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The Raven Mysteries #1
Flood and Fang
Meet the wonderfully weird Otherhand family and their faithful guardian, Edgar the raven, and discover the dark secrets of Castle Otherhand. Edgar is alarmed when he sees a nasty looking black tail slinking under the castle walls. But his warnings to the inhabitants of the castle go Lord Valevine Otherhand is too busy trying to invent the unthinkable and discover the unknowable; his wife, Minty, is too absorbed in her latest obsession - baking; and ten-year-old Cudweed is running riot with his infernal pet monkey. Only Solstice, the black-haired, poetry-writing Otherhand daughter, seems to pay any attention. As the lower storeys of the castle begin mysteriously to flood, and kitchen maids continue to go missing, the family come ever closer to the owner of the black tail...First in a brand new six book series of tales of mystery (with a touch of goth-froth) for 9 year olds from bestselling author, Marcus Sedgwick. With quirky black and white line illustrations from new talent, Pete Williamson. Dedicated website on Raven www.ravenmysteries.co.uk
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Sedgwick
107 books1,583 followersMarcus Sedgwickwas a British writer and illustrator. He authored several young adult and children's books and picture books, a work of nonfiction and several novels for adults, and illustrated a collection of myths and a book of folk tales for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 6, 2013
Marcus Sedgwick aims for a younger audience with this, the first of five Raven Mysteries books. Instead he gets me.
The ancient Guardian of Otherhand Castle has noticed a threat to the family and servants of the castle - a menacing and noxious tail, that may be connected to a mouth connected to the disappearance of a kitchen maid. Soon he has observed another danger: the castle, which appears to have something of a mind of its own, is flooding. Being a responsible Guardian, he attempts to warn the Otherhands, but this is more difficult than it would initially seem, since the Otherhands are variously, mad, stupid, obsessed with trivialities, conducting gruesome meteorological experiments or accompanied by a dangerous sticky monkey. Even explaining the situation to the one sensible member of the Otherhand clan is not straightforward, because the ancient Guardian is a Raven. Called Edgar.
This immensely entertaining, funny book combines ingredients from every comic-Gothic source that comes to mind, including The Adams Family, Beetlejuice and Araminta Spook with items from numerous more serious Gothic sources such as Gormenghast and one E.A. Poe, mixed together with Sedgwick's own strong Gothic sensibility and baked in a slightly rusty cake tin, rising to form a light and fluffy cake that it is a delight to consume.
It is worth noting that the book deploys illustration more effectively than any other novel with a similar target audience that I can remember. (Admittedly I can remember few.)
I look forward impatiently to the next Mystery as told from the viewpoint of Otherhand's oldest denizen, Edgar the Raven.
The ancient Guardian of Otherhand Castle has noticed a threat to the family and servants of the castle - a menacing and noxious tail, that may be connected to a mouth connected to the disappearance of a kitchen maid. Soon he has observed another danger: the castle, which appears to have something of a mind of its own, is flooding. Being a responsible Guardian, he attempts to warn the Otherhands, but this is more difficult than it would initially seem, since the Otherhands are variously, mad, stupid, obsessed with trivialities, conducting gruesome meteorological experiments or accompanied by a dangerous sticky monkey. Even explaining the situation to the one sensible member of the Otherhand clan is not straightforward, because the ancient Guardian is a Raven. Called Edgar.
This immensely entertaining, funny book combines ingredients from every comic-Gothic source that comes to mind, including The Adams Family, Beetlejuice and Araminta Spook with items from numerous more serious Gothic sources such as Gormenghast and one E.A. Poe, mixed together with Sedgwick's own strong Gothic sensibility and baked in a slightly rusty cake tin, rising to form a light and fluffy cake that it is a delight to consume.
It is worth noting that the book deploys illustration more effectively than any other novel with a similar target audience that I can remember. (Admittedly I can remember few.)
I look forward impatiently to the next Mystery as told from the viewpoint of Otherhand's oldest denizen, Edgar the Raven.
August 6, 2015
‘Rurk!’ I said, expressing my doubts at our plan.
‘Yes, Edgar,’ she said, standing nose to beak, ‘It is exciting, isn’t it? Come on then! Let’s find these tracks.’
Ah well, I thought, I tried.
There are strange things going on at Castle Otherhand. Housemaids seem to go missing, the cellar keeps flooding, and there are mysterious tracks in the rhubarb patch, but none of the inhabitants seem to notice.....except the castle's resident raven - Edgar.
This was a great little story - quite dark but sweet in a gothic sort of way.
I have a soft spot for ravens and the illustrations of Edgar in this one were lovely.
Review originally posted on BookLikes.
‘Yes, Edgar,’ she said, standing nose to beak, ‘It is exciting, isn’t it? Come on then! Let’s find these tracks.’
Ah well, I thought, I tried.
There are strange things going on at Castle Otherhand. Housemaids seem to go missing, the cellar keeps flooding, and there are mysterious tracks in the rhubarb patch, but none of the inhabitants seem to notice.....except the castle's resident raven - Edgar.
This was a great little story - quite dark but sweet in a gothic sort of way.
I have a soft spot for ravens and the illustrations of Edgar in this one were lovely.
Review originally posted on BookLikes.
September 15, 2013
Flood and Fang was one of the first books on my kindle to-read list. In a nutshell, Raven (the castle’s resident raven) spots a number of potentially nasty things going on in Otherhand Castle, and tries to draw them to the attention of the weird and wonderful characters who inhabit it.
The ink-washed design of the cover is reflected in the illustrations and motifs by Pete Williamson that punctuate the text. It is visually appealing – a chapter book broken up into small chunks, encouraging readers to go on, as if the narrative wasn’t encouraging enough! I started reading the raven’s story and thought there was a lot of complicated information about the castle and its inhabitants. I wondered at the vocabulary in use (extensive) but realised the pace and the delivery would encourage readers to learn new words and not lose the story. I very soon lost my author-head, and continued in reader-mode, rollicking through a delightful story of gothic daftness, mystery and adventure. The little boxed paragraphs at the start of each chapter seemed to be a quirky extract from a history of the castle, but by halfway I’d realised these were useful clues for the reader, if not an integral part of the plot.
Sedgwick reminds me to use the sort of names that kids love. I wondered how many might look up Spatchcock to find out that it isn’t just a made-up funny word, but an old-fashioned way of cooking game birds – but then I looked it up myself and found it was also “to insert (a phrase, sentence, story, etc) esp. incongruously” both of which suit the owner of the name admirably! I love Valevine’s fear of the use of the Glottal Stop, which, being a mystery to the raven, becomes his catch-all phrase for anything scary!
It’s a story that would be suitable to read aloud to eight years and up, but would engage older children reading to themselves, and probably become one of those well-thumbed books, even on an eReader. In fact, I expect I’ll read it again, it’s such fun. This is the second Marcus Sedgwick book I’ve read, this time for a younger audience, and I loved it just as much. I’m now a confirmed fan.
The ink-washed design of the cover is reflected in the illustrations and motifs by Pete Williamson that punctuate the text. It is visually appealing – a chapter book broken up into small chunks, encouraging readers to go on, as if the narrative wasn’t encouraging enough! I started reading the raven’s story and thought there was a lot of complicated information about the castle and its inhabitants. I wondered at the vocabulary in use (extensive) but realised the pace and the delivery would encourage readers to learn new words and not lose the story. I very soon lost my author-head, and continued in reader-mode, rollicking through a delightful story of gothic daftness, mystery and adventure. The little boxed paragraphs at the start of each chapter seemed to be a quirky extract from a history of the castle, but by halfway I’d realised these were useful clues for the reader, if not an integral part of the plot.
Sedgwick reminds me to use the sort of names that kids love. I wondered how many might look up Spatchcock to find out that it isn’t just a made-up funny word, but an old-fashioned way of cooking game birds – but then I looked it up myself and found it was also “to insert (a phrase, sentence, story, etc) esp. incongruously” both of which suit the owner of the name admirably! I love Valevine’s fear of the use of the Glottal Stop, which, being a mystery to the raven, becomes his catch-all phrase for anything scary!
It’s a story that would be suitable to read aloud to eight years and up, but would engage older children reading to themselves, and probably become one of those well-thumbed books, even on an eReader. In fact, I expect I’ll read it again, it’s such fun. This is the second Marcus Sedgwick book I’ve read, this time for a younger audience, and I loved it just as much. I’m now a confirmed fan.
July 25, 2019
"...when I woke this morning to find my bed floating out of the servants' quarters, I thought maybe something was wrong."
4 stars.
This was such a fun read. There were definitely smiles and a couple of giggles. It's a very fast read too as I managed to get throught this in one day. I really like Solstice.
Edgar is the main character and he is a Raven. He's witty and rather smart too. The drawings are great and I am so glad that I own the whole series.
I really like Marcus Sedgwick style of writing. The way he words his sentences stands out to me. I've read one of his other books, The Dead Days Omnibus, and really enjoyed that too. The way he writes is such a favourite of mine. He's just an amazing storyteller.
4 stars.
This was such a fun read. There were definitely smiles and a couple of giggles. It's a very fast read too as I managed to get throught this in one day. I really like Solstice.
Edgar is the main character and he is a Raven. He's witty and rather smart too. The drawings are great and I am so glad that I own the whole series.
I really like Marcus Sedgwick style of writing. The way he words his sentences stands out to me. I've read one of his other books, The Dead Days Omnibus, and really enjoyed that too. The way he writes is such a favourite of mine. He's just an amazing storyteller.
June 1, 2017
' "Nobody likes a sticky monkey." Truer words were never spoken.'
Gloriously grim and deliciously dark, with a streak of humour as black as a raven's armpit at the bottom of a well at midnight on a moonless night. By turns silly, scary, vicious in the best playground sense, and disgusting in a way to titillate all 8-10 year olds. Not much really happens, it's a tiny bit too long in the plotting in places, but very enjoyable all the same. The illustrations by Pete Williamson are perfect and (as Solstice Otherhand herself is described) gothic-ly gorgeous. A devious delight.
Gloriously grim and deliciously dark, with a streak of humour as black as a raven's armpit at the bottom of a well at midnight on a moonless night. By turns silly, scary, vicious in the best playground sense, and disgusting in a way to titillate all 8-10 year olds. Not much really happens, it's a tiny bit too long in the plotting in places, but very enjoyable all the same. The illustrations by Pete Williamson are perfect and (as Solstice Otherhand herself is described) gothic-ly gorgeous. A devious delight.
January 21, 2021
Una lectura entretenida por las ocurrencias de todos los habitantes del castillo Otramano, narradas por su anciano guardián Edgar, que siempre está merodeando el lugar para avisar del peligro, algo que es difícil porque no entienden su lenguaje de cuervo... excepto Solsticio, la más inteligente y sensata de la familia.
November 5, 2011
Our local bookstore was doing a big display of the Raven Mysteries series and this book (the first in the series) caught my eye.
They are attractively packaged, with bright primary-coloured covers and humourous illustrations.
I was doing a Halloween-themed book club for some 11 year old girls and it seemed like an appropriate choice.
In fact, the book was universally liked by my particular sample of readers. The plot is simple -- in fact, fairly minimal -- but there are some really endearing character sketches. The entire series is narrated by a raven named Edgar: a bird who believe that his family (the Otherhands) would not be able to function without him. Needless to say, he is an unreliable narrator. This is Gothic style for those who don't REALLY wnat to be scared. Very Addams family-ish. The word "cute" comes to mind. Don't expect a lot of mystery or actual suspense.
They are attractively packaged, with bright primary-coloured covers and humourous illustrations.
I was doing a Halloween-themed book club for some 11 year old girls and it seemed like an appropriate choice.
In fact, the book was universally liked by my particular sample of readers. The plot is simple -- in fact, fairly minimal -- but there are some really endearing character sketches. The entire series is narrated by a raven named Edgar: a bird who believe that his family (the Otherhands) would not be able to function without him. Needless to say, he is an unreliable narrator. This is Gothic style for those who don't REALLY wnat to be scared. Very Addams family-ish. The word "cute" comes to mind. Don't expect a lot of mystery or actual suspense.
January 14, 2013
Pleasant and funny story about Edgar the raven and his quest to save the castle Otherhand from a beast who might want all the members of the Otherhand household on the next lunch menu.
I had a nice time reading the book, and the lovely gothic drawings helped a lot too.
Just one disappointment:
I had a nice time reading the book, and the lovely gothic drawings helped a lot too.
Just one disappointment:
April 9, 2015
seen the cover and grabbed this audiobook for a quick read on this Wednesday. It was a *cute story* intended for young children. But it best for middle-schoolers, still I was disappointed. The raven *Edgar* says his odd words sounding like a crow. one in particular sounds like *fuck* and it is said throughout the book ... then in chap 16, Edgar states the monkey can go to hell. Well, now your kid will be repeating that.. don't 'cha know.
August 12, 2015
Not entirely sure what to make of this one . . . it's clever, but I'm not sure the target audience (8-10 year olds?) will understand half the jokes or even a good bit of the vocabulary. What's more, it's ALL cleverness, and very little story. But the illustrations are delightful, and so is Edgar, the raven narrator.
February 8, 2014
Mmmmm... It was okay, but I probably wont borrow the next one from the library when there are so many other books I want to read.
December 14, 2018
Having read others in the series for The Raven Mysteries by Marcus Sedgwick I thought I would read the first book in the series for the first time and I am glad that I did. This book is perfect for children and one that I enjoyed reading.
This book coming from the ravens perspective instead of from a human is a great way of changing the way this book is written compared to others of it's kind. Having it also more of a gothic read is great and appeals to children who are looking for something a little darker than other stories. I do find the mystery is great and not having the answer till the end of the book keeps the attention of the reader and makes them want to carry on reading to see what happens next also by adding suspense it created a need to continue the novel. Also by having short chapters it is easy to only have small amount of reading and able to keep the attention very easily as a result of this. By also having at the start of each chapter a little fact about the castle Otherhand and the people in which inhabit it makes this book unique and gives more of an insight into those who are involved with the story without making whole chapters about them.
I do wish that there was more about the monster and under the castle as it isn't really touched upon even though it is a key part to this book especially with the ending which did make me bother me a little as it could have had more about how this changed the castle. I also think that some of the words are a little large for a children's book and could confuse them a little.
Overall, this is a good mystery novel for children and one that I am happy to have picked up. I also believe that this is great for children who is looking for a darker, more gothic novel to read. I am happy to have read this and would definitely read more of the series of books
This book coming from the ravens perspective instead of from a human is a great way of changing the way this book is written compared to others of it's kind. Having it also more of a gothic read is great and appeals to children who are looking for something a little darker than other stories. I do find the mystery is great and not having the answer till the end of the book keeps the attention of the reader and makes them want to carry on reading to see what happens next also by adding suspense it created a need to continue the novel. Also by having short chapters it is easy to only have small amount of reading and able to keep the attention very easily as a result of this. By also having at the start of each chapter a little fact about the castle Otherhand and the people in which inhabit it makes this book unique and gives more of an insight into those who are involved with the story without making whole chapters about them.
I do wish that there was more about the monster and under the castle as it isn't really touched upon even though it is a key part to this book especially with the ending which did make me bother me a little as it could have had more about how this changed the castle. I also think that some of the words are a little large for a children's book and could confuse them a little.
Overall, this is a good mystery novel for children and one that I am happy to have picked up. I also believe that this is great for children who is looking for a darker, more gothic novel to read. I am happy to have read this and would definitely read more of the series of books
January 16, 2022
Consider the fish. The fish in the river. There they are, doing fish-based things, going about their fishy business, swimming and whatnot, eating smaller fish, I suppose, occasionally winking at sexy lady fish, and generally being wet. And all the while, they are completely unaware of the world above the water, until one day, a kingfisher darts into their realm and snatches them away, and just at the very moment they realise there is a whole other world beyond theirs, they're dead, swallowed whole by a greedy bird.
When I spotted this in a local charity shop, I was a tad confused. The Marcus Sedgwick I know is a writer of dark and macabre tales, sometimes fantasy, sometimes more human, but always with a sense of dread within.
I hadn't expected him to have written a series of young-adult mysteries but as I read the cover things started to make sense. A dysfunctional family living in a castle, a pet monkey, a raven, and a sense there would be a dark sense of humour.
The added twist; the story is told from the point of view of the old raven. Frustrated in his efforts to warm the family and to help them solve the mystery of the disappearing maids and the rising flood waters within the castle.
A lot of fun and a good set up for the series ahead. Luckily the charity shop had the first 3 books, so I will be diving in further soon! 3 1.2 stars.
Solstice's poetry, famed throughout the castle for its gloomy nature, is in fact a remarkably powerful antidote to insomnia. Her favourite piece of her own work is entitled; Why aren't I dead?
When I spotted this in a local charity shop, I was a tad confused. The Marcus Sedgwick I know is a writer of dark and macabre tales, sometimes fantasy, sometimes more human, but always with a sense of dread within.
I hadn't expected him to have written a series of young-adult mysteries but as I read the cover things started to make sense. A dysfunctional family living in a castle, a pet monkey, a raven, and a sense there would be a dark sense of humour.
The added twist; the story is told from the point of view of the old raven. Frustrated in his efforts to warm the family and to help them solve the mystery of the disappearing maids and the rising flood waters within the castle.
A lot of fun and a good set up for the series ahead. Luckily the charity shop had the first 3 books, so I will be diving in further soon! 3 1.2 stars.
Solstice's poetry, famed throughout the castle for its gloomy nature, is in fact a remarkably powerful antidote to insomnia. Her favourite piece of her own work is entitled; Why aren't I dead?
March 10, 2019
Futhork!
Een vreselijk gevoel bekroop me tussen de veren, misschien was het angst, misschien waren het vlooien….
De mysteries van de raaf: Het griezelige kasteelbeest. - Marcus Sedgwick.
Dit is deel 1 van een serie, er zijn er nu twee vertaald naar het Nederlands. In het Engels zijn er minstens 5 boeken van Raven mysteries. Ook een serie van Marcus Sedgwick is “Elfmeisje en raafjongen”, hier is pas 1 boek vertaald naar het Nederlands.
Het griezelige kasteelbeest is geschreven voor kinderen vanaf ongeveer 9 jaar. Het is een boek dat zowel jongens als meisjes leuk zullen vinden. Er staat op elke bladzijde wel een (zwart-wit) tekening, wat kinderen erg zal aanspreken.
Het boek gaat over Edgar, een oude raaf, die al eeuwenlang in het kasteel op de berg woont. Hij heeft al vele generaties mensen meegemaakt in het kasteel. Nu woont er een vreemde familie, alle gezinsleden zijn al even bijzonder. Edgar begint met vertellen dat de familie in het kasteel zo dwaas is dat hij hen vaak uit de moeilijkheden moet halen. Dan geeft hij als voorbeeld die ene woensdag en start het boek echt. Tussendoor vertelt Edgar over het kasteel, de familie en het personeel. Op een dag wanneer Edgar lekker rond het kasteel fladdert, ziet hij iets waar hij de kriebels van krijgt...HET, een afzichtelijk, afschuwelijk, afgrijselijk ding. Hij gaat op onderzoek uit en merkt al snel dat zijn gevoel juist is….Edgar besluit hulp te halen, maar die dwaze mensen willen het maar niet snappen.
Er ontstond een spannend avontuur, met veel grappige stukjes.
Ik denk dat kinderen dit een leuk boek zullen vinden, al zitten er soms wel heel moeilijke woorden in als “alambiek”. Het is spannend, maar niet te. Dat komt ook omdat er veel grappige dingen in voor komen. Het droge commentaar van Edgar op die dwaze mensen is ook erg komisch.
Drie en halve ster
Een vreselijk gevoel bekroop me tussen de veren, misschien was het angst, misschien waren het vlooien….
De mysteries van de raaf: Het griezelige kasteelbeest. - Marcus Sedgwick.
Dit is deel 1 van een serie, er zijn er nu twee vertaald naar het Nederlands. In het Engels zijn er minstens 5 boeken van Raven mysteries. Ook een serie van Marcus Sedgwick is “Elfmeisje en raafjongen”, hier is pas 1 boek vertaald naar het Nederlands.
Het griezelige kasteelbeest is geschreven voor kinderen vanaf ongeveer 9 jaar. Het is een boek dat zowel jongens als meisjes leuk zullen vinden. Er staat op elke bladzijde wel een (zwart-wit) tekening, wat kinderen erg zal aanspreken.
Het boek gaat over Edgar, een oude raaf, die al eeuwenlang in het kasteel op de berg woont. Hij heeft al vele generaties mensen meegemaakt in het kasteel. Nu woont er een vreemde familie, alle gezinsleden zijn al even bijzonder. Edgar begint met vertellen dat de familie in het kasteel zo dwaas is dat hij hen vaak uit de moeilijkheden moet halen. Dan geeft hij als voorbeeld die ene woensdag en start het boek echt. Tussendoor vertelt Edgar over het kasteel, de familie en het personeel. Op een dag wanneer Edgar lekker rond het kasteel fladdert, ziet hij iets waar hij de kriebels van krijgt...HET, een afzichtelijk, afschuwelijk, afgrijselijk ding. Hij gaat op onderzoek uit en merkt al snel dat zijn gevoel juist is….Edgar besluit hulp te halen, maar die dwaze mensen willen het maar niet snappen.
Er ontstond een spannend avontuur, met veel grappige stukjes.
Ik denk dat kinderen dit een leuk boek zullen vinden, al zitten er soms wel heel moeilijke woorden in als “alambiek”. Het is spannend, maar niet te. Dat komt ook omdat er veel grappige dingen in voor komen. Het droge commentaar van Edgar op die dwaze mensen is ook erg komisch.
Drie en halve ster
September 16, 2019
This was actually kind of adorable.
I loved Edgar. I loved how sassy and childish he was despite being older than everything. I loved that it was forever from his perspective cause I think that it made the story more unique. I got annoyed with the Otherhand family literally immediately and I felt no compassion for any of them other than Solstice.
I will say the mystery aspect wasn't all that mysteryish, but the book is quite juvenile so for the age range it's good enough. I would have liked to know what kind of creature it was, or where it came from.
I would also like to know why everyone was perfectly fine with a semi-sentient castle that was ready to drown it's on inhabitants. That would have me worried.
Otherwise, the story was super cute, It took me all of an hour to devour (to be fair I was getting my hair dyed at the time so it wasn't like I had anywhere else to go) and I was entertained the whole time. Good novel to get kids into gothic type mystery stories.
I loved Edgar. I loved how sassy and childish he was despite being older than everything. I loved that it was forever from his perspective cause I think that it made the story more unique. I got annoyed with the Otherhand family literally immediately and I felt no compassion for any of them other than Solstice.
I will say the mystery aspect wasn't all that mysteryish, but the book is quite juvenile so for the age range it's good enough. I would have liked to know what kind of creature it was, or where it came from.
I would also like to know why everyone was perfectly fine with a semi-sentient castle that was ready to drown it's on inhabitants. That would have me worried.
Otherwise, the story was super cute, It took me all of an hour to devour (to be fair I was getting my hair dyed at the time so it wasn't like I had anywhere else to go) and I was entertained the whole time. Good novel to get kids into gothic type mystery stories.
November 11, 2021
Estoy consiente de que este libro es infantil, por lo que intenté criticarlo por ese lado. Me pareció un libro entretenido, la verdad es que no me aburrió en ningún punto, y por lo mismo de que es infantil es muy rápido de leer, es por ello que lo considero una lectura ligera.
Sólo desarrolla un punto central en todo el libro, tampoco hay mucho desarrollo de personajes, que ya era de esperarse por el público al que va dirigido.
Hablando del arte, la verdad es que las ilustraciones me parecieron muy buenas.
Algo que me gustaría añadir, es que utiliza algunas palabras un poco avanzadas para los niños, por ese lado creo que podría que los pequeños se atoran un poco durante la lectura, pero nada exagerado.
En algunos puntos me encontré con fallas en la redacción, pero son mínimas, aunque me pareció acordé mencionarlo.
En conclusión, es un buen libro, ligero y entretenido, le doy un 3.5
Sólo desarrolla un punto central en todo el libro, tampoco hay mucho desarrollo de personajes, que ya era de esperarse por el público al que va dirigido.
Hablando del arte, la verdad es que las ilustraciones me parecieron muy buenas.
Algo que me gustaría añadir, es que utiliza algunas palabras un poco avanzadas para los niños, por ese lado creo que podría que los pequeños se atoran un poco durante la lectura, pero nada exagerado.
En algunos puntos me encontré con fallas en la redacción, pero son mínimas, aunque me pareció acordé mencionarlo.
En conclusión, es un buen libro, ligero y entretenido, le doy un 3.5
August 26, 2018
I can’t believe I haven’t come across it earlier.
“Flood and Fang” is the first book in the Raven Mysteries by Marcus Sedgwick and it’s absolutely brilliant! The story is told by a grouchy, yet adorable, raven Edgar and follows his quest to save gothic Otherhand Castle and its peculiar family from a scaly beast.
The writing is engaging and consistently hilarious starting with the opening sentence: “I suspect I may have fleas again” :-) Also, the book is full of awesome illustrations by Pete Williamson. Loved loved loved it! One of the best children's books I've ever read.
“Flood and Fang” is the first book in the Raven Mysteries by Marcus Sedgwick and it’s absolutely brilliant! The story is told by a grouchy, yet adorable, raven Edgar and follows his quest to save gothic Otherhand Castle and its peculiar family from a scaly beast.
The writing is engaging and consistently hilarious starting with the opening sentence: “I suspect I may have fleas again” :-) Also, the book is full of awesome illustrations by Pete Williamson. Loved loved loved it! One of the best children's books I've ever read.
April 24, 2019
When Castle Otherhand is threatened by mysterious watery forces and a beast that eats kitchen maids, it seems that poor Edgar the Raven is the only one to notice. It's up to him to try and save the barmy Otherhand family, before it's too late. But that's not easy when you're a Raven...
This is a really quick read, beautifully illustrated throughout with some very gothic, atmospheric pictures that perfectly suit the gothic-comedy tone of the writing. The characters are bonkers and fabulous and Edgar's escapades will have you chuckling. A fab book for younger readers and adults alike.
This is a really quick read, beautifully illustrated throughout with some very gothic, atmospheric pictures that perfectly suit the gothic-comedy tone of the writing. The characters are bonkers and fabulous and Edgar's escapades will have you chuckling. A fab book for younger readers and adults alike.
June 28, 2022
What a fun book aimed I guess at a younger readership but this 60 year old found the book and thoroughly enjoyed it!
It's about a family of goths in their castle and Edgar the raven by whom the story is told and is our hero.
I really enjoyed this book, the action never stops and so would keep a child's mind occupied whilst reading. There are also some great drawings throughout which I found needed more of my attention at times than the text as they are beautifully and humorously drawn.
I can seriously recommend this book to all ages if you want a bit of anarchic fun!
It's about a family of goths in their castle and Edgar the raven by whom the story is told and is our hero.
I really enjoyed this book, the action never stops and so would keep a child's mind occupied whilst reading. There are also some great drawings throughout which I found needed more of my attention at times than the text as they are beautifully and humorously drawn.
I can seriously recommend this book to all ages if you want a bit of anarchic fun!
November 15, 2022
J'ai beaucoup aimer cette histoire jeunesse, le fait de suivre le corbeau de la famille et d'avoir ses ressentis, ses pensées j'ai adorer. Un livre qui m'a fait sourire a plusieurs reprise, comment Edgar parle des humains m'a fait bien rire. Une famille vraiment hors du commun, original, complètement folle, que ce soit la mère avec ses pâtisseries ou le père avec ses inventions. J'ai beaucoup aimer Solstice, son caractère et surtout la seule de la famille qui à l'air réfléchis. Le fait que Edgar fasse tout pour sauver cette petite famille est trop mignon.
March 19, 2023
Amazing first book of the set, you meet some great characters, and an annoy monkey ....these books are really easy to read and really enjoyable, the art work that is seen through the books really amazing and gives you a better idea on the story. Marcus Sedgwick is a great author and you get drAwn into his stories
February 20, 2023
¡Hilarante historia de una mansión la familia que allí lo habita... y contada por un cuervo!
Con un ritmo rápido, divertido y con muchas reflexiones de este curioso pájaro increíblemente longevo. Además está ilustrada con un toque oscuro y curioso.
Con un ritmo rápido, divertido y con muchas reflexiones de este curioso pájaro increíblemente longevo. Además está ilustrada con un toque oscuro y curioso.
January 2, 2026
Sedgwick #1
The Raven Mysteries #1
Mild entertainment here, with a story that was of some interest, although I don't think it will stay with me, if I see more in the series in my travels I may read them.
The Raven Mysteries #1
Mild entertainment here, with a story that was of some interest, although I don't think it will stay with me, if I see more in the series in my travels I may read them.
June 3, 2018
A very easy read which I felt had a good sense of humour here and there. However my junior book group hated it due to its lack of both characterisation and world-building, and I agree.
August 13, 2021
Great read fun and a little spooky a good book for young readers who like things such as the Addams family
October 6, 2024
A great start to a series for tweens, advanced elementary readers, or teen ELL. Told from the point of view of the Raven.
July 31, 2025
My first book thank you for this wonderful story ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
November 21, 2025
Actual rating: 2.5
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