Graveyard Gladiators

By Author / Illustrator

David Owen

Genre

Horror

Age range(s)

Publisher

Usborne

ISBN

9781836045052

Format

Paperback

Published

08-10-2026

Synopsis

A funny, spooky, madcap adventure about heroes beating impossible odds, this is TV's Gladiators with monsters! Perfect for gamers and fans of Escape Room and Goosebumps, and brand-new from the bestselling author of the Alex Neptune series.

Once a year, monsters and the undead rise up from the Underworld and battle each other in the Graveyard Games to win a star prize. Tonight, that prize is... Jude's dad. But not if Jude can win him back.

With the help of new friend and monster-wrestling expert Posie, plus top trainer (and zombie) Mickey, all Jude has to do is:
Race three monsters in the Gauntlet of Death
Beat a beast to the most skulls in Skull Cull
Then wrestle the undefeated champion one-on-one in the Graveyard Rumble
All to become the top GRAVEYARD GLADIATOR!
Easy, right?

"Loud, raucous, and wonderful, Graveyard Gladiators is a macabre delight!" Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant.

Reviews

Jacqueline

Jude moves to the town of Blackhinge and ends up in the Graveyard Games. The prize is his life and the lives of his dad and new friend Posie. He has three days to win, and the games involve monsters and ghouls. Plus, his trainer is a zombie. Can Jude, an ordinary human boy, achieve what no-one else has ever done before? Possibly not, but he's going to try!

I thought I wasn't going to enjoy this book because I'm not a fan of horror, but it turns out that horror mixed with humour is a winning combination. Who could resist a chapter entitled 'Keep calm and carrion', for example? Whilst some of this is quite gross (and therefore children will love it!), most of it is very funny and enjoyable. Just enough scariness to create the frisson of fear matched with enough absurdity.

The monsters are illustrated like Top Trumps cards by Shane Houston and they are also very amusing and add to the story. I particularly liked the drawing of Mr Fluffy-Bottom (just wait until you read about him!)

Coming at a very suitable time of year, but can be read at any time - this book is a fun romp through gladiator-style games with added monsters.

256 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher