Malice: Book 1 [Hardcover]

Chris Wooding (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009 | Series: Malice

From the amazing imagination of Chris Wooding, a heartstopping mix of thriller and graphic novel.

Three kids get trapped in the world of a deadly comic book in this middle-grade thriller from Chris Wooding.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Woding's acclaimed novels include The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, Poison, Storm Thief, Kerosene, and Crashing. He lives all over the world.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; First Edition edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054516043X
• ISBN-13: 978-0545160438
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast Paced and Original, October 29, 2009

By 

Rebecca DeLaTorre (The LBC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Malice: Book 1 (Hardcover)

I bought Malice at a school book fair earlier this month for my 12 year old son because he loves comics and horror and the cover art was delicious. However, I got to the book before him and just finished it after a late-night marathon read!

The world of Malice is beautiful, exciting, dark and deadly. Its reminiscent of David Bowie's Labyrinth and The Return to Oz, but it definitely has its own feel. While the world-building is certainly the strongest aspect of the book, the characters feel well developed and, while they occasionally don't sound like real teens (no profanity out of the mouth of a juvenile delinquent!?!), I felt emotionally invested in them all by the novel's close.

My greatest complaint is that the author proclaims he wanted to do a comic/novel combination without making the comic aspect "gimmicky" but unfortunately, I think he failed here. There simply isn't enough of the comic to make it necessary to propel the story along--and the panels, just aren't that well rendered and they are sloppy with too many sound effects and not enough of a glimpse into the fascinating world of Malice or its malevolent creatures. Also, the style just wasn't what I'd expect the malformed, sinister artist, Grendel, would create. To see a book that seamlessly combines image with narration, check out Hugo Cabret.

All in all, I closed the book and immediately powered up my computer to see when the sequel, Havoc, would hit the shelves. I loved this book, despite my critiques, and highly recommend it, to horror fans, scifi/fantasy nuts, reluctant readers and comic fanboys and girls. And I'd love to see a film adaptation soon. It would be visually stunning.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeded my expectations!!, October 26, 2009

By 

Clinton A. Wilson "Book Fanatic" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Malice: Book 1 (Hardcover)

While I have never read a book by Chris Wooding before the cover of this one caught my attention when I was at the bookstore (I bought it through Amazon). I must say that I was not expecting a book where the main characters get caught in a comic book would have me as entertained as this one did.

The story follows Seth as he enters the world of Malice to look for his lost friend. Along the way you find yourself cheering him on as he fights through the secrets of the clockwork beasts that inhabit Malice. The comic scenes add geat vision to the story all ready in your mind and always seem to be the major action scenes in the book. Without giving to much away I must say that there were several parts that completely caught me off guard from what I expected to happen. I like books where you think you know what will occur then BAM!! you get something very different.

At the end I must say I am eagerly awaiting part two titled Havoc.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wild success for my 4th grader!, January 6, 2011

By 

gingerplum - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Malice: Book 1 (Paperback)

I should start out with a disclaimer: I haven't read this book. I bought this for my reluctant reader based on the premise and other Amazon reviews. I was a voracious reader at his age, and I have hoped to instill a love of books in him as well, but... it's hard to compete with the Wii, the X-box, Cartoon Network and UB Funkeys. Any book he's ever read he was out of necessity for school.

Most nights I come home from work and practically have to pry the boy off the computer. Imagine my surprise and delight to come home and find him reading. READING! An actual book! I just about clicked my heels with glee, people. I couldn't believe it.

Not only has this book trumped his interest in video games, the internet, and TV, the only thing that distracts him is wanting to talk about the story in great detail. Ok, so 10-yr olds don't edit, and he rambles on & on. I don't care. He's so enthusiastic it's a pleasure to listen to him describe the story. If it took standing on my head and playing the banjo to get him to read, I would've done it; instead, it just took the right book.

As far as reading levels go, this book seems perfect for tweens and maybe young teens. I like that the vocabulary has challenged him; he has come to me twice, to ask me how to say "menagerie" and "oubliette." We got to find out together that oubliette is a medieval word for dungeon. How cool is that!

I'm hoping I can remember some of the books I loved at his age; two that come to mind are The Witches of Worm and The Lion's Paw. Any other suggestions are welcome and much appreciated! As far as my rating for Malice? Any book that compels a 10-yr old boy to read deserves 10 stars.