Lifeblood

Darkside #2

by Tom Becker

Follow Jonathan Starling on another creepy adventure on the dark side of town in the highly anticipated second book in the thrilling DARKSIDE series!

A series of unexplained murders on the Darkside of London has Jonathan tangled up in another dangerous mystery. With the help of his ally, private detective (and werewolf) Elias Carnegie, the pair discover that Jonathan's mother was investigating similar murders before she vanished. Jonathan becomes obsessed with solving the crimes and finding his mother. Meanwhile, the Ripper family is involved in a deadly scandal that goes right to the heart of Darkside society and they're watching Jonathan. In his desperation, can Jonathan solve the murders and find his mother before the Rippers find him?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Supernatural, Vampires, Childrens, Paranormal

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Tom Becker grew up in a market town in the northwest of England, dreaming of becoming a writer. He won the 2007 Waterstones' Children's Book Prize with his first novel, Darkside, and has continued to blur the lines between history and fantasy in brooding adventure and horror stories such as The Traitors and While The Others Sleep. He has also published an adult novel, The Cold Tap, on Kindle under his real name, Tom Beckerlegge. Tom lives in London with his wife, baby son, and a horde of shadowy creatures that he keeps confined within the pages of his notebook. He can be found on Twitter at @Tbeckerlegge.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

LIFEBLOOD is the second book in the DARKSIDE series by Tom Becker. The story picks up a few months after everything that happened in DARKSIDE.

Jonathan Starling has remained in Darkside with Elias Carnegie. As with the first story in the series, the pair gets drawn into a mystery that soon turns to them trying to solve a murder. They are approached to discover who an unknown victim is. The problem is that the victim was murdered the same way as another infamous member of Darkside society twelve years ago. The first known murder victim had been an heir to the Ripper throne.

Jonathan has learned more history of Darkside in his days of living in the evil society. Darkside is ruled by the ancestors of Jack the Ripper. When the current ruler dies, the offspring of the ruler must fight the Blood Succession to the death to determine who will reign next. When the murder victim of twelve years ago was revealed to be a
hidden Ripper heir, the city was put into a whirlwind. Can the new murder be connected to the old crime?

Jonathan and Carnegie are aided by members of the Darkside's newspaper. There, Jonathan learns that his missing mother was a reporter for them, and disappeared around the same time as the infamous murder occurred. Jonathan is certain that the two events must be connected. If they can solve the latest crime, maybe he can discover what has happened to his mother.

As with the first story in the series, Mr. Becker creates a dark, evil world that grips the reader. Even in the chilling setting, the story moves fast, keeping the reader glued to the pages. Like rubberneckers driving by a car accident, the reader is so enthralled with the story; they can't help but be drawn into the action. The pages seemed to turn on their own accord. I sat and read the story in one sitting, waiting to find out if Jonathan's quest would bring him the answers he searched for. Mr. Becker will leave you wanting more from Darkside, long after the final page has been read.

Note: The descriptions and settings are a bit bleak and dark. The story may scare some younger readers.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan Starling has been spending a lot of time in Darkside—perhaps too much. When his werewolf friend Carnegie is asked to investigate a gruesome murder, Jonathan eagerly tags along. It turns out that this new murder may be the first clue in twelve years to the murder of James Arkel, grandson of Jack the Ripper. But as Jonathan and Carnegie start investigating and figuring out how certain Darksiders are connected to the Arkel murder, someone, or something, is trying to stop them. But Jonathan can’t, especially when it becomes apparent that his mother, who disappeared twelve years ago, may have been involved. Faced with all kinds of ghastly dangers, who knows if Jonathan will survive this stay in Darkside.

I really enjoyed Darkside, but I think I enjoyed its sequel, Lifeblood even more. Becker handles all the shifting points of view and different yet connected storylines well. It’s a pleasure to read along as Jonathan and Carnegie pursue the truth and new and interesting developments arise. I don’t know if this is possible, but Lifeblood seemed to have even more action than Darkside did. There’s some kind of danger on practically every page—and I loved it! It’s very easy to become lost in the alluringly deadly streets of Darkside and enthralled with all the quirky and devious characters readers will meet. I don’t think that Becker’s skill is fully appreciated by most readers. It’s not so easy to make everything connect just so as Becker does while also making things more exciting than in previous adventures. I was thoroughly pleased with Lifeblood, in the writing, plot, and characters, and cannot wait for the next installment in the series, Nighttrap.

Fans of Darkside will not want to miss Lifeblood, nor will those who enjoyed Foundling by D.M. Cornish, The Emerald Tablet by P.J. Hoover, and Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I love those happy, pearly, everything-goes-great, fairies and princesses, true-love-conquers-all stories...but sometimes you just need a good old horror! Fighting and mysteries, threat of brutal murder at the next turn of a corner, and of course never knowing who is a friend and who is actually the great grandchild of Jack the Ripper and is out for your throat...Gosh I love this book! I cannot wait for the next book. Totally brilliant on the part of the author, I thank him very much for a thoroughly enjoyable book! C=

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It kept me waiting. It never jumped to far ahead in a chapter, it keeps you thinking as you read. It has a great ending to all the problems to every mystery they are trying to figure out. Which is like 5 at once. So you really have to be able to follow whats going on cause most chapters switch from scene to scene.

[Svetlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately I haven't read the first novel in the series, Darkside - not available in stores anymore - so I was a bit confused in the beginning. But once I worked out who is who and how it's all set up, I really enjoyed the book.
I would recommend it to the lovers of Gothic mysteries, highly suspicious characters, violence and fantastical creatures.
I appreciated Carnegie's fondness for Jonathan and found their partnership extremely touching - a ray of hope in otherwise ruthless unforgiving Darkside.

[Tran Luu · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts off a couple months after the first book ends. Jonathan is back at Darkside hanging out with Carnegie when strange murders start taking place in Darkside. Not only that but Jonathan gets clues that somehow his mother's disappearance is connected. As they get closer to finding out who may be committing the murders, the murderer starts to come after them.
This is a dark, chilling book that is fine for young adults that can handle that kind of stuff. I highly recommend it.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* “Why don’t you go and clean up? All that blood on you is making me hungry, and I’d hate to have to eat you”

Carnegie is still the best but we still know nothing about Jonathan’s mother. WHO IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE? IS SHE A RIPPER? OR JUST A BOG STANDARD DARKSIDER? CARNEGIE COULD PROBABLY ANSWER MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS CANT HE JUST SPILL THE BEANS?

[Alison J. Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second part is better than the first one.
I have read this book several times and will read it again.

Der zweite Teil ist besser als der erste.
Ich habe dieses Buch bereits mehrere Male gelesen und werde es wieder tun.

[K Artifex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part caught me right away. And I actually got a bit interested in Elias. He's a very interesting character.

[Sana]

its cool

[Jerome Simar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good sequel

I did like that it did go into character development a bit more than the 1st book.It did continue the story where the 1st book left off.

[Andrea]

Another cracking book with a brilliant blend of mystery and intrigue. I didn't see the two plot twists coming. Definitely a book to recommend. I shall be hunting around for the next one.

[Lindsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

The second book in the Darkside series, following Jonathan’s adventures in the macabre side of London.

More mystery and danger ensue in this instalment, and along the way we learn more about the history of Darkside, its politics, and Jonathan’s family’s role in the district.

If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous middle grade series with a twist, I would highly recommend this one.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

--Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--


It was on a day a while ago when headed to the public library to venture to discover some good/amazing book finds that found Darkside by Tom Becker. The book cover was so exquisite and, oh, the premise just as mouth-watering. When headed home soon took of at at an earnest pace to make progress with it. The hours of entertainment that went by were many. It was at that moment that realized it was one of those novels , a reader, gets a hard time putting themselves away from further reading. The anticipation builds and builds or more-over excitement of having got yourself those truly genuinely entertainment-rich treasure. Darkside was just that! Once you headed down the road you are one entity with the book. The very reason for the creation of this blog and vision for it was to find novels that are amazing works of writing and Darkside is a prime example. With it can rejoice in presenting, everyone who hopefully happens to read this blog, with the news thst they should take a look at this book so as not to miss out!


On to Lifeblood, Book Two of Darkside, readers who read Darkside encountered a whole new horizon with a place in London with inhabitants of the most vile nature around. Jonathan a boy who is in actuality half-Lightsider (normal person from let's say London) and half-Darksider (tainted with bad seed of evil people from let's say London) meet some new friends in Rachella (a vampire's servant girl) and Carnegie (a Wolfman detective). While also making some new enemies mainly of which Vendetta (a vampire banker) who has a myterious agenda but as of now hates Jonathan's guts for weakening him when Vendetta tried to, oh yeah, drain and thereby kills Jonathan's father. who happened to be Jonathan's enemy at first besides Vendetta , Marianne, seems to not hold a grudge with Jonathan this time around in Lifeblood. Some of it could have to with Jonathan having another dangerous adventure on his plate after all, Darkside, being a place of people of ill-intention where it was originally reigned over by Jack The Ripper who-then passed on his rule to his descendants. But now his descendants are being threatened. Jonathan and Carnegie are soon caught in finding who is doing it. All of it being strange since The Rippers are not exactly people you would want to mess with.


Jonathan again is further taken into Darkside's depths. We get to see that with Jonathan's interference he gains another enemy. Jonathan though is determined to find who is murdering Jack The Ripper's blood considering it might lead to his mother's (Theresa) disappearance. Lifeblood shows a more emotional turn around here with Jonathan. He's growing more mature. Other characters grew also with Rachella and Vendetta being the main ones. Lifeblood has a more darker visual turn in its writing than Darkside where Darkside is further explored,


Another genius novel in the Darkside series! For followers of the series there is more new places to see and growth of characters new and old. Nighttrap is the third book which should be just as attractive. For anyone not familiar with this series please do get familiar. Great sweet entertainment with this series.
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Fantasy, Dark-Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Werewolves

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The torrent of blood came gushing down without warning, hitting Jonathan Starling before he could react. The last thing he had seen was the playing card of the Jack of knives grinning up at him from the table, and then a thick red waterfall engulfed him."
Tom Beckers Lifeblood hooked me with its unique detail, and one of a kind plot. With each page that was turned my mind craved from more! My heart was racing and prickly fingers tap danced up and down my spine.
Darkside and Lightside might be connected but what lies inside the two are entirely different. Tom has been able to create a world exactly like ours and link it to a world full of monsters, killers and heart stopping adventures. Lightside can be compared to New York City while Darkside is an entity all its own. Buildings are dirty, torn and rundown just like their contents inside (including the owners). The streets are dark and only lit with street lamps, people of shady doings walk up and down the street constantly stealing and killing others to make a living for themselves. Horse drawn carriages carry citizens to their destination...no matter how vile or ghastly the place.
As grand as the settings are, nothing makes a person more compelled to read the book than the characters. I shall give and example of one character from the vast sea of names and personalities. Carnegie is probably the most interesting detective that anyone has ever created. This man is on of a kind in Darkside and solves gut-wrenching mysteries for a hefty fee, but, once a full moon rises in the sky Carnegie must lock himself away since he turns into the worst of monsters. Not only is his appearance monstrous but his personality really brings out the beast. In the most horrifying moment he always laughs and jokes either about the assailant or the situation. Carnegie is one of the few but he's the one that adds the heat to the raging fire.
Lifeblood is and easy read as well as a fun, and exciting read. Tom has mixed dialogue with the technique 'show not tell', best of all the words are big and the lines are double spaced which saves me from headaches! One can get some good examples of 'show not tell' from this book as well as correct spelling and punctuation. So basically it's a heart pounding, suspenseful fiction with educational benefits tossed in.
If you love books about adventure, murder, mysteries and mystical creatures of the dark. Then go to your library or nearest book store and get Tom Beckers Darkside Lightside and Lifeblood. I don't think you'll be disappointed, I sure wasn't!

[Marion (www.welteninsel.rocks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darum geht es:
Nachdem Jonathan und sein Vater nur knapp Vendettas Fängen entkommen sind, hat Jonathan beschlossen, vorerst in Darkside bei Carnegie – seines Zeichens Detektiv und Wermensch – zu bleiben. Er erhofft sich, dort etwas über den Verbleib seiner Mutter herauszufinden, die seit zwölf Jahren spurlos verschwunden ist.

Doch bevor er auch nur den ersten Schritt in dieses Richtung unternehmen kann, bittet der Reporter Arthur Blake Carnegie um Hilfe. Eine grausam zugerichtete Leiche wurde gefunden. Eigentlich nichts Ungewöhnliches in Darkside, allerdings gibt es gewisse Parallelen zu Darksides berühmtester Leiche: James Arkle, dem Sohn des Rippers.

Bei ihren Ermittlungen findet Jonathan heraus, dass auch seine Mutter bei der Zeitung gearbeitet hat. Wollte womöglich auch sie den Mord an James Arkle aufklären, der vor zwölf Jahren stattfand?

Ich sage dazu:
Weiter geht es mit den Abenteuern von Jonathan Starling in der grausamen Welt von Darkside. Grausam im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes, denn der Tod lauert hier hinter jeder Ecke.

Es ist schon etwas befremdlich, was den Darksidern so Vergnügen bereitet. Ein Menschenleben zählt hier nicht viel. Grundsätzlich geht es den Bewohnern einzig und allein ums Überleben, denn die Möglichkeiten, hier zu Tode zu kommen sind schier unerschöpflich.

Glück für Jonathan, dass er Carnegie hat, der ihn beschützt. Wobei auch der nicht ganz ungefährlich ist. Vor allem, wenn er Hunger hat.

Da es sich jedoch um ein Kinderbuch handelt, sollten selbst zart besaitete Gemüter nicht allzu schockiert bei der Lektüre sein. Mir jedenfalls hat dieser 2. Teil der Reihe wieder gut gefallen. Der angenehme Schreibstil und die relativ geringe Seitenzahl, lassen dieses Buch wie im Flug lesen. Gefallen hat mir außerdem, dass das Ganze diesmal auch noch mit einer Prise Humor gewürzt war. Ich für meinen Teil stürze mich jedenfalls gleich ins 3. und letzte (übersetzte) Abenteuer.

Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Bände:
Darkside
1. Die Schattenwelt
2. Der schwarze Phönix
3. Die Gilde der Diebe


© Marion Schauder

[Melissa Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book of Tom Becker's Darkside series. If you read the first book and loved it, you will definitely love this one. If you haven't read the first one, you should start with it. First off, I love the cover of this book. The hardcover version I received had a wonderfully colored dust jacket with a little window that let you peep at drawings on the book itself. The real surprise was when you removed the dust cover and found the book decorated with strange creatures all over. I immediately loved this book without even reading it. Luckily, the book was just as brilliant as the cover.
It starts off a couple months after the first book ends. Jonathan is back at Darkside hanging out with Carnegie when strange murders start taking place in Darkside. Not only that but Jonathan gets clues that somehow his mother's disappearance is connected. As they get closer to finding out who may be committing the murders, the murderer starts to come after them.
This is a dark, chilling book that is fine for young adults that can handle that kind of stuff. I highly recommend it.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventures with Jonathan and Carnegie in Lifeblood pick up from the end of Darkside. Jonathan is still in search of clues about his Mother while staying in Darkside with Carnegie. It starts really well with lots of fighting and violence which is great. I love Carnegie's character and i did NOT guess who the Ripper was at all which is brilliant just as i did not guess who Vendetta was in the first book. Tom Becker is brilliant at keeping the secrets very low key so you don't guess the twist too early. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. This book was even more exciting than the first one!

[Magda]

Gazing out the carriage window, Jonathan was dizzied by the sheer scale of the borough; roads that spiralled and intersected around one another in fiendishly complicated knots, the rabbles of people that seemed to congregate on every street corner. He had no idea Darkside was so huge. It was almost as if it was alive: a grimy, infested organism filling its lungs with smoke.

At that moment, he seemed to be surviving on anger alone.

…an accent that tinkled like crystal.

[Riliddell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first one and was intrigued. I mean an entire world hidden in London with all the less desirables? ruled by Jack the ripper and his decendants? It's dark but not too dark. Exciting and mysterious. thoroughly enjoying it so far

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Darkside, Lifeblood is also a pretty good book. I found a little harder to follow than the first, just because there were so many new characters. Lifeblood is more of a mystery story than its predecesor, but it's still very good.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun, quick read

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. Good sequel to the first book, I'm looking forward to reading the next installment. Junior high age and up

[Coki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can't believe this is in juvenile. Not as altogether spooky as the first but more violent and more mystery. Definitely building toward a great conclusion

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark (for a kid's book, anyway), spooky, and lots of fun.

[Tiffany.B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a lovely mix of horror, mystery and confusing betrayal among the characters!

[Jazzmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book so much more, I felt like I was forcing myself to finish this one.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was okay. But it kept taking me back to the very first one. There were so many things in this book, that just made me think it came right out of the first one. Kind of boring.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put the book down! A lot better than its predecessor.

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.