Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in... The Beast from Beneath

Malory Vayle is getting used to her new powers as a necromancer, but still has a lot to learn about her new, very talkative and self-obsessed, friend, Maggoty, a skull with a penchant for wigs. Having made the mistake of walking past a shop called 'Les Wigs', Maggoty is now determined to own the 'Eleganza', an elaborate hairpiece complete with ostrich feathers which is far too expensive for Mallory to hope to afford - there is no money for food, let alone wigs!

However, Aunt Lilith, who Mallory now lives with, has come up with a scheme. Holding a Grand Séance will raise the money they need. But when this goes horribly wrong and an evil power is unleashed, Mallory and Maggoty must face great peril to thwart its evil plan. Will they succeed and, more importantly, will Mallory get his wig?

I have to confess that I was not sure about this one before I started it, but soon found myself giggling in the corner of a coffee shop at the antics of the somehow loveable Maggoty and the long-suffering Mallory!  The Beast from Beneath is a delightful romp of a story, with a slightly spooky edge! Although the sequel to Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull, it is possible to read this one as a stand alone. Plenty of background information is given, quickly catching the reader up with past events; however, if book one is as hysterical as book two, no one will want to miss it!

Maggoty is very much the star of the show! He has no filter and says things as he sees them regardless of the situation. However, when it comes to the crunch, it seems that he is more fond of Mallory than it might first appear! Although the subject matter of the book is quite dark - necromancers, evil spirits, ghosts, seances and death do not make for a light read - there is so much humour in the story that this does not read like a horror story.

Mallory is a really interesting character. Aware of her powers, she, unlike her Aunt, knows they need to be treated with care and caution, giving her a wisdom beyond her years. Both courageous and loyal, she is determined to save her aunt and is also prepared to sacrifice her own happiness to do what she thinks is the right thing.

There might be adults who have reservations about the content so this would need to be carefully considered before choosing this as a class story. Having said that, I think it would make a very entertaining class book, enjoyed by adults and children alike!

304 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

The magnificently macabre duo of Mallory and Maggoty are back in book two of this freakishly thrilling, gloriously grotesque comedy horror series. Author Martin Howard and illustrator Pete Williamson have excelled again in creating a superbly sinister, supernatural and absorbing atmospheric tale of terror, entangled, of course, with a huge helping of twisted humour and heart-thumping, heart- stopping and heart-warming scenes.

Mallory is still exploring her new necromancy skills, finding her own voice with the undead, as well as coping with the relentless voice of her skeletal sidekick, Maggoty Skull, his exuberance for all things evil(ish), and his never-ending quest for The Eleganza wig of his dreams.

Castle Carrion is about to become even more foreboding and filled with dark dread when Aunt Lilith accidentally releases, and is possessed by, Nightmare. A slithering mass of terrifying tentacles begins its malevolent masterplan to bring the nightmares of the entire world to life. Mallory must harness her dark magic powers and delve down into the dank depths of the Castle itself to search for its deepest, most dangerous secrets and spells in order to defeat Nightmare from corrupting the minds of the world with its poisonous powers.

I love that the book takes a truly evil, horrifyingly dark plot and delivers this to the reader with great delight in the gruesomeness and a wickedly funny style. Nightmare hisses at Mallory .." we will infest the waking world with all its worst nightmares. Vampires. Werewolves……Oh my! There will be screaming. Gibbering horror and yadda, yadda,yadda." The blend of the dramatically devilish demands that are delivered in such a conversational, often cheery tone, are a real trademark of these books. So cleverly creepy and the level of peril is perfectly pitched to thrill the reader with fear and then engage them with the energy of the endearing characters. Sinister, stylish, seriously spooky and utterly enthralling.

Suggested Reading Age 9+