Curse of the Night Wolf

‘Have you ever felt your skin being peeled slowly away from your arms and legs?’ asks the opening line of this original, new tale from the creators of the bestselling Edge Chronicles. Barnaby Grimes, a messenger who uses the city rooftops to deliver any message, anywhere, is about to find out. One moonlit night his journey across the rooftops is halted by a ferocious beast. Barely escaping with his life, Barnaby quickly becomes embroiled in a race to discover the secret of the strange beasts, and what they have to do with the disappearance of his friend Old Benjamin.

Curse of the Night Wolf is a thrilling adventure filled with mystery and just enough exciting confrontations to keep readers poised on the edge of their seats. Barnaby is a dashing hero with a difference, who carries us with him as he leaps across the rooftops of his Dickensian world. Riddell’s high-quality illustrations manage to perfectly capture the dark and different world of Barnaby Grimes.

At the beginning, the scene setting, used to familiarise the reader with the language and scenery of Barnaby’s world, can distract somewhat from the action, while the references to the hero’s past adventures can at times jar with, rather than tantalise, the reader. But, overall, this is a fast-paced, exciting adventure set in a world full of dark possibilities that will appeal to readers of 10+.