Will Gallows and the Wolfer's Deadly Magic by Derek Keilty and Jonny Duddle
| Will Gallows and the Wolfer's Deadly Magic by Derek Keilty and Jonny Duddle | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: John Lloyd
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| Summary: A fourth adventure for this strongly-flavoured series, which shows why it's been an enjoyable read. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 224 | Date: April 2015 |
| Publisher: Andersen Press | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781783440597 | |
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Will Gallows is just a week away from being a fully-fledged member of the Sky Cavalry – and his talking, winged horse is even more keen on hitting the passing out ceremony on the nose. But things aren't all going to go their way – Mid-Rock City has received a blackmail note, extorting the town out of a lot of gold for threat of a 'death mace', of which nobody has ever heard. Certain factors all point to Will being the best cadet to take part in nixing the handover to the criminal, not least of which is his half-hidden secret magic skill due to being part-elf – but as soon as it's realised who the baddy is, things immediately step up a gear. And if that isn't bad enough, Will's grandma and great-uncle have just turned up for a pleasant trip based around his graduation…
Will has therefore grown up a lot over the course of the four books in this series – and this, being flagged as the last one, does come to a relevant concluding point. Before then the action is still as good as ever – although I still have to rate book two as the best of the lot. The inventive skill shown before now to bring new creatures to the page is reduced, beyond some subterranean giant bats, and instead it's just a simple investigation adventure as good fights evil once more. Moonshine, the horse, is also a subsidiary character for once, meaning other bit-part players step up to the plate and help Will out.
That's not a problem, however, for Will has been strong enough to carry a series. It's been an inventive world – the city atop a huge rock shaped like a candelabra cactus, peopled by fantasy critters and beings all intent on nastiness, with enough of the magic to intrigue the young fantasy fan with enough that smacks of Western homage and pastiche that adds something a lot newer to the proceedings. This individual tale is once more just clever enough, just dramatic enough – and is certainly snappy enough with its brief dialogue and simple visual style – to appeal. It won't be a million-seller or anything, but I have certainly enjoyed the franchise. If you've been here before then you should quickly return, for you know the drama these books provide.
I must thank the publishers for my review copy.
And if, of course, you haven't been here before, you can start with book one.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Will Gallows and the Wolfer's Deadly Magic by Derek Keilty and Jonny Duddle at Amazon.com.
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