Category: Book reviews by Fergus

REVIEWED BY FERGUS, 10, WA

Gargantis by Thomas Taylor, Walker Books, ISBN 9781406386295

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Gargantis is the second book in The Legends of Eerie-On-Sea series by Thomas Taylor. It is set in a seaside village called Eerie-On-Sea that is your average seaside village in summer, but in winter it’s so cold, dark and stormy that the only people who arrive have an important reason for being there. Herbert Lemon (called Herbie by his friend Violet) is the Lost-And-Founder of the Grand Nautilus Hotel. Herbert lives an ordinary life which is suddenly turned upside-down when unusually huge storms rage around Eerie-On-Sea. Then, a shadowy stranger turns up at the hotel and an old bottle washes up on the beach. Herbie and Violet are forced to leap headfirst into a dangerous adventure to stop the storms from destroying the town. What will they find when the storms finally end? What is the thing hiding in the deep cloak with its pinkish tentacles and raspy voice?

This book has great characters and many plotlines that weave together to create an amazing story. I read this book in one night and could not put it down. You will never guess who the man with a boathook for a hand is and then BAM! You find out and it all comes together like a puzzle. Except, a puzzle that puts lives at risk.

I accidentally read Gargantis (book 2) before Malamander (Book 1). Even so, it was easy to understand and there were only a few confusing bits, so you do not need to read them in order. I rate this book 10/10 and think anyone 8 and up would enjoy it.

Fergus is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read his earlier review of Malamander (Book 1 in this series) here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

REVIEWED BY FERGUS, 10, WA

Malamander by Thomas Taylor, Walker Books, ISBN 9781406386288

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Malamander is the first book in The Legends of Eerie-On-Sea series by Thomas Taylor. It’s about a boy called Herbert Lemon who is the Lost-And-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel. Everything is fine until a strange man comes to the hotel looking for a girl. Herbert hides the girl. He decides to keep her a secret because the man does not feel quite right. Herbert and the girl are then whisked into an adventure filled with monsters, misty nights and moaning noises. They must unearth what really happened to the girl’s parents and uncover the watery secrets of the malamander.

Malamander is a great fast-paced mystery book with many twists and turns. It has good ideas and lots of interesting characters, like the boathook man who is dark and foreboding. The ending is very exciting and the build up of tension is great. The ending hits you with a bang and leaves you stunned and amazed.

I think that if I lived by the beach I would never go out on a misty night again after reading this book. I would rate this book 10/10 and recommend it to anyone aged 8 onwards.

This is Fergus’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!