The Spook's Mistake (The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles #5)

As danger increases in the County, Tom is sent far north by his master to be trained by Bill Arkwright, another Spook. Arkwright lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh and his training methods prove to be harsh and sometimes cruel. But he has toughened up many previous apprentices and now he must do the same for Tom and prepare him for the gravest dangers of his life.

But when the Fiend sends his own daughter, the ancient powerful water witch Morwena, to destroy Tom, Arkwright makes an error of judgement and Tom finds himself facing his enemies alone. The Spook and Alice realising his danger, hasten to his aid but will even their combined strengths suffice in the face of such terrible dark power? And what is the Spook's mistake, the consequences of which might give final victory to the dark?

Where to start...

The beginning right lol!!

The Spook decides to send Tom up north of Caster to Bill another Spook mentioned in prior novels. He claims that Tom will spend six months in his care. Here he will learn how to fight as well as the forms the dark takes when around water. Only bad things can happen right? 

As we know these books are taking a much darker theme. The Dark is rising and this being the fifth of thirteen books in the series, we have yet to reach the eventual climax of the story. One can only imagine what is to come. 

What do we learn in this book?

1. Why Tom is sent north. The Spook had a very good reason, even against his better judgment. 

2. We see the Fiend in one of his forms. We quickly learn that he is not done with Tom, even not being bound by the Pendle witches, the Fiend seems to have one thing in mind. Kill the Spook and Tom. 

3. We meet some of the Fiends family. Not telling anything else. Especially as I think that this will play a critical role in upcoming books. 

4.Grimalkin is becoming an ally. She gives some very critical information to Tom about herself that had me aghast.

5. Finally, Alice and her development. We see her toying with the dark in this book from the very beginning. She loves Tom and that is shown later in the book, and she seems to do everything with one person in mind. We learn some very critical information about her as well. Again, did not see this coming. 

I cannot wait for more Alice, Grimalkin and the Fiend. This is truly shaping up to be an excellent little series!!!

Quotes:

“I watched the tears run down her cheeks and start to drip from the end of her chin. One part of me wanted to put my arms round her but I daren't. Do that and I'd never be able to let her go.”

― Joseph Delaney, The Spook's Mistake

Rating:

Until Next Time,