What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales From The Sinister City #3
The Eyeball Collector
When his butterfly-collector father is swindled to within an inch of his life, a vengeful Hector leaves the city of Urbs Umida in pursuit of a fiendish villain with a glass eye. The trail leads to Withypitts Hall, a forbidding Gothic mansion as warped as its inhabitants and their secret schemes. Soon Hector finds himself embroiled in mysterious deeds more poisonous than his worst imaginings, but every twist and turn brings him closer to his revenge . . .
The third dark and diabolical book from a devilishly talented author.
The third dark and diabolical book from a devilishly talented author.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2009
32 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
F.E. Higgins
9 books199 followersF.E. Higgins has been fascinated by the macabre ever since seeing a ghostly apparition as a child. Nowadays Higgins travels the lands that these books describe, collecting strange artifacts and the even stranger stories behind them. When not in pursuit of a story, Higgins may be found in a haunted house in Kent, where a dismembered hand cradles a large diamond on the mantelpiece.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
October 7, 2009
Edward Gorey once said, "I suppose I know a few tots who would like my books." In his day the man perfected the art of the macabre, helping to raise whole generations of children with a taste for the darkly humorous. Kids who continue to indulge such tastes have a strange array of books to choose from these days. They could read some Lemony Snicket, find old Charles Addams cartoons, or perhaps dip a toe in the waters of F.E. Higgins. I first read an F.E. Higgins book roundabout two years ago when she brought out the delightful The Black Book of Secrets. Then came The Bone Magician which she described as a kind of "paraquel", or story that takes place in the same world and in tandem with Black Book but doesn't overlap much. The Eyeball Collector is now the third, and perhaps the best, book in this delightfully twisted series so far. Containing a couple characters from the first two books, this latest book in the series stands entirely on its own and contains a world you might not want to visit personally, but that you'll gladly reread again and again. Youthful fans of the darkest recesses of the human brain will be inordinately pleased.
Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it. Hector Fitzbaudley would have done well to heed that advice. Bored by the life he leads with his well-to-do father and their collection of butterflies, Hector sometimes sneaks across the river to the bad part of town where he can watch life being lived. Yet when a mysterious one-eyed man causes the death of Mr. Fitzbaudley with a little blackmail, Hector vows to track down the villain and take revenge. His plan takes him to the beautiful but poisonous Withypitts Hall, presided over by Lady Mandible, a woman of unique and dangerous tastes. And even as Hector schemes, so too scheme the people around him, until at last he is caught in a web of lies and murder from which it will be difficult to escape. As Hector's father once said to him, "When you run with wolves, you become a wolf."
After reading The Black Book of Secrets I found that what I had on my hands was a book ideal for booktalking. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, a booktalk is a kind of verbal trailer or preview for a work of literature. Librarians typically get classes of middle grade or high school students then talk up titles in such a way that the kids feel they absolutely must read that book immediately! Black Book was good, but I can tell that I'll really be breaking out the old booktalking chompers for this new title. Think of all the crazy elements it contains! Death by butterfly, a cat eater, eyeballs for every day of the week, paintings created with blood, riddles, revenge, rescues, you name it!
Of course, Higgins's real strength lies in her delicious writing. Nobody conjures up descriptions like this woman. First there are the names to consider. Names like Lady Mandible, Urbs Umida, Pagus Parvus, the River Foedus, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin, and more. People tend to compare Higgins to Dickens, but I think the comparison is unfair. True she sets her books against a kind of pseudo-Dickensian background and uses funny names, but the stories are far more wonderfully lurid than Dickens. I ask you, how many stuffed gorilla chairs are there in Little Dorrit? Precisely. Case closed.
It's funny but Harry Potter fans may read Hector's invective of "Tartri flammis!" and fall under the mistaken impression that the boy has just cast some kind of spell. This is the kind of book where Latin is bandied about freely and riddles are in great supply. In fact, in the back of the book you will find the answers to many of the riddles Hector and others tell throughout the book. You will not necessarily know to check for these riddles ahead of time, but if you happen to stumble upon them you'll be pleased. I was particularly fond of the one involving an innkeeper, ten guests, and nine beds (I still haven't been able to figure out how it works).
It's not the first butterflies-and-gothic-secrets story I've ever read. Truth be told, the books reads as if Higgins was envious of the sordid butterfly world of A.S. Byatt's Angels & Insects and tweaked it ever so slightly to fit her own nefarious purposes. This, in turn, bring up the question of the readership for this book. What I like about Higgins, though, is that even as she's conjuring up horrific ideas left and right, she never goes so far that you'd have to call her books teen fare. It's the suggestion rather than the visceral description that has sway here. Kids reading this book (provided they've strong stomachs) should be fine. Evocative and capable of enveloping you in another world entirely, The Eyeball Collector has got to simply be one of the most enjoyable books out there. Enjoyable, that is, if you've a taste for twisted machinations and even stranger villainy. Your kids won't be putting this one down anytime soon.
Ages 11 and up.
Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it. Hector Fitzbaudley would have done well to heed that advice. Bored by the life he leads with his well-to-do father and their collection of butterflies, Hector sometimes sneaks across the river to the bad part of town where he can watch life being lived. Yet when a mysterious one-eyed man causes the death of Mr. Fitzbaudley with a little blackmail, Hector vows to track down the villain and take revenge. His plan takes him to the beautiful but poisonous Withypitts Hall, presided over by Lady Mandible, a woman of unique and dangerous tastes. And even as Hector schemes, so too scheme the people around him, until at last he is caught in a web of lies and murder from which it will be difficult to escape. As Hector's father once said to him, "When you run with wolves, you become a wolf."
After reading The Black Book of Secrets I found that what I had on my hands was a book ideal for booktalking. For those of you who aren't familiar with it, a booktalk is a kind of verbal trailer or preview for a work of literature. Librarians typically get classes of middle grade or high school students then talk up titles in such a way that the kids feel they absolutely must read that book immediately! Black Book was good, but I can tell that I'll really be breaking out the old booktalking chompers for this new title. Think of all the crazy elements it contains! Death by butterfly, a cat eater, eyeballs for every day of the week, paintings created with blood, riddles, revenge, rescues, you name it!
Of course, Higgins's real strength lies in her delicious writing. Nobody conjures up descriptions like this woman. First there are the names to consider. Names like Lady Mandible, Urbs Umida, Pagus Parvus, the River Foedus, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin, and more. People tend to compare Higgins to Dickens, but I think the comparison is unfair. True she sets her books against a kind of pseudo-Dickensian background and uses funny names, but the stories are far more wonderfully lurid than Dickens. I ask you, how many stuffed gorilla chairs are there in Little Dorrit? Precisely. Case closed.
It's funny but Harry Potter fans may read Hector's invective of "Tartri flammis!" and fall under the mistaken impression that the boy has just cast some kind of spell. This is the kind of book where Latin is bandied about freely and riddles are in great supply. In fact, in the back of the book you will find the answers to many of the riddles Hector and others tell throughout the book. You will not necessarily know to check for these riddles ahead of time, but if you happen to stumble upon them you'll be pleased. I was particularly fond of the one involving an innkeeper, ten guests, and nine beds (I still haven't been able to figure out how it works).
It's not the first butterflies-and-gothic-secrets story I've ever read. Truth be told, the books reads as if Higgins was envious of the sordid butterfly world of A.S. Byatt's Angels & Insects and tweaked it ever so slightly to fit her own nefarious purposes. This, in turn, bring up the question of the readership for this book. What I like about Higgins, though, is that even as she's conjuring up horrific ideas left and right, she never goes so far that you'd have to call her books teen fare. It's the suggestion rather than the visceral description that has sway here. Kids reading this book (provided they've strong stomachs) should be fine. Evocative and capable of enveloping you in another world entirely, The Eyeball Collector has got to simply be one of the most enjoyable books out there. Enjoyable, that is, if you've a taste for twisted machinations and even stranger villainy. Your kids won't be putting this one down anytime soon.
Ages 11 and up.
March 15, 2023
Mein letztes Buch von F. E. Higgins, bereits vor Jahren habe ich 'Das Buch der schwarzen Geheimnisse' und 'Silbertod' gelesen. Seit circa 7 Jahren lag dieses Buch nun auf meinem ungelesen Stapel und ich weiß wirklich nicht, warum ich so lange gewartet habe.
Dieses Buch ist wie ein Bindeglied der obigen Bücher, man kann sie unabhängig voneinander lesen und doch habe sie alle einen Bezug zueinander. Faszinierend, wie die Autorin dies gemanaged hat.
Wie auch die beiden anderen Teile ist 'Das Gift der Schmetterlinge' ein düsteres Jugendbuch mit einer sympathischen Hauptfigur. Hector will den Tod seines Vaters rächen. Verantwortlich dafür ist der Meister der Täuschung Truepin. Hector entwickelt einen Plan, als niemand anderes als der verkleidete Truepin selbst ihm einen Auftrag erteilt. Dieser Auftrag führt Hector ins Anwesen der Lady Mandible, einer äußerst luxuriösen und kuriosen wie auch kaltherzigen Frau. Nichts scheint zu sein, wie es aussieht und die Geheimnisse werden nach und nach enthüllt.
Zurück zu Hector, dem klugen und sympathischen Prota. Er ist die Stimme des Buches und manche Kapitel werden durch Briefe an eine Freundin aus seiner Perspektive geschrieben. Man spürt seinen Hass auf Truepin und seine Gram bezüglich des Verlustes seines Vaters und seines früheren Lebens. Seine Handlungen und Gedanken konnte ich durchweg gut nachvollziehen und nichts schien aus der Luft gegriffen. Er denkt bevor er handelt, wenn auch manchmal impulsiv, jedoch besinnt er sich auch in Gedenken an seinen Vater wieder.
Die Bösewichte haben mich auch fasziniert! Nicht nur Truepin ist hier eine falsche Schlange. Perfekte Inszenierungen der Autorin haben für Spannung und Überraschung gesorgt. Auch, wenn man einen Verdacht hatte, so wurde man am Ende doch überrascht. Durch gestellte Rätsel wird das Buch sogar ein Stückweit interaktiv. Lediglich das Rätsel um die am Anfang so groß beschriebene Kreatur wurde nicht gelöst, worauf ich bis zum Ende hin doch gehofft hatte.
Der Schreibstil ist leicht und nicht zu gestalzt. Daher kann man das Buch schnell und gut in einem Zug durchlesen.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch ziemlich gut gefallen. Durch spannende Handlungen und gewiefte Charaktere wurde auf unter 300 Seiten eine unterhaltsame Geschichte für junge Leser geschaffen.
Dieses Buch ist wie ein Bindeglied der obigen Bücher, man kann sie unabhängig voneinander lesen und doch habe sie alle einen Bezug zueinander. Faszinierend, wie die Autorin dies gemanaged hat.
Wie auch die beiden anderen Teile ist 'Das Gift der Schmetterlinge' ein düsteres Jugendbuch mit einer sympathischen Hauptfigur. Hector will den Tod seines Vaters rächen. Verantwortlich dafür ist der Meister der Täuschung Truepin. Hector entwickelt einen Plan, als niemand anderes als der verkleidete Truepin selbst ihm einen Auftrag erteilt. Dieser Auftrag führt Hector ins Anwesen der Lady Mandible, einer äußerst luxuriösen und kuriosen wie auch kaltherzigen Frau. Nichts scheint zu sein, wie es aussieht und die Geheimnisse werden nach und nach enthüllt.
Zurück zu Hector, dem klugen und sympathischen Prota. Er ist die Stimme des Buches und manche Kapitel werden durch Briefe an eine Freundin aus seiner Perspektive geschrieben. Man spürt seinen Hass auf Truepin und seine Gram bezüglich des Verlustes seines Vaters und seines früheren Lebens. Seine Handlungen und Gedanken konnte ich durchweg gut nachvollziehen und nichts schien aus der Luft gegriffen. Er denkt bevor er handelt, wenn auch manchmal impulsiv, jedoch besinnt er sich auch in Gedenken an seinen Vater wieder.
Die Bösewichte haben mich auch fasziniert! Nicht nur Truepin ist hier eine falsche Schlange. Perfekte Inszenierungen der Autorin haben für Spannung und Überraschung gesorgt. Auch, wenn man einen Verdacht hatte, so wurde man am Ende doch überrascht. Durch gestellte Rätsel wird das Buch sogar ein Stückweit interaktiv. Lediglich das Rätsel um die am Anfang so groß beschriebene Kreatur wurde nicht gelöst, worauf ich bis zum Ende hin doch gehofft hatte.
Der Schreibstil ist leicht und nicht zu gestalzt. Daher kann man das Buch schnell und gut in einem Zug durchlesen.
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch ziemlich gut gefallen. Durch spannende Handlungen und gewiefte Charaktere wurde auf unter 300 Seiten eine unterhaltsame Geschichte für junge Leser geschaffen.
September 25, 2020
Oh, what a deliciously creepy story!! This is a late middle grade read, I suppose, if one had to categorize the intended readership. However, I’m an adult and I loved this, and I have several adult friends who I think would also enjoy this story. Creepy, eerie, and definitely filled with the macabre (death by butterfly, cat eaters [must.have.a.strong.stomach to read this part], gorilla chairs, glass eyeball collections, painting in human blood!), this was a PERFECT story for this time of year, as we approach Halloween and I stock up on spooky reads.
Also? I LOVE when authors use amazing vocabulary. Crepuscular, titillated, and many other delicious words were sprinkled throughout the story. And the names!! Urbs Umida. Withypitts Hall. Bovrik de Vandolin. Pragus Parvus. And the various riddles throughout the book, too. My favorite was “e” but I have no idea how Hector figured it out. (The answers to many of the riddles were shared in an appendix.)
I won’t lie, I went ahead and bought myself the other books in this series (from my favorite used book website!). These are stories I can totally see wanting to read and reread multiple times.
Also? I LOVE when authors use amazing vocabulary. Crepuscular, titillated, and many other delicious words were sprinkled throughout the story. And the names!! Urbs Umida. Withypitts Hall. Bovrik de Vandolin. Pragus Parvus. And the various riddles throughout the book, too. My favorite was “e” but I have no idea how Hector figured it out. (The answers to many of the riddles were shared in an appendix.)
I won’t lie, I went ahead and bought myself the other books in this series (from my favorite used book website!). These are stories I can totally see wanting to read and reread multiple times.
November 12, 2009
a minor charachter in this book was trupein he was the infamous eyeball collector.He went town to town scamming people but he wanted to go into "retirement" so he needed to pull of the mother on all shams and his victams were the fitzbaldy's, hector the son of mr. fitzbaldy wanted to revenge his fathers name and his life so he fallowed trupein now know as the baron to town and his knowlegde of butterflies intrested him becuase his host was throughing a midwinter fest and she needed butterflies so he was hired and brought to the house were hector deviced a plan to murder him, during this time the host was also on the same path to killing her husband and the baron to steel all his money she as well as the baron was a master swindle and as this plan layed it self out all on the night of mid winter ball the baron's life was saved by hector and as he unravled what the night had instore for him he confessed that he was a rotten man and that his life swindles were worthless to him and made him feel sick so he took his own life.
May 31, 2013
Kept me guessing. Very original. Have to love a book that uses words like coruscating, diurnal and crepuscular. I wouldn't call it steampunk, but definitely neo-Victorian alternate reality, kind of a gothic Dickens meets Poe. Intriguing, creative way to tell a tale, with combinations of omniscient narrative (switching back and forth between various POVs), letters, fliers, advertisements, and crossovers from other books in the series (apparently all stories happen concurrently and overlap in parts, but I've only read this book so far). Though the third book in a series, I had no problem following the characters and events to their macabre conclusion. Very creepy and disturbing -- the next step up from "Series of Unfortunate Events," with the eyeball collector a little bit like Count Olaf? Though the protagonist Hector is young (not sure of his age, but guessing around 12 or 13, if it was mentioned outright, I missed it), I'd recommend this for people over 13, and only those who aren't easily creeped out by taxidermy, leeches and disturbing treatment of animals.
September 7, 2009
Higgins is a really good author. I immensely enjoyed The Black Book and wish I'd read the middle one, The Bone Magician, which I somehow missed.
Hector Fitzbaudly, a child of wealth and learning, is suddenly paupered and orphaned because of the actions of a conartist who blackmails his family. Hector wanders into Urbs Umida (the seedy side of town we were introduced to in The Black Book) blindly, focused only upon revenge. When he gets his chance, will he take it?
I love that Higgins pulls in little surprises by connecting her books in little ways. It's not a series, but instead a set of books relating characters to one another. It's gorey enough to satisfy those young readers looking for a "scary" book. In fact, I found parts of it to be almost too scary (there are a few things that make me queasy, Higgins just happened to hit upon them).
It's a fun recommendation for middle grade/high school readers.
Hector Fitzbaudly, a child of wealth and learning, is suddenly paupered and orphaned because of the actions of a conartist who blackmails his family. Hector wanders into Urbs Umida (the seedy side of town we were introduced to in The Black Book) blindly, focused only upon revenge. When he gets his chance, will he take it?
I love that Higgins pulls in little surprises by connecting her books in little ways. It's not a series, but instead a set of books relating characters to one another. It's gorey enough to satisfy those young readers looking for a "scary" book. In fact, I found parts of it to be almost too scary (there are a few things that make me queasy, Higgins just happened to hit upon them).
It's a fun recommendation for middle grade/high school readers.
December 15, 2013
This is the third story in the Tales From the Sinister City Series. Its a bit gothic, creepy, and a bit on the dark side and wonderful fun for all.
Hector lives on the wealthy side of Urbs Umida and enjoys crossing over to the wrong side of the river for adventure until he finds himself an orphan with no other place to go. Filled with revenge against the sinister Truepin, he soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery.
Mysteries woven into other mysteries, this story contains threads of the previous books but is a story all its own. I love how some of the previous loose ends are almost tied up but not really explained making you want to know more.
Overall, I love the series and can't wait to read more. This book as well as the series, is great for the kid in all of us. A cross between Poe and Dickens, a little bit dark, but a whole lot fun.
Hector lives on the wealthy side of Urbs Umida and enjoys crossing over to the wrong side of the river for adventure until he finds himself an orphan with no other place to go. Filled with revenge against the sinister Truepin, he soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery.
Mysteries woven into other mysteries, this story contains threads of the previous books but is a story all its own. I love how some of the previous loose ends are almost tied up but not really explained making you want to know more.
Overall, I love the series and can't wait to read more. This book as well as the series, is great for the kid in all of us. A cross between Poe and Dickens, a little bit dark, but a whole lot fun.
August 23, 2015
I absolutely love FE Higgins' work and this one did not disappoint! Creepy, mysterious, and very odd --if this is your thing, you will like this book!
October 30, 2021
I read the book, The eyeball collector (950L) by: SE. Higgins. The book starts off with Hector Fitzbauldy sneaking out of his house and goes to the south side and he gets robbed. Then Hector’s dad dies due to a guy who has one eye, and his name is Gulliver Truepin. Hector then goes without a home but finds his way to a place for abandoned and lost boys. Hector then goes on the street and decides to solve riddles (which he is very good at) for money. He then wants revenge on Gulliver Truepin who killed his dad while hiding his name as Baron Bovrik de Vandolin. He meets him and Bovrik invites him to go to withypitts hall, to do a task for Lady Mandible, hatch butterflies for a feast, which his dad was an amazing worker with butterflies. A lot of people say not to go there because people rarely come back from there, but Hector doesn’t change his mind. He learns about a big feast coming up and is supposed to have butterflies for the feast. The feast arrives and it goes well until Lord Mandible dies by poison from someone and that someone steps in and wants to be the new king. He is shamed by everyone and wants them caught, when he is ran out of the castle. Hector goes up to him and says that this was enough revenge for him.
The theme of this story is that no matter how bad you want something you don’t always get it. This goes for the person who poisoned Lord Mandible because he was caught. On page 39, the text says, “I knew he was dead”. This was Hector talking about his dad when he figured out he died. This makes him make a decision that he wants revenge on Bovrik/Truepin. Another piece of textual evidence is “I am not a wolf” (p. 225) Hector is remembering his dad’s words to him that if he runs with the wolves he becomes a wolf this reveals that Hector really loves his dad and is still listening to what he has said a long while ago. This is talking about if he were to kill Bovrik/Truepin he would become a wolf because Bovrik/Truepin is a wolf because of him killing Hector’s dad
I think this book is alright, one thing I would do differently is that there was a lot of letters that Hector sent to Poly (the person who looked after him for a little bit after his dad died) there were so many chapters where the only thing that happened was he wrote a letter to her and on top of that the font was hard to read. My favorite part was when Lottie Fitch’s son shows up at the end of the feast and helps to get Hector out of there. I believe that the ending about who poisoned lord mandible was too predictable because the book was foreshadowing who did it. Therefore I rate this book 2 stars
The theme of this story is that no matter how bad you want something you don’t always get it. This goes for the person who poisoned Lord Mandible because he was caught. On page 39, the text says, “I knew he was dead”. This was Hector talking about his dad when he figured out he died. This makes him make a decision that he wants revenge on Bovrik/Truepin. Another piece of textual evidence is “I am not a wolf” (p. 225) Hector is remembering his dad’s words to him that if he runs with the wolves he becomes a wolf this reveals that Hector really loves his dad and is still listening to what he has said a long while ago. This is talking about if he were to kill Bovrik/Truepin he would become a wolf because Bovrik/Truepin is a wolf because of him killing Hector’s dad
I think this book is alright, one thing I would do differently is that there was a lot of letters that Hector sent to Poly (the person who looked after him for a little bit after his dad died) there were so many chapters where the only thing that happened was he wrote a letter to her and on top of that the font was hard to read. My favorite part was when Lottie Fitch’s son shows up at the end of the feast and helps to get Hector out of there. I believe that the ending about who poisoned lord mandible was too predictable because the book was foreshadowing who did it. Therefore I rate this book 2 stars
October 25, 2017
Gray Palmer
Mr. Watson
Language Arts
18 October 2017
Review of The Eye Collector
The Eye Collector is a book that took place in London in the town and the mountains. I read this book because it was in the shelf's alone, and I looked at it. It look ed good. It looked like it was going to be scary. I read the back,and it sounded really interesting. This book is good because the main character can be fun and has a lot of good ideas. His name is Hector and his love of riddles leads him to make a profit. Although he has fun he has some rough times. Also the book has a lot of interesting moments there are times when you can't even understand what is happening. This is one, how on earth did he get all of my butterflies from my childhood. Also the hog comes in the room and kills people. Should I stay and face the wrath or leave without the money. There are many weird and uncalled for moments.
This book rated by me, I would give it a four out of five. Some parts can get long and boring, if they made those more exciting the book would be five stars.
There is a rich boy named Hector but after the first part his father dies. He loses everything and then lives in a orphanage. When he was roaming the street, he meets a guy who gives him a job at a huge feast in a castle. The ride was rough and had lots problem. When he get to the castle,he gets to work. He sees someone sneaking around at night. The Hog comes to the feast. Lots of people die and Hector runs from the feast and the castle. Hector always thought about what was going to happen to him, but he turns out to be fine. He always thinks before acting in his head.He asks himself is this good. will this work for me. Hector throughout the book became more of an polite, less stylish person.He turns into a street kid that has no where to stay when he use to be rich.
Spoilers in coming
The king of the castle,Lord Mandible dies from poison. The prisoner gets out. Hector and the prisoner leave the feast. He gets jumped and they steal all of his clothes.
Mr. Watson
Language Arts
18 October 2017
Review of The Eye Collector
The Eye Collector is a book that took place in London in the town and the mountains. I read this book because it was in the shelf's alone, and I looked at it. It look ed good. It looked like it was going to be scary. I read the back,and it sounded really interesting. This book is good because the main character can be fun and has a lot of good ideas. His name is Hector and his love of riddles leads him to make a profit. Although he has fun he has some rough times. Also the book has a lot of interesting moments there are times when you can't even understand what is happening. This is one, how on earth did he get all of my butterflies from my childhood. Also the hog comes in the room and kills people. Should I stay and face the wrath or leave without the money. There are many weird and uncalled for moments.
This book rated by me, I would give it a four out of five. Some parts can get long and boring, if they made those more exciting the book would be five stars.
There is a rich boy named Hector but after the first part his father dies. He loses everything and then lives in a orphanage. When he was roaming the street, he meets a guy who gives him a job at a huge feast in a castle. The ride was rough and had lots problem. When he get to the castle,he gets to work. He sees someone sneaking around at night. The Hog comes to the feast. Lots of people die and Hector runs from the feast and the castle. Hector always thought about what was going to happen to him, but he turns out to be fine. He always thinks before acting in his head.He asks himself is this good. will this work for me. Hector throughout the book became more of an polite, less stylish person.He turns into a street kid that has no where to stay when he use to be rich.
Spoilers in coming
The king of the castle,Lord Mandible dies from poison. The prisoner gets out. Hector and the prisoner leave the feast. He gets jumped and they steal all of his clothes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2018
In The Eyeball Collector, by F.E. Higgins, Hector Fitzbaudley a young man from a wealthy family, can sometimes be found across the river and in the bad part of town. This is where Hector seeks adventures but sometimes finds danger. When a con-artist and thief with one-eye, named Gulliver Truepin, helps cause the death of Mr. Fitzbaudley, Hector’s father, with blackmail, Hector vows to find this evil man and take revenge. While tracking the one eyed man, Hector finds himself employed at Withypitts Hall, owned by Lord and Lady Mandible, people of strange and dark tastes. But also where the evil thief, Truepin is staying. While Hector plans and plots out his revenge, so do the people around him, until finally, he is caught up in lies and a murder. Has Hector lost all the values his father taught him? Is revenge worth the price one must pay?
The Eyeball Collector is the third in a series of books. I did not read the first two, but was able to follow this story. It is a very strange and dark story that contains, revenge, murder, deadly butterflies, a French man that eats cats, eyeballs with jewels, paintings done in blood, riddles, harpsichords, and hunting for hairy-back beasts. It was very mysterious and entertaining. It made me stop and really think about revenge and if its ever really a good idea to seek revenge on someone (even if they deserve it).
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you like mysteries and stories with a little darker edge to them. Based on this book, I would definitely like to go back and read her first two books.
The Eyeball Collector is the third in a series of books. I did not read the first two, but was able to follow this story. It is a very strange and dark story that contains, revenge, murder, deadly butterflies, a French man that eats cats, eyeballs with jewels, paintings done in blood, riddles, harpsichords, and hunting for hairy-back beasts. It was very mysterious and entertaining. It made me stop and really think about revenge and if its ever really a good idea to seek revenge on someone (even if they deserve it).
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you like mysteries and stories with a little darker edge to them. Based on this book, I would definitely like to go back and read her first two books.
April 21, 2024
I wanted to like this book but it did not 'click' for me. I am unsure why. The title makes it seem devious and slightly perverse, but the collector isn't quite. It tries be gothic, but isn't quite. It has elements of Harry Potter (yet another child character / orphan live under the stairs or in a broom closet) and Lemony Snicket and others. It has lots of good elements, but it doesn't really gel. Like a soup with lots of great ingredients where the whole is not more than the parts, nor even equal to their parts, but (unfortunately) actually less than the parts. It might be fun for a new reader.
I didn't realize that this was the third in the series when I picked it up, but I am so nonplussed that I won't read another. Like Lemony Snicket, the author's name seems invented to match the 'theme' of the series.
I didn't realize that this was the third in the series when I picked it up, but I am so nonplussed that I won't read another. Like Lemony Snicket, the author's name seems invented to match the 'theme' of the series.
January 7, 2024
The third installment of The Black Book of Secrets series. This book brings us back to Urbs Umida and Pagus Parvus. We finally meet Ludlow Fitch’s parents and learn what happened to Polly (from the first book). This story follows Hector and his quest for revenge against the man responsible for the death of his father. I love these books because we always walk away with new words like Lepidopterist. What a delightful word! The ending felt a bit rushed but I still loved this book!
December 1, 2025
The characters are interesting because they are all a bit unusual. Some are kind while others give you a weird feeling the moment they show up. The Eyeball Collector is especially creepy and every scene with him feels tense. The descriptions of the world and the people make the whole setting feel alive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
There is a strong influence of Edgar Allen Poe in Higgins' plot.
Part of the story is told through letters written by Hector Fitzbauldy to his
friend, Polly.
As the story reaches its conclusion, a character from the previous novels
makes a surprise appearance.
Part of the story is told through letters written by Hector Fitzbauldy to his
friend, Polly.
As the story reaches its conclusion, a character from the previous novels
makes a surprise appearance.
November 1, 2021
Loved the style of writing, the different forms the story was written in made it really interesting and engaging. Really liked the interactivity of the riddles etc. made the reader feel a part of the story.
January 5, 2018
This book is interesting, if you like horrible, I hope you will like this book,
I give this book 4 ⭐️
I give this book 4 ⭐️
September 27, 2018
Couldn't get through it. A bit slow, and the motif of collecting and skewering butterflies was creepy and not presented with any consciousness. Ugh.
December 4, 2019
Definitely a unique and intriguing title.
March 10, 2020
It's an awesome book! I read it for a project and I liked it so much that I decided to check out more stories from F.E Higgins!
July 21, 2021
and as the rest of this series, it is dark, ominous and intriguing. love me a macabre tale.
Read
November 12, 2022A student gave me this to read. Predictably, it was the kind of book he would love and definitely NOT the kind of book I love. There’s something for everyone.
March 18, 2023
Really fun book to read. Thought it was going to be about a serial killer, but it took fun twists and turns. Overall well written which made it easy to read!
May 30, 2025
this was a lot darker than I expected.. all the characters were terrible people.. meh
December 23, 2025
Quite frankly one of the WORST books I have ever read utter GARBAGE!!
August 8, 2022
This book was a good read. Kinda weird but that's what I enjoyed about it. Very different than my normal type of books. Well written I love the creativity in this book and the lesson the main character ends up learning by the end of it. Hector is a great character with a good head on his shoulders, is super smart and dedicated to his goal. It's kinda darkish has creepy parts and gross parts.
May 11, 2010
Kurzbeschreibung:
Hector schwört Rache. Sein Vater ist von dem hinterlistigen Betrüger Gulliver Truepin in den Ruin getrieben worden und vor Gram gestorben. Und das wird Truepin büßen müssen. Unter einem Vorwand schleicht Hector sich auf dem schaurigen Schloss der eiskalten Lady Mandible ein, wo Truepin – inzwischen in der Maske des vornehmen Baron Bovrik – ein luxuriöses Leben führt. Die Lady bereitet gerade das jährliche Mittwinterfest vor, und Hector bekommt den Auftrag, für eine besonders spektakuläre Festüberraschung große, bunte Schmetterlinge zu züchten. Trotz der haarsträubenden Dinge, deren Zeuge er auf dem Schloss wird, harrt Hector aus. Denn die Rache an Bovrik muss gelingen – giftige Schmetterlinge sollen ihm zum Verderben werden. Doch das aufwändig geplante Fest endet gänzlich unerwartet…
Zur Autorin:
F.E. Higgins, in London geboren, lebt als freie Autorin in England. 2007 legte sie mit dem Roman „Das Schwarze Buch der Geheimnisse“ ein grandioses Debüt vor. Sie wurde damit für den renommierten Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize nominiert und die Sunday Times feierte sie als „beeindruckendstes neues Autorentalent der letzten Jahre“. Mit ihren atmosphärisch dichten und präzise recherchierten Erzählungen aus dem England des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts in der Tradition eines Edgar Allen Poe oder Charles Dickens setzt sich ihr Erfolg nun fort. Der Zauber wirkt!
„Du Ungeheuer!, dachte Hector, und sein Widerwille gegen diesen falschen Baron steigerte sich noch einmal – er hatte nicht geahnt, dass so viel unerbittlicher Hass in ihm steckte. Sein Herz war wie ausgepresst und trotzdem ließ er sich nichts anmerken.“ (Seite 213)
Rezension:
Hector Fitzbaudly lebt zusammen mit seinem Vater im Nordteil der Stadt Urbs Umida ein wohlsituiertes Leben. Eines Tages aber überschlagen sich die Ereignisse: Hectors Vater wird von dem halbseidenen Gulliver Truepin erpresst, denn er war in nicht legale Geschäfte verwickelt. Um dies nicht öffentlich zu machen, geht Augustus Fitzbaudly auf die Forderungen Truepins’ ein. Doch dieser hält sich nicht an die vereinbarte Abmachung, sondern informiert die örtliche Zeitung davon, die sofort einen Artikel über Fitzbaudlys illegale Machenschaften druckt. Hectors Vater ist so außer sich, dass er einem Herzanfall erliegt und seinen Sohn allein zurücklässt. Dieser schwört Rache an Gulliver Truepin…
F.E. Higgins ist mit dem vorliegenden Buch ein äußerst unterhaltsames Kinder- und Jugendbuch gelungen. Es ist abenteuerlich, spannend, mystisch und auch lustig zugleich. Die Kapitel sind sehr übersichtlich gehalten und werden sehr schön aufgelockert durch eingeflochtene Briefe, die Hector an seine Freundin Polly schreibt, und Zeitungsartikel aus dem „Nordstadt-Journal“.
Hector ist ein sehr sympathischer Hauptprotagonist, mit dem der Leser mitfiebern kann. Die Handlung selbst ist für den erwachsenen Leser leicht vorhersehbar, aber schließlich handelt es sich hierbei um einen Kinder- und Jugendroman, der sich meiner Meinung für Kinder ab 10 Jahren eignet. Die Stadt Urbs Umida erinnert ein wenig an eine kindergerechte Version von Ankh-Morpork aus Terry Pratchetts „Scheibenwelt“-Romanen.
Ferner zu erwähnen ist, dass es bereits zwei Vorgeschichten zu „Das Gift der Schmetterlinge“ gibt, die auch im Großraum der Stadt Urbs Umida angesiedelt sind: „Das schwarze Buch der Geheimnisse“ und „Silbertod“. Da die Geschichten aber jeweils in sich abgeschlossen sind, muss man diese nicht vorher gelesen haben (es kommen aber wohl Randfiguren vor, die in den anderen Büchern als Hauptpersonen agierten).
Zur Gestaltung des Buches: Sehr schön gestaltet ist der Schutzumschlag, der Name der Autorin und der Titel des Buches sind erhaben und der blaue Schmetterlinge in Spotlack-Optik gedruckt. Auch die Buchklappe selbst wurde ähnlich gestaltet, sodaß der Roman auch ohne Schutzumschlag sehr edel aussieht.
Fazit: Ich fühlte mich von Hectors Geschichte sehr gut unterhalten und werde bei Gelegenheit die anderen beiden Bände lesen.
Wertung: 4 von 5 Punkten
Hector schwört Rache. Sein Vater ist von dem hinterlistigen Betrüger Gulliver Truepin in den Ruin getrieben worden und vor Gram gestorben. Und das wird Truepin büßen müssen. Unter einem Vorwand schleicht Hector sich auf dem schaurigen Schloss der eiskalten Lady Mandible ein, wo Truepin – inzwischen in der Maske des vornehmen Baron Bovrik – ein luxuriöses Leben führt. Die Lady bereitet gerade das jährliche Mittwinterfest vor, und Hector bekommt den Auftrag, für eine besonders spektakuläre Festüberraschung große, bunte Schmetterlinge zu züchten. Trotz der haarsträubenden Dinge, deren Zeuge er auf dem Schloss wird, harrt Hector aus. Denn die Rache an Bovrik muss gelingen – giftige Schmetterlinge sollen ihm zum Verderben werden. Doch das aufwändig geplante Fest endet gänzlich unerwartet…
Zur Autorin:
F.E. Higgins, in London geboren, lebt als freie Autorin in England. 2007 legte sie mit dem Roman „Das Schwarze Buch der Geheimnisse“ ein grandioses Debüt vor. Sie wurde damit für den renommierten Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize nominiert und die Sunday Times feierte sie als „beeindruckendstes neues Autorentalent der letzten Jahre“. Mit ihren atmosphärisch dichten und präzise recherchierten Erzählungen aus dem England des ausgehenden 19. Jahrhunderts in der Tradition eines Edgar Allen Poe oder Charles Dickens setzt sich ihr Erfolg nun fort. Der Zauber wirkt!
„Du Ungeheuer!, dachte Hector, und sein Widerwille gegen diesen falschen Baron steigerte sich noch einmal – er hatte nicht geahnt, dass so viel unerbittlicher Hass in ihm steckte. Sein Herz war wie ausgepresst und trotzdem ließ er sich nichts anmerken.“ (Seite 213)
Rezension:
Hector Fitzbaudly lebt zusammen mit seinem Vater im Nordteil der Stadt Urbs Umida ein wohlsituiertes Leben. Eines Tages aber überschlagen sich die Ereignisse: Hectors Vater wird von dem halbseidenen Gulliver Truepin erpresst, denn er war in nicht legale Geschäfte verwickelt. Um dies nicht öffentlich zu machen, geht Augustus Fitzbaudly auf die Forderungen Truepins’ ein. Doch dieser hält sich nicht an die vereinbarte Abmachung, sondern informiert die örtliche Zeitung davon, die sofort einen Artikel über Fitzbaudlys illegale Machenschaften druckt. Hectors Vater ist so außer sich, dass er einem Herzanfall erliegt und seinen Sohn allein zurücklässt. Dieser schwört Rache an Gulliver Truepin…
F.E. Higgins ist mit dem vorliegenden Buch ein äußerst unterhaltsames Kinder- und Jugendbuch gelungen. Es ist abenteuerlich, spannend, mystisch und auch lustig zugleich. Die Kapitel sind sehr übersichtlich gehalten und werden sehr schön aufgelockert durch eingeflochtene Briefe, die Hector an seine Freundin Polly schreibt, und Zeitungsartikel aus dem „Nordstadt-Journal“.
Hector ist ein sehr sympathischer Hauptprotagonist, mit dem der Leser mitfiebern kann. Die Handlung selbst ist für den erwachsenen Leser leicht vorhersehbar, aber schließlich handelt es sich hierbei um einen Kinder- und Jugendroman, der sich meiner Meinung für Kinder ab 10 Jahren eignet. Die Stadt Urbs Umida erinnert ein wenig an eine kindergerechte Version von Ankh-Morpork aus Terry Pratchetts „Scheibenwelt“-Romanen.
Ferner zu erwähnen ist, dass es bereits zwei Vorgeschichten zu „Das Gift der Schmetterlinge“ gibt, die auch im Großraum der Stadt Urbs Umida angesiedelt sind: „Das schwarze Buch der Geheimnisse“ und „Silbertod“. Da die Geschichten aber jeweils in sich abgeschlossen sind, muss man diese nicht vorher gelesen haben (es kommen aber wohl Randfiguren vor, die in den anderen Büchern als Hauptpersonen agierten).
Zur Gestaltung des Buches: Sehr schön gestaltet ist der Schutzumschlag, der Name der Autorin und der Titel des Buches sind erhaben und der blaue Schmetterlinge in Spotlack-Optik gedruckt. Auch die Buchklappe selbst wurde ähnlich gestaltet, sodaß der Roman auch ohne Schutzumschlag sehr edel aussieht.
Fazit: Ich fühlte mich von Hectors Geschichte sehr gut unterhalten und werde bei Gelegenheit die anderen beiden Bände lesen.
Wertung: 4 von 5 Punkten
February 13, 2010
Murder
Eyeballs
Puzzling riddles
Leeches
...and Butterflies?
The Eyeball Collector has got it all. A villain as dastardly as Count Olaf, with an eyepatch and multiple disguises. An orphan straight out of a Dickens novel with thieving compatriots reminiscent of the Artful Dodger and company. A cold and imperious noble, Lady Mandible, who has mysterious plans of her own. A spine-shivery, gothic atmosphere tinged with menace.
At first I saw nothing. The moon was behind the swollen clouds and the sheeting rain made everything blurry. but then pitchforked lightning split the inky sky and my heart faltered. In its white light, my disbelieving eyes saw a vast jagged silhouette stretching across a broad mountainous outcrop like a diabolical gathering of crouching devils. Their horns were the towers and the light burning in the windows their evil red eyes.
"Tatri flammis!" I breathed and could say not another word. This behemoth before me was Whittypitts Hall.
"This is madness!" shouted Solomon. "Come back with me. It's not too late."
Hector is a plucky and likeable hero, with a special gift of riddling which helps him survive after his father dies. Another gift, one for cultivating rare butterflies, lands him in luxurious Whittypitts Hall, close enough to exact revenge on the man he blames for his father's death, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin. However, these gifts and his desire for revenge also puts him in harm's way, for there are evil doings happening in Whittypitts Hall, centered around the enigmatic Lady Mandible. Hector plots to exact revenge on the night of the Mandible Midwinter Feast, but his plans threaten to go awry when Lady Mandible and Baron Bovrik's terrible secrets are revealed...
Every time I think I have seen the worst this abominable place has to offer, I am proved wrong. As for the despicable man who plays at Baron, I can hardly wait until the feast is over and my task completed. Then I shall be gone from here, for I swear, if I have to stay a moment longer I fear for my sanity and my character.
What goes on during the Mandible Midwinter Feast is memorable, not only because the plot climaxes at this point, but also for the truly awful feast that commences. I am specially attuned to food description in books and this one made me naseous. If I ever compile a list of the best of the worst food scenes, this will be the very first to come to mind.
The revelers, each and every one, ate as if there was no tomorrow. What a feast it was! ... As fast as a pitcher of wine or a plate of food was brought out, it was emptied and another was demanded. Up and down the length of the table gaping mouths and drooling, dribbling chins were the order of the day, and the beleaguered servers were grabbed by one fellow and tugged by another until their tunics were practically torn asunder.
He watched the guests feed, hand to plate to mouth, hand to plate to mouth, in a ceaseless repetition. Dormouse tails (apparently particularly delicious) dangled from their lips; entire sparrows dropped into their gaping maws; fat plums and cherries ready to burst were forced into their mouths until the juices squirted in all directions. This was not hunger, this was sheer unadulterated gluttony.
Although this is Higgins's third book set in Urbs Umida and apparently including some recurring character(s) from The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician, The Eyeball Collector is a stand alone book. I haven't read the other two (but I soon will!) and I was not at all lost reading this one.
The Eyeball Collector is a well-written, intelligent book with gothic suspense for middle grade to young adults. Best of all, it has riddling conundrums sprinkled throughout like little treats (with answers in the back of the book). There is some violence.
Eyeballs
Puzzling riddles
Leeches
...and Butterflies?
The Eyeball Collector has got it all. A villain as dastardly as Count Olaf, with an eyepatch and multiple disguises. An orphan straight out of a Dickens novel with thieving compatriots reminiscent of the Artful Dodger and company. A cold and imperious noble, Lady Mandible, who has mysterious plans of her own. A spine-shivery, gothic atmosphere tinged with menace.
At first I saw nothing. The moon was behind the swollen clouds and the sheeting rain made everything blurry. but then pitchforked lightning split the inky sky and my heart faltered. In its white light, my disbelieving eyes saw a vast jagged silhouette stretching across a broad mountainous outcrop like a diabolical gathering of crouching devils. Their horns were the towers and the light burning in the windows their evil red eyes.
"Tatri flammis!" I breathed and could say not another word. This behemoth before me was Whittypitts Hall.
"This is madness!" shouted Solomon. "Come back with me. It's not too late."
Hector is a plucky and likeable hero, with a special gift of riddling which helps him survive after his father dies. Another gift, one for cultivating rare butterflies, lands him in luxurious Whittypitts Hall, close enough to exact revenge on the man he blames for his father's death, Baron Bovrik de Vandolin. However, these gifts and his desire for revenge also puts him in harm's way, for there are evil doings happening in Whittypitts Hall, centered around the enigmatic Lady Mandible. Hector plots to exact revenge on the night of the Mandible Midwinter Feast, but his plans threaten to go awry when Lady Mandible and Baron Bovrik's terrible secrets are revealed...
Every time I think I have seen the worst this abominable place has to offer, I am proved wrong. As for the despicable man who plays at Baron, I can hardly wait until the feast is over and my task completed. Then I shall be gone from here, for I swear, if I have to stay a moment longer I fear for my sanity and my character.
What goes on during the Mandible Midwinter Feast is memorable, not only because the plot climaxes at this point, but also for the truly awful feast that commences. I am specially attuned to food description in books and this one made me naseous. If I ever compile a list of the best of the worst food scenes, this will be the very first to come to mind.
The revelers, each and every one, ate as if there was no tomorrow. What a feast it was! ... As fast as a pitcher of wine or a plate of food was brought out, it was emptied and another was demanded. Up and down the length of the table gaping mouths and drooling, dribbling chins were the order of the day, and the beleaguered servers were grabbed by one fellow and tugged by another until their tunics were practically torn asunder.
He watched the guests feed, hand to plate to mouth, hand to plate to mouth, in a ceaseless repetition. Dormouse tails (apparently particularly delicious) dangled from their lips; entire sparrows dropped into their gaping maws; fat plums and cherries ready to burst were forced into their mouths until the juices squirted in all directions. This was not hunger, this was sheer unadulterated gluttony.
Although this is Higgins's third book set in Urbs Umida and apparently including some recurring character(s) from The Black Book of Secrets and The Bone Magician, The Eyeball Collector is a stand alone book. I haven't read the other two (but I soon will!) and I was not at all lost reading this one.
The Eyeball Collector is a well-written, intelligent book with gothic suspense for middle grade to young adults. Best of all, it has riddling conundrums sprinkled throughout like little treats (with answers in the back of the book). There is some violence.
October 20, 2011
This is the third book in Higgins Tales from the Sinister City series. All of these tales are separate stories, but the characters do have some cross over from book to book. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first two books, but it was still a wonderful story. Unlike previous stories this story didn't really have any element of magic to it; it was a creepy and fun historical mystery with a heavy Victorian overtone to it.
Hector is the son on a wealthy wine merchant. He has led a life of privledge, only occasionally touring the destitute south side of the city which he finds kind of exciting. When his father's business is ruined because of his father's shady past in gin selling and his father perishes; Hector suddenly finds himself destitute and living in the horrible South side of the city. He is taken in by a nice woman and her husband but has sworn revenge on the man who ruined his father. When the very man who ruins his father hires Hector for his knowledge of butterflies Hector is given the perfect opporunity for his revenge.
This book wasn't as dark as the previous books, but it was still a pretty dark story. The majority of the characters are very realistic and flawed, at times they are not all that likable but they are always interesting. I loved all the knowledge Hector had about butterflies and poisons; it was fun to read about. I loved how characters from previous books are woven into small roles in this story.
Higgins does an excellent job painting a dark and creepy atmosphere. It is easy to visualize the surroundings. While the characters don't have a ton of depth to them, they are all very quirky and interesting.
The plot moved quickly and had some interesting twists and turns. I love the plan Hector comes up with for revenge; it is so creative, so elegant, yet kind of twisted. The concept of how revenge can twist a person is discussed and it was well done; yeah this is a theme that's been used many time in many stories before but it really works for this story and has a lot of creative elements to it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, although not as much as previous ones. I didn't click as well with Hector as I have with the lead characters in the previous two books. I still loved the twisted and dark Sinister City, the quirky characters, and the creative turns the plot took. This is an excellent book for middle grade and older. It should appeal to those who like their mystery/adventure with a tad of the fantastic, a lot of dark and twisted strangeness, and a little bit of gruesomeness. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, The Lunatic's Curse.
Hector is the son on a wealthy wine merchant. He has led a life of privledge, only occasionally touring the destitute south side of the city which he finds kind of exciting. When his father's business is ruined because of his father's shady past in gin selling and his father perishes; Hector suddenly finds himself destitute and living in the horrible South side of the city. He is taken in by a nice woman and her husband but has sworn revenge on the man who ruined his father. When the very man who ruins his father hires Hector for his knowledge of butterflies Hector is given the perfect opporunity for his revenge.
This book wasn't as dark as the previous books, but it was still a pretty dark story. The majority of the characters are very realistic and flawed, at times they are not all that likable but they are always interesting. I loved all the knowledge Hector had about butterflies and poisons; it was fun to read about. I loved how characters from previous books are woven into small roles in this story.
Higgins does an excellent job painting a dark and creepy atmosphere. It is easy to visualize the surroundings. While the characters don't have a ton of depth to them, they are all very quirky and interesting.
The plot moved quickly and had some interesting twists and turns. I love the plan Hector comes up with for revenge; it is so creative, so elegant, yet kind of twisted. The concept of how revenge can twist a person is discussed and it was well done; yeah this is a theme that's been used many time in many stories before but it really works for this story and has a lot of creative elements to it.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, although not as much as previous ones. I didn't click as well with Hector as I have with the lead characters in the previous two books. I still loved the twisted and dark Sinister City, the quirky characters, and the creative turns the plot took. This is an excellent book for middle grade and older. It should appeal to those who like their mystery/adventure with a tad of the fantastic, a lot of dark and twisted strangeness, and a little bit of gruesomeness. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series, The Lunatic's Curse.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews