The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend by Joseph Delaney

The County is in terrible danger. The three witch clans of Pendle are plotting something so terrible that it will change the lives of many for the worst. But Tom Ward, apprentice to the Spook, Mr Gregory, has more urgent matters do deal with. One of the Witch Clans, the Malkins to be exact, has kidnapped his brother Jack, his wife Ellie, and their young daughter Mary, and they also managed to somehow get the trunks that his Mam left him upon her return to her homeland of Greece.

Now the Witches are after Tom for the keys to the trunks which they believe holds the power to create the ultimate evil. They strike a deal with him the keys for his family's safe return. But there's just one problem......you can't trust an evil witch.

Geez! that was difficult to summarize without giving EVERYTHING away. But I did my best.....
This book was the scariest of the books in the series so far. Everything was darker and it gave me chills reading about the things that happened. The coming of the Fiend, who is known to us as the Devil, triggered the same emotions I felt when Volemort was brought back to fleshy existence. But the thing that's been on my mind after reading this book is the prophesy given by Tibb the evil Fortune Teller created by the Malkin Witches-- Alice's relatives. He said;

"I see your future clearly. Your life will be sad. Your master will be dead
and you will be alone. It would be better if you had never been born. I see a
girl, soon to be a woman. the girl will share your life. She will love you, she
will betray you, and finally she will die for you. And it will all have been for
nothing. All for nothing........"

As a Harry Potter fan I know better than to take prophesies and make them to be something smaller than a Tic-Tac. I also know that they are very tricky. I don't like talking too much about the books, but I'll tell you this there are two girls who are in love with Tom (and he's barely 14-- can you say stud). We-- or at least the people who've read the series, know who the first girl is. The second one isn't revealed until the end of this book. But my question about the confession made by the second girl is: "Is it the truth or is it something to sway Tom?", that's something for me to think about. Anyway, the second girl has in one book (this one) loved him (or so she says), and betrayed him (not going to tell you how). so that's two points for the second girl; one for the first.

If you want to know what I'm ranting about read The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney. It's my Harry Potter nicotine and it may be yours too. If you love horror, thriller books by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike or any other horror/thriller authors then you'll love this series.

P.S.: If you want to see Tibb click on the typed emoticon after this sentence. Caution to the faint of heart, You cannot say I didn't warn you..... 8D