The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray

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!

I was browsing the YA section of my local library and I stumbled across this book. Or maybe I should say that it called out to me. The blurry cathedral on the cover just promised to be dark and mysterious. I'm a sucker for dark, broody, creepy, gothic (etc) type stories, and this delivered just that.

I haven't read anything by Chris Wooding before, in fact, I'd never even heard of him until I picked up this book. As soon as I'm done writing this review, I'm going to be adding his other books to my TBR. I only hope that they live up to the expectations I have from this book.

The story takes place in an alternate version of Victorian London, a bleak and foreboding place where night is treacherous and unpredictable, wych-kin roam and wreak show more havoc and serial killers pick their victims off with shocking ease.

We first meet Thaniel Fox, son of England's most reknown wych-hunter, on the hunt for a Cradle-Jack which has been plucking babies from their cribs for a tasty little midnight snack. Thaniel is independent, courageous, smart, resourceful and compassionate - all the things that an English gentleman should be. Add to that that he is simply bad-ass, and you have the making of one sexy hero. His fight with Curien Blake was... well, it was exciting to read. I'll just put it that way. There's just something about a man with a big knife that knows how to use it that gets my blood flowing. :)

Anyway, so we meet Thaniel, and soon meet with a mysterious girl that is in obvious need of help. He brings her back to the house that he shares with Cathaline Bennett, another wych-hunter and Thaniel's tutor, if you will. The three of them discover that there is an ancient wych possessing Alaizabel, and embark on a journey to find out why, and how to get the wych out of her. From there, everything starts to go downhill, and the shocks just keep coming.

I loved all of the characters in the story. They all felt real, and acted according to how real people would act. The romance bits between Thaniel and Alaizabel were a little rushed, but I can overlook that when I consider that he saved her and therefore felt responsible for her, and she was saved and was grateful. Both of those things can easily run a bit deeper, especially among teens who have both been alone for a large amount of their lives. To suddenly meet someone that plays such a role in your life, I would imagine that's a kind of big change.

I also really loved the London that Wooding created here, complete with it's own Jack the Ripper-esque killer, Stitch-face. It was dark and creepy and definitely not the place one would want to take a casual midnight stroll. I loved all of the little mini-stories that he incorporated into the bigger London-story. It gave me an idea not only of what the city as a whole was facing, but who the people facing it actually were, and what kind of people a city this dark and menacing breeds. It's unforgiving, and that's represented in the characters depicted. I thought that it was a nice touch to add those little personalizations, even if they were only a page or two long.

Wooding's imagination is awesome when it comes to the creatures that he brings to life here. I've read a goodish amount of horror in my life, but there were things in this book that gave me goosebumps, and that's not an exaggeration. The thing on the ceiling of Alaizabel's bedroom is seared into my memory as if I saw it myself, which is pretty commendable, as it was only very roughly described. I think that's a testament to a good author, to be able to subtly show us each what we fear without describing it into the light of perfect knowledge. Once we know what the heck we're dealing with, it's not nearly as scary as when we have no idea what's chasing us.

I also loved the blending of mechanical inventions and superstition here. Airships on one hand, and cultish Rites and ceremonies and charms on the other. Wooding perfectly brought these two very disparate things together in this book, and made it believable and plausible. I really loved it, and look forward to more from him. :) show less

My perspective for this review will be the interest this book holds for a dedicated Lovecraftian. I first heard about The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray in a post on a Cthulhu discussion board, where it was described as "mythos related." Funny, it has been around since 2001 as far as I can tell, and somehow I missed it. Maybe the tag `young adult' turned me off. At any rate, my curiosity was roused and I got a used copy for

I have read a lot of other Chris Wooding books. I loved Poison and enjoyed Storm Thief and Malice as well. This though, was one of the best of the bunch. This is a very well done book and creates a wonderful world with an excellent story.

Thaniel is a wych hunter, like his father before him. On one of his treks into the dark alleys of London, while tracking a Cradlejack, his is attacked by a young woman. He subdues her and brings her home. When she comes too he finds that her name is Alaizabel Cray and she has been possessed by an evil old wych named Thatch. Little do they know that Alaizabel is tied into much darker plans that threaten to destroy London. Thaniel and his friends will have to join forces with both legal and illegal forces show more to prevent a secret society, the Fraternity, from summoning darkness that will destroy first London and then the world.

The characters in this book were amazing as was the creative world that Wooding has created in Victorian London. Thaniel is an interesting character as a seventeen year old boy who was raised by the most prominent wych hunter in London. He feels a desperate need to prove himself now that his father is dead. Alaizabel is intriguing because of her mysterious past and her persistent ability to survive against all odds. Then you have Thaniel's guardian Cathaline, the Beggar Lord, Carver a determined police deputy, Stitchface (A serial killer of dubious alingment), and the Fraternity themselves. All of the characters are incredibly interesting and have many shades of grey to their personalities.

This is not a light-hearted book, it is very dark and has a bit of a steampunk tone to it. Most of it takes place in dark places and the hunts are for monsters and other evil things. The book isn't incredibly gory, but it is very spooky. The action scenes were very well done.

The plot was amazing and it was nice how the number of small plots that were going on all tied together. In true Chris Wooding style there is a revelation at the end that is surprising and thought-provoking. Wooding is very good at throwing something crazy at you at the end and it is always something that makes you think.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for middle grade and older readers. It would probably be a bit scary for younger children; a lot of people do die and it is a very dark story. I loved the way it ended and kind of wished we would get to join Alazaibel, Thaniel, and Cathaline on more adventures.

Chris Wooding continues to be one of my favorite authors. Next up to read from him is Fade and then the next book in the Malice series Havoc. show less

«Alaizabel Cray painaja» on inglise autori Chris Woodingi esimene raamat eesti keeles. «Alaizabel» on ühtlasi autori esimene fantaasiaromaan, millega ta eemaldub oma varasematest realistlikest noorsoolugudest, astudes nii temaatiliselt kui stilistiliselt pika sammu edasi. Selles raamatus on loodud maailm, mida võiks ehk kirjeldada seguna Vampiiritapja Buffy, Sherlock Holmesi ja Lovecrafti lugudest, vürtsitatuna Rappija Jacki ja vabamüürlastega – kuid see on täiesti originaalne. Wooding punub loo, mis leiab aset Londonis. Linnatänavate sünges rägastikus pesitseb kujuteldamatu õudus. Vernichtungit – sõda – jättis maha rusudes ja kurnatud linna, elanikud on lahinguist räsitud ning kaitsetud kohutava painaja ees... show more Vana Kvartali tänavatelabürindis luuravad ja varitsevad ennenägematud olendid. Kõveratel tänavatel varitsevad hundid ja sortsid. Kuid peidetud kurjus on hullem neist kõigist. Rikkuse ja ligimesearmastuse maski taga peitub koletu leping sortsisooga, mis ähvardab kogu inimkonna olemasolu. Ning kõige selle südames on kaunis, kaitsetu ja mõistatuslik Alaizabel Cray – võti ülima kurjuse juurde. show less

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.