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Eldritch Black
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The Book of Kindly Deaths Paperback – September 16, 2014

by Eldritch Black (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 120 ratings
See all formats and editions
When Eliza finds a mysterious, magical book in a secret room in her grandfather's house, she reads the haunting stories found inside, but her world is turned upside-down when characters from the book start coming to life.
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  1. Reading age
    9 - 11 years
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    4 - 6
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  6. Publisher
    Spencer Hill Middle Grade
  7. Publication date
    September 16, 2014
  8. ISBN-10
    1939392950
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1939392954
  10. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eldritch Black is a writer of tales of dark fantasy and dread. Originally from London, England, Eldritch has since moved to a small island in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He now lives in the middle of a forest where he collects shadows, converses with crows, and documents the creatures that crawl from the trees and slither in the undergrowth.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spencer Hill Middle Grade (September 16, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1939392950
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1939392954
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 11 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 120 ratings

About the author

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Eldritch Black

Eldritch Black

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Eldritch Black is a bestselling author of spooky tales and magical adventures. His novels, including "The Pirates of Penn Cove", "The Witches of Weirdbey Island", "The Clockwork Magician", and "Krampus and The Thief of Christmas", have captivated readers of all ages with their thrilling plots and memorable characters.

Born in London, UK, Eldritch now resides on the beautifully mysterious Whidbey Island, located near Seattle. Surrounded by a giant octopus and other unmentionable, fearsome beasts, Eldritch finds inspiration for his writing in the island's misty forests, and strange, hidden places.

When he's not writing, Eldritch can be found taking midnight walks along the beach, surrounded by the distant roars of krakens and the gibbers of three-eyed toads.

To learn more about Eldritch and his work, visit his website:

http://eldritchblack.com

And connect with him at:

https://www.facebook.com/EldritchBlackAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/eldritchblack/

https://twitter.com/EldritchBlack

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
120 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the stories intriguing, spooky, and compelling. They describe the dark tone as delightfully dark and tangible. Readers also find the characters unique, interesting, and believable. They say the book is a good read with well-written and good narration. Customers also mention the monsters are vivid, original, and revealed at the perfect pace.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Story qualityDark toneCharacter developmentReadabilityWriting qualityAuthenticityHumor
18 customers mention "Story quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories intriguing, spooky, and spectacular. They also describe the book as a tantalizingly scary story. Readers praise the author as he is a masterful storyteller who keeps them on the edge of their seats.

"...Just my cup of tea! I love a book with fresh imaginative fantasy. This sure does!The narration was so good! The voice of Grim is scary!..." Read more

"...The writing is descriptive and deliciously creepy...." Read more

"...amazing, and the various stories within the greater story are compelling. Heroes are here, as well as villains, but none are one-dimensional...." Read more

"Creepy but the premise could be confusing. The story within a story within a story format is difficult to follow." Read more

10 customers mention "Dark tone"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the tone delightfully dark, tangible, and fairy tale-like.

"...This book has that dark fairytale vibe, and stories within the story. The writing is descriptive and deliciously creepy...." Read more

"...The pace moves quickly, the dark tone is quite tangible, and the humor of the language sustains throughout...." Read more

"Eldritch Black has written a wonderfully dark, creepy YA novel about a girl who finds a book in a family home and by reading, it takes her on all..." Read more

"Not my usual genre but enjoyable.It was creepy but not too dark...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters unique, interesting, and believable. They also say the world and characters are elaborately written. Readers mention the heroes are there, as well as villains, but none are one-dimensional. They describe the cast as delightfully creepy, intelligent, and brave.

"...and challenging situations, to which she reacts with intelligence, bravery, and compassion...." Read more

"...The world and characters are so elaborately written that I could picture myself there. I actually just finished it a minute ago and wanted more...." Read more

"...brought fully to life with very few words, and what a delightfully creepy cast of characters he's written. Not all are scabrous villians of course...." Read more

"...Characters 5/5: The characters are interesting and peculiar.World building 5/5: An interesting world with vivid descriptions...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable.

"..."showing" vs. "telling"--I found this to be an enjoyable read that I swept through in about two days...." Read more

"...characters starting quite early in the book and that makes for an enjoyable read...." Read more

"It was a good read. I enjoyed the characters, although they were a little flat. But, the story line kept me involved...." Read more

"Great book! I love books that have multiple stories!" Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written and the narration good. They also appreciate the voice of Grim.

"...This sure does!The narration was so good! The voice of Grim is scary! Very well done! So many voices from one man! Wonderful performance!" Read more

"...The writing is descriptive and deliciously creepy...." Read more

"...Writing 4/5: The writing was good.Overall 4.6Purchased on Amazon." Read more

"...I was well written." Read more

3 customers mention "Authenticity"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book authentic. They say the characters are genuine and believable. Readers also appreciate the vivid, original monsters.

"...Eliza Winter is a very genuine and real young girl faced with difficult choices and challenging situations, to which she reacts with intelligence,..." Read more

"...It's a finely written tapestry of worlds and people, believable and yet so extraordinarily unique we just know it could never be....or could it?..." Read more

"...The monsters are vivid, original, and revealed at the perfect pace...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writings entertaining and hard to put down. They also say the humor of the language sustains throughout the book.

"...Scary and haunting! Entertaining and bizarre! Just my cup of tea! I love a book with fresh imaginative fantasy. This sure does!..." Read more

"...quickly, the dark tone is quite tangible, and the humor of the language sustains throughout. I hope to see more from Mr. Black, the sooner the better." Read more

"...Just like Eldritch Black’s other writings, this is dark, entertaining, and hard to put down...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Montzalee Wittmann
5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative and slightly dark!
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
The Book of Kindly Deaths
By: Eldritch Black
Narrated by: Hannibal Hills

This is a story of stories but told in a brilliant way! A girl's grandfather goes missing so the family comes to his house and is waiting and searching. A spooky old man comes to the girl, Eliza, and demands a book. Not just any book but a specific book. She is able to get rid of him and tells her parents. She finds that book and starts reading it. It's the book her grandfather wrote in. Each is a strange and unique, dark and terrible tale. Eliza reads and reads. Each one seems worse than the last. Then the story continues when the book collector comes back!

Scary and haunting! Entertaining and bizarre! Just my cup of tea! I love a book with fresh imaginative fantasy. This sure does!

The narration was so good! The voice of Grim is scary! Very well done! So many voices from one man! Wonderful performance!
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Lessa
4.0 out of 5 stars Deliciously Dark Fairy Tale-like, Atmospheric
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2016
Verified Purchase
2 Cups original imagination from an obvious talent

1 Cup Grimm’s Fairy Tales

½ Cup Incorrigible children like those from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

1 pinch each disgusting, gross and weird

Fold in one plucky heroine, one missing grandfather, and one very mysteriously creepy book

Season with atmospheric description and deliciously creepy writing

Mix together and sprinkle lightly with gruesome details.

"On a desk in the room with the stained glass windows sat a book.
It was a thick volume with a worn and cracked black cover showing a gold symbol, a rectangle within two circles that sparkled and flickered as if teased by ghostly fingers. Voices whispered from inside the book, growing in volume, a few human, a few not."

Poor Eliza has a dreary mother, one of those practical sorts who doesn't allow things like imagination and curiosity. I already know I don't like her much. But perhaps she does have reasons for this sad flaw.

Twelve year old Eliza has come with her parents to clean out her grandfather's house and catalog things of value. As her grandfather is missing this seems a bit odd and perhaps slightly premature.

As Eliza reads some of the stories in The Book of Kindly Deaths there are clues these might not be simply stories. Including a strange memory she has of the last visit to her grandparent’s home six years before when she was only six.

"The phantom of a forgotten memory crossed her mind. A ghost of an event that had occurred the last time she was at this house. Although the recollection was fleeting, she still felt an icy sting of dread."

After Eliza, and we the readers, are treated to some tales from The Book of Kindly Deaths, where we learn a bit about the denizens of a place full of nightmarish creatures called Grimwytch, Eliza comes to be in immediate danger and finds herself in Grimwytch. There she finds both villains and allies, and learns what happened to her grandfather.

This book has that dark fairytale vibe, and stories within the story. The writing is descriptive and deliciously creepy.

There are a few mildly gruesome bits, but nothing I’d hesitate a middle grade reader reading, as long as they enjoy dark and creepy stories. Young people who delight in spooky tales will eat this one up. I also think people older than Middle Grade will enjoy this one. I’m an adult and I sure did. I very much hope there are more stories of Eliza to come.

For Parents:
In one chapter there is some mild profanity, spoken by someone who is definitely not portrayed as admirable.
I noticed one use each of “Damn you”, “To hell with…” and two of “bastard”.
This book is dark, and definitely geared to young people who enjoy that sort of tale.
4 people found this helpful
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Absynthe
5.0 out of 5 stars The setting is absolutely amazing, and the various stories within the greater story ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2014
Verified Purchase
I've just finished reading this, and I can't wait for more!
The characters are unique and interesting, and most importantly - believable. The setting is absolutely amazing, and the various stories within the greater story are compelling. Heroes are here, as well as villains, but none are one-dimensional. The best of them have doubts and foibles, and the worst of them have their own reasons for what they do. There are ethical challenges and moral choices, and the consequences of a poor choice can be dire, but the right answer isn't always evident.
Eliza Winter is a very genuine and real young girl faced with difficult choices and challenging situations, to which she reacts with intelligence, bravery, and compassion. She has doubts and fears and like most of us at 12, is growing up and discovering the world isn't what it seemed. She is the kind of person I wish I had as a friend at that age. I will refrain from giving away any of the story, as I wouldn't want to cheat anyone of the experience.
This book will be one that leaves a lasting impression, both for the story and for the craftsmanship of the author, and I recommend it for readers of any age who enjoy a well-told story.
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Captain & Nellie
3.0 out of 5 stars Creepy but the premise could be confusing. The story ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Creepy but the premise could be confusing. The story within a story within a story format is difficult to follow.
One person found this helpful
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Silent Agony
4.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly creepy, yet charming YA dark fantasy
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book is rather macabre fantasy adventure. It should appeal to younger people that enjoyed Neil Gaiman's _Coraline_ (though I don't think this is quite as good as _Coraline_) or William Alexander's _Goblin Secrets_. This book may well also appeal to slightly older kids-at-heart that were fans of the late 80s animated TV show _Beetlejuice_. In fact, slightly older readers may find this book more "creepy" than the kids (much like _Coraline_) because the adults will "see" a child in peril instead of a child having adventures. While I do think there are some rough patches that could do with a little more editing--and maybe some more "showing" vs. "telling"--I found this to be an enjoyable read that I swept through in about two days. I found it refreshing that Eliza wasn't an orphan and had both parents in her life. She obviously has issues with her mother's rules that smother imagination in most forms, but she obviously loves her mom (and her mom loves her). Eliza's father is funny and charming in his own way. I really found the world of Grimwytch fascinating in _Beetlejuice_ sort of way with it's darkly textured atmospherics. There is some light swearing, as well as some references to alcohol, tobacco, the devil, and prayer. I really suggest that if an adult reads this before passing it on to children, if they have any concerns (but that's a good idea any way). Overall, though, I think this a rollicking good, yet creepy, fantasy-adventure with plenty of room to spare for future adventures. The character depths are a bit shallow, as I suspect this may be the start of a series, there is a lot of potential for building subsequent stories with more character development. In fact, I really hope there are future adventures. ;)
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Alan Webb
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly spooky read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2014
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Yes, I absolutely recommend this spooky dark fantasy! As much as I loved the main character and storyline, the short stories within the book have wonderfully vivid characters too and are just as exciting, memorable, scary and interesting. They also weave together really well. After reading the stories within The Book of Kindly Deaths, Eliza must travel from her missing grandfather's creepy Victorian house into the Midnight City to search for him. On her grueling journey Eliza encounters a myriad of monsters in a very dark world.

I felt myself transported to this world with Eliza and couldn't put the book down. I’d recommend The Book of Kindly Deaths to anyone of any age. I absolutely loved it and very much hope there will be a sequel.
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Arkham Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Fingers Cross for a Sequel!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2015
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I very much enjoyed this novel.

The story is incredibly dark, reading like a cross between Coraline, A Series of Unfortunate Events and the work of H.P. Lovecraft. Its not the most pleasant reads at time as its filled with grotesque and unsettling imagery (with plenty of bad things happening to good people), making it a fantastic light read for a horror-loving young adult.

The Grimwytch was a really imaginative world. I loved how the surreality of it was offset by the references to familiar things - such as hideous creatures with a liking for cheese. The structure of the novel was also rather unusual as its first half was really a collection of short stories, while Eliza's plot didn't really get moving until past the half way mark. While I initially thought the stories dragged on a little too long, they did all turn out to be significant in the end as elements from each of them feature in Eliza's final adventure.

However, I was disappointed that more time wasn’t spent on Eliza’s story as this ultimately felt very rushed. The story was wrapped up rather suddenly and neatly with the villain of the piece only getting introduced in the final 10% of the novel. The plot thread concerning Eliza’s mother also trailed off without proper resolution. Her overbearing mother never showed any indication that she was changing her ways until the final page of the story and we never discover how she reacts to the knowledge that Eliza has discovered the family secret.

Yet, the cast of the novel were very strong. Eliza is a very determined and likable heroine, more than able to hold her own and never faltering in the face of unimaginable danger. I also rather liked Shard and hope that he features more in any future books. That is, if there are any future books, but I really hope that this isn't the last! I'd love to read more of Eliza's adventures!
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Judi L
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift for Christmas
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2014
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I bought this book for my nephew, read the first page and couldn't put it down! Spookily original in his writing, this author's characters spring to life on the page keeping you tantalised to read on and on from one adventure to the next. I could see this book being made into a film. Great buy - thoroughly recommended.
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Simon
4.0 out of 5 stars Strangely enjoyable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2017
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I liked this story, at first I was not sure, but as I read on the story became more enjoyable/compelling and the Grimwych made me nervous, meaning it is well written. I also read this quickly, a sign to me it's a good book. Eliza was not as interesting to me as Shard, but that's because Shard is not entirely human. Generally The monsters are interesting and the stories like dark fairy tales. The Grims are very powerful, so I wonder about their origin. I hope there will be more in a series.
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