Customer Reviews

Attack of the Fiend (Last Apprentice)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just finished reading "Attack of the Fiend" last night and I was not disappointed! My eleven-year-old son and I have been waiting for this one to come out, as we have read the entire "Last Apprentice" series and absolutely love every book. As usual, Joseph Delaney did a great job of scaring the pants off of us! From the first chapter, I was on the edge of my seat, terrified for Tom, the Spook's apprentice. Several times I had to put the book down and walk away to calm my nerves, but of course, couldn't stay away for long because I just had to see what would happen next. My husband even asked once, "What is the problem? I thought this was a kids' book?" and I had to explain that reading the Last Apprentice books is like watching a terrifying movie: your stomach is clenched with worry for these characters, but you're also dying to see what trouble they'll get into next. "Attack of the Fiend" had action and suspense from beginning to end and still, left us wondering when the next book will come out so that we can find out how Tom and the Spook plan to defeat the creatures of darkness. This is great book for anyone 10-100...as long as you're not afraid of the dark!

I had the lay down date marked on my calendar, and couldnt wait to run down to the store as soon as the day came to get my copy. I had read the previous three installments and did a 5 star review on book two, The Curse of the Bane. Delaney just keeps these books remarkably riveting, scary and intense. This was the longest book yet but by far the best of the four. Our young Apprentice is getting stronger in his abilities and getting more independant to work on his own now without the constant guidance of the mighty Spook. I like that his character is growing and not staying stagnant even though the time period between book one and this book four is only a year and a half's time. This installment, Attack of the Fiend, offers more wonderful suspenseful, edge of the seat action. The scare level is right up there from page one to the end. Last Apprentice fans can not be disappointed in this new book in any way and are sure to just say "more please". Delaney does leave this installment a little open ended so that we for sure know that book five is on it's way so that we readers get resolvement on the episodes we get in this book. This is a fabulolus horror series for kids and adults and truly topnotch. I'd like to add praise too to the sensational illustrator. Not only are the cover designs remarkable but each chapter head page evokes true dark and eerie scenes that seem to scream off the page. High praise here, very very high praise for a series that is not sliding in interest, it is escalating into greatness. I eagerly await book five. I just cant wait!

I just got my copy. I had preordered this and had been waiting a while; it was well worth the wait! I could not put it down. My only regret is that I read it too quickly. If you're a fan of this series, you won't be disappointed. Lots of action and suspense from the characters we love. You'll stay on the edge of your seat from the beginning. Super, super book. I loved it!!!

Wow! This series just gets better and better! I don't even like horror, but these books strike the right tone. Delightfully creepy (boys will love it), but not too intense for children ages 10 and up. I loooove the narrative voice. The main character's simple, matter-of-fact voice balances perfectly with the story's melodramatic horror. The main character is very endearing. You'll be cheering for him. The plot has evolved nicely from book to book. Read Book One first, and you'll eagerly turn pages to get to this one. I love the characters, love the story, love the writing style. Love it all! Can't wait for more!

To Date, I have read books 1 thru 5 of the series back to back and I am about to read book #6, CLASH OF THE DEMONS. Althogh, I simply love all of them,thus far, THIS IS THE BEST ONE! I highly recommend this series! I am an adult who enjoys a wide variety of subjects, FROM Twlight, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Jane Austin books, Mysteries, Horror, The SOOKIE Stackhouse Series, Historical Romance TO Paranormal Romance and I anticipate that this is a series that will be added to my "frequently reread collection."

I do wish that Spook would "lay off" Alice. All of us battle with good and evil within ourselves but I think that one has a better chance of overcoming the evil tendencies by being surrounded by a loving and supportive environment. His banishment of Alice is akin to "throwing her to the, proverbial, wolves" thereby decreasing her chances of choosing that percious "LIGHT" He is always going on about!!! SPOOKS' world view is apparently limited to black and white but I think that before this series ends that hopefully he will discover that "gray areas" thankfully do exist.

My favorites character so far are Tom, Tom's Mom and Alice! I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN ENJOYABLE SERIES FOR MOST AGE GROUPS, BUT MAYBE NOT FOR THE VERY YOUNG, BECAUSE THE VILLIANS COULD BE A BIT TOO SCARY FOR THEM BUT THAT TOO WOULD DEPENDS ON THE CHILD. :)

I ordered this book in used-good conidtion. Upon receiving it I was surprised, it looks brand new. Very happy with my purchase!

For anyone who likes the Appentice series, this is an axcellent book to read, full of action and suspence. Reader will be on the edge of their seat throghout the book.

This is a wonderful series, most especially because of the ongoing development of Tom's relationship with the Spook, and of Tom's connection to Alice. Be warned that in later volumes this development is much less pronounced and the books become more interchangeable episodic adventures. But for now, and the next volume, if you are interested in Tom's mother's history, and in Tom's development as an apprentice, this book will be very rewarding.

Further, this is the book where Alice comes into her own, as do the Pendle witches. The larger story arc begins to come into focus, but we begin to drift away from the original books' emphasis on Tom's practical development as a simple apprentice. I likes the series' focus on the day to day affairs of the County, but I imagine most readers will welcome the move to a grander fantasy plot.

This series is excellent and extremely well-written. The characters are strong and the action keeps moving, building increasing suspense with each chapter. Not a single word is wasted in these books. Joseph Delaney is a terrific writer and this book is the best of a fantastic series, so far.

The fourth book in the Last Apprentice series is a little longer than the three preceding novels, but no less enjoyable. Delaney has an excellent ability to balance the horror of his book with the lighter sides (specifically the faith that main character Tom Ward shows in his friend Alice and his master, the Spook).

In book four, our trio head to Pendle to deal with the growing danger of the three witch clans living there. The witches have grown so strong that there is an aura of fear in the area and many people have moved away. The Spook has learned that the three usually warring clans are uniting, which happens only rarely when they intend to unleash something particularly evil and has decided it is time to stop it. Tom has additional problems when he discovers that his brother, sister-in-law, and niece have been kidnapped and he must save them before it is too late. The kidnappers also stole his mother's trunks, which she left to him and told him to use under extreme circumstances. Can he save his family, stop the witches, and recover his inheritance in time?

I am ever impressed with Delaney's books. He does not shy away from the gruesome but yet he manages to always keep away from being gratuitously disgusting. Many authors find it difficult to strike that balance. He also continues to make Tom (and by extension the reader) examine their ideas of good and evil. Tom's mother, though not physically present, is a particular force for this line of thought. Who was she? Tom keeps learning more about her past but it doesn't resolve his confusion and curiosity. It's clear that there is still more to learn about her.

This is also the first time where Alice never seemed to stray from the path of good. She wasn't tempted (or forced) into using dark magic and she was willing to put her life on the line yet again for Tom. Their relationship continues to grow in complexity and closeness, which I like. The Spook doesn't trust her yet, but maybe he never will, and that's ok.

There is nothing straightforward about this series and I really have no complaints.