Title: Seventh Son: The Spook’s Apprentice and The Spook’s Curse
Author: Joseph Delaney
First published September 3, 2013
624 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781849418003 (ISBN10: 1849418004)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
Get ready to enter the dark and dangerous world of The Spook’s series with this special edition of The Spook’s Apprentice and The Spook’s Curse. With the release of the action-packed movie, Seventh Son, starring Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore and Ben Barnes, this bumper edition is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the spine-tingling story.
The County has been protected from the forces of evil for years by the local Spook, but now his time is coming to an end. Who will take over and keep the County safe?
Many have tried and failed, but Thomas Ward is the last hope. He must face Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County.
Will Thomas be able to stand against the darkness and emerge victorious? Don’t miss out on this thrilling adventure.
About the Author
Joseph Delaney lives in Lancashire, where he is a full-time writer. He is the author of several book series, including Wardstone Chronicles, Starblade Chronicles, Arena 13, Aberrations, and his latest release, Brother Wulf, which came out in April 2020.
Brother Wulf is a new addition to the Spooks series and introduces a new character, a young monk named Brother Wulf, to the world of Tom and Alice.
The idea for the Spooks series came to Joseph when he moved to his current village and discovered a local boggart. He made a note in his notebook about a story featuring a man who hunts boggarts, and years later, he developed this idea into The Spook’s Apprentice, the first book in the series.
Joseph draws inspiration from the folklore of Lancashire, as well as the county’s varied and atmospheric landscape, which he tweaks and modifies to create his fictional world.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Joseph worked as a teacher at a Sixth Form College, where he taught English, Film, and Media Studies. He used to wake up early and write every morning before work, writing a book a year, which promptly got rejected.
When the Americans bought the series, he decided to give up teaching and write full-time. Prior to teaching, he worked as an engineer in his twenties, completing an apprenticeship, just like Tom Ward in the Spook’s books.
Joseph describes his writing process as a process of discovery. He doesn’t plot too far ahead and often doesn’t know what is going to happen until he writes it down.
He prefers writing dialogue to description, leaving much to the reader’s imagination. Joseph is a wonderful public speaker and is available for conference, library, and bookshop events.
His books have been shortlisted for the Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year Award, and Brother Wulf is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award.
Editoral Review
Seventh Son: The Spook’s Apprentice and The Spook’s Curse by Joseph Delaney are two enrapturing tales that will leave readers spellbound. Published in September 2013, this young adult fiction series centers on a young man named Tom Ward and the spook who mentors him as he learns to fight evil spirits in a world where magic and the paranormal are a reality.
Delaney is a master wordsmith, and he effortlessly conjures the eerie and foreboding atmosphere of a world inhabited by ghastly creatures. The author’s writing style is engaging, and it keeps the reader interested throughout both novels’ 500-plus pages.
The author blends myth, history, and storytelling in a way that creates a world that’s both immersive and captivating. In The Spook’s Apprentice, we are introduced to Tom, who’s been chosen to be the spook’s apprentice.
The Spook, John Gregory, teaches Tom the ways of the trade and entrusts him with the immense responsibility of fighting off the creatures of the dark. The challenge is daunting, and the reader is drawn into Tom’s journey as he sets out to confront the forces of evil.
In The Spook’s Curse, Tom must travel north to confront a powerful witch who has put a curse on the local populace. This task is fraught with danger, and Tom must call on all his knowledge and training to defeat the witch and her minions.
The book and its predecessor follow a similar pattern, but that’s not necessarily a fault, given that Delaney handles the story’s repetition with ease. The author is excellent at character development, and his protagonists are likable and relatable.
Tom is a charming character, battling to do what’s right, even when he knows it’s no easy task. The Spook is also well-drawn, an enigmatic and mysterious figure with a wealth of knowledge about the supernatural world.
Delaney’s vivid descriptions of the setting are also impressive, leaving the reader feeling immersed in a world that’s both magical and frightening. The novel’s exploration of themes of friendship, loyalty, and the fight between good and evil is delightfully executed.
Delaney doesn’t shy away from the darkness of the subject matter, and the book deals with some pretty frightening concepts. However, at its core, Seventh Son is an optimistic series that values hope and the triumph of good over evil.
One of the book’s flaws is its writing style, which might prove too childish for some young adult readers. The books’ pacing is also lacklustre, with the story dragging in some sections.
However, these minor blemishes don’t detract from the book’s overall enjoyment. All in all, Seventh Son: The Spook’s Apprentice and The Spook’s Curse by Joseph Delaney are an enjoyable and thrilling read.
Young readers will delight in the exciting world of ghosts and witches that Delaney has created, with its well-built characters, a fully-realized setting and themes of courage and triumph over evil. For lovers of the YA genre, this book comes highly recommended, and it’s sure to be a favourite for years to come.
The books’ strengths far outweigh any minor flaws. The books would receive a rating of 4 out of 5.
The books are easily accessible to readers from 9-15 years old, as they are written for young adults, but they can be enjoyed by those well above their age range.
