Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Collections
Publication
Bodley Head (2012), Hardcover, 368 pages
Description
Provides insights into the life of Grimalkin, one of the deadliest witches in the country, if not the world, whose uneasy truce with the Spook's apprentice, Tom, unites them against the ultimate evil of the Fiend.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
I was a little disappointed when I read on Joseph Delaney's blog that The Last Apprentice series (or, it's known in the UK, the Wardstone Chronicles) are coming to an end. After book 14, the series will be over for good. There's no indication at this time if Delaney will ever return to the world of
In book 9, Grimalkin the Witch Assassin, we take a little bit of a detour from the main story to learn more about the deadly Grimalkin. Through Grimalkin's eyes, we learn about her unique role in the witch world, her attempt at having an apprentice of her own, and the heartbreak and sacrifice that comes from being Grimalkin. Most importantly, readers get a unique perspective on the witch assassin and what the world of The County means to her.
I really did enjoy hearing the story from Grimalkin's prospective, and all the amazing action and unique mythology that I've come to expect from Delaney. For the first time, readers were really able to dig into her and start to see a completely different side of the witch assassin we thought we knew. I will admit that it did bug me somewhat that this was pretty much a side story, not really a meaningful advancement of the plot, but it was so much fun to read that it almost didn't matter.
Though the plot feels as though it is moved forward somewhat, I still left like this was more of a side story. But don't get me wrong, it was a well worthwhile side story for Last Apprentice fans.
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The County, or even what he will do next, but the ending of this amazing series promises to be incredible.In book 9, Grimalkin the Witch Assassin, we take a little bit of a detour from the main story to learn more about the deadly Grimalkin. Through Grimalkin's eyes, we learn about her unique role in the witch world, her attempt at having an apprentice of her own, and the heartbreak and sacrifice that comes from being Grimalkin. Most importantly, readers get a unique perspective on the witch assassin and what the world of The County means to her.
I really did enjoy hearing the story from Grimalkin's prospective, and all the amazing action and unique mythology that I've come to expect from Delaney. For the first time, readers were really able to dig into her and start to see a completely different side of the witch assassin we thought we knew. I will admit that it did bug me somewhat that this was pretty much a side story, not really a meaningful advancement of the plot, but it was so much fun to read that it almost didn't matter.
Though the plot feels as though it is moved forward somewhat, I still left like this was more of a side story. But don't get me wrong, it was a well worthwhile side story for Last Apprentice fans.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the ninth book in The Last Apprentice series by Delaney. The tenth book of this series will be titled, Lure of the Dead, and is scheduled for release in August 2012. This was a great addition to the series and is told completely from Grimalkin’s point of view; although it is also directly
Grimalkin has made it her goal to destroy the Fiend as revenge for him murdering her son. In the last book she joined forces with Tom and the Spook to take down the Fiend. Now she is on the run with the Fiend’s head. If she is going to give Tom and the Spook time to destroy the Fiend permanently she needs to keep the head away from the Fiend’s many dangerous followers.
This was an excellent addition to the series, although not my favorite. I was very, very excited to read more about Grimalkin and all in all it was fun to hear things from her point of view. Although I have to say I had kind of been hoping for a more complex character; what drives Grimalkin is very straight forward...it’s revenge.
We learn more about Grimalkin’s past and life in this book. One of the best additions to the story was Grimalkin’s apprentice. This gave us a glimpse at Grimalkin’s life outside of her quest to kill the Fiend and did add a little more depth to her character.
Grimalkin is unique in that she is one of the most driven characters I have read about; sometime it feels like she makes it through events on determination alone. She is Grimalkin and that is enough for her to fight through everything to get to her goal.
The only other thing I thought was weaker with this book was the style of language. At times the language is pretty dry; there isn’t as much banter as in the book featuring Tom Ward. Grimalkin sometimes speaks in a rather archaic way and I thought it made her sound a bit stiff.
Also I should mention that this book was much more violent than the previous books in the series. That didn’t bother me much, but I noticed it. Of course this is a book about a witch assassin, and the world the witches live in isn’t a pretty one...so that is to be expected.
Also this is part of the main story but more like an offshoot. While Grimalkin is guarding the Fiend’s head Tom and the Spook are supposed to be off figuring out how to destroy the Fiend’s spirit and body for good (which I am going to assume is the topic of the next Last Apprentice book). The story is progressed some, but not a lot.
Overall this was a great book in the series. I loved learning more about Grimalkin, I was a bit disappointed because my expectations were so high...Grimalkin wasn’t as complex as I thought she would be. That being said it was still a very very well done book and added a lot to the story. While the storyline isn’t progressed a ton, this book does fill out and add to the story. This whole series is highly recommended to Middle Grade and older readers who like their fantasy dark with monsters and some creepy in it.
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tied into Tom and Alice’s story as well.Grimalkin has made it her goal to destroy the Fiend as revenge for him murdering her son. In the last book she joined forces with Tom and the Spook to take down the Fiend. Now she is on the run with the Fiend’s head. If she is going to give Tom and the Spook time to destroy the Fiend permanently she needs to keep the head away from the Fiend’s many dangerous followers.
This was an excellent addition to the series, although not my favorite. I was very, very excited to read more about Grimalkin and all in all it was fun to hear things from her point of view. Although I have to say I had kind of been hoping for a more complex character; what drives Grimalkin is very straight forward...it’s revenge.
We learn more about Grimalkin’s past and life in this book. One of the best additions to the story was Grimalkin’s apprentice. This gave us a glimpse at Grimalkin’s life outside of her quest to kill the Fiend and did add a little more depth to her character.
Grimalkin is unique in that she is one of the most driven characters I have read about; sometime it feels like she makes it through events on determination alone. She is Grimalkin and that is enough for her to fight through everything to get to her goal.
The only other thing I thought was weaker with this book was the style of language. At times the language is pretty dry; there isn’t as much banter as in the book featuring Tom Ward. Grimalkin sometimes speaks in a rather archaic way and I thought it made her sound a bit stiff.
Also I should mention that this book was much more violent than the previous books in the series. That didn’t bother me much, but I noticed it. Of course this is a book about a witch assassin, and the world the witches live in isn’t a pretty one...so that is to be expected.
Also this is part of the main story but more like an offshoot. While Grimalkin is guarding the Fiend’s head Tom and the Spook are supposed to be off figuring out how to destroy the Fiend’s spirit and body for good (which I am going to assume is the topic of the next Last Apprentice book). The story is progressed some, but not a lot.
Overall this was a great book in the series. I loved learning more about Grimalkin, I was a bit disappointed because my expectations were so high...Grimalkin wasn’t as complex as I thought she would be. That being said it was still a very very well done book and added a lot to the story. While the storyline isn’t progressed a ton, this book does fill out and add to the story. This whole series is highly recommended to Middle Grade and older readers who like their fantasy dark with monsters and some creepy in it.
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LibraryThing member CassieLM
I really love this series, but this installment fell a little flat for me. The narration was at times redundant. The device of having Grimalkin tell stories to Thorne felt incredibly contrived. It would have been much better to have just gone with straight flash-backs. I think this is the first
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book in this series that I haven't felt compelled to stay up all night just so I can finish it. Show Less
LibraryThing member K...
It took a few pages to really get in to Grimalkin's point of view but once I did I loved it! I found that I particularly liked one of the new characters. Overall it was an excellent book; I can hardly wait for the next one.
LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
Ninth book in the Last Apprentice series. This book is told from the point of view of Grimalkin, the witch assassin. Her task is to keep the severed head of the Fiend out of the hands of his supportors so he can't be reincarnated before Tom Ward discovers a way to destroy him forever.
LibraryThing member Clare_M
Excellent, excellent book. While it was a bit awkward that this book is technically in a different series (The Spook's Series) than the main series that Delaney writes (Wardstone Chronicles if you are not in the US and The Last Apprentice if you are)--awkward because this book actually continues
And, wow. What a point of view. Grimalkin has been one of my favorite characters from the moment she was introduced. She is just such a complete bad a__. She is strong, courageous, never looks back and doesn't understand the quibbling about "dark and light" that the Spook worries about. She just goes about her business with her own internal moral code and gets things done. I'm not going to divulge any of the actual plot because it really would ruin things for you if you haven't read the book other than to say that no, this is not a book that is an "add on" book like the Bestiary or the "Witches" book that simply had back stories and supplementary data. This is actually in the stream of the current story arc and VERY relevant to what is going on after the Fiend was bound. Where we saw Grimalkin leave for the County in the Wardstone Chronicles/Last Apprentice book "I am Grimalkin" picks up with her travels with the Fiend's head as she is pursued by his followers while she tries to keep it safe so Tom can have time to find a way to banish him permanently.
As usual, it is written exceptionally well. Mr. Delaney has a very deft touch writing description. He doesn't use excessive words to describe things and often uses character's statements to set the scene, but you always get a very good feel for the setting without a lot of boring description.
Highly recommended.
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the last book in the series that he wrote but from the character Grimalkin's point of view. And, wow. What a point of view. Grimalkin has been one of my favorite characters from the moment she was introduced. She is just such a complete bad a__. She is strong, courageous, never looks back and doesn't understand the quibbling about "dark and light" that the Spook worries about. She just goes about her business with her own internal moral code and gets things done. I'm not going to divulge any of the actual plot because it really would ruin things for you if you haven't read the book other than to say that no, this is not a book that is an "add on" book like the Bestiary or the "Witches" book that simply had back stories and supplementary data. This is actually in the stream of the current story arc and VERY relevant to what is going on after the Fiend was bound. Where we saw Grimalkin leave for the County in the Wardstone Chronicles/Last Apprentice book "I am Grimalkin" picks up with her travels with the Fiend's head as she is pursued by his followers while she tries to keep it safe so Tom can have time to find a way to banish him permanently.
As usual, it is written exceptionally well. Mr. Delaney has a very deft touch writing description. He doesn't use excessive words to describe things and often uses character's statements to set the scene, but you always get a very good feel for the setting without a lot of boring description.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member lkmuir
Provides insights into the life of Grimalkin, one of the deadliest witches in the country, if not the world, whose uneasy truce with the Spook's apprentice, Tom, unites them against the ultimate evil of the Fiend.
LibraryThing member LynnMPK
This series has always been dark fantasy bordering on horror, but this entry was a lot darker than the previous books. I enjoyed following Grimalkin and learning a bit more about her. At first I thought this was just a filler book, and that everything that happened could have been summed up when
I'm not entirely sure that this book was necessary though. While things certainly do happen, nothing that happens really effects the overall story.
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Grimalkin met up with Tom again, but some characters that have been in the books died and I'm glad that they had on page deaths. I would have been annoyed if I found out about their deaths second hand.I'm not entirely sure that this book was necessary though. While things certainly do happen, nothing that happens really effects the overall story.
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Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
368 p.; 7.01 inches
ISBN
0370332385 / 9780370332383
Local notes
Duplicate. In the original jacket design.
Signed by Joseph Delaney.
Signed by Joseph Delaney.