I'm a fan of horror, fantasy, weird tales, steampunk - especially the classics in these genres. It's nearly impossible to find a good book that's more than one of these, but The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray has all and more! I loved the mixture of early 20th century London, supernatural creatures invading our world, secret societies and hidden conspiracies.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray is easily one of the best books I've read this year. Chris Wooding has a way with horror that harkens back to the good old days when writers scared you through innuendo and careful imagery, not by splattering gore. This is the way scary should be done! ( )

this book made my heat beat faster than it ever has. between the killing, the plot aand the romance, i fell head over heels for this book. ( )

London has been over-run by Wych-kin for twenty years or so after the bombing by the Vernichtung. The city's residents have lived as prisoners terrorized by the nebulous and nefarious Cradle-jacks,Drowned Folk, Wights, Chackh'morg, Rawhead and Bloodybones, Deildegasts,The Hallow Ghoul, The Draug, and Stitch-Face.

Ultimately at the heart of the evil and the spawning of the Wych-kin lays the Fraternity, a coven of immense power-enough to summon a beast that will lay waste to London and next...the World. It is an invokation twenty years in the making and they will not let anyone stand in their way...

In the midst of a growing terror emerging from the bowels of the Old Quarter, Thanial Fox Wych-Hunter, Cathaline Bennett, Alaizabel Cray and a rag-tag force embark on a journey to save London by unraveling the sinister core of the Fraternity, and battling spirits enshrouded in the twilight world of their fading city. Hope is against them amid the crimson vortex of a evil so deadly, one could only hope they succeed.

Chris Woodings, "The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray" is a densely textured vision of apocalyptic London, rife with archaic symbolism and verbiage that weaves an intense page turning journey of wonder. The most brilliantly imaginative, well-written piece of fiction that has been emerged in years-Let Wooding's Alaizabel set a new standard of writing that can only improve like the finest of wines. Worthy of 6 Stars!Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos ( )

Wooding, for my taste, spent way too much time insuring that the reader knew the look and feel of London then. The story just didn't move quickly enough for me. ( )

Thaniel, a noted wych-hunter, is extremely busy as the wych-kin work to take over London and the Fraternity emerge as a sinister threat to the future of humanity. Alaizabel turns up confused as it turns out she has become possessed partially by Thatch. As the mystery unfolds, Thaniel and Alaizabel along with several others set out to bring down the Fraternity and try to survive all manners of danger, supernatural and otherwise along the way. ( )

Fascinating! The deep dark secret in the end, the horrible monsters that roam in the night and don't forget the end of the world scenario at the end of the book! First and possibly true love with someone who was possessed by an evil spirit, a legend of a father that you may never live up too. All of these make this a wonderfully entertaining book that will keep you up for hours to finish. Be careful, for if you are afraid of monsters then the creatures in this book may push you over the edge. I recommend this to people who love the strange and are brave enough to face impending doom, a serial killer, and cultists who wish to bring about the end of the world. ( )

Supernatural "wych-kin" are taking over part of the city while a wych-hunter named Thaniel finds the beautiful (or course, otherwise why would he bother) Alaizabel Cray who has been possessed by an "old wych" named Thatch. Alaizabel becomes very important in helping the wych-hunters in their attempt to stop a cult from opening up the gate to allow demons to take over the world.

The most compelling part of the book was the last 20 pages. I had to force myself to read the first half of the book. I thought it was a snore. ( )

Gothic and original thriller about a 17 year old wych-hunter and the girl he loves (who just happens to be posessed). Fast paced and a bit gruesome. Good for mid teens and up. ( )

Plot: An alternate universe apocalypse plot with some twists on it to keep it interesting. Well-chosen side plots that help the story along. Good pacing for most of the book, although towards the end the story feels weighted down with too many scenes. A rather anticlimatic ending is the result.

Characters: These are the weak point of the book. Characterization is started, and started well, but it feels as if Wooding abandoned the work somewhere in the middle of the story. The omniscient point of view doesn't help much with it either.

Style: Great setup, with wonderful atmosphere. The descriptions are done beautifully and the writing style too is interestingly done. It all tapers off a bit in the second half, when less attention is paid to maintaining the mood.

Plus: Good story, well-done gothic setting.

Minus: The spelling of some names and terms (presumably to underline the alternate universe issue). The drop in quality in the second half.

Summary: Good story, but not perfect. It's written for a teenage audience and it shows. ( )

an example of fine horror literature for teens. Think of a Victorian-era London, with Jack the Ripper allusions and stuff about the Illuminati or something. Extremely tense and dramatic, with unusual characters, terrifying monsters and a sufficiently complicated plot that does not patronize younger readers and would engage older readers. The ending was a teensy bit anti-climactic, but overall, a recommended book. ( )

Gothic, macabre and chilling. A war-ravaged London overrun by creatures of the night is the setting for the tale of a young Wych-hunter who rescues an enigmatic young girl. Supposedly for children, this easily competes with 'adult' fantasy, and has a finale worthy of anything out there. ( )

Having been possessed by some bad entity that seems to work as a magnet for all things evil, seventeen-year-old Thaniel, a wych-hunter, and his friend, Cathaline, must work to figure out what has taken hold of Alaizabel and set her free from its dark grasp. ( )

Absolutely fantastic, creepy fantasy with hints of Lovecraft and steampunk. Totally awesome. ( )