Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies (Awfully Beastly Business) [Hardcover]

David Sinden (Author), Matthew Morgan (Author), Guy Macdonald (Author), Jonny Duddle (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Awfully Beastly Business

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts (RSPCB) operates a rescue center for werewolves, dragons, fairies, giants, sea monsters, and other fantastical creatures. The RSPCB has stopped crimes against beasts, but there are still some people out there who will do anything to get their hands on one of these mythic animals . . . even if that means crossing the members of the RSPCB. In the first book, Werewolf versus Dragon, a dragon’s mangled body arrives at the RSPCB, and the Society knows that they’ve got a real monster on their hands. Ulf, a werewolf-boy, and his friends must stop the most evil beast hunter before it’s too late. The adventure continues in the second book, Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies, for Ulf and his friends, Orson the giant, Tiana the Fairy, and Dr. Fielding. A sea monster has suffered a life-threatening injury, and it looks like the evil Baron Marackai is back—and this time beasts are on the menu. Ulf must stop him again—the future of the RSPCB depends on it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Ulf is a young werewolf who lives on the vast properties of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts. He is under the mentoring eye of Dr. Helen Fielding, a crypto-veterinarian—in other words, a vet who cares for unusual beasts such as dragons and yetis. His enemy, and the enemy of all who support the RSPCB, is Baron Marackai, a thoroughly and stereotypically despicable villain who delights in kidnapping and killing such creatures. In Werewolf, Marackai murders a baby dragon and sets his sights on the baby's mother, and Ulf and Dr. Fielding go on guard—but when and how will the Baron attack? The authors set up an interesting situation, but then sat back and simply connected the dots. In Sea Monsters, Ulf is alarmed when a sea captain tows in a gigantic, octopuslike monster with a venomous stinger. The injured Redback lurks in her tank, foul-tempered and ready to strike at anyone who tries to help her. Ulf researches the animal, and, with the help of his fairy friend Tiana, learns how to help it. Dr. Fielding strongly advises against it, but Ulf, in secret, is determined to try. It soon becomes apparent, however, that Baron Marackai wants Ulf to cure the Redback for nefarious reasons of his own. This volume is very much like the first, including the shallow characters and predictable plot. The idea behind the series—a nature preserve for fantastic beasts—is intriguing, but it is not well carried out.—Walter Minkel, Austin Public Library, TX
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About the Author

Matthew Morgan, David Sinden, and Guy Macdonald are best friends from childhood. Matthew and David are the authors of the hugely successful UK series YUCK. All three live in Kent, England.

Matthew Morgan, David Sinden, and Guy Macdonald are best friends from childhood. Matthew and David are the authors of the hugely successful UK series YUCK. All three live in Kent, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416986502
• ISBN-13: 978-1416986508
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,358 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 1, 2009

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies (Awfully Beastly Business) (Hardcover)

What an intriguing story SEA MONSTERS AND OTHER DELICACIES turned out to be. This is the second story in the AN AWFULLY BEASTLY BUSINESS series.

The story starts out with Baron Marackai and his minions dropping grenades over the side of their boat. They are attempting to rouse sea monsters from the deep. Baron Marackai has evil plans to get as many sea monsters as he can and then eat them: for they are delicious. His minions fear that the RSPCB (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts) will seek retaliation against them.

Later, the bizarre Captain Crab brings his fishing boat to Farraway Hall, the headquarters for the RSPCB. He is hauling an injured sea monster. And it's not just any sea monster; it's a Redback, the most deadly sea monster! But Dr. Fielding at the RSPCB can't figure out how it sustained a skull injury. It normally dwells on the bottom of the sea, far from people.

Dr. Fielding is aided by Ulf, a werewolf, and together, they figure out a way to save the Redback. But their good deeds quickly get overshadowed by the return of the long-lost son of the founder of Farraway Hall. And he's up to no good!

SEA MONSTERS AND OTHER DELICACIES is a book that is sure to please boys. Filled with venomous sea monsters and other gory details, the pages will fly by. The story had a similar feel to the Lemony Snicket A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS books. The evil Baron is made to be ridiculously bad and the heroes are everyday folks just out to do what is right.

With entertaining illustrations and amusing situations, this is one story that will be a treat for all who open its pages.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr