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The Starblade Chronicles #3
The Dark Assassin
På jorda er skrømtvokter Tom Ward og lærlingen hans lurt i en dødelig felle av monstrene som vil ta over jorden og gjøre menneskene til slaver.
Men noe beveger seg i mørket: en snikmorder som vil ha hevn.
MØRKETS SNIKMORDER er tredje og siste bok i STJERNEKLINGEKRØNIKEN. En ny historie i legenden om DEN SISTE LÆRLING.
Men noe beveger seg i mørket: en snikmorder som vil ha hevn.
MØRKETS SNIKMORDER er tredje og siste bok i STJERNEKLINGEKRØNIKEN. En ny historie i legenden om DEN SISTE LÆRLING.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
160 people are currently reading
1958 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Delaney
59 books3,982 followersJoseph Delaney was a full time writer living in Lancashire, in the heart of Boggart territory.
He was the author of Wardstone Chronicles, Starblade Chronicles, Arena 13, Aberrations and a new book came out in April 2020, Brother Wulf. This is a new spooks story featuring Tom and Alice, but introducing a new character, a young monk called Brother Wulf.
He first got the idea for the Spooks series when he moved to the village where he lives now and discovered there was a local boggart - ‘a man like me needs boggarts around’. He made a note in his notebook ‘a story about a man who hunts boggarts’ and years later when he had to come up with an idea at short notice developed this into ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’, the first book in the series.
He continued to draw upon the folklore of Lancashire and has acquired much local knowledge over the years which he tweaks and modifies to create his fictional world. Another source of inspiration has been Lancashire's varied and atmospheric landscape. Many of the locations in the County are based on actual places in Lancashire.
In the early days of his writing career Joseph worked as a teacher at a Sixth Form College: his subjects were English, Film and Media Studies. He used to get up early and write every morning before work. That way he could write a book a year – which promptly got rejected! When the Americans bought the series he decided to give up teaching and write full time.
Prior to teaching he worked as an engineer in his twenties, completing an apprenticeship just like Tom Ward in the spook’s books.
Joseph described his method of writing as a process of discovery. He didn’t plot too far ahead and often didn’t know what is going to happen until he writes it down. In other words he made it up as he went along. He prefed writing dialogue to description, in which he said he is a minimalist and leaves much to the reader’s imagination.
Joseph had three children and nine grandchildren and was a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events.
The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse and The Spook's Secret have all been shortlisted for the Lancashire children's Book for the Year Award. The Spook's Apprentice is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award.
www.josephdelaneyauthor.com
from publisher's website
He was the author of Wardstone Chronicles, Starblade Chronicles, Arena 13, Aberrations and a new book came out in April 2020, Brother Wulf. This is a new spooks story featuring Tom and Alice, but introducing a new character, a young monk called Brother Wulf.
He first got the idea for the Spooks series when he moved to the village where he lives now and discovered there was a local boggart - ‘a man like me needs boggarts around’. He made a note in his notebook ‘a story about a man who hunts boggarts’ and years later when he had to come up with an idea at short notice developed this into ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’, the first book in the series.
He continued to draw upon the folklore of Lancashire and has acquired much local knowledge over the years which he tweaks and modifies to create his fictional world. Another source of inspiration has been Lancashire's varied and atmospheric landscape. Many of the locations in the County are based on actual places in Lancashire.
In the early days of his writing career Joseph worked as a teacher at a Sixth Form College: his subjects were English, Film and Media Studies. He used to get up early and write every morning before work. That way he could write a book a year – which promptly got rejected! When the Americans bought the series he decided to give up teaching and write full time.
Prior to teaching he worked as an engineer in his twenties, completing an apprenticeship just like Tom Ward in the spook’s books.
Joseph described his method of writing as a process of discovery. He didn’t plot too far ahead and often didn’t know what is going to happen until he writes it down. In other words he made it up as he went along. He prefed writing dialogue to description, in which he said he is a minimalist and leaves much to the reader’s imagination.
Joseph had three children and nine grandchildren and was a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events.
The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse and The Spook's Secret have all been shortlisted for the Lancashire children's Book for the Year Award. The Spook's Apprentice is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award.
www.josephdelaneyauthor.com
from publisher's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
August 5, 2018
Over the course of this series and the one before that (with most of the same characters), I have grown fond of Tom Ward, Grimalkin and Alice and this being the last book of their story makes it a little bittersweet. The story was satisfying and engaging and the characters developed even further, so that I felt a bit sad when it finally ended. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, and wish the author had devoted a little more time to the personal lives of the characters, especially if this really is the last book to tell their story. That being said, John Delaney is a talented and vastly creative writer and I will be happy to read whatever he comes up with next.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
July 2, 2017
Well, as the series that got me into reading three years ago finally ends, I find myself absolutely silenced.
If you don't know, Tom Ward's story was the story that official made me a complete bookworm. I believe nothing can get better than Joseph Delaney's writing, and I enjoy everything he publishes. There is nothing bad I can think of to say towards his writing, in my world it is flawless. I own the whole Wardstone and Starblade Chronicles and I hope to still have them for a long time to come.
So saying, I sincerely thank Mr. Delaney from the bottom of my heart for creating such an amazing world full of amazing character that I'll always love.
If you don't know, Tom Ward's story was the story that official made me a complete bookworm. I believe nothing can get better than Joseph Delaney's writing, and I enjoy everything he publishes. There is nothing bad I can think of to say towards his writing, in my world it is flawless. I own the whole Wardstone and Starblade Chronicles and I hope to still have them for a long time to come.
So saying, I sincerely thank Mr. Delaney from the bottom of my heart for creating such an amazing world full of amazing character that I'll always love.
November 22, 2017
Just as with the last book in his The Last Apprentice series, Delaney demonstrates his inability to deftly end a series. Basically, with John Gregory gone, there are three main characters left: Tom Ward, Alice, and Grimalkin, the witch assassin. For the most part, this book goes back and forth between the efforts of Tom and his new apprentice (Jenny) and the parallel efforts by Grimalkin to stop the evil Kobalos, who want to kill all males and enslave all females (for breeding.) Alice effectively fades into the background. Too many hanging threads. Disappointing. I did like the creativity of cloned characters that self destructed when they realized what they were.
February 28, 2017
I found this book to be disappointing. In more ways than one.
Tom Ward contribute and even his performance as a Spook left me with a feeling that like John Gregory many times feared, Tom was simply not ready.
Not only do the most important events happen without Tom even being aware of them, but his whole relationship with Alice as become too much one sided for me to even support it anymore. Tom does something that to me was unforgivable. He was for all intended purposes the one responsible for Jenny's death. His rush to go to the aid of Alice only served him to lead to Jenny's dead. The death of his apprentice. And for what!? Just so Alice could again walk away and return when her moral compass is anything but reliable.
Tom, disappointed me a lot in this book. If anything the character that shined the most was Grimalkin. Even in death she did more to end the impeding threat than anyone else. And she too almost fell victim of trusting Alice.
Tom's character is becoming a little unbearable, as of now. In the Warstone Chronicles, we learn that Tom had the power to slow down or even stop time altogether, we also learn he possessed a kind of intuition sense that lead him where he was needed or where he needed to go. None of those powers were used in the Starblade Chronicles. Making me wonder why the hell did Joseph even gave his main character those powers.
If Tom had used those powers from the start a lot of the pain and suffering he went through might have been easily avoided.
And now with the end of Dark Assassin we got a new power. So Tom is able to become something very similar to a vampire. With inhuman strengh, speed, durability, stamina, and a great thirst for blood. Maybe one more power that we'll rarely see him use if there's a continuation to the story of Thomas Ward.
And then the end with Alice simply being there waiting for him.
This book went all kinds of wrong. To Tom irresponsibility leading to the death of his apprentice, to things mostly happening without Tom even being aware of them. He's simply thrown into the final fight, once more he and Grimalkin proving why those two would've made a better pair than he and Alice ever will. The events just flowed with very little awe and surprise. I read one thing happening and almost immediately I already knew what was gonna happen in the chapters ahead.
So with the Starblade gone (destroyed by Alice in my opinion) so ends this phase in Tom's life. I just hope that if Joseph Delaney chooses to continue with this world, then I hope to see Tom harden more and be more proactive and aware of his duties. He can't simply drop everything on a dimme everytime Alice needs him. Sacrifice everything to get there only so he finds treachery.
Many could say that Alice had no choice allying herself with Lukastra, which I agree, but several other events clearly showed a lack of will from Alice part to even challenge him. And her poor excuse as for why the Starblade was undone only served to confirm that if Tom is to have any sort of future as a Spook. Alice as to go away. She can no longer be with him. And it as to be Tom's choice to get her out of his life. If nothing else a decision he makes as being the price for failing in his duties toward his apprentice.
Not the ending I was expecting. Not the book I was expecting. Of the three this one was surely the weakest.
Tom Ward contribute and even his performance as a Spook left me with a feeling that like John Gregory many times feared, Tom was simply not ready.
Not only do the most important events happen without Tom even being aware of them, but his whole relationship with Alice as become too much one sided for me to even support it anymore. Tom does something that to me was unforgivable. He was for all intended purposes the one responsible for Jenny's death. His rush to go to the aid of Alice only served him to lead to Jenny's dead. The death of his apprentice. And for what!? Just so Alice could again walk away and return when her moral compass is anything but reliable.
Tom, disappointed me a lot in this book. If anything the character that shined the most was Grimalkin. Even in death she did more to end the impeding threat than anyone else. And she too almost fell victim of trusting Alice.
Tom's character is becoming a little unbearable, as of now. In the Warstone Chronicles, we learn that Tom had the power to slow down or even stop time altogether, we also learn he possessed a kind of intuition sense that lead him where he was needed or where he needed to go. None of those powers were used in the Starblade Chronicles. Making me wonder why the hell did Joseph even gave his main character those powers.
If Tom had used those powers from the start a lot of the pain and suffering he went through might have been easily avoided.
And now with the end of Dark Assassin we got a new power. So Tom is able to become something very similar to a vampire. With inhuman strengh, speed, durability, stamina, and a great thirst for blood. Maybe one more power that we'll rarely see him use if there's a continuation to the story of Thomas Ward.
And then the end with Alice simply being there waiting for him.
This book went all kinds of wrong. To Tom irresponsibility leading to the death of his apprentice, to things mostly happening without Tom even being aware of them. He's simply thrown into the final fight, once more he and Grimalkin proving why those two would've made a better pair than he and Alice ever will. The events just flowed with very little awe and surprise. I read one thing happening and almost immediately I already knew what was gonna happen in the chapters ahead.
So with the Starblade gone (destroyed by Alice in my opinion) so ends this phase in Tom's life. I just hope that if Joseph Delaney chooses to continue with this world, then I hope to see Tom harden more and be more proactive and aware of his duties. He can't simply drop everything on a dimme everytime Alice needs him. Sacrifice everything to get there only so he finds treachery.
Many could say that Alice had no choice allying herself with Lukastra, which I agree, but several other events clearly showed a lack of will from Alice part to even challenge him. And her poor excuse as for why the Starblade was undone only served to confirm that if Tom is to have any sort of future as a Spook. Alice as to go away. She can no longer be with him. And it as to be Tom's choice to get her out of his life. If nothing else a decision he makes as being the price for failing in his duties toward his apprentice.
Not the ending I was expecting. Not the book I was expecting. Of the three this one was surely the weakest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2017
Absolutely shocking that this is the last book in the series.
Not a fan. Not at all.
Not a fan. Not at all.
September 9, 2017
What a huge disappointment. The plot was bad but the end was even worse. Do not end series like that. Never.
February 4, 2019
I have mitigated feelings about this book and the whole Starblade Chronicles. I enjoyed reading it, it was a nice read, but a lot of things put me out of the story. I really, really enjoyed the Wardstone Chronicles, but when I reached the last book, I thought that Delaney had trouble finishing a series.
And this books confirms that thought. He can't wrap up things. There are too many loose ends and plot holes due to magic not having the rules it used to have. In Wardstone Chronicles, we learn a lot about witches and Tom's powers.
Well you can forget about Tom's powers, because they were more like plot devices used in one series and they aren't, apparently, transferable to another series. Power creep is something that can easily ruin a fantasy series, and I think Tom's powers are an example of that, and so are Grimalkin's. I really like the character but I felt like she just became an overpowered ninja.
How can she so easily defeat gods when she was herself defeated by a 17 years old boy a few years prior? It doesn't make sense.
Also, the sword she's forged disappears. Again, I feel like any new "power" or artifact appears and disappears when the author needs it. Everything feels like a Deus Ex Machina. Or Delaney Ex Machina, for instance.
Another exemple is the chill you feel near the dark. I don't know if it's inconsistent, but it feels like it is : Tom doesn't feel that from Grimalkin or Alice, even though they are from the Dark. Maybe because they don't mean harm, I don't know.
In previous books, death was something to be feared. Here, death is just a way to another world from which you can come back. And it felt like Delaney regretted killing Grimalkin, maybe she's his favourite character (and mine as well so I'm kinda glad she didn't die) and gave her more things to do. And, besides being a way to another world, death just has no taste. Blood and Bone die. I really liked those dogs. But they just died for nothing. Death has no meaning, no consequences. I feel like they died so the author wouldn't have to write about them anymore.
Now Jenny. Damn it. Jenny had so much potential. I mean, he gave her heterochromia. You can't just give heterochromia to a character and kill her off without even giving her a role in the plot now can you? Jenny is Tom's apprentice. She claims to be a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, learns Tom's trade and then dies because of a scratch from a water witch. I mean, her death is meaningless, and it doesn't hurt that much. I actually thought that this was a way for us to see that she's a witch, and that we'd see her be reborn in the Dark.
But no. She just died, without ever serving the plot besides being a camera for Tom's death scene. What a waste. I feel like she died so that could surprise the reader. But a good story is not necessarily one that surprises us. This is breaking a contract of trust betweet author and reader. GRRM does it well : when people die, you actually feel things. But Delaney is no GRRM, and Jenny didn't have a role.
There's also Slither's character. He had a whole damn book in the previous series, but appears for a single chapter here. How? Why?
Same for Lukrasta and Alice. They felt so bland. And the ending too. The death of Talkus was so... easy and unrewarding. Same for Lukrasta. And I feel like Alice telling Tom to go back alone to Chipenden ONLY to be there as well was a very bad plot device. The only reason she told him that was for Tom to be attacked so Delaney could show his new powers. The ending is probably the worse part of the book.
Overall, I think the book needs at least 200 more pages, and should cut a lot of "the feeling a seventh son of a seventh son gets when something from the Dark approaches". I think Delaney has faaaar too much repetitions. Even if the books are for young people, you don't need to repeat things constantly. They're not dumb, they know what the chill means, they know why binding a witch's mouth is important, they actually pay attention when they read.
Now writing this, I feel like I can't really find good sides to the story. Still, I enjoyed it, maybe because the world was familiar and I'm still attached to the characters. However, all subjectivity aside, this was not a good book, and especially not a good FINAL book. It's completely anticlimatic. And I think I miss regular but dangerous Spooks business. That's where the previous books shone I think.
And this books confirms that thought. He can't wrap up things. There are too many loose ends and plot holes due to magic not having the rules it used to have. In Wardstone Chronicles, we learn a lot about witches and Tom's powers.
Well you can forget about Tom's powers, because they were more like plot devices used in one series and they aren't, apparently, transferable to another series. Power creep is something that can easily ruin a fantasy series, and I think Tom's powers are an example of that, and so are Grimalkin's. I really like the character but I felt like she just became an overpowered ninja.
How can she so easily defeat gods when she was herself defeated by a 17 years old boy a few years prior? It doesn't make sense.
Also, the sword she's forged disappears. Again, I feel like any new "power" or artifact appears and disappears when the author needs it. Everything feels like a Deus Ex Machina. Or Delaney Ex Machina, for instance.
Another exemple is the chill you feel near the dark. I don't know if it's inconsistent, but it feels like it is : Tom doesn't feel that from Grimalkin or Alice, even though they are from the Dark. Maybe because they don't mean harm, I don't know.
In previous books, death was something to be feared. Here, death is just a way to another world from which you can come back. And it felt like Delaney regretted killing Grimalkin, maybe she's his favourite character (and mine as well so I'm kinda glad she didn't die) and gave her more things to do. And, besides being a way to another world, death just has no taste. Blood and Bone die. I really liked those dogs. But they just died for nothing. Death has no meaning, no consequences. I feel like they died so the author wouldn't have to write about them anymore.
Now Jenny. Damn it. Jenny had so much potential. I mean, he gave her heterochromia. You can't just give heterochromia to a character and kill her off without even giving her a role in the plot now can you? Jenny is Tom's apprentice. She claims to be a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, learns Tom's trade and then dies because of a scratch from a water witch. I mean, her death is meaningless, and it doesn't hurt that much. I actually thought that this was a way for us to see that she's a witch, and that we'd see her be reborn in the Dark.
But no. She just died, without ever serving the plot besides being a camera for Tom's death scene. What a waste. I feel like she died so that could surprise the reader. But a good story is not necessarily one that surprises us. This is breaking a contract of trust betweet author and reader. GRRM does it well : when people die, you actually feel things. But Delaney is no GRRM, and Jenny didn't have a role.
There's also Slither's character. He had a whole damn book in the previous series, but appears for a single chapter here. How? Why?
Same for Lukrasta and Alice. They felt so bland. And the ending too. The death of Talkus was so... easy and unrewarding. Same for Lukrasta. And I feel like Alice telling Tom to go back alone to Chipenden ONLY to be there as well was a very bad plot device. The only reason she told him that was for Tom to be attacked so Delaney could show his new powers. The ending is probably the worse part of the book.
Overall, I think the book needs at least 200 more pages, and should cut a lot of "the feeling a seventh son of a seventh son gets when something from the Dark approaches". I think Delaney has faaaar too much repetitions. Even if the books are for young people, you don't need to repeat things constantly. They're not dumb, they know what the chill means, they know why binding a witch's mouth is important, they actually pay attention when they read.
Now writing this, I feel like I can't really find good sides to the story. Still, I enjoyed it, maybe because the world was familiar and I'm still attached to the characters. However, all subjectivity aside, this was not a good book, and especially not a good FINAL book. It's completely anticlimatic. And I think I miss regular but dangerous Spooks business. That's where the previous books shone I think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2017
I love the Spook's series! Read in one go. Even though I didn't like the whole Kobalos stuff at all, it was great reading more from Grimalkin and the domains of the dark! I certainly never grow tired of this series
November 27, 2017
This is a sort of conclusion to the whole dramatic arc of the two Spook series, and while I read to the end of it, and always take pleasure in the plainspoken beauty of Delaney's language (which I associate with Hardy and John Clare), I found it a very anticlimactic climax, having expected much more from the final battle with the monstrous creatures of the North. As climactic books go, I think the volume in the first series in which Tom Ward and his allies did battle against the devil in Greece was absolutely perfect -- and although I loved the whole idea of the conflict with the creatures of the north, and thought Slither as well as every part of the story told from Grimalkin's point of view wonderful and really novel, I think the execution fell short in this final volume of the second series.
March 14, 2021
Mar. 14, 2021
This is the culmination of a year-long period, in which I reread all 13 of The Wardstone Chronicles and the Starblade Chronicles trilogy!
Original Review
It feels like I haven't finished a good book in a long time, but books like these restore my knowledge that enjoyable ones really do exist. There were a few twists and turns that made me a bit sad (), but a Spook's life is not all puppies and rainbows; indeed, the monsters and magic were what held me in thrall over the course of 16 books. I hope there are more Tom Ward/Spook stories in the future, but 16 books was a good run, at any rate.
This is the culmination of a year-long period, in which I reread all 13 of The Wardstone Chronicles and the Starblade Chronicles trilogy!
Original Review
It feels like I haven't finished a good book in a long time, but books like these restore my knowledge that enjoyable ones really do exist. There were a few twists and turns that made me a bit sad (), but a Spook's life is not all puppies and rainbows; indeed, the monsters and magic were what held me in thrall over the course of 16 books. I hope there are more Tom Ward/Spook stories in the future, but 16 books was a good run, at any rate.
March 28, 2018
The Starblade Chronicles Book 3
*The Dark Assassin*
Finally, it is done. My reaction after reading the final line of the book was "Unbelievable", truly, this book surprised me. It's the shortest of the Starblade Chronicles, just 312 pages. I could easily finish it in a day and a half. This book seemed more like a 'Grimalkin' book rather than Thomas Ward book, but nonetheless the contribution of both these characters as a protagonist is undeniable and remarkable. Grimalkin seems benign now, not that she doesn't like blood and Gore but just that she's always willing to lend a helping hand to her alliances, is trustworthy and compassionate towards humans. And she's Dead. There's one thing in the book that surprsied me the most. The characters I thought were alive are Dead. The the characters I thought were Dead, seemingly are revealed to be alive but just within a few chapters are revealed Dead. The characters I didn't think would die, have died terribly...What can I say? This is more complex that GRRM! Anyways, the book is delivered to the readers in a bright fashion with a strong and bold first person narrative. It enchants you and let's you dive deep into the story. Moreever, this book felt much more fun a 'Spook's' universe than other books in the Trilogy. We even got to visit the Dark Dimension as Grimalkin is now Dead, her journey and God-killing adventures in the dark portal are something to look out for. The book is rather impressive with eh culmination of character development and almost everybody achieves a skill that they didin't posses earlier. eg. Tom, Alice, Grimalkin. The book is melancholy at times, we see the deaths of many primary characters such as Jenny, Bill Arkwright (he was Dead, anyway), Grimalkin, Lukrasta, etc. The first half of the book was more intense and took place in the County itself, The Spooky band went on to adventure and deal with the creatures of the darkness, it was a lot of fun to have Arkwright back, the whole skelt and 'imposter' thing was surprising, at least to me it was. I'm glad that the author hasn't put it another army battle, I just can't tolerate another one. But alliances within the dark domain, the God-killing part, Grimalkins terrifying dark Assassin form, Thomas Ward's love for Alice, Jenny's death, Talkus' and Lukrasta's death were some other important highlights throughout the book. Truthfully, the story is steady, the plot enchanting is enchanting and the overall premise of the book is addicting. There are many layers introduced by the author regarding a particular character. It's wonderful to see the evident change in the characters at the end of the book. I don't know why Mr. Delaney has killed off Jenny, killed by the poison of a water with? (Unbelievable!) I just love the way how the book concluded, the final 20-30 pages went beyond my expectations and the reading experience was thriving powerfully. The author is very creative regarding building up the story, it's fun to read and involves you a lot. There are quite a lot of plot twists. The Alice-Lukrasta endgame really shook me, but all's well that ends well. The Kobalos threat doesn't seem so eminent all lf a sudden. Also do check out the Kobalos Glossary along with handwritten notes by Tom, Nicholas and Grimalkin, its worth a look. Tom's final lamia form was unexpected. As I said, the essence of the book is surprising , entertianing and thirlling, way beyond my expectations! I love the cover art. Strongly Recommended. I still can't believe I have finished 20 book in the Spooks universe. I would like to thank Mr. Joseph Delaney for writing such a delightful novels series. The man's truly wonderful!! Nice Reading!
*The Dark Assassin*
Finally, it is done. My reaction after reading the final line of the book was "Unbelievable", truly, this book surprised me. It's the shortest of the Starblade Chronicles, just 312 pages. I could easily finish it in a day and a half. This book seemed more like a 'Grimalkin' book rather than Thomas Ward book, but nonetheless the contribution of both these characters as a protagonist is undeniable and remarkable. Grimalkin seems benign now, not that she doesn't like blood and Gore but just that she's always willing to lend a helping hand to her alliances, is trustworthy and compassionate towards humans. And she's Dead. There's one thing in the book that surprsied me the most. The characters I thought were alive are Dead. The the characters I thought were Dead, seemingly are revealed to be alive but just within a few chapters are revealed Dead. The characters I didn't think would die, have died terribly...What can I say? This is more complex that GRRM! Anyways, the book is delivered to the readers in a bright fashion with a strong and bold first person narrative. It enchants you and let's you dive deep into the story. Moreever, this book felt much more fun a 'Spook's' universe than other books in the Trilogy. We even got to visit the Dark Dimension as Grimalkin is now Dead, her journey and God-killing adventures in the dark portal are something to look out for. The book is rather impressive with eh culmination of character development and almost everybody achieves a skill that they didin't posses earlier. eg. Tom, Alice, Grimalkin. The book is melancholy at times, we see the deaths of many primary characters such as Jenny, Bill Arkwright (he was Dead, anyway), Grimalkin, Lukrasta, etc. The first half of the book was more intense and took place in the County itself, The Spooky band went on to adventure and deal with the creatures of the darkness, it was a lot of fun to have Arkwright back, the whole skelt and 'imposter' thing was surprising, at least to me it was. I'm glad that the author hasn't put it another army battle, I just can't tolerate another one. But alliances within the dark domain, the God-killing part, Grimalkins terrifying dark Assassin form, Thomas Ward's love for Alice, Jenny's death, Talkus' and Lukrasta's death were some other important highlights throughout the book. Truthfully, the story is steady, the plot enchanting is enchanting and the overall premise of the book is addicting. There are many layers introduced by the author regarding a particular character. It's wonderful to see the evident change in the characters at the end of the book. I don't know why Mr. Delaney has killed off Jenny, killed by the poison of a water with? (Unbelievable!) I just love the way how the book concluded, the final 20-30 pages went beyond my expectations and the reading experience was thriving powerfully. The author is very creative regarding building up the story, it's fun to read and involves you a lot. There are quite a lot of plot twists. The Alice-Lukrasta endgame really shook me, but all's well that ends well. The Kobalos threat doesn't seem so eminent all lf a sudden. Also do check out the Kobalos Glossary along with handwritten notes by Tom, Nicholas and Grimalkin, its worth a look. Tom's final lamia form was unexpected. As I said, the essence of the book is surprising , entertianing and thirlling, way beyond my expectations! I love the cover art. Strongly Recommended. I still can't believe I have finished 20 book in the Spooks universe. I would like to thank Mr. Joseph Delaney for writing such a delightful novels series. The man's truly wonderful!! Nice Reading!
March 5, 2017
Dark Assassin is just as wonderful as all the other Spooks tales. The excellent writing that draws you in and doesn't free you from its grasp until you have finished its last page. The dark assassin brings to light new possibilities for the young spook and his allies and leaves you wondering what uses these could bring. There is one thing that does pain me about this installment and that is the end. The end of the dark assassin is left with a cliff hanger that has already begun to tear away at my soul casting it into the dark in knowing that it could be 3 years before The Spooks returns. Painful ending or not this installment was just as enjoyable as the previous ones and can't wait for what Joseph Delaney has ins store for us next. I recommend this book to anyone who dares to read after dark!
January 1, 2019
The end. Wait? What? That could not possibly be the last page.
What a disappointment. The story felt rushed, each unfolding mini-crisis resolved within a few pages or even a few sentences. Well known characters died and disappeared like popped party balloons while others who should have been front and center faded to the background. The story rushed on threads spinning off into the dark and left unresolved. Then something major about Tom is revealed and- oh, by the way- THE END.
I admit I flipped back and forth on my Kindle a few times thinking that surely I had missed a chapter but... no. That was it. How does it really all end? Apparently, I will never know.
What a disappointment. The story felt rushed, each unfolding mini-crisis resolved within a few pages or even a few sentences. Well known characters died and disappeared like popped party balloons while others who should have been front and center faded to the background. The story rushed on threads spinning off into the dark and left unresolved. Then something major about Tom is revealed and- oh, by the way- THE END.
I admit I flipped back and forth on my Kindle a few times thinking that surely I had missed a chapter but... no. That was it. How does it really all end? Apparently, I will never know.
November 5, 2019
This book was a great conclusion to this series. I was excited to read what happened to Tom Ward, Alice and Grimalkin. The book did not disappoint with lots of twists and turns and great action. I loved this series and would love to read more. It is sad to see this great series come to an end. It was a great ending though! I think Tom Ward will live to be an old spook and have many apprentices like Jenny.
October 1, 2019
Review to come.
March 2, 2018
I love the Spook's books and have been reading them for about ten years. This is a hugely underwhelming finale.
The Kobalas army is heading for the County and it's up to the Spook Tom Ward and his allies to stop them. When the Spook Bill Arkwright apparently returns from the dead Tom is pleased but is Bill all he seems? Meanwhile Grimalkin is dead and now in the dark (obsetisibly hell). Is there a way she can return to the world to help the fight?
I thought in many ways this was like a greatest hits of the series, only it doesn't do the hits very well. The early chapters featuring Grimalkin are very similar to Spook's: Alice and there's reprise of The Spook's Mistake. The only new idea, though a good one, involves creatures a bit like Zygons from Doctor Who though not executed as well as it might have been and never fully explained either.
I was expecting an enormous battle here but Delaney opts to ignore the Kobalas army and focus on taking out their god Talkus. The fight with him is hugely underwhelming, little more than a quick skirmish really.
The action almost entirely focuses on Grimalkin and Tom Ward which means that one major character barely makes an appearance and another is pointlessly killed off- given that there's a hugely dangerous army and a powerful god, why would you kill a character in a pathetic way?
The ending is particularly atrocious. The final chapter has one of those second climaxes a bit like in Bond films- the main fight is over but there's still some henchmen about which cause the character a lot of hassle. It never works very well. Delaney must have had an idea that he'd never got round to using so he shoves it in this final chapter, completely re-writes the character of Tom and then abruptly ends the book. There's a whole book to be had in just this idea and it's tossed in like an afterthought- plus it's not an idea I care much for either.
Where did it all go wrong? I think the author should have stuck to smaller threats, your usual Spook's work because he does that so much better than he does the grand scale. The main characters largely work independently of each other here and there should be more of a focus on them working together. There's too much playing around with death too- having killed and then resurrected Tom in the first two books of the series the whole notion of death in this universe falls apart, especially when dead characters are still running round the world except for one who dies unnecessarily.
I still love the world of these books and the characters that inhabit it but this feels like a first draft of a book where the plot hasn't yet come together and sections need to be cut or rewritten.
The Kobalas army is heading for the County and it's up to the Spook Tom Ward and his allies to stop them. When the Spook Bill Arkwright apparently returns from the dead Tom is pleased but is Bill all he seems? Meanwhile Grimalkin is dead and now in the dark (obsetisibly hell). Is there a way she can return to the world to help the fight?
I thought in many ways this was like a greatest hits of the series, only it doesn't do the hits very well. The early chapters featuring Grimalkin are very similar to Spook's: Alice and there's reprise of The Spook's Mistake. The only new idea, though a good one, involves creatures a bit like Zygons from Doctor Who though not executed as well as it might have been and never fully explained either.
I was expecting an enormous battle here but Delaney opts to ignore the Kobalas army and focus on taking out their god Talkus. The fight with him is hugely underwhelming, little more than a quick skirmish really.
The action almost entirely focuses on Grimalkin and Tom Ward which means that one major character barely makes an appearance and another is pointlessly killed off- given that there's a hugely dangerous army and a powerful god, why would you kill a character in a pathetic way?
The ending is particularly atrocious. The final chapter has one of those second climaxes a bit like in Bond films- the main fight is over but there's still some henchmen about which cause the character a lot of hassle. It never works very well. Delaney must have had an idea that he'd never got round to using so he shoves it in this final chapter, completely re-writes the character of Tom and then abruptly ends the book. There's a whole book to be had in just this idea and it's tossed in like an afterthought- plus it's not an idea I care much for either.
Where did it all go wrong? I think the author should have stuck to smaller threats, your usual Spook's work because he does that so much better than he does the grand scale. The main characters largely work independently of each other here and there should be more of a focus on them working together. There's too much playing around with death too- having killed and then resurrected Tom in the first two books of the series the whole notion of death in this universe falls apart, especially when dead characters are still running round the world except for one who dies unnecessarily.
I still love the world of these books and the characters that inhabit it but this feels like a first draft of a book where the plot hasn't yet come together and sections need to be cut or rewritten.
September 28, 2017
So this book took me quite a while to read! It definitely didn't grip me as much as I thought it would! Even Delaney can also really calm down with the 'chill that means the dark was nearby'. Like I swear he said this as least 10 times in this one book. If we're up to this point in the series we already know what the chill means. There were no epic battles in this book. You'd think that the defeat of But one thing I do like about Tom is how he's always honest with himself, particularly about Alice, and how And he knows he can't do everything by himself, hence why he was I enjoyed the characters in this book, and actually didn't even realise that Jenny didn't have a POV.
There has to be more to this world.
There has to be more to this world.
October 12, 2017
I really liked the Last Apprentice series. The plots were good, the details good, and they were all well written. Unfortunately the Starblade Chronicles were a poor followup. The plots were too unbelievable, the details were missing, and the writing felt more like a quota than art. As I read book 3 I just kept shaking my head wondering what was going on. There's a time and purpose to killing off main characters and also a time to let them live. There is a time to absolutely change main characters and also a time to keep them as they are. Jenny never should have died, at least one of the dogs should have lived, There should have been no falling out between Alice and Tom at the end, and Tom should not have become a monster especially at the very end when there is no time left to explain. I hope this is the end of Tom Ward stories because it should have stopped with the end of the first series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2021
Wow what an Ending of Tom's adventure, really didn't se this ending nor this brutal final book. So much happened both high and low and didn't expect things to be what it became how this trilogy developed.
Still I think it would been better to keep it as one series to avoid the big disappointment of the last book in spooks apprentice. However I understood why the change with multiple point of wievs etc when starting Starblade book one.
Still I think it would been better to keep it as one series to avoid the big disappointment of the last book in spooks apprentice. However I understood why the change with multiple point of wievs etc when starting Starblade book one.
January 25, 2025
Нарешті, фінал цієї довгої неймовірної історії, що налічує шістнадцять книг.
Не можу сказати, наскільки радий познайомитися з цими книжками та цим автором. Скажу лише найголовніше.
По-перше, так закінчувати цикл - це гріх для душі.
По-друге, Грімалкін неймовірна богиня.
По-третє, цей цикл один з найкращих серед підліткового фентезі, що я читав. І одночасно кращий за Гаррі Поттера.
Не можу сказати, наскільки радий познайомитися з цими книжками та цим автором. Скажу лише найголовніше.
По-перше, так закінчувати цикл - це гріх для душі.
По-друге, Грімалкін неймовірна богиня.
По-третє, цей цикл один з найкращих серед підліткового фентезі, що я читав. І одночасно кращий за Гаррі Поттера.
June 4, 2018
That ending was more like a cliffhanger lol. I'm guessing... new series?
Also, I did not expect that to happen to Jenny. I mean I didn't really like her but come on. I was kind of expecting the series to end all dark and gloom. Which is where it was headed then it had that cliffhanger ending 😱
Also, I did not expect that to happen to Jenny. I mean I didn't really like her but come on. I was kind of expecting the series to end all dark and gloom. Which is where it was headed then it had that cliffhanger ending 😱
June 16, 2017
Farewell Tom Ward , hunter of the dark.
May 21, 2017
I finished the previous book of this series (The Dark Army) last year about this time, so going into this one I was a little nervous about not remembering important details and having it make this book less enjoyable. I'm really glad to say that my fear was unfounded; I love Joseph Delaney's writing style, and once again he succeeded in grabbing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire book. The setting and characters were just as I remembered them, and after a few chapters I felt totally reacquainted with the plot. Delaney didn't waste any time with exposition; the story jumps right back into the struggle of Thomas Ward and his allies against the impending attack of the Kobalos, and the story is told from the perspectives of Grimalkin in the Dark and Tom in the world of the living. I loved this book. Just like the others in the series, it was definitely worthy of a five-star rating. I am kind of sad that I can't keep reading, now, though. Every time I finish one of these I regret how quickly I finished it, but once they come out I just can't put them down. The story always flows really well and is enjoyable from start to finish.
Every time I think about this series, I'm really impressed by Delaney's ability to keep it going so well. I've heard a lot of praise of J.K. Rowling where this is concerned (for having a consistently interesting 7 book series), so I think it's even crazier that he's managed to write sixteen fantastic books with the same characters while avoiding being predictable or boring. (Small note to Joseph Delaney: are you even human?? [Also, yes, guys who might try to correct me; I know that the Wardstone and Starblade chronicles are technically separate series, but you get my point.])
It's almost like Star Wars in that the universe he's created has so many possibilities and interesting areas to explore that he just never runs out of material. I can't remember a single time that I felt the story dragged or ran out of action, and even after this book I want more; he could very, very easily write more books after this. And he should. (Small note to Joseph Delaney: the ending of this book was not okay and you're not allowed to have this be the last book because of just how not okay it was. Also I love your work; please sign my face.)
By now I think I've established how much I love and appreciate this series, so now I'm going to rant about the one thing in this book that I'm upset about, because I just can't.let.it.go. This is a detail/plot thing, though, so naturally it's going to contain at least a couple major spoilers. And be long. Because I ramble. Sorry.
Even after that whole thing ^^ (I mean if you're still reading at this point) I wanted to say that I absolutely loved this book. It was so good that I can afford to be nitpicky about minor things (mainly because there aren't major things to find flaws in (kudos to you, Mr. Delaney). This was a great addition to an already amazing (two) series, and I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
Every time I think about this series, I'm really impressed by Delaney's ability to keep it going so well. I've heard a lot of praise of J.K. Rowling where this is concerned (for having a consistently interesting 7 book series), so I think it's even crazier that he's managed to write sixteen fantastic books with the same characters while avoiding being predictable or boring. (Small note to Joseph Delaney: are you even human?? [Also, yes, guys who might try to correct me; I know that the Wardstone and Starblade chronicles are technically separate series, but you get my point.])
It's almost like Star Wars in that the universe he's created has so many possibilities and interesting areas to explore that he just never runs out of material. I can't remember a single time that I felt the story dragged or ran out of action, and even after this book I want more; he could very, very easily write more books after this. And he should. (Small note to Joseph Delaney: the ending of this book was not okay and you're not allowed to have this be the last book because of just how not okay it was. Also I love your work; please sign my face.)
By now I think I've established how much I love and appreciate this series, so now I'm going to rant about the one thing in this book that I'm upset about, because I just can't.let.it.go. This is a detail/plot thing, though, so naturally it's going to contain at least a couple major spoilers. And be long. Because I ramble. Sorry.
Even after that whole thing ^^ (I mean if you're still reading at this point) I wanted to say that I absolutely loved this book. It was so good that I can afford to be nitpicky about minor things (mainly because there aren't major things to find flaws in (kudos to you, Mr. Delaney). This was a great addition to an already amazing (two) series, and I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
October 4, 2017
Rating 3.75 stars
The conclusion of the Starblade Chronicles. This series was not as good as the Spooks apprentice. This series spent a lot more time dealing with war than the dark in my opinion. It still was very interesting to read and I still like the characters. Delaney does a good but not great job in telling the story. It always seems like there is either a lot of build up for a confrontation which is not very satisfying, or there is very little buildup to something that seems hugely important. I never really got into the Kobalos story line, and preferred it when the enemy was the Dark. Tom did end up using more of his special powers in this story. Not just the ones he gets from being the seventh son of a seventh son, but also the powers he got from his mam, the lamina. I felt those powers were neglected a little in the first 2 books of the series. Overall a quick enjoyable read.
The conclusion of the Starblade Chronicles. This series was not as good as the Spooks apprentice. This series spent a lot more time dealing with war than the dark in my opinion. It still was very interesting to read and I still like the characters. Delaney does a good but not great job in telling the story. It always seems like there is either a lot of build up for a confrontation which is not very satisfying, or there is very little buildup to something that seems hugely important. I never really got into the Kobalos story line, and preferred it when the enemy was the Dark. Tom did end up using more of his special powers in this story. Not just the ones he gets from being the seventh son of a seventh son, but also the powers he got from his mam, the lamina. I felt those powers were neglected a little in the first 2 books of the series. Overall a quick enjoyable read.
March 30, 2025
*****Spoiler Free Review*****
Really enjoyed this final novel in the A New Darkness series.
It was so wonderful to read more adventures with Tom Ward and Alice. Love those characters. And of course, my favorite witch, Grimalkin.
Some very shocking stuff happens in this final novel and more than a few plot twists! I definitely got hit emotionally a few times.
But the ending made me smile. Perfection!
Really enjoyed this final novel in the A New Darkness series.
It was so wonderful to read more adventures with Tom Ward and Alice. Love those characters. And of course, my favorite witch, Grimalkin.
Some very shocking stuff happens in this final novel and more than a few plot twists! I definitely got hit emotionally a few times.
But the ending made me smile. Perfection!
January 9, 2019
The last book in this series was heartbreaking for me to finish, although the ending was mostly good with Tom and Alice coming back to him but I wanted there to be more adventures ahead of them.
June 3, 2023
Peak fiction
June 17, 2024
Didn‘t like this at all. The ending was unsatisfying.
March 28, 2021
Okay, Delaney.... you redeemed yourself. I'm no longer breaking up with you for killing off my favorite characters.
January 25, 2023
Powiem tyle: nie spodziewałam się tego zakończenia
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