Can you hear the distant howling of hounds and the thunder of ghostly hooves? It's All Souls' Eve and Zamiel the Demon Huntsman has come to claim his prey! He's headed straight for Castle Karlstein, where the evil count has hatched an evil plan; he'll sacrifice his two young nieces to save himself. Can Lucy and Charlotte outwit their uncle and his oily henchmen to escape their dreadful fate? From the award-winning author of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife comes a spooky, funny thriller just right for those middle-grade readers looking for horror--and humor.
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"I'm giving it 4 stars only because it is really 3.5 for me, and I want to round up as it is above other books I've given 3 stars for. On the other hand, it is a young adult/children's book, simplistic and obvious from the start. The characters are all very one dimensional, yet adorable nonetheless. It is a dark read, but a cute one. I recommend it as a library reader - take it out, like I did for a throwaway read when you just need something. You won't regret it."
— Rachel (4 out of 5 stars)
“Readers young and old will revel in every angle, twist, and turn of this breathlessly paced, very funny page-turner.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review“Dashing, sparkling and wildly over-the-top fun.”
— Publishers Weekly" not my favorite philip pullman. he's usually so much more. a silly, scary, modern folktale. a little of madden's careful, a lot of the wild hunt. maybe not silly enough? maybe not enough wordplay. "
— Alisa, 2/19/2014" At first it seems like a regular, fantasy, horror story. But of course, with Philip Pullman, it won't be so. I really love the twist, it makes the story so interesting and fun to read. "
— Primadonna, 2/3/2014" In the intro, Pullman says that he wrote this as a school play for his students, and I can see how it would be a hilarious thrilling production. Unfortunately, the novel form of the story is rather tedious and predictable...I had to force myself to continue reading, and I found that enjoyed it much more when visualizing it in play form. "
— Hannah, 1/18/2014" This book had potential...I loved the Lockheart books and His Dark Materials, but I just didn't find this attempt at a gothic fairytale either suspenseful enough or particularly interesting. The middle section, told in different voices, was clever and sometimes amusing, but not redeeming enough. Maybe I would have enjoyed this more when I was a little younger, but for now I'm sticking with my rating. "
— Thebruce1314, 1/6/2014" Eh, my mind kept wandering. Too many books to waste to keep plugging away on this one. "
— Jen, 1/2/2014" A lighthearted foray by the famous author of the Dark Materials fantasy series. It has fairy tale elements to the story of the evil Count who holds his two wards captive. "
— Kay, 12/28/2013" While far below the league of the His Dark Materials books, this was an fun little book by Pullman, quite reminiscent of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events both for the orphans + evil Count uncles and the writing style. "
— Evan, 12/20/2013" a good young adult novel "
— Cecelia, 12/17/2013" una historia muy crazy para pibes, en su punto justo, divertida, un toque tenebrosa, y muy a lo Pullman con su toque anarquista. "
— Faedyl, 12/14/2013" Good read. We read/listened to this book on our trip back from Arizona to my sister's graduation. It was a compelling book. Fun to listen to as well. "
— Phil, 12/6/2013" I wish I could remember who recommended this to me cause I didn't enjoy it and I'd like to ask them what inspired the recommendation. "
— Terri, 12/4/2013" This appears to be the exact story as Lemony Snickets', only written several years earlier. Hmmm. "
— Cher, 11/30/2013" Although this book was enjoyable enough, it doesn't measure up to his series- Sally Lockhart or Golden Compass. The book reminded me of the dire things that befall the kids in the Lemony Snickett books. Count Karlstein is a real villain! "
— Linda, 10/24/2013" I read this aloud, a chapter or two at a time, with my husband and young teen son. There were funny bits, and exciting bits, but somehow it just didn't grab us. Maybe it works better as a solo immersion. "
— Cheryl, 6/19/2013" 4 stars if I was 10 "
— Thi, 12/21/2012" I enjoyed Count Karlstein way more than I thought I would. I loved how the story was told and was captivated by the end of the first page. I really wish I would have seen the play for this! "
— Heather, 11/11/2012" Nice wee kids story starring orphans, an evil uncle and a demon huntsman. "
— Elizabeth, 6/23/2012" A fun book. A little long in places, but fun gothic fantasy. "
— David, 6/17/2012" Loved the gothic atmosphere--reminded me of a cross between Ottfried Preussler's The Satanic Mill and Lemony Snickett (without the humor). "
— Krista, 3/23/2012" Sort of epistolary. Quite fun but in the end it all wrapped up too easily (and predictably). "
— Barbara, 9/16/2011" SO MUCH FUN! This is simply the perfect mid-grade Gothic Suspense novel. In the vein of the Lemony Snicket books but IMO much more fun. My kids were enthralled the whole way through. Great characters, great voices. "
— Leanne, 3/16/2011" Interesting. Predictable, but it IS aimed toward a younger, less-sophisticated (or less-jaded?) reader. "
— Patrick, 3/8/2011" I wish I could remember who recommended this to me cause I didn't enjoy it and I'd like to ask them what inspired the recommendation. "
— Terri, 1/4/2011" Very funny read with some great characters "
— Julie, 1/2/2011" 4 stars if I was 10 "
— Thi, 10/25/2010" Loved the gothic atmosphere--reminded me of a cross between Ottfried Preussler's <em>The Satanic Mill</em> and Lemony Snickett (without the humor). "
— Krista, 5/19/2010" Found it a bit slow to start but the last 100 pages or so really raced by! 3 1/2 stars. "
— Sally, 5/19/2010" A dark and smart text—combination mystery and folk tale. This is how YA texts should be written: as serious liit that happens to be read by young folk. "
— Kristin, 5/3/2010" A great supernatural thriller for kids. Great illustrations for all the characters. A new fable for the ages. "
— Angie, 9/12/2009Philip Pullman is the Whitbread Award–winning author of the bestselling His Dark Materials series—The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass—as well as the Sally Lockhart trio of Victorian mysteries and other books for young readers. Among his other awards, he has won the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in honor of the body of his work.