Beginning twenty-five years after the sacrifice of a small boy in Hobarron's Hollow to vanquish evil and hold back the Demontide - there's now a new sacrifice on the menu. A new boy on the chopping block!

Fifteen year-old Jake Harker is a horror comic fan, thanks to his dad, Adam, who also has a keen interest in things that go bump in the night. Not surprising really, when his mum and dad both work at the Hobarron Institute that is run by the creepy Dr. Gordon Holmwood. Who knows what sort of mischief goes on in there?

When Jake witnesses the murder of Olivia b
y a ringmaster and then later his mother's death, evil threatens to take over his life and control him. On top of that someone has kidnapped and drugged his father, and the only one who can save him is Jake. No pressure!

What happened to the murdered girl and the events that lead from it, all amalgamated in a wonderful, satisfying conclusion and I cannot wait for the next two books in the trilogy to come out! Fantastic!

I just couldn't put this book down, and was pleased to get hold of the ARC version of this since I collect them. I appreciate there may be typos and missing pictures, but for me that is part of the fun! I do miss out on the absolutely fabulous cover that is on the book in the shops though! A small price to pay.

Hussey is definitely one to look out for. If you like Darren Shan and Anthony Horowitz type YA fantasy books for boys then you will love, love, love this! ( )

The words "Teen" and "Extremely Scary Content" on the back of the book lead me to believe that I was not the target audience, nor would I be scared by this book.

Its not a bad book, in fact I quite enjoyed the way it was written but I just felt the entire time I was writing something that was almost Harry Potter but not as good. There are too many bad similarities. A man named Quilp, witches all have an animal, special boy who loses his parents, etc.

A lot of it was repetitive, at least once a chapter someone would remind the reader of the Demontide and how it's threatening the entire world and must be stopped. Aside from Simon and Jake, I didn't care much for any of the other characters and I found the story got more boring towards the end. Won't be continuing the series, but it was harmless fun I guess. ( )

The Demontide is an event that threatens the world once every generation, and all that stands between us and the oncoming flood of demons is the Hobarron Institute and its elders. The Hobarron Institute is a covert organization created to find a permanent solution to the Demontide. For generations they have had to sacrifice children to prevent the demonic flood. Now they plan to use technology. The problem is that the Demontide is imminent, but their technological solution isn’t ready, and the Crowden Coven of witches is desperately trying to make sure that it never gets finished. This is the whirlwind that Jake Harker is caught up in. He is scheduled to be the next sacrifice if the machine isn’t ready when the Demontide occurs. Only Jake can find the solution to the Demontide that will save his own life as well as the lives around him.

Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide is a fast paced story that sucks the reader in and doesn’t let them go until the end, leaving them ready to start the next book in this trilogy. It’s a story that takes several surprising turns, and the good guys and bad guys are often hard to tell from one another - showing that even the most noble of causes can be twisted when the means comes to justify the ends. The story is also full of magic and history that any fantasy reader will thoroughly enjoy. Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide would make a fine addition to any fantasy/dark fantasy collection.

Review at Monsterlibrarian.com ( )

The first in a terrifying trilogy, read on if you dare: Jake could now see the demon fully. Its body was a mass of steely sinew, its arms roped with muscle. Six fingers sprouted from its hands, each ending in lethal talons. The thing did not possess a nose; instead a large hole, bubbling with green mucus, occupied the middle of its face. Mr Pinch's tongue flickered between his teeth and slurped across his fat lips. He was hungry. When a violent storm rages around the little village of Hobarron's Hollow, a young boy is sacrificed 'for the greater good'. His blood is used to seal a mystical doorway and prevent an apocalyptic disaster known only as the Demontide. Twenty-five years later, another boy, Jake Harker, is about to be drawn into the nightmare of the Demontide. Witches and their demon familiars stalk his every move, and his dreams are plagued by visions of a 17th Century figure known only as the Witchfinder. When his father is abducted, Jake must face the terrible secrets kept by those closest to him and a shocking truth that will change his life forever... From Amazon UK

I've had this book sitting in my TBR pile for a while,and I wish I had read this book weeks earlier! I cannot tell you just how incredible this book is! I absolutely loved it! The book has everything the fantasy fan could possibly ask for, with a hint of most if not all of the sub-genres of fantasy. It’s like nothing I have ever read before!

At it’s heart, Dawn of the Demontide is an urban fantasy, but a dark one. There are a few tiny moments at the very beginning when I cracked a smile, but there isn’t much light relief in the form of comedy in this book. It’s dark, it’s edgy, and it’s dangerous. I wouldn’t say it was a horror myself, but it’s a fantasy with a tiny step in that direction.

Set in a made up English town, with some mentions of London, this book had a very real, believable feel to me. One of the things I loved, which also added to how real it felt, was the mythology. Jake is a huge fan of all things horror, and over the years of reading comics, books, non-fic, and watching movies, he has this vast knowledge of horror conventions, dubbed by a friend his “dark catalogue”, which he ends up falling back on to get him out of some scrapes. These may not necessarily be things we know ourselves, but things he has found out from the stories he’s read himself – which may not actually be in existence, but are surely based on some myth. I could be wrong there, it may just be me seeing as I’m not a fan of horror, horror fans may pick up and know some of the things Jake mentions. A lot of research has gone into Jake’s dark catalogue, and the fact that some of what he knows – parts of which the reader may recognise – is real, makes this story very believable.

There is plenty of action, but most of the magical kind. Although plotlines are not similar, I felt there was a strong Harry Potter feel to this book; the “quest” element, and Jake trying to work things out with the help of his friends. In some ways, it almost felt, in my opinion, that this book could have been written by J. K. Rowling herself, though down a darker genre of fantasy, in a completely unrelated plot to what she’s known for. The dark element of the novel also put me in mind of adult urban fantasies, gritty and dangerous, yet there was also something I can only describe as a slight hint of something that felt much like it could have come from a David Eddings’ high fantasy. But this book is most definitely YA. It sounds like a great hodge-podge of stories, but it’s not at all; this is just me recognising small similarities of styles or feels of the great fantasies I have loved over my many years as a fantasy fan. It was me recognising a great fantasy; something completely new which felt like something I knew.

For all this text, I feel like I haven’t said much at all, yet I’m not sure there is much else I can say. The plot is just fantastic and wonderful – if it was food it would be chocolate! Jake as a character is just so awesome, but I can’t really go into his character much. There’s suspense, there are awesome settings, there are just too many wonders and delights to mention! Basically, I’m in love! There is no other way to put it. I cannot tell you just how excited I am to read Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight when it is released next year, January 2011. I have found myself a new favourite fantasy series, and can’t recommend it enough. You must read this book!

Adapted from review on Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog ( )

As an enthusiastic young reader (many years ago!) I don’t recall many books being available specifically for teenagers. I very soon moved on to horror writers, such as Stephen King, as there wasn’t much else available, and I know that many other young readers in my age group did the same thing.

As a thirty-something adult, I am now very much enjoying reading many of the ‘young adult’ books which are around now, although I am avoiding the vast array of YA vampire tales! Most of these books are written in such a way that they appeal to teenagers, whilst still offering enough for older readers to enjoy them too, and this is certainly no exception.

The reason I mentioned reading horror as a young person is that the genre seems to appeal to teenage readers, and Hussey’s Witchfinder includes some dark scenes which take this up a level from other YA fantasy, and adds an extra interest. It’s probably not suitable for younger readers, and it’s darker tone is set right from the beginning, so older teens can judge straight away if it’s for them.

The main character, Jake, is introduced as a normal teenage boy, who has a passion for horror, and comics in particular. However, he is soon thrust straight into real world horror, as he discovers witches with their demon familiars, and is faced with abduction and death.

What appears to be a a tale of good versus evil soon develops into more, as Hussey explores whether those who believe they are fighting for good have actually become as bad as those they fight. It also gives us themes of friendship, loyalty and redemption.

As an interesting addition, there’s also mention of Matthew Hopkins, a witch hunter during the time of the English Civil War. It’s a link to history which may well spark some interest and further study.

This is an impressive first book of a trilogy. It’s a complete story in itself, which moves at a fast pace. The second in the trilogy is due to be published in January 2011, and the final instalment in September 2011. If the quality of writing is to continue in these two books, it’s going to feel like a long wait!