Customer Reviews

Spook's Stories

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

 

 

Joseph Delaney is a Master story teller & I was definately NOT disappointed with this book of short stories. My only critique was, I believe, that one of the stories already appeared in another book of short stories (word-for-word) but was mildly expounded upon. Also, I would have liked it to have been longer too ~ I can never get enough of Master Delaney's tales!

The book consists of several short stories, each of which is independent of the others and told by various people including the Spook, Tom Ward, Grimalkin etc. Each story is a fun read and provides information that don't quite fit into the other books. Highly recommended if you're a fan of the Spook series.

this is the best series ever written. it has action and suprise everywhere you turn in the book

The Last Apprentice series is full of witches -- good ones, bad ones, and horrifying ones. So unsurprisingly "The Last Apprentice: A Coven of Witches" is all about various witches in this series, ranging from a vampirelike dead witch to Grimalkin herself. Joseph Delaney's stories are solid, but be forewarned: one of these stories has been released in another book.

"Meg Skelton" takes us back to when Gregory was a young man: he fell in love with a beautiful young woman that he rescued from a monster -- only to find that she was a lamia witch. Though he tried to live peacefully with Meg, her feral sister Marcia and the suspicious townspeople ultimately made it impossible. "Dirty Dora" tells us of a grotesque undead witch who returns after death to visit revenge on the men who killed her.

"Grimalkin's Tale" tells how the fiery young assassin became the Witch Assassin, and why she wants to kill the Fiend. "Alice and the Brain-Guzzler" tells of the first week of Alice Dean's apprenticeship, and how she became the target of a deadly familiar who's eyeing her as his next victim. Finally, Tom encounters the "The Banshee Witch," a mysterious woman with a terrible cry who is far more than what she appears...

I'm 99% sure that "Grimalkin's Tale" was already released in another one of Joseph Delaney's short story collections, and that the big drawback to this collection. Well, that and the fact that there's no real ending to Gregory's doomed love story -- Delaney doesn't really explain what happened to Meg and Marcia after Gregory returned.

But the rest of it is pretty good stuff -- Delaney explores some of the backstories of the supporting cast, and includes a story about Tom's apprenticeship with Arkwright. His writing also varies from story to story, from the grotesque descriptions of graveyard dirt and moldy leaves to the swampy battles with a serpentine worme. As for the "brain-guzzler," that's just horrendous.

It also provides some interesting revelations about the characters. We see the horrors that drove Grimalkin to become a witch assassin, the toxic atmosphere that Alice learned witchcraft in, and some details about Gregory's naive youth. Dirty Dora is also explored in detail, but she's such a sly malicious old hag (and a sort of vampire!) that you can't really feel sorry for her.

"The Last Apprentice: A Coven of Witches" is all about the witchy horrors and some truly terrible magic -- I just wish Delaney had told us what happened to Meg and Marcia.

You have to buy it!!! if you are a really fan of this serie you have to. When you buy it come and say if you like it :) hope so. bye

Witches are powerful being of darkness known for spurting curses, performing sacrifices and causing deaths. They are greatly feared and rightly so, for Witches in the world of The Spook's are some of the most dangerous and complicated creatures you will ever find.

Meg Skelton.
John Gregory is a Spook and deals with all manner of creatures of the dark including ghosts, boggarts and witches. Meg Skelton is a damsel in distress rescued by the Spook, John. It was love at first sight. However when John discovers that Meg wears pointy shoes things became complicated. Can two sworn enemies really live together in peace?

Dirty Dora.
Dora Deane might have earned her nick name 'Dirty Dora' from the great globs of spittle she leaves all about her territory, but it may also be a reference to her current condition. For living under rotting leaves with bugs in your hair is not the cleanest of places to live. Dora however has little choice, for she is a dead witch. But just how exactly does one become a dead witch?

Grimalkin's Tale.
Grimalkin is a fearless and determined young witch who is also well skilled as a blacksmith and assassin; in fact she is the witch assassin of the Malkin clan. Only one has ever survived Grimalkin once she has decided to end their life. But as Grimalkin's only true enemy, why is she so determined to kill the one being all other witches worship?

Alice and the Brain Guzzler.
Alice Deane had been an orphan for only three days before Bony Lizzie showed up. Alice didn't want to become a witch; however Lizzie would have her way. Besides for Alice becoming a witch was inevitable, it was in the blood. Alice was now to learn the ways of a witch, but would she live long enough to survive the teachings?

The Banshee Witch.
Tomas Ward is a Spook's apprentice who spent time training under the Spook Bill Arkwright. Tom was taught many new skills, acquired many new bruises and also made powerful new enemies. It was also during this time that a call for help arrived from a manor being haunted by a banshee but there was little a Spook could do, or so they thought. Was there something more then just a benign spirit at play?

These five stories of Witches are a creative blend of mythology and imagination. Delightfully wicked and great to enjoy as a one off, these stories are the perfect way to become acquainted to the series if you haven't already done so. Witches also offers invaluable insights as these are the background stories that enrich the series, a must read for fans.