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The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane (Book 2) (Last Apprentice, 2) Paperback – Illustrated, July 24, 2007

by Joseph Delaney (Author)

4.6 1,867 ratings

Book 2 of 17: The Last Apprentice

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The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, rid the county of witches, ghosts, boggarts, and other creatures of the dark. And there's some unfinished business to attend to in Priestown. Deep in the catacombs lurks a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat; a force so evil that the whole county is in danger. The Bane!

But the Bane is not their only enemy. The Quisitor arrives, intent on hunting down anyone who meddles with the dark. Thomas Ward and the Spook must prepare for the battle of their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, rid the county of witches, ghosts, boggarts, and other creatures of the dark. And there's some unfinished business to attend to in Priestown. Deep in the catacombs lurks a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat; a force so evil that the whole county is in danger. The Bane!

But the Bane is not their only enemy. The Quisitor arrives, intent on hunting down anyone who meddles with the dark. Thomas Ward and the Spook must prepare for the battle of their lives.

About the Author

Joseph DELANEY is the author of the internationally best-selling The Last Apprentice series, which is now a major motion picture, Seventh Son. He is a former English teacher who lives in the heart of boggart territory in Lancashire, England. His village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwillow Books; Illustrated edition (July 24, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 455 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060766239
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060766238
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 850L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.12 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #525,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,087 in Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy
- #1,363 in Teen & Young Adult Wizards & Witches Fantasy
- #1,379 in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,867 ratings

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Joseph Delaney

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Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher living in Lancashire. He has three children and seven grandchildren and is a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events. His home is in the middle of Boggart territory and his village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church. Most of the places in the Spook's books are based on real places in Lancashire. And the inspiration behind the stories often comes from local ghost stories and legends. The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse and The Spook's Secret have all been shortlisted for the Lancashire children's Book for the Year Award. The Spook's Apprentice is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award.

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1,867 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging. They praise the interesting storyline, suspenseful plot, and pacing. The writing quality is praised as well-written and easy to read, with simple vocabulary. Readers appreciate the imaginative characters and creative world-building. While some find the tone dark, others appreciate the sense of danger and scares.

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Enjoyment Story quality Pacing Writing quality Character development Imagination Dark tone Scare level

78 customers mention "Enjoyment"78 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it a pleasant read that keeps them entertained throughout. Readers appreciate the series and find it fun to read in order.

"...Oh man what a glorious find. The Last Apprentice series is geared for middle grades but i am facinated with them...." Read more

"...This is a wonderful story that keeps you entertained through the entire book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy." Read more

"First of all, I just want to say this is one of my favorite books for middle readers such as myself, because it has creepy elements and there is a..." Read more

"...The appearance of "the bane" was suspenseful and was a real page turner. The book was fairly short so it only took me about 3 days to read...." Read more

30 customers mention "Story quality"30 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline and good storytelling. They find the book exciting, suspenseful, and a page-turner. Readers appreciate the mix of macabre and fantasy elements, action, and imaginative world-building. The book takes readers to a world full of monsters and supernatural elements.

"...This is a wonderful story that keeps you entertained through the entire book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy." Read more

"...my favorite books for middle readers such as myself, because it has creepy elements and there is a sense of danger unlike some books where you..." Read more

"...They are horrific and suspenseful. The characters are very well drawn. The background stories and prophecies and sinister plots are compelling...." Read more

"...Alice is back as well, and still practicing witchcraft, which makes her interesting and a threat to Tom...." Read more

17 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fun to read and suitable for young adults. However, some readers mention that the book has good and bad parts.

"...Let me tell you, I am thoroughly enjoying the tales! They are horrific and suspenseful. The characters are very well drawn...." Read more

"...The books are written on a level that kids can enjoy them, but adults who love fantasy, history, and a good scare on a quiet night of reading will..." Read more

"...These books are geared for middle-school aged readers and they would probably find it more exciting than I did...." Read more

"This is series is a lot of fun. These are easy, fun books that make you think twice once you turn off the lights!..." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the books well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the simple vocabulary and positive morals. The author is talented and doesn't overdo it, creating an excellent series with witty characters and punchy dialogue that keeps the story moving along smoothly.

"I love this series! It is well written and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book...." Read more

"...The books are written on a level that kids can enjoy them, but adults who love fantasy, history, and a good scare on a quiet night of reading will..." Read more

"...ive never seen a demon so sarcastic, so funny, so witty than bartimaeus...." Read more

"A solid follow up and definitely an improvement in writing quality compared to the first...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters.

"...They are horrific and suspenseful. The characters are very well drawn. The background stories and prophecies and sinister plots are compelling...." Read more

"...By now, the main characters are established and the reading becomes easier. I love the first person point of view...." Read more

"...and though simplistically written there is a great plot and dynamic characters." Read more

"...Characters are all very well done!" Read more

5 customers mention "Imagination"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the imaginative and creative writing style of the book. They appreciate the nice chapter illustrations, good theme, and realistic behaviors. The story moves along smoothly with just the right amount of detail. It's suitable for both kids and adults who enjoy fantasy, history, and a good scare.

"...The books are written on a level that kids can enjoy them, but adults who love fantasy, history, and a good scare on a quiet night of reading will..." Read more

"...I like how the situations are described." Read more

"...I have just started this series and have fallen in love. it is imaginative, creative, and carries you away to a world full of monsters where the..." Read more

"...Punchy dialogue. Story really moves along. Just the right amount of detail. Chapter illustrations are very nice touch." Read more

3 customers mention "Dark tone"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's dark tone. They say it's excellent and they have ordered the next two books.

"...They are dark and scary in just the right way! This is one series i feel i will see thru all the way to the end. Highly recommend!!!!" Read more

"As good as Harry potter. But darker and with more heart! I look forward to working my way through the other books!" Read more

"Book was excellent. pretty dark. I ordered the next 2 books. looking forward to reading the entire series." Read more

8 customers mention "Scare level"4 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the scare level. Some find it a good scare on a quiet night of reading, with a sense of danger. Others say the lack of horror was disappointing, but the book is pretty good overall.

"...They are dark and scary in just the right way! This is one series i feel i will see thru all the way to the end. Highly recommend!!!!" Read more

"...expecting a very scary followup to the first so the lack of horror was a bit disappointing but the book was pretty good anyway...." Read more

"...such as myself, because it has creepy elements and there is a sense of danger unlike some books where you automatically know the hero wins...." Read more

"...She loves the series. It's just scary enough for someone her age." Read more

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T. Dellinger
COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2012
Verified Purchase

Thomas Ward and The Spook are at it again in the 2nd installment of The Last Apprentice series. The Spook has to travel to Priestown to attend a funeral. Turns out he also has unfinished business in the very same town from 20 years ago. This unfinished business (The Bane) has been lurking in the catacombs (under the big cathedral where the priests live) invading the minds of those who dwell above. Tom and The Spook have just a bit more to worry about when they find out the Quisitor is hot on their trail. The Quisitor believes that anyone who deals with The Dark must be stopped. This puts Tom and The Spook in serious danger. They risk being caught and burned alive to rid the county of The Bane once and for all. Tom runs into Alice (the witch) once more and with her help they can save themselves and the county from lurking evil.

Oh man what a glorious find. The Last Apprentice series is geared for middle grades but i am facinated with them. They are dark and scary in just the right way! This is one series i feel i will see thru all the way to the end. Highly recommend!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

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Arthur
I love this series
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
I love this series! It is well written and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. It was one where I would almost throw things at someone that interrupted me. That doesn’t happen very often. I will get irritated, but not often to the point of throwing things. Book 2 kept the same feel as the first book. The characters were the same, but you could see them growing as they went along. This is a wonderful story that keeps you entertained through the entire book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy.

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2 people found this helpful

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Owen johnson
Warning: don't get the whole series spoiled like I did
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
First of all, I just want to say this is one of my favorite books for middle readers such as myself, because it has creepy elements and there is a sense of danger unlike some books where you automatically know the hero wins. Anyway, I will warn you of something. Under the one star reviews of every book in this series, books 1-13, there is a spoiler for not the book you are reading, but for the series as a whole. After I read a novel, I like to look at the one star reviews for it to see the argument against it. When I went to this book, one review had a spoiler warning. I thought it was for the book I had finished, and read it, and it spoiled the whole series for me. Hopefully the series is still entertaining for me, and I hope this review can save some people from my fate

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2 people found this helpful

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Phillip Tomasso III
#NextYACraze Book Review: Curse of the Bane (Last Apprentice, Book 2)
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
I started reading Joseph Delaney's Last Apprentice books when I learned a new movie was to be released called, Seventh Son, and that the film was based on the first two books in the now thirteen book series. Click on the link to read my review of the first book, Revenge of the Witch. I have since finished the second book, Curse of the Bane. In short, I even more excited to see Seventh Son than I had been prior to reading the books.

The dust jacket flap gives a brief synopsis of the novel as such:

The Spook and his apprentice, Thomas Ward, rid the county of witches, ghosts, boggarts, and other creatures of the dark. And there's some unfinished business to attend to in Priestown. Deep in the catacombs lurks a creature the Spook has never been able to defeat; a force so evil that the whole county is in danger. The Bane!

But the Bane is not their only enemy. The Quisitor arrives, intent on hunting down anyone who meddles with the dark. Thomas Ward and the Spook must prepare for the battle of their lives.

Just for some background, Thomas Ward is the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. While his father was able to call in favors for employment for the first six sons, Thomas was given to Old Gregory. Old Gregory is a Spook. A Spook is not always the most popular person in any county. They are, however, needed. They wrestle witches and boggarts and spirits and anything supernatural to protect their county. Six months into his apprenticeship, Thomas is beginning to appreciate his new position.

When the Spook's brother dies, the Spook and Thomas must journey to Priestown for the funeral. Priestown is a town filled with priests, and priests are especially not fond of Spooks. Once in town, they learn that the evil Quisitor is there. The Quisitor accuses people of witchcraft, and burns them, but only after hours and sometimes days of endless torture. Additionally, below the town in the maze of catacombs, is a bound malevolent creature known as the Bane. It is a powerful being that, if released from captivity, will reek havoc on counties far and wide!

When the Quisitor captures both the Spook and Thomas' friend, (and witch), Alice, the nightmare begins. With limited training, Thomas must call on all of his knowledge to find a way to free his friends before they are burned to death. Disobeying all commands he must figure out how to outsmart the Quisitor and deal with an angry and vengeful Bane.

Family, friendship, and unexpected sacrifices fill the chapters of this page turning adventure. Yes. Delaney's series is a young adult fantasy / horror. Let me tell you, I am thoroughly enjoying the tales! They are horrific and suspenseful. The characters are very well drawn. The background stories and prophecies and sinister plots are compelling. I have purchased all thirteen books in the series, and am not sure I will be able to stop reading until I have finished the very last one!

Curse of the Bane was action packed. I will be curious to see how the 1st and 2nd books are incorporated into one film.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of Damn the Dead and Blood River

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5 people found this helpful

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Sharon Lea
Great
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
As expected

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Joel
Makes me want the next book
Reviewed in Canada on November 11, 2023
Verified Purchase

This was my lasted fix of my new addiction. Slightly longer than the first book, but still completed it in a matter of hours. The imagery in this one is a bit more guesome than the first, but left me with a greater hunger for the next book than the previous had done. Some very interesting character development, and the plot is clearly developing into something bigger. Already ordered the next book.

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Gustavo Tomadon
Muito bom, tudo mundo deveria ler
Reviewed in Brazil on November 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Bom,

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Sudeep
VERY GOOD BOOK 😀😃👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Reviewed in India on October 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very very VERY good book but the first one was scarier and better but I am going to get all the books

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Kindle Customer
Great
Reviewed in Australia on July 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Amazing book i would recommend anyone to read this book. I look forward to reading the next book to see what Tom, Alice and the spook get up to next.

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Sam
Addictive, spooky and even better than the first
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2011
Verified Purchase
The first book in the Wardstone chronicles was excellent, it was spooky, witty and suspenseful. Delaney has delivered us another winner with the second title, The Spooks curse, which takes is farther away from the spooks house and into Priestown where an evil lurks in the catacombs, an evil the spook has faced before. The writing is once again thrilling, scary, perfectly described and when reading the pages seem to flick past in a blur. The characters of Tom and Alice are developing well, but Delaney wisely leaves many details about the Spooks life secret, which gives his character a sense of mystery that makes the books even more enjoyable. The situations are scarier, the enemy more evil and terrifying and the book is longer which is a huge bonus, though i still finished in two days and am desperate to read the third.
Not since the Harry Potter books have i so anticipated the sequels.

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5.0 out of 5 stars COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series

4.0 out of 5 stars Warning: don't get the whole series spoiled like I did

5.0 out of 5 stars #NextYACraze Book Review: Curse of the Bane (Last Apprentice, Book 2)

5.0 out of 5 stars Great

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes me want the next book

5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom, tudo mundo deveria ler

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY GOOD BOOK 😀😃👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

5.0 out of 5 stars Great

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive, spooky and even better than the first

COULDNT PUT IT DOWN!

I love this series

Warning: don't get the whole series spoiled like I did

#NextYACraze Book Review: Curse of the Bane (Last Apprentice, Book 2)

Great

Makes me want the next book

Muito bom, tudo mundo deveria ler

VERY GOOD BOOK 😀😃👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Great

Addictive, spooky and even better than the first