Very lucky to get parcels of books every month. It's even better than CHIP CLUB when I was a at school. I have the first 5 Spooks by Joseph Delaney:
"'
Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can.'
For years, the local Spook has been keeping the County safe from evil. Now his time is coming to an end, but who will take over?
Many apprentices have tried . . . Some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive. Just one boy is left. Thomas Ward. He is the last hope.
But does he stand a chance against Mother Malkin, the most dangerous witch in the County? "
I opened the book and found it to be a spooky read indeed. I liked the kind of not quite sure what era yet obviously set in another period of time. There's that notion of duty-it's written in Thomas' destiny as a 7th son that he will become the apprentice.
I liked the build up of the characters and the developing relationship between the Spook and his apprentice-Thomas Ward. I also liked the way the story of Thomas family slowly and tantalisingly unravels as you read on into the next books. I wondered if it would be a bit formulaic as noticed there are a lot of them but, so far, I don't get that and the story is still building and suspenseful. I do find reading it the daylight helps but I am a bit of a scaredy cat. There is enough of that but not too much..it's Ok for 9+ I think. There's lots of them and I haven't read them all yet but am planning to keep going, especially now I've put the wood burner back in to action. I think it's an Autumnal/wintery read. Spooky and summer don't really go for me....oooh luckily got the ideal weather for spot of curling up with a book then!