11+: The Demon Collector - Jon Mayhew

Release Date: 07/03/11

BOOK BLURB:

In the time before time, Satan ruled the molten Earth, worshipped by his demons. One demon turned against him and imprisoned Satan deep in the bowels of the earth. When Satan escaped, as punishment, the demon's heart was torn from his chest and his body hidden deep in the polar ice. Only Satan knows where he lies. The heart is hidden elsewhere. If the two are brought together, the demon will be reborn and darkness will reign. Edgy Taylor sees demons when nobody else can. Edgy thinks he is insane and expects to be carried off any minute. He is a prime collector, wandering the streets of London collecting dog muck for the tannery. The only thing Edgy is good at is setting and solving riddles, and evading his brutal and abusive master. One night, when his master seems genuinely intent on killing Edgy, Professor Envry Janus intervenes. Envry takes him to the Royal Society of Daemonology where Edgy will now live. It is here, though, that Edgy discovers chance had nothing to do with their meeting, and that he holds the key to a deadly demon prophecy.


REVIEW:

Having read and loved Jon’s original outing, Mortlock, I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on this title as after completing this, I can easily say that he’s fast setting himself up as an author to not only watch but set standards by. What he weaves into his tales will hopefully take the YA genre in much the same way as RL Stine did with his Goosebump series in the 90’s. The writing is fresh, the characters outstanding and when you add into it a murky world of shadowy figures who double deal with the demons and allow their own lusts to control their fates, makes it a difficult title to put down.

All in this was an absolute delight to read and will more than likely make my top ten YA reads this year which made this a real gem of a find and one that I will enjoy a few more times before allowing my nephews anywhere near. That said, I would perhaps recommend reading this prior to letting your young reader get their hands on it as some of the issues raised may well need to be talked through but for a good scare as well as high octane thrills you really won’t do better. Come to the Darkside, we don’t just have cookies, we have Mayhew.

9+: Mortlock - Jon Mayhew

Release Date: 05/04/10

BOOK BLURB:

The sister is a knife-thrower in a magician's stage act, the brother an undertaker's assistant. Neither orphan knows of the other's existence. Until, that is, three terrible Aunts descend on the girl's house and imprison her guardian, the Great Cardamom. His dying act is to pass the girl a note with clues to the secret he has carried to his grave. Cardamom was one of three explorers on an expedition to locate the legendary Amarant, a plant with power over life and death. Now, pursued by flesh-eating crow-like ghuls, brother and sister must decode the message and save themselves from its sinister legacy.


REVIEW:

OK, I admit it, I am late to this novel. Not because I’ve been lazy but because this title has been saved as a special treat. After all, at this time of year when the dark nights close in a gem has to be kept to help light the way and with its nomination for an award or two we felt that now was the right time to strike.

Mortlock is a title that’s part evil dead, part adventure as well as a journey of discovery as our heroes seek to fulfil an old man’s last request.

Beautifully written this tale is a great addition to any young readers library and with the second title to be released shortly there’s a real chance to get in on the bottom rung now. Finally back that with a whole cast of cracking characters, great prose and delicious dialogue and you’ll soon see why it’s selling so well.