Spook's Battle: A Winner? Maybe Not - Rated 
I keep trying to really like the Wardstone Series, but every time I finish one I'm sure I won't bother with another. I have actually read them all, at least to this one. The world that Delaney creates/recreates is potentially great fun, exciting and interesting. The same for the characters. But I always end up feeling disappointed. The problem is, unfortunately, the writing. There is something about Delaney's prose which is pedestrian if not edging on boring. He also violates a big issue for me regarding children's books. The main character, whether 12, 13 or whatever, never changes and is not identifiably a kid. If someone didn't tell you, you would never know the main character isn't an adult. As a minor pick at this one specifically: Spook's Battle? The Spook hardily figures in this book, so it's misnamed, more the Apprentice's Battle. The stories are great, it's the delivery I have a problem with, so that the series has been bought for filming is fine. It can potentially make a great film, given the right treatment, of course. As I said, I really wish I could like these books more than I do. Their appeal, or lack of, is also echoed by husband and 11 year old. If you want a really good read, I'd recommend Jenny Nimmo's Charlie Bone series or Paver's Wolf Brother series. Now there are some excellent series.
Review - Rated 
I found this book to be very interesing and very well written!!
I have grown fond of his books and other horror stories!
This books gives you a thrill of exciting experinces and hope it does the same for you!!
palease - Rated
I had this book ordered all the way from england along with the spook's secret which is coming out in america on august 28 but I couldn't wait these are wonderful books alice is my favorite character
Renee-from the USA - Rated
OMG! I'm thirty-five and addicted! I pre-ordered this book and had it shipped to the US. The states are a year behind in publication dates-mental. This book is better than the first! (And that was my fav book for a year) I loved reading about all the different kinds of witchesin this one. I especially loved reading a book with so much of Alice! Those twins were just creepy. The Grim witch was freaking cool! This one was much darker than any of the others. WOW! By the way, I think I should be president of the "I Love Alice" fan club, please. Just a bit worried for her prescence, or lack of, in the next one. Hope Delaney doesn't let me down.
Mr. Delaney, also please keep writing these... if you have noticed a surge in book sales in Florida- thank my husband - he's been really promoting your books to his middle grades english classes!!!
We are not worthy, but enjoy reading them just the same!!!
The world of the Spook and his apprentice is getting darker - Rated
THE SPOOK'S BATTLE is the fourth book in Delaney's Wardstone series. Each book has been fantastic, adding to the whole world and story that Delaney has created. THE SPOOK'S BATTLE was no exception, in fact it could be argued to be one of the best so far.
Tom Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son, apprenticed out to a Spook - someone who deals with the Dark; boggarts, witches, ghosts and ghasts. The path Tom is taking is not an easy one; people fear the Spook and his trade because of the terrors that they have to face. Yet Tom knows that his mother wanted for him to become the next apprentice, and so he feels that it is his proper calling.
In this installment, Tom is told by the Spook that the 3 witch clans of Pendle are becoming more dangerous. Usually the 3 witch clans are at each others throats, only ever coming together in extreme circumstances. But there is rumour that 2 of the clans have already begun to join forces, and that the third is now in their sight. Once all three clans are joined, they mean to raise up the "dark made flesh", the Devil himself. Tom and the Spook must travel to Pendle to try and prevent this from happening.
Before they set off for Pendle, the Spook tells Tom that he must go back to his family's farm and collect the three trunks that were left for him by his mother. What is inside these trunks? Tom has had suspicions that they will contain the story of his mother before she met his father, but what secrets will they uncover? And, will Tom be able to face upto the repercussions of these secrets and what they mean for him?
I won't say anymore, as I don't want to give anything away for those who wish to read this fantastic book.
What I shall say though is that this installment definitely sets in place a very good story for the next installment. The first three books have all been creating a sense of forboding - that something big will happen to change the already dangerous world that the Spook and Tom inhabit - but THE SPOOK'S BATTLE definitely captures this sense of forboding and runs with it.
As with the other books, THE SPOOK'S BATTLE does not only consider the fight against the Dark, that Tom and the Spook have to face. Tom has to face issues surrounding who he is when he finally discovers what lies inside of his mother's trunks. And, of course, there is the charcater Alice, a niece if a witch. She really is a very well created and developed character. The Spook has never really trusted her, for this very reason, but Tom has more faith in her than his master does. But, with them travelling to Pendle, where Alice still has family, will it be too much of a temptation for her to go back to her 'wicked' ways?
This series really is fantastic. If you haven't read any of them yet, the first one is THE SPOOK'S APPRENTICE. It really is a well thought out series. Although there is not magic in the sense of what many shall know from the Harry Potter series, this is no bad thing. From the very beginning of the Wardstone Chronicles, magic is portrayed as something that is usually done for malevolent reasons, rather than for helping people. Delaney has created a world which is just as dark as the one HP finds himself in, perhaps even darker, especially at the end of this book.
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