Leo Hunt

The 13 Days of Midnight is about a boy named Luke Manchetts and a girl named Elza Moss. They have thirteen days to put Luke's Host to eternal rest. Luke wakes up in the morning to find a letter on the kitchen counter from his dad's lawyer, and it says his dad is dead. They were not very close because his dad left him when he was six. Luke does not want to tell his mom about it because she has cluster headaches, which are worse than migraines. He leaves going to see his dad's lawyer but pretending he is going to school. Luke goes to meet his dad's lawyer named Mr. Berkeley, who has papers for Luke to sign to get his inheritance. Mr. Berkeley says that his dad made quite a bit of money from his Tv show. When Luke leaves and goes around town, he sees two people at the bar looking at him. One comes over and says, "hey boss." Freaked out, heads home right when school finishes. When Luke gets home, he sees that his mom is having an attack but dinner is on the table. After his shower, he comes downstairs to see that Ham, his dog, is scared next to him. He wakes up the next morning to find out that there are two strangers in his house making him breakfast. They say that they are part of his Host. They tell him about necromancy and that he inherited this group of eight ghosts by his father. Not knowing what to do, he goes upstairs and stays in his room. The next day Luke meets one of his Host called the Sheppard. The Sheppard tries to trick Luke to freeing him, but Ham barks which wake him from the mind games. The Sheppard turns his entire Host against Luke and performs a ritual on Luke so that one of his ghosts possess him. Elza, who goes to his school and has second sight, helps Luke to try and get his body back and get rid of his Host. After two days, Luke gets his body from the Host when Elza knocks out his own body and then Elza uses her Wrydstone to expel the ghost from Luke's body. Elza saves Luke's life and gets back his father's book and sigil. He spends three days reading the book his father gave him and had only one day left till Halloween. His only choice is to ask the devil for a boon, which is one wish that the devil can make. The ghost are at their most power on Haloween. Luke and Elza have until midnight to finish the ritual. At midnight he is trying to sacrifice the gerbil but he cannot. The ghost comes before he even realizes it. Luke discovers that his mom was buried underground and stabs Luke under the control of the Sheppard. He wakes up in a strange place; all he can see is mist. Luke sees his dad's lawyer and asks him if he is dead. Mr. Berkeley is not dads' lawyer at all, but the devil who was summoned by Luke's blood. Luke asked the devil to take his Host away, using his boon. The devil introduces him to his father and asks Luke if his father should go with him or go with Luke. The price to release his dad, no money or property just that he will be in debt to the devil later on.
This book is good because of the interesting story the author made. I would recommend this book to my peers who are interested in mystery books. One of the reasons I liked this book was because it had an ominous feeling about it. Another reason I liked this book was because of the unique touch of ghosts and necromancy. One of the things I dislike about is that it did not describe his personal life and that it did not explain the characters. Another thing I dislike about this book is how the author basically writes this like a horror movie.… (más)

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Yes, stands alone well. Better if you have the first two in trilogy.
Reading Level: Grades 9-12

In this gripping third installation of Hunt's trilogy, Luke and girlfriend Elza wake up running in the forest from an event that neither can recall. Soon after, the whole town of Dunbarrow is immersed in fog, a sign that Deadside is meshing with the goings on in the real world. These two returning characters must unite with unlikely comrades in an effort to defeat the great spirit at the heart of the disturbance.

Although this is the third book in a trilogy, Hunt gives context from earlier works to assist the reader and drive the momentum. The pages are laced with suspense and action that keep the reader turning pages long into the night.… (más)