The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye (original 2008; edition 2009)

This book is a sheep in wolf's clothing. It's dressed up and plotted like a lot of popular children's fantasy series, with its young male protagonist thrown headfirst into an epic struggle of good against evil. There's a prophecy of some kind, and the future of the world hinges on young Tom Ward's choices. But most fantasy series open up an alternate reality where the impossible becomes possible, and children escape their authority figures to sally forth into the world on their own. In THE LAST APPRENTICE, the fantasy world is even more confining and rigid than the real world - possibilities snap shut as fast as you can glimpse them, and Tom Ward is content to trail along in the wake of his teachers.

In fact, it doesn't quite seem right to call THE LAST APPRENTICE a fantasy. Tom Ward is training to serve "the light" as a Spook, a hunter of things that go bump in the night. The light includes everything that is good and moral. They fight "the dark" - supernatural creatures and witches. All creatures of the dark are tied to the Devil, cloven-hoofed and slightly Miltonian in character. Everything is black and white, there is no grey area. Magic and fantastical creatures are just so much evil to be stamped out; there is no fun or delight in them. The connection between magic and religion is so close that a key, climactic scene in the novel involves a condemnation of atheism.

As for young Tom Ward, he doesn't get to have much fun. I have never read a book that so thoroughly condemned disobedience. No good comes of mischief in Tom Ward's world; disobeying the commands of his superiors is just plain wrong. Perhaps his greatest trial in THE LAST APPRENTICE is being sent to train for some time with a nasty, abusive drunkard named Bill Arkwright. His challenge is to submit and obey - not to rebel and revolt. The moral of the story is that no matter what Tom felt at the time, the adults who control his fate know best and he should trust them.

Readers who enjoy THE LAST APPRENTICE will probably praise it for exactly the qualities that left me cold. The book is intensely didactic - very preachy, with a slightly condescending authorial voice. For these reasons, it's unlikely to appeal to adults (who may have enjoyed other children's fantasy series, along the lines of Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Lemony Snicket, etc.) The message overwhelms the story, and will doubtless define its readership. ( )

I'm really enjoying this series so far. I find Alice the most interesting character. Not so say any other character is boring, because they aren't. The story is well written and all of the beasts(boggarts, witches,etc.) are a joy to learn about. I'd recommend to others. ( )

This young adult series is consistently entertaining if written a bit "younger" than many in the genre while simultaneously being darker and gorey. I think the most interesting plot string by far is Alice, and what her nature/destiny really is. Fun quick read. ( )

The fifth book in the Last Apprentice series, Tomas was been able survive this long. Now, though, a new danger is lurking. A witch named Bloodeye has been roaming. Tom is sent to Bill Arkwright, another Spook. The tactics of Arkwright are extremely harsh, but they do work. As the training with Bill continues, the Spook goes missing. Tom finds him, and gets an unexpected ally.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Other than that, this book is very decent. Joseph has done a very consistent job so far, which is a daunting feat. The detail is at its best it's gruesome. The suspense is enough to keep you going, but not so much that you have to go to the end because you're dying to know what happens. Altogether a very fine read. ( )

The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye is a book by Joseph Delaney. Tom Ward is continuing his apprentice with the spook. The spook has decided to let his former apprentice teach Tom some skill in fighting. Tom has to leave the spook and Alice behind. During his apprentice with Bill Akrwight, Tom has to face boggarts and water witches. He must even fight a water witch called the bloodeye.
This is a very good book. I especially like it because it is an action book. I also like it because it surprises you every few seconds. I don't think the book ever got boring. I mainly like Tom's fight with the bloodeye. I also liked how she could use her eye to paralyze her victims. I think this book is more for early teens, although others may like it. ( )