It's pretty amazing how consistently this series delivers a great story. I read the first seven books in the series in 2011 and now am just waiting fo...moreIt's pretty amazing how consistently this series delivers a great story. I read the first seven books in the series in 2011 and now am just waiting for the subsequent ones to be published in paperback. So far there are twelve books in the series! The story zips along at a great pace, full of danger, narrow escapes, and all manner of ghouls. In this outing, the apprentice Tom Ward, his master John Gregory, and Tom's friend Alice (daughter of a witch) find themselves in Ireland. The witch assassin Grimalkin is also featured. Part of the appeal of these books are the great characters. It's a great, scary, edge-of-your-seat series. (It also features some great wood-cut illustrations by Patrick Arrasmith.) (less)
Young Nate Tucker moves into the weird, old Kavach building. He begins to notice all manner of strange things: padlocked doors; weird light fixtures;...moreYoung Nate Tucker moves into the weird, old Kavach building. He begins to notice all manner of strange things: padlocked doors; weird light fixtures; mutant green cockroaches that don't eat. He begins talking with fellow tenants and learns they all have weird things about their apartments as well. Also, no two apartments are the same. When he investigates further, more and more weird things begin coming to light. And it starts getting dangerous. I was looking for something a little bizzarre, a little horror, a little weird, and 14 delivers on all fronts. Halfway into the story the weird/dangerous factor amps up and then at the end, I'm all "ZOMG!" It was a fun read and the last 40 pages flew by. (less)
This is a mix of a western with vampires and other ghouls. Cora and her husband Ben specialize in ridding towns of these unnatural monsters. When the...moreThis is a mix of a western with vampires and other ghouls. Cora and her husband Ben specialize in ridding towns of these unnatural monsters. When the marshall of Leadville, Colorado, encounters two mysterious deaths, he employs Cora to get to the bottom of it. This story had a nice flow to it and an engaging heroine. It's light reading in that sort of pulp genre and there's an interesting twist involved that really sets it apart from others of its ilk. I enjoyed this and might read the follow-up at some point. (less)
The necromancer Johannes Cabal is approached by three gentlemen from The Fear Institute for help in retrieving something called the Phobic Animus (the...moreThe necromancer Johannes Cabal is approached by three gentlemen from The Fear Institute for help in retrieving something called the Phobic Animus (the source of all fears) from the Dreamlands. Cabal accepts but only because he can then get his hands on the Silver Key which gains one entry to the Dreamlands. He doesn't really care about the Fear Institute and their goals. As ever, Cabal is looking out for number one and to hell with the consequences. This outing has more of a fantasy feel to it and much less of a gothic old world charm that I really enjoyed in the first two books. This third Johannes Cabal tale is still fun, but I still like the first one best. But as Cabal is such a charming anti-hero, I'll be on board for any subsequent Cabal tales. Still, I found the ending of this one a little bit confusing. Discuss. (less)
This book essentially finishes the story begun in The World House which I read last March. A random selection of people, upon discovering an odd puzzl...moreThis book essentially finishes the story begun in The World House which I read last March. A random selection of people, upon discovering an odd puzzle box and dangerous situations, find themselves trapped in a mysterious house that defies logic, has endless corridors, rooms, and dangers. In this story they realize that they must somehow re-imprison the Prisoner who was inadvertently loosed in the first book. This Prisoner is evil and has god-like powers. It's not going to be easy. Not everyone will survive. And in this go-round, a train is added to the House. It can be somewhat confusing tracking the various characters and I often lost sight of their motivations and relationships. But I stuck with it and got a better handle on things in the latter half of the book. You might classify this story as fantasy but horror would be a closer fit. Though it combines elements of both. I just wish the plotting had been clearer. (less)
This series doesn't disappoint. Here we are with the seventh book in the series and the stories keep getting better. They are chock-full of scary Spoo...moreThis series doesn't disappoint. Here we are with the seventh book in the series and the stories keep getting better. They are chock-full of scary Spook business, dangerous opponents, narrow escapes, and surprising developments. I started reading this series aloud to Luke at the beginning of the year. But I was only about 50 pages into this one when he demanded to be able to read it on his own. (He didn't want to wait the glacial pace it would take to have to wait for me to read it. Besides, it's too scary for his younger sister -- creeps out his mother a bit too!). Luke polished this off in a matter of days and wanted to tell me all about it. I wasn't having that! I wanted to read this fresh myself! I really like this series. We'll wait for book #8 to come out in paperback before continuing. One of the things that makes this series so good is that the main characters are so interesting. Young Tom Ward is the apprentice; the Spook, his master, is crusty old John Gregory; and his good friend Alice is the daughter of a witch (Gregory doesn't trust her but she proves her worth time and again.) And the villains are equally varied, from the various beasts, abhumans, boggarts, and numerous witches of every stripe. Great stories. (less)
Succumbing to the hype, I picked this up and got hooked from the get-go. The first 243 pages of this tome are great. Interesting characters are introd...moreSuccumbing to the hype, I picked this up and got hooked from the get-go. The first 243 pages of this tome are great. Interesting characters are introduced, mysteries deepen, tension builds, things are set in motion. But then after 243 pages the story takes an abrupt turn. Suddenly, all new characters are introduced and the story loses all its momentum and limps along. Reading the next 250-odd pages took forever. Around page 450 I began to wonder if this was worth pursuing. I gave it another 50 pages. Now I can't bring myself to continue. It has become a book I'm not interested in getting back to. But the real nail in the coffin is that at the very end there's a page that says, "The story of Amy continues in ...". So, there's really not even a promise of things being wrapped up. Ugh. I think all the blurbs are from people who only read the first part. Bastards.
This is book number 6 in the series that I've been reading aloud to Luke and the only reason it took a while to finish is that we were pretty busy doi...moreThis is book number 6 in the series that I've been reading aloud to Luke and the only reason it took a while to finish is that we were pretty busy doing other things like moving to Sweden for a year. You know how that is. Anyway, in this outing, the brave young Tom Ward gets recruited by his Mam to head south to Greece to fight a dangerous menace known as the Ordeen. Tom is in for some nasty surprises and some tough decisions.
Luke and I read to page 270 or so when he just couldn't wait for the next reading. I told him to go ahead and keep reading on his own but NOT to tell me what happens on pain of death. He finished the book in two days and then valiantly kept his mouth shut about the exciting conclusion and shocking developments. As luck would have it, we have the seventh book on hand and since Luke was itching to get started on it, I told him to forge ahead without me and I'd read it after he was done with it. He read about 100 pages in that one on the first day.(less)
Wow. Have I really read five books in this series just this year?! This is the series that I've been reading aloud to Luke (age 9). Tom Ward is the yo...moreWow. Have I really read five books in this series just this year?! This is the series that I've been reading aloud to Luke (age 9). Tom Ward is the young -- almost 14 years old -- man apprenticed to the Spook. As such they fight the good fight against the Dark whether that's boggarts, skelts, witches, or other nasties. On a couple occasions my wife listened in a bit as I read some passages to Luke. She'd say that the story was a little too creepy or scary but Luke and I would just roll our eyes and forge on ahead. This entry is essentially a continuation of the previous book as the Fiend once again enters the story. But the title is in reference to a water witch known as the Bloodeye. She is very dangerous. Like virtually all the other books in this series, Luke couldn't wait for me to read aloud the last 50 pages and begged to finish it himself in bed. So he actually finished this one night before I did. We're REALLY digging this series. Currently there's eight books in the series and yes, we'll be getting to book six soon. (less)
This book is pretty cool and twisted. A selection of characters (taken from various points in time as well) come across an odd little box. Once they s...moreThis book is pretty cool and twisted. A selection of characters (taken from various points in time as well) come across an odd little box. Once they start fiddling with the box, they find themselves suddenly transported to a room in a very odd house. The house defies logic, has endless corridors, and contains all manner of deadly things within. The story follows these small groups of house travelers as they A) try to stay alive, and B) try to get back home. The journey is a bit of a page-turning romp but the ending leaves some unanswered questions and loose strings. No matter. The sequel, Restoration, comes out in July and I'll be snapping it up at the first opportunity. (less)
I read this in 2000. I remember enjoying the story... great concept. Then I saw the movie and that sucked (and not in a good way.) -- Hang on... I dug...moreI read this in 2000. I remember enjoying the story... great concept. Then I saw the movie and that sucked (and not in a good way.) -- Hang on... I dug up my review from my archives:
Stephen King credits Matheson as being the writer who most influenced his own writings and Arnold Schwarzenegger is (or was) interested in making a movie out of this story (starring himself). So, I wanted to check out what they were so jazzed about. Matheson is perhaps better known as the author of What Dreams May Come, which was turned into a mediocre movie starring Robin Williams as a man who journeys to the afterlife in search of his wife. I Am Legend is about Robert Neville, who, though he's the last man on Earth, isn't necessarily alone. Every other man, woman, and child on the planet has either succumbed to a mysterious plague or has been turned into a vampire. By day Neville travels around the area driving stakes into the hearts of the sleeping vampires. By night he barricades himself in his protected house, surrounded by garlands of garlic. Bummer, huh? This brief novel was written in 1954 and takes place in the future of 1976. It's entertaining enough and has a couple of good plot twists, nothing great though. But I think the story would translate well — in an updated fashion — to a modern horror movie. (less)
This is the third book in this series (which currently numbers seven books, I think). I've been reading these aloud to Luke (age 9). This time apprent...moreThis is the third book in this series (which currently numbers seven books, I think). I've been reading these aloud to Luke (age 9). This time apprentice Tom Ward and his master, the Spook, head to his winter house up in Anglezarke. This house has some decidedly creepy lodgers. We didn't get through this story as fast as the previous two and Luke has requested a break to read something else (possibly: Gregor the Overlander). Still enjoying the series but felt #3 was not quite up to snuff.(less)
This series has been my current go-to series to read aloud to my son, Luke (almost 9 years old). They are good creepy fun. Our hero is apprenticed to...moreThis series has been my current go-to series to read aloud to my son, Luke (almost 9 years old). They are good creepy fun. Our hero is apprenticed to a Spook, a man who rids the county of creatures of the dark be they boggarts, witches, or any other ghoul from the Dark. It's dangerous work and full of suspense. The characters themselves are wondeful. They are so easy to picture in the mind's eye. We'll be starting the third book in the series within days. (less)
This is one of the books Luke got for Christmas and which he wanted as a read-aloud book. This was a very well-written story, told in deceptively simp...moreThis is one of the books Luke got for Christmas and which he wanted as a read-aloud book. This was a very well-written story, told in deceptively simple language. The atmosphere is very creepy and spooky. There are cool wood-cut illustrations at each chapter heading. Young Tom Ward is the protagonist, a seventh son of a seventh son, he's a natural to be apprenticed to the local Spook. The Spook is the one to go to when dealing with boggarts, witches, ghosts, and the like. This story was right on the cusp of maybe-a-little-too-creepy-for-an-8-year-old but my 8-year-old kept begging me to read more anyway. Though, on one or two occasions, had to be certain our hero wasn't going to die (he comes close). Both Luke and I really enjoyed this tale. We've already started book number 2 in the series for the next read-aloud book.(less)
Dark Harvest is a hot rod-fueled ride into horror. Set in 1963 in some nameless, isolated mid-western town surrounded by corn fields, this story is ab...moreDark Harvest is a hot rod-fueled ride into horror. Set in 1963 in some nameless, isolated mid-western town surrounded by corn fields, this story is about the annual Run of the October Boy. Pete McCormick, a teenager tired of this town thinks that if he's the one to bag the October Boy, it'll be his ticket out. The October Boy, or Ol' Hacksaw Face, or Sawtooth Jack, is a pumpkin-headed nightmare who needs to make it to the church before midnight. Many of the town's teenage boys are out to get him. Not all will survive. This twisted little tale moves fast as if pumped with adrenaline. It's the perfect thing for an October read.(less)
Got about 150 pages in and was non-plussed by the unclear sequence of events, the sameness of the plot, and the ramblingness. Not grabbing me. You can...moreGot about 150 pages in and was non-plussed by the unclear sequence of events, the sameness of the plot, and the ramblingness. Not grabbing me. You can buy it from me cheap if you want. (less)
It can be very refreshing when the main character is a bit of a douchebag. The haughty, cold-hearted Johannes Cabal has sold his soul to the Devil in...moreIt can be very refreshing when the main character is a bit of a douchebag. The haughty, cold-hearted Johannes Cabal has sold his soul to the Devil in return for knowledge in necromancy. However, not having a soul, is throwing a wrench in occult studies, so he wagers with the Devil to get his soul back. He only has one year to sign over 100 souls to Hell or else forfeit his life and his soul forever. The Devil throws in a fiendish carnival to make things interesting. To call this book unusual seems fairly obvious by this point. But I ended up enjoying this tale very much. It had me snickering in places and as much as Johannes is a bit of an ass, he can be very amusing which is all that I ask of a character. Plus, he's aided by his charismatic brother, Horst, a vampire. I'm looking forward to reading the follow-up tale in which Johannes tries his hand at detective work. (less)
Now here's a story that's seemingly modeled after some of Michael Crichton's fast tales. The Trident is a large ship chartered with carrying an attrac...moreNow here's a story that's seemingly modeled after some of Michael Crichton's fast tales. The Trident is a large ship chartered with carrying an attractive crew being filmed for a reality TV show called SeaLife. In a remote section of the Southern Pacific Ocean they come across tiny Henders Island. Soon after a landing party manages to gain access to the island, most of them end up being eaten by beasties never before seen on Earth. Good start! And then half-way in, things pick up and the pages fly by. I think some other blurb said it first, but Fragment is like a combination of The Ruins and Jurassic Park. A fast, diverting story with really nasty fauna. (less)
When my lovely wife Tina brought this home from the library it hit me that our tastes in fiction are overlapping more often. This book has been on my...moreWhen my lovely wife Tina brought this home from the library it hit me that our tastes in fiction are overlapping more often. This book has been on my To Be Read list since I saw it on the New Books table. I have already read the author's previous foray into fantasy, The Book of Lost Things, and found it imaginative, witty, dark, and exciting. (That was two years ago.) Tina read that one too and thought it perhaps a little too dark. Pshaw! This one could be aimed at a younger audience -- there are some obvious YA flourishes -- although, it was not classified as such by the megastore and/or publishing bureaucracy. The plot centers on a young boy named Samuel Johnson, who happens to witness his neighbors inadvertent opening of a portal to Hell in their basement. His neighbor, Mrs. Abernathy becomes possessed by an arch-demon working for The Great Malevolence. Samuel endeavors to stop her/it. The story cooks along with nary a dull moment and is chock-full of droll wit. In fact, while my wife was reading it (and glued to it), she kept chuckling from one page to the next. A good laugh always promotes a book to the top of my To Read Next list so when she finished it, I put aside my current reading matter and dove in. Such a fun story. It works in the Large Hadron Collider, a horde of demons, and judicious use of a cricket bat. This would be awesome source material for an animated movie. After reading this, I wondered what the author's other books might be like. I did a little research. He's got a series of books featuring a tormented cop that you'd find in the crime thriller section. The subject matter of these appear to be seriously dark and gruesome. I might check one of them out. But in the meantime, I'd recommend The Gates for anyone looking for a witty, horror-lite romp. (less)
This adventure tale falls into the growing steampunk genre (a genre that's hard to pin down). Boneshaker is set in an alternate history. In this tale,...moreThis adventure tale falls into the growing steampunk genre (a genre that's hard to pin down). Boneshaker is set in an alternate history. In this tale, the American Civil War has dragged on into the late 1880s, the Klondike Goldrush has happened earlier and to a larger degree, and Seattle (Washington Territory) is home to tens of thousands of settlers. Due to an experimental earth-drilling invention that went awry, a vein of gas (known as the Blight) has infected downtown Seattle so that it had to be walled off from the Outskirts. Within the walled city are roaming bands of rotters (think zombies), and some people crazy enough to venture inside and eke out a living among the rotters and Blight gas. When 15-year-old Zeke sneaks into the city, his mother, Briar, heads in after him and then things get really interesting. Most steampunk stories include airships and this story is no exception. Among the many interesting characters are piratical airship captains and crew. Makes for a very fun, very cool story. (less)
The fun, frothy tale is set in an alternate Victorian London where vampires and werewolves have been integrated into society. The Bureau of Unnatural...moreThe fun, frothy tale is set in an alternate Victorian London where vampires and werewolves have been integrated into society. The Bureau of Unnatural Registry is the organization keeping tabs on them and one 25-year-old spinster, Alexia Tarabotti keeps finding herself in their company. Alexia herself is one of the rarest of the unnaturals. She's a preternatural, i.e. one who has no soul, and thus she has a negating effect on werewolves and vampires when she comes in physical contact with them. When Alexia accidentally kills a rogue vampire -- one that is not part of a hive -- the plot gets into motion. Alexia herself is a wonderful character: smart, witty, forthright, self-concious about her dark skin tone, dead Italian father, and prominent nose; she is eager to have something to do. Preferably something to do with the BUR and the handsome head of the BUR the Earl of Woolsey, Lord Maccon, the land's hunky alpha werewolf. This story was very much fun, perhaps a little short on action but long on wit and with a healthy dose of erotica. I'm probably not the target demographic for this sort of thing, but I greatly enjoyed it and will no doubt scoop up the follow-up, Changless, when it becomes available next May. (less)
This is a novel in "free verse" which apparently means that the text has the first-glance appearance of being in the form of a poem but there aren't a...moreThis is a novel in "free verse" which apparently means that the text has the first-glance appearance of being in the form of a poem but there aren't any rhymes. Whatever. It reads like novel with lean prose and it's a fast read. It's a story about a dogcatcher named Anthony and various gangs of people who just happen to be werewolves — weredogs, actually. These packs are in the midst of a various turf wars which also involve meth labs. One of the female weredogs takes a serious liking to Anthony but doesn't want him to know her secret. There's also a mystified cop trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The story's set in Southern California, present day and is by turns romantic, exciting and grisly. It's quite a cool read actually. I think I went through it in about four days of riding the train. (And I showed some restraint by actually borrowing this one from the local library.) Woof! (less)
Definitely one of the oddest books I've read. This book (which is categorized in the Horror genre) is about a lusty Santa Claus who carries on a highl...moreDefinitely one of the oddest books I've read. This book (which is categorized in the Horror genre) is about a lusty Santa Claus who carries on a highly libidinous affair with the Tooth Fairy. And to complicate things, Santa's exploits are making the Easter Bunny crazy with jealousy. The Easter Bunny is, of course, a giant rabbit with the ability to become invisible but his only paramour is a self-made model he's named Petunia, made from wire mesh and bunny excrement. Oh, and of course Mrs. Claus finds out and gets royally ticked. She enacts a memorable revenge. This book is like some bizarre dream dripping with explicit sex, gruesome scenes of gory horror, and a benevolent Santa who enjoys taking time out from his yearly rounds to indulge himself in hours of carnality with the twisted but curvaceous Tooth Fairy. It's kind of like a Penthouse letter mixed with Clive Barker and a fairy tale. It's hard to imagine upstanding citizens reading this book and not hurling it from them with a disgusted look. But there's also some cons to this book: it's a little overlong for such a simple plot and Mrs. Claus' actions aren't always in character. I would not recommend this book to anyone who's offended by graphic sex and violence or blasphemy. But if you're looking for something truly odd then this fits the bill. (less)
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