Night of the Soul Stealer (The Last Apprentice, Book 3)

Good story line, on my third book in the series.

Good reading. Not too dark or scary. A good low bar entry into the fantasy genre. I’m reading into it now in advance for my kids. I probably won’t read the next book.

I enjoyed the third book in the Last Apprentice series. Winter is coming. It is time for the Spook and Tom Ward, his apprentice, to leave Chipenden and head to Old McGregory's winter home. This was a very revealing installment in the series. We get to learn more about Meg, a witch from the Spook's past. We also get to see Meg's sister. These two women are very dangerous witches. The problem is Meg was someone the Spook cared about. He's never been able to bury her the way she should have been buried. In the cellar of the winter home the Spook has three witches locked up behind iron bars. When they get out, Tom Ward must figure out what to do next . . . Only the trouble doesn't stop there. Morgan, one of the Spook's old apprentices (an apprentice the Spook had to fire), is trying to conjure great evil from the depths of Hell. Morgan wants Tom's help -- and blackmails the young apprentice. Morgan instills doubt about the Spook into Tom's mind. Facing dangerous witches, an evil ex-apprentice and growing doubt about who he can trust, Tom Ward finds himself to trying to figure out what is what, and who is who . . . With the help of Alice, a witch his age, a friend he is conflicted about having (since his job is to capture, bind and bury witches), Tom moves forward, out of childhood (thirteen years old) into young adult hood. A great story. I love the visits to Tom's family. The friendship between Tom and Alice, and the numerous dangers that are constant between the pages. Joesph Delaney writes very simplistically, but does not hold back on the darkness and horror. So far, the series is quite entertaining. I will now move on to read, Attack of the Fiend, Book 4. . . Phillip Tomasso, Author of Damn the Dead and Blood River

This is the 3rd book in The Last Apprentice series. Tom and Mr. gregory will be going to The Spooks desolate winter house in Anglezarke. There Tom will learn more on Meg and the soft spot Mr Gregory has for her, Golgoth, an old God of winter, and the truth of who Morgan is. All Tom knows of him is that he is one of Mr. Gregory's appentices and he is a Necromancer. These books just keep getting better with each installment. Ive seen reviewers make the statement of how Tom hasnt changed much. I think since the "actual time" taking place in the book is going at a slow pace it would make sense that he hasnt changed much. Tom does get braver as he faces different aspects of "the dark" with each installment. His relationships with the secondary charachters also grow especially with Alice. What would Tom and Mr. Gregory do without Alice??? She and Tom are my favorites and Im rooting for them!!! Also I love the relationship Tom has with his Mam. I cant wait to see her secrets unfold...and what she has in those trunks.

YA which will appeal to a wide ranger of readers. Delaney is outstanding at world building, which is necessary when writing about the supernatural and unique events. :) He is so factual in providing setting, characterization and storyline that the reader feels as if they have terra firma under their feet. He establishes trust and plausibility in his story and characters, which in turn lets the reader relax and enjoy the developments. His ability to create suspense is unparalleled. Thomas Ward is an engaging protagonist, and his mentor is an intriguing character as well. The momentum of the story builds continually, and I stayed up far too late into the night reading "just one more chapter". I would heartily recommend this book to anyone looking to engross themselves in another world.

With this dark tale of supernatural mayhem, Delaney has launched a fine fantasy series that should appeal to kids and adults alike. Initially the pace is leisurely. Delaney doesn't rush in setting up his dark story world and introducing a cast of intriguing characters: young, earnest Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son; his enigmatic master the Spook; Alice who wears pointy shoes and can't decide whether to choose the side of darkness or light; the tame boggart that cooks their meals and appears from time to time in the guise of a ginger cat; and Tom's wise and mysterious Mam. The monsters, witches, ghosts, and evil boggarts bring in plenty of complications soon enough as Tom begins his apprenticeship with the Spook. This isn't the Hogwarts brand of training, and you won't find the humor or occasional zany misadventures that are served up in a Harry Potter book. Instead, the tone stays serious as if Delaney doesn't want us laughing at the ghasts that haunt the night, lest we let our guard down too far. Tom spends a lot of time digging holes of the proper dimension to hold boggarts, and if that seems spun out a bit too long, be patient. Delaney's pacing in this book reminds me of a Hitchcock movie, slow and leisurely at first, but before you know it he's got you by the throat and you don't want to put the story down, especially when Tom has to confront the scariest witch I've met in recent fiction. I'll also add that the second book in this series, THE CURSE OF THE BANE, opens with grim, hair-raising urgency. But read NIGHT OF THE SOUL STEALER first.

I'm 30 and in love with this book series. I'm almost 100% sure its written for teens, but its a really easy read that sucks you in. Always ready for the next fight with a witch, old god, or other evil doer. This is a nice read just before bed time. My brain normally goes crazy when I lay down, thinking about everything that needs to be done, but this makes me focus and gets me ready to rest.

This is a good book with some of the same characters in the first books and some new ones. Plenty of action and surprises. You get to see a different side to Master Gregory. There is some heart break and a lot of growth. I am ready to read the next book.

...ma molto soddisfatto dell'acquisto, in quanto appassionato della saga.

Joseph Delaney's ability to deliver big scares and chills alognside a gripping storyline and expertly developed characters is unsurpassed, except by J K Rowling. The third book in the Wardstone Chronicles sees Tom and the Spook Mr Gregory head to their winter house high in the fells where the dark brings all manner of scary beasts out of the shadows and being the local Spook Mr Gregory does his duty by protecting the inhabitants of the County from the darkness. In this third book we learn more about the Spook himself and his character begins to unfold more than it has in the previous two installments with the introduction of the women he loves, Meg, who happens to be a Lamia witch. But there is other trouble afoot as a rogue Spook is set on releasing an evil God upon the County. This installment is scarier and more disturbing than the previous two and could be too scary for readers under ten. Delaney draws the reader in from the first page and the action, excitment and thrills don't let up until the very last page, these books are fast becoming my favourite series ever written, behind Harry Potter at the moment. If you enjoy scary and exciting books that are impossible to put down then The Wardstone Chronicles are definitely perfect for you.

5 star rating because the book once again is one of the best i have read. Im exited to read to read the rest of the books now so onto book 4

good

Some might say I am too old for these books but they don't know what they are missing. If you in any way into magic and mystery - age does not matter!