The Wardstone Chronicles Book6

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Sacrifice by Joseph Delaney

A Sacrifice For The Greater Good!
  

Despite Alice's training as a witch, she is Thomas Ward's friend. So even after Alice had been banished by the Spook and had returned to Pendle, Tom missed her. The Spook however would no longer tolerate Alice and her connection to the dark, his greatest fear was that Tom would be turned to the dark, therefore giving the Fiend unspeakable power. But not even the Spook can stop the dark from reaching his own home.

Tom's Mam has returned to the County seeking help in her homeland of Greece. After having enlisted the aid of the Pendle witches, Alice among them, Mam seeks out the help of the Spook, Bill Arkwright and her son Tom, who would never refuse his Mam. Although Bill Arkwright also agrees to accompany Mam and the witches to Greece to fight this great evil, the Spook refuses to sacrifice his principles by working with the enemy.

The Spook’s Sacrifice takes Tom to Greece, where lives will be lost, secrets revealed and the dark makes a powerful win. But as Tom is tempted ever closer to the dark through secrets and lies, and even after the greatest battle against the dark has been fought, there will be a terrible price to pay, and Tom will make the biggest sacrifice of all. The dark has never been more frightening in this, the most thrilling tale in the series yet.

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 02 August 2010
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862303522
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Greece
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles Book5

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Mistake by Joseph Delaney

Everybody Makes Mistakes!

With his second winter as the spook’s apprentice fast approaching, Thomas Ward is to be sent north to Caster to spend the next six months under the apprenticeship of the spook Bill Arkwright. Tom is told he will learn a lot in the north, that it will toughen him up, but he is not looking forward to leaving the spook or Alice, and according to his letter Arkwright is not looking to having him stay.

When he arrives he soon learns that things are different in the north, yes there are still witches to contend with but these are mostly water witches and nothing like the witches he has encountered so far. The worst of these is Morwena, the Fiend’s own daughter who has made killing Tom her sole purpose in life. But Tom’s is not the only life in danger, and when a deal is made with the dark the spook will make the biggest mistake of his life.

The Spook’s Mistake could cost lives or lose him an apprentice as his greatest fear of the darks influence comes to bare. As Tom is drawn ever closer to the dark and to his own demise, Alice will stop at nothing to protect him despite the consequences. But when truths are revealed and alliances are made, the line between dark and light is blurred and in the half light the future of all is uncertain. Another brilliantly entertaining story.

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 03 August 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862303515
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Morwena
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles - Bestiary

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Bestiary by Joseph Delaney

Let This Be A Warning!

This is John Gregory's guide to The Dark and all the creatures whom dwell within it. Some creatures you will have heard of, you may even have had your own dealings with the likes of boggarts, ghasts and witches. Other creatures you may be learning about for the first time such as boogles, Kabalos mages and skelts. Regardless of their notoriety and level of threat to the County all beings of the dark should he handled without fear, with knowledge and always using common sense.

Not everyone can be a seventh son of a seventh son and therefore eligible to become a Spook, many of you will stumble blindly through the dark with little knowledge of the threats that lie in wait for those of you who are foolish, ignorant or just plain unlucky. But within this Bestiary is the knowledge that could one day save your life, if only making you aware that you have a problem and giving you the foresight to fetch a Spook before you loose your thumbs, are drained of your blood or are just plain frightened to death.

The Spook's Bestiary is an invaluable guide not only for Spooks' and their apprentices but also to those fascinated with the dark, frightened of the dark or are fans of The Spook's series. The Dark is an ever present threat that is continuously growing in strength, but so to is the Spook's determination to fight The Dark in all its forms. With descriptions, stories, notes and sketches no home in the County is safe without a copy of this book to stave off the dark times. An informative and riveting read.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 December 2010
Price (AU): $29.95
ISBN: 9780370329796
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: The Dark
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles Book4

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Battle by Joseph Delaney

This Is Just The Beginning!

It has been over a year since Tomas Ward crossed Hangman's Hill leaving his home to begin his apprenticeship with the Spook. During that time Tom and the Spook have faced many dangers of the dark together and they have always done what was needed to triumph over those dangers. But this time Tom may have to pay too high a price to overcome the darkness that is about to be unleashed.

Pendle, a district of witches, has been left unchecked for far too long. It was time for the Spook and Tom to do something about the darkness growing there, but even with Alice it would be a desperate task to accomplish. However they weren't counting on what the witches would have in store for them, so even if they survived it would be to discover worse things in the world then witches.

The Spook's Battle is not just a fight against witches but against the most evil threat yet to walk the earth. Tom faces many battles alone as he struggles with personal demons as well as malevolent beings and never has he been so close to the dark that he could feel its affects so acutely. Never has there been a more real time to be afraid of the dark, not after the evil in this book has been released. A brilliant series that just gets better and better.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308541
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Witches
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
xx

The Wardstone Chronicles Book3

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Secret by Joseph Delaney

Can You Keep A Secret!

Tom is about to experience his first winter as the Spook's apprentice and take his first trip to Anglezarke, the Spook's winter home. Anglezarke is nothing like Chipenden, it is a dangerous and cold place where the dark is felt the strongest. It's going to be a long winter.

When a stranger appears on the Spook's doorstep darkness follows and secrets that have been long buried will surface to bring havoc to Tom and those he cares most about. But the Spook is not the only one who has been keeping secrets, Tom risks loyalty to the Spook and his friendship with Alice when forced to keep secrets of his own.

The Spook's Secret will reveal a whole new perspective to the Spook that will leave you guessing as to who and what to believe. The darkest story yet in this richly chilling and exciting series, The Wardstone Chronicles is a series that can not be overlooked for a witty, dark and thrilling read. Each book just gets better and better... 

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308565
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Secret
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
xx

The Wardstone Chronicles Book2

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Curse by Joseph Delaney

But I Don't Believe In Curses!

It has been almost six months since Tom began his apprenticeship with the Spook and in that time he has come to see Chipenden, and the Spook's home, as his own. But all that may change if the curse is to be believed, but who has time to fear a curse when there exists the Bane.

Deep in the catacombs under Priestown cathedral an ancient being corrupted by the passing years has turned towards the dark and has in turn corrupted Priestown, a town full of Priests and often visited by The Quisitor.

But as the lives of the Spook and Tom become increasingly in danger there is also Alice to worry about. As the curse becomes ever more possible and Alice turns further towards the dark will Tom lose them both, or will he have to pay the ultimate price to save them?

The Spook's Curse is an old and powerful curse that will one day claim the Spook's life, but that is only if it is to be believed. In a mixture of history, mythology and fantasy The Spook's is a series that perfectly blends mystery and danger to create a dark and exciting world that has to be read to be believed.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308558
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Curse
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
xx

The Wardstone Chronicles Book1

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

Someone's Got To Do It!

Thomas J Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son, as such he is a natural enemy of the dark and all that dwell with it. It is because of this that Tom as been accepted as apprentice to the Spook, but there have been other apprentices before him, all of then seventh sons of seventh sons and not all of them had made it through their apprenticeships alive.

Not yet thirteen, Tom has been sent far from home and thrown into a world danger. He has been given a month to prove that he might have what it takes to be a Spook's apprentice, but first Tom will have to last through his first night. Something that's definitely not as easy as it sounds.

There is much to learn as a Spook's apprentice and if Tom isn't paying attention he may soon be following the path of many an apprentice before to an early grave. But Tom has advantages over the other apprentices before him. The first is being his mam's son, a mysterious woman with her own talents. The second is Alice, a young girl in pointy shoes, but will she become Tom's greatest friend or worst enemy?

The Spook's Apprentice is not a position to be taken lightly and in a world as old and rich in history as this only a Spook has the power to fight the evils that lurk within these pages. However, despite the staff he carries and the cloak and beard he wears the Spook is not your normal wizard, he fights without magic but with commonsense, knowledge and courage to prevail. It's a Spooky fun beginning to great new series.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 May 2009
Price (AU): $17.95
ISBN: 9781862308534
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: SPOOK'S
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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The Wardstone Chronicles - Witches

THE WARDSTONE CHRONICLES:
The SPOOK'S(-STORIES-)Witches by Joseph Delaney

Beware Beautiful Women Wearing Pointy Shoes!
 

Witches are powerful being of darkness known for spurting curses, performing sacrifices and causing deaths. They are greatly feared and rightly so, for Witches in the world of The Spook's are some of the most dangerous and complicated creatures you will ever find.

Meg Skelton.

John Gregory is a Spook and deals with all manner of creatures of the dark including ghosts, boggarts and witches. Meg Skelton is a damsel in distress rescued by the Spook, John. It was love at first sight. However when John discovers that Meg wears pointy shoes things became complicated. Can two sworn enemies really live together in peace?

Dirty Dora.

Dora Deane might have earned her nick name 'Dirty Dora' from the great globs of spittle she leaves all about her territory, but it may also be a reference to her current condition. For living under rotting leaves with bugs in your hair is not the cleanest of places to live. Dora however has little choice, for she is a dead witch. But just how exactly does one become a dead witch?

Grimalkin's Tale.

Grimalkin is a fearless and determined young witch who is also well skilled as a blacksmith and assassin; in fact she is the witch assassin of the Malkin clan. Only one has ever survived Grimalkin once she has decided to end their life. But as Grimalkin's only true enemy, why is she so determined to kill the one being all other witches worship?

Alice and the Brain Guzzler.

Alice Deane had been an orphan for only three days before Bony Lizzie showed up. Alice didn't want to become a witch; however Lizzie would have her way. Besides for Alice becoming a witch was inevitable, it was in the blood. Alice was now to learn the ways of a witch, but would she live long enough to survive the teachings?

The Banshee Witch.

Tomas Ward is a Spook's apprentice who spent time training under the Spook Bill Arkwright. Tom was taught many new skills, acquired many new bruises and also made powerful new enemies. It was also during this time that a call for help arrived from a manor being haunted by a banshee but there was little a Spook could do, or so they thought. Was there something more then just a benign spirit at play?

These five stories of Witches are a creative blend of mythology and imagination. Delightfully wicked and great to enjoy as a one off, these stories are the perfect way to become acquainted to the series if you haven't already done so. Witches also offers invaluable insights as these are the background stories that enrich the series, a must read for fans.

The SPOOK'S - map

Joseph Delaney Webpage

Joseph Delaney @ Random House

THE SPOOK'S

On sale: 01 December 2009
Price (AU): $22.95
ISBN: 9780370329963
Recommended age: 12-16
In a word: Witches
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
xx