The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend (Book 4)

Wow! This series just gets better and better! I don't even like horror, but these books strike the right tone. Delightfully creepy (boys will love it), but not too intense for children ages 10 and up. I loooove the narrative voice. The main character's simple, matter-of-fact voice balances perfectly with the story's melodramatic horror. The main character is very endearing. You'll be cheering for him. The plot has evolved nicely from book to book. Read Book One first, and you'll eagerly turn pages to get to this one. I love the characters, love the story, love the writing style. Love it all! Can't wait for more!

I picked up these books on a whim, and discovered a wonderful series. When I found out that the fourth was to be released soon, I quickly bought the second and third books and practically devoured them, finishing them in a day. The same goes for this book; Attack of the Fiend is as deliciously thrilling as the last three, and scary enough to make reading this book at night questionable. After reading the first book late at night in the dark - with the exception of my booklight - I read the other three during the day! This book got my heart going, and I felt like I was really in the book - as nervous as Tom, and anticipating the worst. I can't wait for the fifth book to be released; I also really hope that more happens with Tom and Alice - I can't help but love those characters. Not to mention, Alice is an intriguing character, because we're never really sure if she's a good or bad witch...which makes her all the more interesting.

I had the lay down date marked on my calendar, and couldnt wait to run down to the store as soon as the day came to get my copy. I had read the previous three installments and did a 5 star review on book two, The Curse of the Bane. Delaney just keeps these books remarkably riveting, scary and intense. This was the longest book yet but by far the best of the four. Our young Apprentice is getting stronger in his abilities and getting more independant to work on his own now without the constant guidance of the mighty Spook. I like that his character is growing and not staying stagnant even though the time period between book one and this book four is only a year and a half's time. This installment, Attack of the Fiend, offers more wonderful suspenseful, edge of the seat action. The scare level is right up there from page one to the end. Last Apprentice fans can not be disappointed in this new book in any way and are sure to just say "more please". Delaney does leave this installment a little open ended so that we for sure know that book five is on it's way so that we readers get resolvement on the episodes we get in this book. This is a fabulolus horror series for kids and adults and truly topnotch. I'd like to add praise too to the sensational illustrator. Not only are the cover designs remarkable but each chapter head page evokes true dark and eerie scenes that seem to scream off the page. High praise here, very very high praise for a series that is not sliding in interest, it is escalating into greatness. I eagerly await book five. I just cant wait!

I just finished reading "Attack of the Fiend" last night and I was not disappointed! My eleven-year-old son and I have been waiting for this one to come out, as we have read the entire "Last Apprentice" series and absolutely love every book. As usual, Joseph Delaney did a great job of scaring the pants off of us! From the first chapter, I was on the edge of my seat, terrified for Tom, the Spook's apprentice. Several times I had to put the book down and walk away to calm my nerves, but of course, couldn't stay away for long because I just had to see what would happen next. My husband even asked once, "What is the problem? I thought this was a kids' book?" and I had to explain that reading the Last Apprentice books is like watching a terrifying movie: your stomach is clenched with worry for these characters, but you're also dying to see what trouble they'll get into next. "Attack of the Fiend" had action and suspense from beginning to end and still, left us wondering when the next book will come out so that we can find out how Tom and the Spook plan to defeat the creatures of darkness. This is great book for anyone 10-100...as long as you're not afraid of the dark!

I just got my copy. I had preordered this and had been waiting a while; it was well worth the wait! I could not put it down. My only regret is that I read it too quickly. If you're a fan of this series, you won't be disappointed. Lots of action and suspense from the characters we love. You'll stay on the edge of your seat from the beginning. Super, super book. I loved it!!!