Chris Priestley - Curse of the Werewolf Boy (Maudlin Towers) - Bloomsbury Kids - Book Review (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

Mildew and Sponge don't think much of Maudlin Towers, the blackened, gloom-laden, gargoyle-infested monstrosity that is their school. But when somebody steals the School Spoon and the teachers threaten to cancel the Christmas holidays until the culprit is found, our heroes must spring into action and solve the crime!

But what starts out as a classic bit of detectivating quickly becomes weirder than they could have imagined. Who is the ghost in the attic? What's their history teacher doing with a time machine? And why do a crazy bunch of Vikings seem to think Mildew is a werewolf?

This is the brand new series from the talented Chris Priestley. The first book, The Curse of the Werewolf Boy, will be published by Bloomsbury and will hit the shops on the 5th October 2017. Book two will soon follow as it is going to be published during the summer of 2018.

You only need amble through the first few pages to see the rising pillars of gloom leading to Maudlin Towers. Here you will enter the weird and wonderful world and meet the unlikely heroes, Mildew and Sponge. 

This amazing adventure is illustrated throughout by the talented author. The pen and ink style complements the gothic appeal perfectly. The black and white illustrations provide an extra dimension to the story and certainly develop the atmosphere. They will definitely appeal to the younger audience.

Chris Priestley welcomes the reader to the weird and wonderful world and delivers a fantastic spooky narrative by bringing together a range of quirky characters. The muddled and varied humour makes for an interesting and funny read. The character gallery is entertaining just by itself, as it introduces each character profile and personality. 

There is a crime to be solved at Maudlin Towers. It is down to Mildew and Sponge to detect who has stolen the school spoon. It is imperative that they catch the thief otherwise the school Christmas holidays will be cancelled. Together they unravel the mysteries, but rather weird events also unfold such as ghosts in the attic, a teacher with a time machine, werewolves and a group of Vikings in the school perhaps. 

This is a hugely engaging and easy going gothic story which is full of action-packed twists and turns, mayhem, madness, and nonsense. It is perfect for readers of 8+. Fans of Lemony Snickett and Chris Riddell will love this book. The mystery adventure has a bit of bite and some atmospheric realism which will captivate readers of all ages. There's never a dull moment at Maudlin Towers so grab a copy now - it is a perfect autumnal read. 

Chris Priestley lives in Cambridge with his wife and son. His novels are brilliantly original additions to a long tradition of horror stories by authors such as M.R. James and Edgar Allan Poe. Chris wrote one of the World Book Day books for 2011 and has been shortlisted for a variety of prestigious children's book awards. Catch up with Chris at www.chrispriestley.blogspot.com.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Guest Book Review - Chris Priestley - The last of the Spirits

This book review is by Dawn Finch, the author of Brotherhood of Shades. When a book is this good, you really do need to shout about it to everyone who will listen. Thank you Dawn for sharing this review with us. I feel that it should help find the way to many readers this festive year....

www.dawnfinch.com

Book Synopsis: 

London is in the icy grip of winter. Sam is freezing and hungry. When he asks a wealthy man, Ebeneezer Scrooge, for money he is rudely refused. Sam is filled with violent rage and vows to kills this selfish man. Later, huddled in a graveyard for warmth, Sam sees the wraithlike figure of a man approaching. The man warns Sam about the terrible future which awaits him if he chooses the path of murder...

Chris Priestley has a growing bookshelf of Gothic tales, and with The Last Of The Spirits he takes a step out into the (deep and crisp and even) snow with a companion book to Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.

Last of the Spirits follows the misfortune of two homeless children on the icy streets of 19th Century London. The two children, siblings Sam and Lizzie, are caught up in the spectral visitations that plague Scrooge through his tormented Christmas Eve. They are not part of Ebeneezer's story, they have their own tale to tell. We learn of their tragic tales as they walk the frozen streets in the footsteps of the miser.

Many writers have tried to delve into the world of Ebeneezer Scrooge, but Priestley really nails it. The book feels pure Dickens, but remains fresh and approachable to a modern audience. There are no wasted words here and it is a completely new story, but one that still feels as if it carries the weight of time with it. It is as if Priestley has revealed the characters that once only stood in the wings, and are now drawn out to take centre stage. Priestley has turned the camera-eye around on the classic tale, bringing in wholly new aspects for readers to identify with, and it is genuinely spooky!

One thing that really jumped out at me (including the cold dread of where the story might go….) was how well this book reads aloud. Even the best of books sometimes fail when it comes to reading them aloud, but Last of the Spirits would make an excellent book to share aloud with others. Dickens regularly read Christmas Carol out loud and did so for decades after publication. Some books are written to be heard as well as read, and I can see this taking its place as one of those books brought out every year to share again.

I'm certainly looking forward to doing that, bring on the chestnuts and the crackling log fire...and a few sleepless nights!

Book Published by Bloomsbury Children's (6 Nov 2014)

http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/the-last-of-the-spirits-9781408854136/

Book Review: Chris Priestley - The Dead Men Stood Together - Bloomsbury

                                           

Chris Priestley delivers another cracking tale that will move both the spirit and soul through this offering. The book is short on page content, but massive on story content. The narrative rattles around your head like a deadly mist coming in from the sea. It's very bleak and atmospheric, but like all good stories it leaves you thinking. The traditional style is reminiscent of the good old yarns that have been told from generation to generation. In my opinion, this story will get better with age and time. 

I rattled through this book with a delicious appetite for the dark, and the somewhat macabre feeling, which is normally associated with a book written by Mr Priestley. As usual he did not let me down. Elements of this book really make you think, whilst the rest of the story washes over you. The characters take you on a gothic sea adventure that contain a modern day twist based on Coleridge's book 'The Rime Of the Ancient Mariner'. 

In a harbour town long ago, a boy is entranced by his uncle’s stories of adventure in lands far away. Ignoring the crazy talk of the harbour pilot’s son about the uncle being the Devil, the boy boards a ship with his uncle. But the uncle soon makes enemies of the captain and crew. 

A terrible silence followed the thud of a albatross hitting the deck. All heads turned to the sound and each face froze in horror at the sight the bird they had all come to love lying stretched out on the boards. 

I have to say that this was an epic part of the book - I really loved the way that these words pinged off my brain. My mind captured this scene in my head brilliantly.

This book is a compelling contemporary chiller that will not thaw when read. It is another fine example of Chris' great storytelling which doesn't necessarily seek a happy ending. In my opinion, not all stories should have or require one. I want the unexpected to happen and that is what was given yet again. It was such a pleasure to have this book on the reading pile. It's another read that I would recommend to everyone who loves a good spine-tingling adventure which has been painted in the very best way.......

This book is being published by Bloomsbury (hardback) on the 12th September 2013.

Chris Priestly - Mister Creecher - Book Review

     

• Pages - 400 
• Publisher - Bloomsbury Publishing
• Date - 13 October 2011
• Age 11+
• Isbn: 9781408 811047

Billy is a street urchin, pickpocket and petty thief. Mister Creecher is a monstrous giant of a man who terrifies all he meets. Their relationship begins as pure convenience. But a bond swiftly develops between these two misfits as their bloody journey takes them ever northwards on the trail of their target ...Victor Frankenstein. Friendship, trust and betrayal combine to form a dangerous liaison in this moving and frightening new book from Chris Priestley.

I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting to read once I had read this particular book synopsis. Especially having read all of Chris Priestley's imaginative Tales of Terror short stories, where I always felt like I was left wanting more. I was so easily sucked into these - they felt like a great master was telling the story, but for them to end so suddenly was always disappointing. Nevertheless I loved the insightful and twisted glimpses into the dark and abnormal story world. However, Mister Creecher proved to be something totally different again.

Playing on the classic concept of Frankenstein, it spun a whole new wonderful and thought provoking story which I loved from the very start. Set in Regency London (known as the underground of crime and poverty) Mister Creecher is an unimaginable seven foot monster who saves Billy from the clutches of death. Mysterious events carefully and enticingly unfold to hook you in before launching you back into the real world once more.

The main part of the book is inspired by Chris Priestley's love of the Classical novel, Frankenstein. He has paid homage to this by writing an account of two well-known literary characters. As a result, this has become a particularly cleverly written and compelling story that will be read and discussed for some time. Whilst it's written within the normal dark and Gothic constraints that we are all accustomed to reading from Chris, he does actually add a new level to this traditionally based plot. As a result, he brings it bang up to date whilst also incorporating a modern twist.

The relationship between the main characters is written seriously, but also portrays a poignant telling. It highlights the reality of loneliness and the need for friends. However, the book also shows a funny and uplifting side whilst also incorporating the dangerous and macabre side of this particular period.

Mister Creecher was a great book to read. I was not sure of the journey that I would take along the way and the ending was certainly not what I was expecting. In fact it leaves many more areas left still to unfold as we have only really just stared to scratch the surface with this tantalising start.