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Children's dark fantasy series by Joseph Delaney

the British spy drama TV series
Spook's, published as The Last Apprentice in the United States, is a children's dark fantasy series by English author Joseph Delaney. It is published by imprints of Penguin Random House in the United Kingdom, and HarperCollins in the United States. The series has been published in 30 countries, with sales exceeding 4.5 million copies. It originated in 2004 with The Spook's Apprentice, which has been adapted into a play script, a feature film titled Seventh Son, and a French graphic novel. The main series consists of 20 books, with three arcs. The Wardstone Chronicles, follows Thomas "Tom" Ward's journey as he apprentices under John Gregory, the spook of the County, situated in a fictionalized Lancashire. Through his mentorship, Tom masters the skills to confront supernatural threats. However, as the narrative unfolds, Tom finds himself confronting an even greater peril: the Fiend. The Starblade Chronicles, extends the adventures of Tom Ward, now a Spook, battling a grave evil endangering the County and beyond. Tom mentors his apprentice, Jenny, amidst formidable challenges. Brother Wulf, features the exploits of Brother Wulf, a novice monk, and Tom Ward. There are also several related works, set in the same world, including two short story compilations, a bestiary, and two novellas.

The first arc of the series titled The Wardstone Chronicles, published from 2004 to 2013, follows Thomas "Tom" Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son who is apprenticed to the County's spook, John Gregory; a master fighter of supernatural evil. The Spook gives Tom practical instruction on tackling ghosts, ghasts, witches, boggarts, and all manner of other things that serve the Dark. Tom soon discovers that most of John Gregory's apprentices have failed for various reasons, including being killed in the process of learning how to be a Spook. As the arc progresses, the focus expands to other characters such as the young witch Alice Deane and the witch assassin Grimalkin. Overall, the series develops the plotline of Tom being destined to save the world or be tortured by the Fiend, the father of all evil, for all eternity. The County referenced in the series is based on Lancashire in the North of England. Various County fictional towns are thinly veiled modern day cities; for example, the town of Priestown is based on Preston (where the author was born); Caster is Lancaster; Black Pool is Blackpool; Chipenden is Chipping. The first arc was followed by The Starblade Chronicles, a trilogy published from 2014 to 2017, continuing the adventures of Tom Ward, who has finished his apprenticeship and is now a Spook in his own right dedicated to fighting an unparalleled evil threatening the County, and the world. Throughout the trilogy, Tom mentors his own apprentice, Jenny, as they face daunting challenges together. This was then followed by Brother Wulf, published from 2020 to 2023; four books following the adventures of Brother Wulf, a young noviciate monk, and Tom Ward.

In the County, Thomas "Tom" Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son, becomes apprenticed to John Gregory, a Spook who combats supernatural beings like boggarts, ghosts, and witches. Despite warnings, Tom befriends Alice Deane, a conflicted witch with ties to dangerous relatives, including Mother Malkin and Bony Lizzie. Alice inadvertently aids Malkin's escape, setting off a series of conflicts. Tom, guided by Gregory's teachings, confronts the witches using traditional tools like rowan wood and silver. Ultimately, Malkin is destroyed when Tom lures her into a pig pen, solidifying Tom's apprenticeship while leaving Alice as an uneasy ally in the ongoing battle against the forces of darkness.

In the heart of Priestown's cathedral catacombs, the Spook and his apprentice, Tom Ward, confront their long standing foe, the Bane, a formidable creature undefeated by the Spook. However, their battle is complicated by the arrival of the Quisitor, an enforcer hunting those who dabble in dark arts. Meanwhile, Alice Deane strikes a perilous pact with the Bane, feeding it her blood and risking total control. Despite the Spook's apprehension, Tom's deepening friendship with Alice draws them closer, even as she manipulates the Bane to aid their cause. With the Spook imprisoned and facing execution, Tom, aided by Alice and the Bane, must rescue his mentor and lift Priestown's curse. Alice, too, grows to fear the Bane's influence, aligning with Tom and the Spook to devise a plan against it. In a final showdown, Tom and Alice confront the Bane, with Alice making a crucial plea for their safety. Seizing the opportunity, Thomas vanquishes the Bane, liberating Priestown from its malevolent grip.

As winter settles in, the Spook is disturbed by the unexpected arrival of a stranger, prompting a hasty relocation from Chipenden to the winter house at Anglezarke, much to Tom's confusion. The winter residence, shrouded in darkness, harbours a cellar teeming with bound witches and boggarts, adding to its ominous aura. As the cold months pass, Tom delves deeper into his master's history, unravelling secrets about the enigmatic visitor, revealed to be the Spook's arch nemesis, Morgan Hurst, a necromancer, who seeks to resurrect an old god. The unfolding revelations shed light on the Spook's past and the intricate web of conflicts that define their ongoing struggle against dark forces.

Tom's mother's departure to Greece marks a pivotal shift in his life as he discovers three trunks she left behind, meant only for him to open. Upon the Spook's insistence, Tom and Alice Dean embark on a mission to retrieve the trunks, only to find their family abducted by witches and held in Pendle. Amidst revelations about the Spook's past and the identity of his mysterious visitor, Father Stocks, Tom navigates a treacherous landscape where alliances shift and betrayals abound. As Tom confronts his family's captors, including Mistress Wurmalde and the Mouldheel clan, he uncovers deep seated secrets about his lineage and his mother's ties to dark forces. Through harrowing trials and sacrifices, Tom ultimately confronts the impending threat of the Fiend, defying grim prophecies and summoning courage to protect his loved ones and confront the darkness lurking within and beyond the County's borders.

Sent north to be trained by Bill Arkwright, Tom Ward confronts the relentless challenges of Arkwright's harsh tutelage in the haunted mill amidst treacherous marshlands. As Tom grapples with the rigorous training, the stakes escalate when the Fiend dispatches his formidable daughter, Morwena, a potent water witch, to obliterate Tom. Arkwright's error in judgement leaves Tom vulnerable, forcing him to confront his adversaries alone. With the aid of Alice Deane and the Spook, Tom embarks on a perilous battle against overwhelming dark forces. However, the Spook's mistake, with its potentially dire consequences, threatens to tip the scales in favour of the darkness, testing the limits of Tom's resilience and challenging the collective strength of his allies against the looming shadow of the Fiend's influence.

Tom Ward, confronted with the looming threat of the Ordeen and the Fiend, is torn between his loyalty to his master, the Spook, and his duty to his mother, Mam, who reveals her identity as lamia with a complex past. As they journey to Greece to confront the Ordeen, Tom grapples with dark forces, including the Fiend's temptations and the use of dark magic by allies and enemies alike. Amidst betrayals, traps, and sacrifices, including Mam's ultimate sacrifice to stall the Ordeen, Tom faces his destiny as a fighter against the Dark. Through Mam's letters and a final spiritual encounter, Tom finds closure and resolve to continue his apprenticeship, now with Alice Deane, the daughter of the Fiend, by his side, as they navigate the treacherous waters of the supernatural realm.

As war engulfs the County, the Spook, Tom, and Alice Deane seek refuge on the perilous Isle of Mona, only to find themselves ensnared in its turmoil. The island's inhabitants are gripped by fear and suspicion, subjecting suspected witches to cruel tests and sentencing them to the buggane's wrath if found guilty. Lord Barrule, a formidable shaman aligned with the buggane, adds to their peril. However, their challenges escalate with the return of Bony Lizzie, driven by a vengeful quest against the Spook for her years of imprisonment in his garden's pit. Amidst the chaos and looming threats, the trio must navigate treacherous alliances and confront the darkness that threatens to consume them all.

In a daring quest to the southwest of Ireland, the Spook, Tom Ward, and Alice Deane confront a formidable Celtic witch and her allies, the goat mages, who seek to resurrect the ancient deity Pan. As Tom grapples with the relentless forces of darkness, he stumbles upon the Destiny Blade, a weapon with a sinister appetite for bloodshed. Despite daunting odds, their alliance gains strength with the unexpected arrival of Grimalkin, a formidable witch assassin known for her allegiance to the dark. Together, they face formidable challenges and unearth dark secrets in their relentless pursuit to thwart the resurrection of Pan and preserve the fragile balance between light and shadow.

Grimalkin, the formidable witch assassin, initially crosses paths with Tom Ward, whose fate is intertwined with becoming the apprentice to Master Gregory, the Spook. Despite their initial adversarial encounter, Grimalkin's motivations are fueled by her relentless quest for vengeance against those responsible for her son's brutal demise. Driven by her personal vendetta, Grimalkin elects to ally herself with Tom and the Spook in their daring endeavour to bind the Fiend, a malevolent force threatening their world. Central to their strategy is the imperative task of safeguarding the Fiend's severed head, a pivotal component essential for their mission's success. Grimalkin's lethal skills and unwavering determination infuse the narrative with intrigue and intensity as they navigate the perilous journey ahead.

The story unfolds with Tom Ward's visit to Malkin Tower, where he confronts the harrowing truth about the necessary steps to vanquish the Fiend once and for all, leaving him grappling with despair and the weight of his destiny. Subsequently, Tom and John Gregory are enticed to Todmorden under the guise of replenishing the Chipenden library's books, only to encounter a town plagued by fear and ominous foreboding after sundown. As they confront the lurking darkness, they find themselves embroiled in a desperate battle for survival against sinister forces, where even the formidable alliance of Tom, John Gregory, Alice Deane, and Grimalkin may prove insufficient. Amidst the chaos, the Spook's blood is spilled, and the malevolent Vampire God, Siscoi, is unleashed from the depths of darkness, escalating the perilous stakes they face.

Slither, a creature devoid of humanity, roams beyond the protective confines of the County, preying upon unsuspecting humans by feasting on their blood as they sleep. When a local farmer passes away, Slither sees an opportunity to indulge in his sinister desires by targeting the farmer's daughters. However, the farmer strikes a deal with Slither: in exchange for safeguarding the younger girls, Slither is granted permission to claim the eldest daughter, Nessa, as he pleases. Thus begins a perilous journey fraught with treachery, where adversaries lurk at every corner. Among these foes is Grimalkin, the formidable witch assassin, relentlessly pursuing a means to obliterate the Fiend once and for all. As Slither and Nessa navigate the dangers that surround them, they find themselves entangled in a deadly game of survival amidst Grimalkin's relentless pursuit and the looming shadow of darkness.

Alice Deane, the steadfast companion of Tom Ward, embarks on a harrowing journey into the heart of darkness. Having battled alongside the Spook and Tom Ward against malevolent forces, Alice now finds herself alone in the treacherous realm of the dark. Unbeknownst to Tom, Alice harbours dark secrets from her past, haunting memories she hoped to leave behind forever. Now faced with the daunting task of acquiring the final weapon essential for vanquishing the Fiend, Alice confronts the daunting prospect of her own mortality. Failure to secure the weapon would plunge the world into perpetual darkness and despair, while success may demand the ultimate sacrifice—her own life at the hands of Tom. As Alice grapples with the encroaching darkness threatening to consume her, she must summon the strength to resist its insidious allure and prevent its malevolent grasp from overwhelming her completely.

Tom Ward finds himself grappling with profound revelations and mounting threats as he navigates a treacherous path fraught with darkness and betrayal. As Alice Deane delivers the final hero blade and cryptic instructions to Tom, he is confronted with the weight of his responsibilities as the Spook's apprentice. However, secrets emerge, including Tom's mother's identity as the first lamia, shedding light on his family's tangled history. The discovery of the Wardstone's mysterious powers and ominous prophecies heightens the sense of impending doom, leading to a relentless pursuit to thwart the resurgence of the Fiend. Despite valiant efforts, Tom faces heart wrenching betrayals, including Alice's defection to the dark side under the influence of Lukrasta. With allies lost and adversaries closing in, Tom confronts formidable challenges, including a climactic battle against Lukrasta and the daunting task of preserving the County's fragile balance of light and shadow. As the dust settles and the Fiend's reign ends, Tom grapples with the aftermath, seeking solace in protecting the County and honouring the legacy of his fallen mentor, John Gregory. Amidst the turmoil, Tom's journey unfolds with themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit against the encroaching darkness.

Tom Ward assumes the mantle of the Chippenden Spook after his mentor John Gregory's death. Tom faces new challenges, including the Kobalos incursion threatening the County. Alongside him is Jenny, a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, who possesses unique magical abilities. As they confront a Kobalos mage terrorising the land, Tom must retrieve the Starblade, a powerful weapon buried with his mentor. Grimalkin, a former ally turned adversary, complicates matters with her vendetta against the Kobalos. Tom's journey unfolds amidst freezing temperatures and escalating danger, setting the stage for the next chapter in the battle against darkness.

In the aftermath of Tom Ward's death, despair grips those left behind as they face the impending threat of a dark army poised to plunge the world into eternal winter. With Tom gone, the pressing question looms: Who will step up to continue the battle against the forces of darkness? As time dwindles, the remaining allies must rally together to confront the looming darkness before it returns to the County, altering the world irreversibly.

In the shadowy realm between earth and oblivion, an enigmatic assassin stalks, their identity and purpose shrouded in mystery. As the people of the County cower in fear of encroaching beasts determined to wage war on their land, the daunting question arises: How can they withstand adversaries empowered by the might of a god? Amidst despair, a glimmer of hope emerges as whispers suggest that the elusive creature lurking in the darkness may hold the key to salvation for the embattled County.

The plot revolves around Brother Beowulf, a scribe for Spook Johnson, who embarks on a journey with Tom Ward and Alice Deane to rescue Johnson from a witch. Along the way, they encounter dangers and revelations about the nature of spooks and witches. As they confront various challenges and betrayals, including encounters with powerful beings like Circe, they must make difficult choices to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Brother Wulf, apprentice to Spook Johnson, finds himself entangled in a world of magic and danger. He encounters allies like Tom Ward, Alice Deane, and Tilda, as well as adversaries such as Circe and the Malkin clan. Through battles, trials, and sacrifices, Wulf discovers his own powers and learns to navigate the complexities of the supernatural realm. With the guidance of mentors like Hrothgar and Grimalkin, Wulf confronts dark forces and ultimately plays a crucial role in defeating Circe. Alongside his companions, he embarks on a journey to confront the Pendle witches and confronts challenges that test his loyalty, courage, and resilience.

The narrative unfolds with Tom Ward and Alice Deane navigating supernatural perils, including the resurgence of the Fiend and encounters with dark forces in Priestown. Simultaneously, Wulf undergoes a transformative journey, delving into his training with Hrothgar, confronting the bound wraiths, and ultimately facing the daunting challenge of destroying the Fiend. As the threads of their stories intertwine, themes of sacrifice, destiny, and the struggle against malevolent forces weave a gripping narrative that culminates in a climactic showdown against the darkness.

The prologue sets the stage for his encounters with powerful entities like Golgoth, the Lord of Winter, and the enigmatic Loki. Wulf embarks on a mission to find Grimalkin and Thorne, his companions in the fight against dark forces. As he navigates through Silverdale and Silvertown, facing traps and revelations, Wulf grapples with prophecies foretelling his demise and the machinations of trickster gods. Alongside Jenny and other allies, Wulf confronts demons and witches, engaging in battles that shape the fate of both the mortal realm and the supernatural domain. Amidst alliances and betrayals, Wulf's quest leads him to face Golgoth himself, culminating in a climactic showdown that tests his resolve and resourcefulness. With the epilogue hinting at the possibility of temporal manipulation and reflections on the consequences of altering the past, Wulf's odyssey comes full circle, leaving lingering questions about destiny, sacrifice, and the nature of heroism.

Thomas Jason "Tom" Ward: apprentice to John Gregory and the seventh son of a seventh son, also the son of the ancient and powerful sorceress lamia; from his father he has inherited the gifts of a spook and from his mother the ability to speed up, slow down, and halt time, the ability to locate his prey supernaturally, the ability to heal from otherwise fatal wounds like a lamia witch, and a "lamia form" that increases his strength, speed, durability, and healing but also anger and bloodlust. John Gregory: the Spook for the County who mentors Tom Ward. Alice Deane: a witch who becomes Tom's closest friend. She is the daughter of Bony Lizzie and the Fiend and an immensely powerful witch who walks the line between good and evil. Bony Lizzie: a malevolent witch, Alice's ex teacher and cruel mother. She is captured by Gregory but later freed and attempts to conquer the Isle of Mona, but is killed. Mother Malkin: a powerful malevolent witch, who was killed by Ward. Tusk: an abhuman, and Mother Malkin's son, who was killed by Gregory. Agnes Sowerbutts: Alice's aunt and Lizzie's sister, a benign witch, healer, and midwife who helps Alice and a young Grimalkin. She is killed for helping Alice by pro Fiend witches, "living" on as a dead witch. Adriana: a bird witch on the Isle of Mona who allies herself with Ward, Gregory, and Alice Deane and helps thwart and kill Lizzie. Mam/Lamia/Zenobia: Tom's mysterious mother, the original lamia witch. Wynde and Slake: two lamia witches and Mam's spiritual "sisters" who ally themselves with Ward. Wurmalde: a Greek witch and old enemy of Mam who nearly killed her. Bill Arkwright: the Spook for the County north of Caster, and a previous apprentice of Gregory. He is killed helping the others escape the Ord. Judd Brinscall: a spook and former apprentice of John Gregory who primarily worked in Romania before moving to Caster to take up the late Arkwright's place. Grimalkin: the Malkin witch assassin who formed an alliance with Tom and the Spook to destroy the Fiend, who killed their son. Thorne Malkin: a witch and Grimalkin's apprentice as witch assassin. She is killed defending the Fiend's severed head. John Ward: Tom's father and a seventh son, who saved Tom's mother's life. Jack Ward: Tom's oldest brother, inherited the farm except for one room meant for Tom. James Ward: Tom's second oldest brother, a blacksmith by trade. Also helped fight the Pendle witch clans. Tibb: a mysterious creature of the Dark created by the Malkins to see into the future. Mab Mouldheel: a young witch and Mouldheel witch clan leader. Her potent scrying motivates the rival Malkins' creation of Tibb. Morgan Hurst: a necromancer and fallen apprentice of Gregory who tried to summon Golgoth. Meg Skelton: the mysterious lamia witch that lives in John Gregory's winter house in Anglezarke. Formerly Gregory's lover. The Fiend: Old God and the Devil. Primary antagonist later killed by Tom Ward. Lukrasta: an ancient immortal dark mage and creator of the power granting Doomdryte grimoire, wrongly believed dead. To combat the Kobalos, an all male non human warrior race intent on killing all human males and enslaving all human females (to ensure their species' survival), he allies with Alice and Pan. Horn: an abhuman who can see darkness in oneself. Kratch: the Boggart who serves the Spook in Chipenden. Slither: a skilled and powerful Kobalos mage forced by circumstance into taking up arms against his kind. Talkus the Unborn: a new Kobalos God who takes over the Fiend's place as the strongest dark entity after Ward kills the Fiend. Golgoth: Old God and god of winter whom Morgan attempted to summon. Siscoi: Old God and vampire god who serves the Fiend. Pan: Old God and nature god who forced Alice to ally with Lukrasta. Hecate: Old God and self proclaimed Queen of the Witches, later killed and usurped by Grimalkin. The Bane: former Old God who declined in power into a demon, killed by Ward, the Spook, and Alice. The Ordeen: Old God killed by her enemy Mam as a lamia/zenobia.

The Wardstone Chronicles, was published from 2004 to 2013. In the United Kingdom, the hardbook editions were published by The Bodley Head, an imprint of Penguin Books, and paperbacks by Red Fox, an imprint of Random House. In the United States, it was published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. The Starblade Chronicles, was published from 2014 to 2017 by the same publishers. Brother Wulf was published from 2020 to 2023 by Puffin; also an imprint of Penguin Books.

The illustrator for the UK versions David Wyatt, providing the original series covers and the illustrations for each chapter. The US versions were illustratied by Patrick Arrasmith; in addition to the cover art, Arrasmith designed pen and ink drawings which precede every chapter in the books. The Last Apprentice: A Coven of Witches was illustrated by Tim Foley and The Spook's Bestiary was illustrated by Julek Heller.

Unabridged audiobook versions of the series have been released in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The UK audiobooks were produced by Random House Audio. Jamie Glover read Book 1 and Will Thorp read Book 2. Thomas Judd read books 3 through 8, and books 10 and 13. Gabrielle Glaister read Book 9, Toby Longworth and Kate Harbour jointly read Book 11, and Annie Hemingway read Book 12. Random House Audio also produced an abridged version of The Spook's Apprentice which is read by Daniel Weyman. The US audiobooks were produced by Harper Audio. Christopher Evan Welch read books 1 through 10, and he was joined by Angela Goethals in reading Book 11. Welch also read the short story collection The Spook's Tale And Other Horrors. Angela Goethals read Book 12 and Alexander Cendese read Book 13.

In 2014, Stephen Delaney, Joseph Delaney's son, along with his father, published an adaption of The Spook's Apprentice into a 160 page play script, under the title The Spook's Apprentice Play Edition. In the same year, a film adaptation of The Spook's Apprentice, titled Seventh Son, was released by Legendary Pictures; it was directed by Sergey Bodrov. Ben Barnes starred as the main protagonist Tom Ward. The other cast members were Jeff Bridges as John Gregory (the Spook), Julianne Moore as Mother Malkin, Alicia Vikander as Alice Deane, Kit Harington as Billy Bradley, Djimon Hounsou as Radu (an original character), and Antje Traue as Bony Lizzie. In 2023, a French graphic novel adaptation of The Spook's Apprentice was published under the title L'Épouvanteur, Tome 1: L'Apprenti épouvanteur. Pierre Oertel authored the text and Benjamin Bachelor provided the illustrations.

The Spook's series has been published in 30 countries, with sales exceeding 4.5 million copies. Critical reception of the series has been positive, with two of the books in the series making the ALSC's 2006 list of "Notable Videos/DVDs, Recordings, Software, and Subscription Services" and the YALSA's list of "Fabulous Films & Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults" for 2009. The Spook's Apprentice was the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award, and was shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year award.