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Max Helsing, Monster Hunter: Book 1
Percy Jackson meets Dracula in this action-packed monster hunting series! With the perfect combination of humour and heroism, Max Helsing will keep readers aged nine and up on the edge of their seats.
Descended from a long line of monster hunters, Max Helsing does a pretty good job of being an ordinary kid by day and keeping his town safe from demons, ghouls and the occasional mummy by night. That is, until he turns thriteen and discovers he's been cursed by an ancient vampire who wants him dead at any cost. To save the world - and his life - Max must rely on his wise-cracking best friend, cantankerous mentor, computer genius neighbour, and brand-new puppy. He'll need all their help and more to break the Thirteenth Curse!
Descended from a long line of monster hunters, Max Helsing does a pretty good job of being an ordinary kid by day and keeping his town safe from demons, ghouls and the occasional mummy by night. That is, until he turns thriteen and discovers he's been cursed by an ancient vampire who wants him dead at any cost. To save the world - and his life - Max must rely on his wise-cracking best friend, cantankerous mentor, computer genius neighbour, and brand-new puppy. He'll need all their help and more to break the Thirteenth Curse!
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2016
5 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Curtis Jobling
31 books338 followersCurtis Jobling is an author and illustrator based in the UK. Working in publishing and animation he is possibly most (in)famously known as the designer of the BAFTA winning "Bob The Builder", as well as creator of CBeebies "Raa Raa the Noisy Lion" and CBBC's "Frankenstein’s Cat". Early work in animation included model and puppet painting on Wallace & Gromit’s "A Close Shave" and Tim Burton’s "Mars Attacks!" He’s also the creator/director/producer of Nickelodeon’s "Curious Cow" interstitials, a series of animated shorts featuring the varied and hilarious deaths of a bewildered bovine.
As a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Curtis’s works include Dinosaurs After Dark (with Jonathan Emmett), Skeleton in the Closet (with Alice Schertle), My Daddy, Cheeky Monkey and perhaps his most notorious character Frankenstein’s Cat, now an animated series in its own right commissioned by the BBC and sold to broadcasters worldwide.
The Wereworld series of novels were first published by Penguin in the UK in January 2011, with "Rise of the Wolf", the first in the fantasy horror, shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. Penguin/Viking first published the debut novel in September 2011.
As a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Curtis’s works include Dinosaurs After Dark (with Jonathan Emmett), Skeleton in the Closet (with Alice Schertle), My Daddy, Cheeky Monkey and perhaps his most notorious character Frankenstein’s Cat, now an animated series in its own right commissioned by the BBC and sold to broadcasters worldwide.
The Wereworld series of novels were first published by Penguin in the UK in January 2011, with "Rise of the Wolf", the first in the fantasy horror, shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. Penguin/Viking first published the debut novel in September 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 8, 2021
It is a great book with a lot of hilarious and mind-gripping parts. I loved it!!!
October 17, 2018
This was a really enjoyable middle grade book that I would recommend for kids that want to read. It was action-packed and funny with a snarky main character. Any child will most certainly enjoy this book.
September 24, 2019
Max Helsing, a series of adventure stories written by Curtis Jobling, narrates great issues in the magical world and how Max Helsing saves the world. The author made the series outstanding in the ocean of books by using elements that are appealing to readers of all ages. Here are some of the outstanding features of the series.
Plot
The author had created a continuously thrilling and tension building story plot right from the beginning, which keeps the readers’ hearts on the line at all times. In Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, the books starts by describing the curse that Max is under. He discovers that as he turns thirteen, his scent will attract all monsters to attack him. As the story continues, Max turns thirteen and is attacked by multiple monsters one day on his way to school. Disasters continue. That night, Max’s teacher, Jed, gets kidnapped by one of Max’s opponents named Udo Vendemeier. Not losing hope, Max then tries to get into the Undercity and find a wise man, Clay, who might be able to help him save his teacher. On the way there, Max slides through a mysterious tunnel, gets lost inside a cave, and is chased by monsters through a field of lava. These scenes happen right after each other, keeping the reader anxious and fascinated. Max does not let these obstacles impede him. After he eventually finds him, Max successfully persuade the old man into helping him. On their way back to the mortal world, Max accidentally triggers a spell, and his thirteenth curse gets lifted. Using the old man’s knowledge and Max’s fighting abilities, the two successfully rescue Jed and make Vendemeier fade. As you can see, no matter which part of the story it is, the author continues to include thrilling scenes and add tension to the reader.
What is truly fascinating is how the story ends. In the last chapter, a mysterious “King in Yellow” is informed about Vendemeier’s fade. He becomes irritated and sends people to bring him Max Helsing. This is a flawless and smooth transition from this book to the next, and brings the readers curiosity for the next book.
2. The characters personalities and friendship
Some very important elements of this series are the virtues the characters in the books can teach readers. Max Helsing, the main character of the series, owns many valuable virtues. Rough his actions, I can deduce that he is responsible, intelligent, and brave.
Max never leaves anyone behind. The responsibility he realized as a monster hunter had shaped him into a caring and empathetic character. In Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, Max’s young friend is thought wrongly as Max himself, and is kidnapped by Max’s enemy. Not listening to his other friends’ advice, Max is determined to go and save him, even when he knows that he might be captured. Here are two example of this trait from two books in the series.
At the beginning of Max Helsing and the Beast of Bone Creek, Max warns a fisherman of the possible upcoming danger. When the fisherman does not listen to him and laughs at him, Max is not angry. He decides to accompany the fisherman and protects him for the whole night. Just as he predicted, they are attacked by sulkies at midnight. Without any weapons around, Max uses the corks of wine bottles to defeat the sulkies. This demonstrates Max’s intelligence, or at least his resourcefulness in emergencies.
In another part of Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, Max shows one of his other virtues, bravery. When he finally sights the cave that Clay the wise man lives in, he finds out that he has to climb a high stone wall. Even though Max knows that he never climbed a stone wall before, he still tries. In the process, he injures his right arm, breaks his right ankle, and had the stones scratching on different parts of his body all the time.
These examples can clearly show us that Max is truly a virtuous young man. We should learn from his actions and personalities, even though he is just a fantasy character from a series of books.
3. World View
Just like Percy Jackson, Seven Wonders, and many other novel series, Max Helsing is in the genre of fantasy. They all have a world view of monsters hiding everywhere, heroes who are responsible of fighting these monsters, and great issues that might lead to the destruction of the entire world. The similar world view between Max Helsing and other novels can make readers who have read those books more interested in the Max Helsing series. In addition, this world view allows young readers to use their imagination and visualize the scenes in the book, dragging them into a world of magic and fantasy.
Plot
The author had created a continuously thrilling and tension building story plot right from the beginning, which keeps the readers’ hearts on the line at all times. In Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, the books starts by describing the curse that Max is under. He discovers that as he turns thirteen, his scent will attract all monsters to attack him. As the story continues, Max turns thirteen and is attacked by multiple monsters one day on his way to school. Disasters continue. That night, Max’s teacher, Jed, gets kidnapped by one of Max’s opponents named Udo Vendemeier. Not losing hope, Max then tries to get into the Undercity and find a wise man, Clay, who might be able to help him save his teacher. On the way there, Max slides through a mysterious tunnel, gets lost inside a cave, and is chased by monsters through a field of lava. These scenes happen right after each other, keeping the reader anxious and fascinated. Max does not let these obstacles impede him. After he eventually finds him, Max successfully persuade the old man into helping him. On their way back to the mortal world, Max accidentally triggers a spell, and his thirteenth curse gets lifted. Using the old man’s knowledge and Max’s fighting abilities, the two successfully rescue Jed and make Vendemeier fade. As you can see, no matter which part of the story it is, the author continues to include thrilling scenes and add tension to the reader.
What is truly fascinating is how the story ends. In the last chapter, a mysterious “King in Yellow” is informed about Vendemeier’s fade. He becomes irritated and sends people to bring him Max Helsing. This is a flawless and smooth transition from this book to the next, and brings the readers curiosity for the next book.
2. The characters personalities and friendship
Some very important elements of this series are the virtues the characters in the books can teach readers. Max Helsing, the main character of the series, owns many valuable virtues. Rough his actions, I can deduce that he is responsible, intelligent, and brave.
Max never leaves anyone behind. The responsibility he realized as a monster hunter had shaped him into a caring and empathetic character. In Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, Max’s young friend is thought wrongly as Max himself, and is kidnapped by Max’s enemy. Not listening to his other friends’ advice, Max is determined to go and save him, even when he knows that he might be captured. Here are two example of this trait from two books in the series.
At the beginning of Max Helsing and the Beast of Bone Creek, Max warns a fisherman of the possible upcoming danger. When the fisherman does not listen to him and laughs at him, Max is not angry. He decides to accompany the fisherman and protects him for the whole night. Just as he predicted, they are attacked by sulkies at midnight. Without any weapons around, Max uses the corks of wine bottles to defeat the sulkies. This demonstrates Max’s intelligence, or at least his resourcefulness in emergencies.
In another part of Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, Max shows one of his other virtues, bravery. When he finally sights the cave that Clay the wise man lives in, he finds out that he has to climb a high stone wall. Even though Max knows that he never climbed a stone wall before, he still tries. In the process, he injures his right arm, breaks his right ankle, and had the stones scratching on different parts of his body all the time.
These examples can clearly show us that Max is truly a virtuous young man. We should learn from his actions and personalities, even though he is just a fantasy character from a series of books.
3. World View
Just like Percy Jackson, Seven Wonders, and many other novel series, Max Helsing is in the genre of fantasy. They all have a world view of monsters hiding everywhere, heroes who are responsible of fighting these monsters, and great issues that might lead to the destruction of the entire world. The similar world view between Max Helsing and other novels can make readers who have read those books more interested in the Max Helsing series. In addition, this world view allows young readers to use their imagination and visualize the scenes in the book, dragging them into a world of magic and fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2020
Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Percy Jackson. Written for the 9-12 age group this is a well written and entertaining take on the Van Helsing story. A bit slow to get going but picks up pace in the second half of the story. The illustrations throughout are a nice touch. One for confident readers - I'd say 11+.
February 23, 2018
My God. This book is so bad. Don't ever try to compare this to Percy Jackson. The gap is way too far. Max is useless protagonist. He is weak, clumsy, posseses no combat skills and just terrible man. The story drags a lot. Just NO.
February 11, 2018
Great fun! With just enough menace for its target audience.
November 12, 2019
This was an amazing story, for readers who like horror and thriller genre.
May 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐️. A decent middle grade paranormal comedy. I’ll be sure to check out the next one.
August 17, 2025
Fun read
January 15, 2023
a slay for a 12 year old demographic.
May 5, 2020
I ended up just skimming the last 50 pages or so - just because I wasn’t interested. Would still really recommend HAUNT - that was 5 starts so I’m optimistic for when I try wereworld :)
January 4, 2018
Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Percy Jackson. Written for the 9-12 age group this is a well written and entertaining take on the Van Helsing story. A bit slow to get going but picks up pace in the second half of the story. The illustrations throughout are a nice touch. One for confident readers - I'd say 11+.
December 4, 2016
Technically well written. Pacing of the plot was spot on, but it was too full of tropes and ultimately not very creative or imaginative.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews