Abi Elphinstone - The Night Spinner (Dreamsnatcher 3) - Book Review

In a ruined monastery in the northern wilderness, a Shadowmask called Wormhook sits in front of a spinning wheel. He is spinning a quilt of darkness known as the Veil. A masked figure then carries the Veil across the lands, slipping it through the windows of children’s bedrooms to poison their minds...

Meanwhile deep within Tanglefern Forest, Moll and her wildcat, Gryff, are waiting for a sign from the Old Magic before they continue their quest to find the last Amulet of Truth and free their world from the Shadowmasks’ terrible magic.
 
Still missing fellow Tribe member, Alfie, and armed only with a mysterious set of clues, Moll sets out on an adventure across the northern wilderness with Gryff and her friend Siddy at her side. They must brave the Lost Isles, scale the Barbed Peaks and face witches, goblins and giants who lurk at every turn . . . while the Shadowmasks draw ever closer.
 
Can Moll, Siddy and Gryff find the friend they think they have lost? And do the Tribe have what it takes to defeat the Dark magic once and for all?

We started out this little adventure back in book one, "The Dreamsnatcher", where we fell in love with the charming and endearing characters instantly. We followed them on a course of action and adventure; through a babbling brook of time towards a path of dark magic which ended in a cascading waterfall of evil mayhem and destruction. In book two, "The Shadow Keeper", we experienced an amazing flight of fantasy and imagination. We soared and dipped amongst the dizzy heights before finally ending up in an all-out action finale full of twists, turns and heart-stopping moments.

The path we undertook in this enduring story continues into the very last book with a breath of fresh Scottish air. As soon as you turn the first page, you will be instantly transported back to Tanglefern Forest, the safe place called home. Moll and her wildcat, Gryff, will need to set out once again in an all-out race against time in an epic battle to defeat the perils of dark magic. 

Instantly, you will travel the narrative to the rugged wind-swept landscape of Scotland, which was inspired by Abi's visits as a young child. You will smell the peaty bogs, shake your hands with the veil of evil and meet extraordinary characters like Frank (the ferret) who will make you laugh at every given opportunity. 

However, beware as the light might not be enduring for long as the swirling darkness consumes you in a brooding storm. It will eat your soul up in a piano chord of witches tinkling full of malice whilst shaking the cobwebs of your mind. You will journey upon a Kraken that will awake from slumber by an evil presence and the mountain gods who will roar and shake the senses in this non-stop action flight of fantasy. All of this is told with the great skill of a storyteller. It is very descriptive, deliciously imaginative and borne out of a combination of childhood dreams and sparkling fizz. 

You will be introduced to more supporting characters in this book. Some are particularly well written such as Bruce. With his mixed up dialogue and quirky mannerisms, you will be drawn to his great character and personality. However, some of the other characters are a bit vague in description, but perhaps this is due to the shortness of page count and story life. 

This is a fantastic but sad conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. Every page is a joy and a pleasure to read. Expect some thrills, spills, and sadness along the way, so get ready to hold your breath and experience the final episode of this fantastic series unfold. I am looking forward to new journeys and adventures ahead from this great author.