This is the second book in the Last Apprentice series. Tom and the Spook venture to Priestown to attend to some unfinished business. That "business" is a creature called the Bane. Long ago it roamed free and left destruction and despair in its path. It is secure enough, but is getting stronger and is able to control people's minds. The death toll is rising, so the Spook is ready to take care of it. But things become even more complicated when the Quisitor arrives, an all-powerful "witch hunter". The people he hunts aren't actually witches, he is just cruel. But when the Spook is captured Tom may just have to help out more than he ever expected... This book was just as amazing as the first. Like I said before, I wouldn't recommend it to adults necessarily but for teens and pre teens I think it's a great book. I think this one is different from the first because you get to know the characters more, and uncover things about their past that may prove to be a bit shocking. You have to read for yourself to find out, but it is a very excellent book.