but has the phrase "Death is not the end" so checking to see whether or not this is suitable for a KS2 reading book...

The blurb:

Josie is a knife thrower in the magician's stage act. Alfie is an undertaker's assistant.

They are both orphans and they have never met, but they are about to be given a clue to the secret of a shared past.

A past which has come back to seek them out.

And while they flee for their lives, they must unravel the burning mysteries su...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Lyndsey Rushby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I truly felt that when I decided to start reading this book that I would hate it. Something about the cover/ description just didn’t appeal to me but I definitely wanted to give it a shot. The cover is a very evil green colour with a hand reaching out from the ground as well as black claws coming down from the top. Straight away, you know this book has an eerie feel to it and the black edged pages helped to add to that feeling.

Jon Mayhew’s website (http://www.jonmayhew.co.uk/mortlock.htm) state...more I truly felt that when I decided to start reading this book that I would hate it. Something about the cover/ description just didn’t appeal to me but I definitely wanted to give it a shot. The cover is a very evil green colour with a hand reaching out from the ground as well as black claws coming down from the top. Straight away, you know this book has an eerie feel to it and the black edged pages helped to add to that feeling.

Jon Mayhew’s website (http://www.jonmayhew.co.uk/mortlock.htm) states that this book is suitable for 8+ children. I have to strongly disagree with this though and a fair amount of it gave me the creeps and some parts were very disgusting and graphic. If I had read this book when I was 8 years old, I would have been terrified. I would actually be reluctant to recommend this to even 12 year olds, especially girls. I know my 12 year old cousin would have nightmares for days if she read this.

The book begins with a prologue, explaining to the reader who Mortlock is and the kinds of things he has done in his life. The first part of the book is nothing like the rest of it though. I thought this was going to turn out to be some kind of action/ adventure through the jungle but I was so, so wrong. I did like how the book began, even if it was a little confusing at times but it did set the scene really well for what was to come.

The diversity of characters was one of the main things that made this book so interesting. Josie is a knife thrower with her magician guardian, the Great Cardamom. Her brother, Alfie is an undertaker’s assistant. Pretty crazy jobs for 13 year olds but they suit them both really well. Josie, although not entirely comfortable with her life, makes the most of what she has and is determined to put things right in the world. I really felt for Josie when the ‘Aunts’ turned up and began to throw her whole life upside-down. Having already been through quite a lot and not having the most normal of lives, I didn’t want to see her go through any more hurt than was necessary. When Josie found out that she had a brother, she was not impressed and to be honest, neither was I. I really disliked him to begin with and found him to be much like a spoilt brat spitting his dummy out. He was selfish and obviously didn’t want a sister as much as Josie didn’t want a sister. It turns out that I judged him far too quickly and soon enough, he and Josie were much happier when they were together, even if they were running away from the crazy raven women.

Coming to the ending, I have to say that I wasn’t completely satisfied with it. After all that had happened throughout the book up until this point, I was expecting this massive, all or nothing, kind of showdown but it wasn’t what I got. I think the excitement and mystery had been built up so much throughout the book that the ending would have had to have been huge in order to keep me happy. While the ending was good, I felt it was rushed and it should have gotten more attention and for this reason, I was left feeling disappointed.

The pacing of this book was excellent. While there is quite a lot of adventure and action, there are also plenty of places which give you the chance to catch your breath. Once I had really gotten into this book, I didn’t want to put it down, wanting to find out what crazy idea Jon Mayhew would come up with next. Let’s just say that the ‘Aunts’ are not the only scary things going on. By the time I had finished reading this one, it was about 1am and I was utterly freaked out. There were so many things that I could have had nightmares about.

Although not recommended for younger readers, Mortlock is a gothic, creepy read that will drag you in and not let go!(less)

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Oct 21, 2009 Alexandra (AlexEatsBooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads, older-fiction, books-i-own

Though just 13 years old - Josie and Alfie go through hell and back, caught up in the whirlwind of their guardians past of darkness and power.

I had a lot of fun reading this. Josie is bright and snappy, while Alfie is calm and reasoning - together they make a great team.
Horribly gruesome at times as the Aunts are just down right creepy - the bad guys (while somewhat predictable) are nasty - but I would've liked to have seen more from them.

The title refers to one of the explorers in the prologue...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author

This is one creepy book and while it was good it really wasn't for me as it was a bit too creepy and gory.

The novel is set in Victorian London and follows the story of orphaned twins Josie and Alfie as they try to uncover the mystery of a secret connected to their past, that has been passed on to them in in a note by Josie's dying guardian.

The story starts off at break neck pace and keeps it up throughout with engaging twists and turns. Despite being totally freaked out at some of the passages (...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Harjot Samra rated it 2 of 5 stars

it was ok. i liked the way the secrets and family truths are revealed. the birds womens were so scary that when i slept after reading this book,a couple minutes after,i woke up screaming-i had to hange bedrooms. i have never slept in that bedroom ever since.it was not what i expected but it was worth it. it had a circle of adventures but it was unfortunately not my time. i was expecting a bit of magic and something modern like a teenagers adventure gone wrong. i have hated ravens ever since. i l...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Adil rated it 5 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book because i found this book on the shelf of the library and the cover was irresistable. So i picked it up and started reading the Prologue. I was entregied about the starting and it hookedd me in. This book was a thriller.

The category it fits is " A female main character" The reason why it fits this category is because the main character is Josie who is a female. Hahahahah. I liked reading this genre because in most books that i have read there always has been a male ma...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Morgan Venn rated it 4 of 5 stars

*Edit*

‘Immortal Amarant, A flower which once in paradise, fast by the tree of life began to bloom but soon for man’s offence. To heaven removed where first it grew, there grows, and flowers aloft shading the fount of life.‘ - Paradise Lost, John Milton

Mortlock is an interesting story of illusions and dark magic. It has a stunning story line and well described situations. The story is in the perspective of the third person, and although the book can confuse, it will not disappoint creative mind...more *Edit*

‘Immortal Amarant, A flower which once in paradise, fast by the tree of life began to bloom but soon for man’s offence. To heaven removed where first it grew, there grows, and flowers aloft shading the fount of life.‘ - Paradise Lost, John Milton

Mortlock is an interesting story of illusions and dark magic. It has a stunning story line and well described situations. The story is in the perspective of the third person, and although the book can confuse, it will not disappoint creative minds. Do be warned that this genre is horror, so some people might find descriptions with a gruesome appeal. Three main characters are described throughout the whole story, one of them only being introduced at the end, which helps bind the story together. The main character introduced in the beginning is a girl named Josie. Another character, named Alfie is introduced later in the story as her twin. The two might be twins but in reality they have almost completely different personalities. Josie is strong yet she shows some elegance, while Alfie is less squeamish yet he has less of a dominant role. The entire book is the conflict of character against character, It begins with Josie being described as a circus act, capable of throwing knives without missing her mark. It continues as her uncle is thrown into the picture, the third person perspective describing his tempers and his unknown past. Throughout the story Josie struggles to figure out the truth about her father and her uncle’s past.

The story of Mortlock has a semi non-fiction twist; The book is based on a flower known as the amarant, which is short for amaranth. The author, Jon Mayhew was creative enough to use the myth of amarant. It was distinguished as a flower of immortality because of its long blossom, which is brought into further detail in the story of Mortlock. This stunning arrangement is my favorite thing about the book, for it shows the creativity and possibilities in writing. Another interesting aspect of the book is the actual topic of Mortlock, which only makes sense at the ending of the story.

My two favorite scenes include some of the most interesting conflicts that are represented in the story. The first was during the prologue, where Mortlock and his companions discover the amarant. When discovering the amarant, the three men had to witness the attacks of demonic creatures. Warnings and signs to leave the amarant were portrayed by the actions of the forest. They decide that for their own sakes, they must leave and promise to never return. My second favorite scene was when Josie and Alfie come across the mysterious Lorenzo’s circus. The scene was described cheerfully yet the author made note that there was something strange about the circus that wasn’t clear. As you continue into the book, more citation to the mysterious behavior and appearance to Lorenzo’s Circus.

Overall the book was a great debut and had interesting features. Its theme was related to finding the power that you would have as an individual and courage for thats probably the main aspect that the characters had to adjust to.(less)

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Feb 02, 2011 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, young-adult, fantasy

When 'Mortlock' arrived in the post I really wasn't quite sure what to expect. The only thing I knew about it was that the book had been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2011. I didn't have any preconceived notions or judgements about it which makes it nice when you pick up a new book.

Josie is a knife-thrower in a circus, accompanying The Great Cardamom, who is more like an honorary uncle to her. She's always believed that she was an only child until she discovers her orphan...more

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Apr 24, 2010 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

A totally stunning debut novel.
Three explorers discover an exotic flower and let loose a curse.
Many years later, orphans Josie and Alfie find themselves fleeing for their lives as terrifying events overtake them. To save themselves - from suspicious relatives, dangerous strangers and supernatural flocks of birds - they must confront the secrets of their past.
A wonderful book. Riveting read,full of suspense, excitement and gore from page one. Maybe not for the slightly squeamish reader. Defini...more

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Nov 14, 2010 Samantha-Ellen Bound rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a story of adventure and terror, Mortlock ultimately succeeds. It feels and reads like what it should – a tale of gothic horror. Atmosphere pervades the big set-pieces, like the dank city streets when Josie and Alfie get chased by ghuls; the soggy, swampy marshlands home to Lorenzo’s circus; or the interior of the crow-infested Lord Corvis’ mansion. Darkly entertaining and great fun.

Full review at: http://bookgrotto.blogspot.com/search...

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Jun 04, 2011 Truly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Demi cacing-cacing yang menjadi teman tidurku,
Tanah dingin yang menjadi selimutku,
Dan ketika badai menerpa,
Tubuhku tergelak dan tidur."

Siapa pun akan merinding ketakutan jika berbicara soal kematian! Sedikit yang menyadari bahwa setiap hari ulang tahun yang kita lewati berarti kian mendekatkan kita akan kematian. Jika bisa, banyak yang ingin lolos dari kematian. Itu sebabnya manusia terus berusaha menemukan kekuatan untuk bertarung melawan kematian. Aneka legenda seputar itu juga berkembang, mul...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book! It was beautifully written! The characters were great and I just couldn't put it down. It was so interesting and the ending was simply stunning and so unexpected. I can't find anything bad to say about this book. I really loved it.

Its about 2 twins, a girl called Josie and a boy called Alfie who were seperated and raised by different people. Josie's guardian, the great magician Cardamom leaves her a note when he dies since her life will be in danger. He is a good character bu...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Dawn Finch rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, rollercoaster!! I tried to think of a way of reviewing this without blowing my favourite bits but it's just not possible so just read it. It's absolutely gripping and at times leaves the reader quite breathless. Enviable mastery of pace here and a stunning first novel.

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Feb 15, 2012 Anthony rated it 5 of 5 stars

Damn fine debut, a mixture of historical accuracy with almost snifforama and lovely intersperced folkiness, and a damn fine narrative with humour,pace and mystery.I was there on day one and still am! This won Sefton super Reads deserverdly and Jon is destined for great things

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May 15, 2013 Wahyu Nurasman rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

sorry to say for not saying anything :D

the family bound can be deeper than this, the emotion can be more hard than this :)

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Jan 06, 2013 Trish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great first book and very atmospheric! Had a really good Victorian Gothic feel to it and was memorably scary in places.

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Jul 03, 2010 Yorky Caz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gifts

Really liked this book the baddies were very dark and the two children were excellent goodies, just cant quite put my finger on why its not 5*?

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Apr 18, 2012 Aisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really like this book but I am not tell you what it's about because I am tired.

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Nov 26, 2010 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant - fast paced, original, rich - top read.

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Mar 04, 2012 Mrs Harris Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this gothic adventure!

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Sep 10, 2012 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars

AMAZING!!!!!!! X

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Jun 03, 2012 Chris Evett rated it 3 of 5 stars

Whiffy.

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Apr 19, 2012 Jamila rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really like this book but I am not tell you what it's about because I am tired.

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May 01, 2012 Safiyya K rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was pure genius. I do love the pace of the book. The events seem to speeding so far ahead, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the only problem I have is that it was almost as though the answer was right in front of them all this time, but they decided to go a completely different way, then, in the end, come back the way they came to find out it was literally right next door. Very strange, but effective, technique used by Jon Mayhew. However, the plot = GENIUS!

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Sep 30, 2012 Simon rated it 5 of 5 stars

A rattling good read

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May 14, 2012 Rowena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing, can't believe I gave up on it!

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Sep 27, 2010 Bungle Midnight Reads rated it 2 of 5 stars

So!!!!!!! Alot of the Waterstone's readers really liked this book but I didn't think it was that great! I loved loved loved Alfie and I loved the wickedness of the aunts but that was about it!
The 'battle' at the end was a little limp and disappointing!! It doesn't matter who Mortlock turns out to be the end battle should have been soooooooo much better!

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Jan 24, 2012 eloise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing you should really read this!

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