The Spook’s Curse by Joseph Delaney
Rate and review The Spook’s Curse! | What does everyone else think?
The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, have travelled to Priestown to defeat the Bane, a powerful, evil creature that lurks in the catacombs of the cathedral and is corrupting the County.
As Thomas and his master prepare to battle with the Bane, they soon realize it isn’t their only enemy in Priestown. The Quisitor has arrived, searching the County for those who meddle in the dark – witches, warlocks and spooks! Can Thomas and his master survive the horror that follows…?
The Spook’s Curse is the second book in Joseph Delaney’s The Wardstone Chronicles. The series opener, The Spook’s Apprentice was a sparkling beginning to the series and The Spook’s Curse retains the same high standards.
The Spook’s Curse is the second book in Joseph Delaney’s The Wardstone Chronicles. The series opener, The Spook’s Apprentice was a sparkling beginning to the series and The Spook’s Curse retains the same high standards. The book begins with The Spook unwell and Thomas having to deal with a boggart all by himself for the first time. This is no-ordinary boggart, it is a class one boggart, The Horshaw Ripper, and to make things even more complicated it is sucking the blood and life from The Spook’s brother (a priest whom he has not talked to for over forty years). This opening lets you know that The Spook’s Curse will offer no relief from the spine-tingling events that made the first book standout!
The Spook paused and sighed deeply. ‘I don’t believe in the God they preach about in church,’ he said. ‘I don’t believe in an old man with a white beard. But there’s something watching what we do, and if you live your life right, in your hour of need it’ll stand at your side and lend you its strength. That’s what I believe. Well, come on, lad. We’ve dawdled here long enough and had best be on our way.’ 
The foundations were laid perfectly in The Spook’s Apprentice and Delaney now builds on these to give the major characters even more life. It is the Spook’s history that is explained most in this story; his family, loves and failures are covered and this allows him to become a far more sympathetic character. The locations for the story are both familiar and new; a perfect mixture in my opinion; we have the Spook’s house and Thomas’s farm that we know and are comfortable with and then we are taken to new places like Priestown where most of the story unfolds.
“It was a town of churches, with spires and towers rising above the rows of small terraced houses. Set right on the summit of a hill, near the centre of the town, was the cathedral.”
In every great book there are great villains and The Spook’s Curse gives us two baddies worthy of the name. Witches, or those claimed to be practising witchcraft (or the dark arts), are being rounded up and burnt. The evil man responsible for this is the Quisitor and this was Thomas’s first impression of the man - “I was fascinated by his face. It was almost too handsome to be a man’s, but it was strong at the same time, with a jutting chin and a determined forehead. Then I looked again at the blue eyes and saw the cruelty glaring from them.”. If that was not enough there is then the Bane, a powerful, evil creature that lurks in the catacombs of the cathedral and is corrupting the County. The battle to destroy, once and for all, the Bane is the heart of the story and after Thomas has entered Priestown he come face to face with a representation of the Bane outside the cathedral - “It had an elongated chin that curved upwards almost as far as its long nose, and wicked eyes that seemed to follow me as I walked towards it. Its ears were strange too, and wouldn’t have been out of place on a big dog or even a wolf.”
The scare-factor is still pretty high for a young-adult novel – we have burnings, suicide and “pressings” but nothing that will greatly disturb a young adult (they will in fact love it). I would be very interested to discover how many parallels there are between the content in the Spook’s series and the author’s own life. Was Joseph Delaney’s mother Greek? Did all the colloquial sayings come from his Dad? Sometimes the second book can be a let down but this is not the case here; we are once again treated to a magnificent tale that thankfully is but the second instalment in a five-book series. Many questions are raised here and I can’t wait to read the third book to once again be frightened and to have them answered.
Go out and buy this series now. It does not matter if you’re 8 or 80, male or female; this series is just one of those rare gems that can bridge genres and bring delight to all who enjoy reading.
Spook's Curse (Wardstone Chronicles) (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: Joseph Delaney
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 432
Publication date: 2006-07-06
Publisher: Red Fox
RRP: £5.99
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: £1.00
THE SPOOK'S CURSE (Amazon.com)
Author: Joseph Delany
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 432
Publication date: 2006-01-01
Publisher: Red Fox
RRP:
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: $2.06
Katie from Bolton
"I couldn't stop reading this book, even though I know what happens I just want to read on. This is one of them books where it just gets better and better and when you think the worst is about to happen something unexpectd comes along and gives you a thrill!"
Ross from Ireland
"This was, in my opinion, the best Spooks book there is. It is extremely well thought out and alot of twists and turns throughout the chapters. I think it was a great idea for Joseph Delaney to add the Quisitor. It was a book I just couldn't put down no matter how hard I tried and I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!"
Submit your own mini-review
Let people know what you think about The Spook’s Curse. You can write your own mini-review and give the book the rating that you think it deserves. Your reviews will go towards giving The Spook’s Curse its overall rating that will decide where The Spook’s Curse finishes in the top 100 fantasy books of all time.
Books you may also enjoy...
The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook. The job is hard, the spook is distant and many apprentices have failed before him. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts. But when he is tricked into freeing Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the Country, the horror begins… ... read the full review
Summary: Chilling, memorable and full of wonderful characters.
The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven't bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he'll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told. ... read the full review
Summary: A delightful and whimsical book that highlights the power and wonder of imagination.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ella is given a blessing at birth by a very stupid fairy: She gets the gift of obedience! but the blessing turns into a horror for Ella who literally has to do what anyone and everyone tells her, from sweeping the floor to giving up a precious necklace! She has to battle with ogres and wicked stepsisters, make friends and loose them, and even deny she loves her Prince Char to save his life and his kingdom. The story overthrows the stereotypes of the original Cinderella when Ella breaks the curse -- not the prince -- saving not only herself, but Prince Char as well. And Ella rejects his proposal of marriage, at least until she decides herself to propose to him! And the curse is only broken because she's said 'No!' rather than 'Yes!'. ... read the full review
Summary: Ella Enchanted is an enchanting re-telling of the Cinderella fairy tale.
Also in this sub-genre...
- The Spook’s Apprentice by Joseph Delaney
- The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- Who is Charlie Keeper? by Marcus Alexander
- The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
- Abhorsen by Garth Nix
- The Spook’s Mistake by Joseph Delaney
- Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
- The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
- The Prophecy Keepers by Melaine Bryant
- The Spook’s Secret by Joseph Delaney
- The Spook’s Battle by Joseph Delaney
- The Spook’s Stories: Witches by Joseph Delaney
- Lirael by Garth Nix
- Once Upon A Time In The North by Philip Pullman
- The Magician’s Apprentice by Trudi Canavan
- Mister Monday by Garth Nix
- Grim Tuesday by Garth Nix
- The Spook’s Tale by Joseph Delaney
- Dragon Horse by Peter Ward
- The Spook’s Sacrifice by Joseph Delaney
- Sabriel by Garth Nix
Book of the Month
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
Latest interviews
Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.
Must-reads
The following reviews are of books that begin the very best fantasy series available.
Competition: Win a signed copy of Graham Hancock's Entangled
Graham Hancock is the author of The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis, Heaven's Mirror, Supernatural and other bestselling investigations of historical mysteries. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. Written with the same page-turning appeal that has made his non-fiction so popular, Entangled is his first work of fiction. We have five signed copies of Entangled to give away as prizes. Email us the answer to the following question and the lucky winner, chosen at random, will receive a copy of the book, signed by the author.
Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe
Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.
Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.
