Joseph Delaney’s The Last Apprentice series has shot to the top of my must-buy list. I originally bought the two books in hardback because of the covers. The images are stark and somber, kind of spooky actually. More than that they intrigued me, made me wonder what kind of world was trapped within the pages.
So I bought the first one, put it on the shelf, and told myself I’d get around to it when I got ready to read to my son Chandler. We read all the time for his Accelerated Reader program. Unfortunately, Delaney’s books haven’t made that list, though I intend to push for it at his school because I’m plenty willing to read the stories again, this time to him.
After buying the second book a few months later, I realized I’d made a considerable investment on books that I didn’t know anything about. There wasn’t even much in the way of reviews on them. So, late one night, I cracked the first one open. It’s even reviewed here, so you can find out what I thought.
Now, less than a week later, I’ve read the second one. Couldn’t stop myself. I know there’s a third book in the works (and I’m dying to know which Delaney explores first, more of the Spook’s background, more of Mam’s background, or more of this ever-growing world they all inhabit), but I don’t know how long I’m going to have to wait on it.
If you don’t want to go looking for my review of the first book, The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch), then what you need to know is this: Tom Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son in an England countryside that exists some three or four hundred years ago. As such, there’s not much in the way of inheritance for him. The farm goes to the oldest son, his brother Jack in this case. His father found apprenticeships for the rest of his sons.
Tom ended up with Old Gregory, the Spook. As a spook, Tom has been assigned to a venerable trade: chasing off ghosts, boggarts, and witches. He’s been trained to dig pits, cover the insides with mixtures of iron, salt, and glue to trap the supernatural creatures, and cover it all with specially crafted stone slabs marked with warnings to keep people away, or from releasing the beasties they’ve gone to the trouble of imprisoning.
Article comments
1 - Katie McNeill
Yep, I'm going to have to pick this one up.
2 - Sammy
I've just finished the 2nd book and it's just as great as the 1st! I'm 24 years old and I've been a huge "scary book" fan my entire life! I grew up on R.L. Stine's Fear Street colloection and I read this book with the same excitement. There are so many great moments that make it impossible to put the book down. Everytime I say I'll read one chapter and go to bed, I'm up for the next hour reading 3, 4 more chapters! It's a great adventure. Definately Harry Potter meets R.L. Stine. I think most kids, who aren't afraid of the dark, would love these books. I wish book three were out!!
3 - Tania
I just finished reading ''Revenge of the Witch'' and just had to find out more. The first book was awesome and I can't wait to get my hands on the second one!
4 - taylor
I love these books,
but I need some answers is this series.
is the last apperentice series connected to the spooks apperentice series? please tell. thanks bye
5 - Sammy
To #4:
Yeah, I wondered the same thing. I've been told that the "Spook's Apprentice" is the SAME as the "Last Apprentice". The "Spook's Apprentice" is the UK version of the series, but basically the same story. I've heard that the UK version already has book #3 out (The Spook's Secret). Where's ours?! :(
6 - FOX
Go to Amazon.uk. It is a little bit of a pain to track down, but #3 is called "The Spook's Secret" You can have book three in a couple of weeks by airmail from Britain, but I think you need a paypal account to pay for it in pounds...I don't remember how I paid. Book #4 is due for release in the UK in July '07 as well :)
The only fansite I have found is here and it's not very big, but cool to peruse
7 - Sammy
Amazon just started the preorder for book #3 called "The Last Apprentice: Night of the Soul Stealer"!!!! Not sure when it's coming out, but woohoo!
8 - oo
this book is cool
9 - zach
i have read both these books. i'm 14 and i love both of them. i'm not much of a reader myself but these books changed all that. can't wait for #3 to come out
10 - xxx
These to books where awsome ican`t wait for the therd
11 - James
THEs books R SO COOL
12 - Tom MOens >.
I really love his book .. I just Read his third book.. And now i'm going to order the 4th and last!
Tom MOens, NEtherlands
13 - grayson
Wow, ive jsut finished the third and i swair a tear trickled down my eye, anyone know when the amreican version of the fourth is comin out?