War looms on the horizon As the Spook's apprentice, Tom Ward must protect the County from the creatures of the dark. But now his mother has returned from her homeland to seek his help. A dangerous ancient witch, Ordeen, is about to rise, bringing with her suffering and devastation. Tom's mother has mustered a powerful army—including Tom's friend Alice and the assassin Grimalkin—to confront Ordeen. If Tom joins them, the Spook will abandon Tom as his apprentice. What sacrifices will be made in the battle against the dark? “A gleefully chilling, eerily familiar tale that will leave readers whistling nervously in the graveyard while eagerly awaiting the next installment.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) “The Last Apprentice series continues to be one of the best written of the last several years.” - ALA Booklist Praise for The Last Apprentice series: “This is the stuff of skin-prickling campfire stories.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Anything but tame.” - Horn Book (starred review) War looms on the horizon As the Spook's apprentice, Tom Ward must protect the County from the creatures of the dark. But now his mother has returned from her homeland to seek his help. A dangerous ancient witch, Ordeen, is about to rise, bringing with her suffering and devastation. Tom's mother has mustered a powerful army—including Tom's friend Alice and the assassin Grimalkin—to confront Ordeen. If Tom joins them, the Spook will abandon Tom as his apprentice. What sacrifices will be made in the battle against the dark? Joseph DELANEY is the author of the internationally best-selling The Last Apprentice series, which is now a major motion picture, Seventh Son . He is a former English teacher who lives in the heart of boggart territory in Lancashire, England. His village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church.