The Last Wolf (The Moonhaven Chronicles)

By Author / Illustrator

Rob Biddulph

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Macmillan Children's Books

ISBN

9781035037315

Format

Hardback

Published

05-02-2026

Synopsis

The legend of the werewolf reimagined in this thrilling, spine-tingling adventure by bestselling author / illustrator Rob Biddulph. Perfect for children of 8-12, with more than 100 spectacular black-and-white illustrations throughout.

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth live for full-moon adventures - sneaking out after curfew, dodging the Nighthawks and roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven. But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects.

With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they're forced to run - setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. As suspicion spreads, friendships are tested and the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagined . . .

'Thrilling mystery, stunning illustrations and relatable characters I'd face a werewolf for' - A. F. Steadman, author of the Skandar series; 'With Rob's trademark brilliant illustrations, this is a gripping page turner and I loved it. It's claw-some!' - Jamie Smart, author of the hilarious Bunny Vs. Monkey series; 'Clever, cunning . . . a ferociously brilliant adventure from one of our best writers for young people' - Emma Carroll, author of Secrets of a Sun King; 'Gripping, exciting and truly a FEAST for the senses' - Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls.

Praise for Rob Biddulph's Peanut Jones series: 'Another absolute smasher from Rob Biddulph!' - Louie Stowell, author of Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good; 'A fun & vibrant action-packed adventure with a warm heart . . . it's an utter joy to step through the pages & be part of it' - Hannah Gold, bestselling author of The Last Bear.

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Reviews

Beverley

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth are the Moonlighters. They love their night time adventures, sneaking out after curfew, when the moon is full, to avoid the Nighthawks and roam the streets of Moonhaven. What could possibly go wrong? There have been no sightings of werewolves for almost 40 years!

But one night, the Moonlighters hear a terrifying howl, and a werewolf attack is reported. Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth find that they are prime suspects, and go on the run in a desperate search to discover what is really going on in Moonhaven. As the story unfolds, they discover that one man has a horrific plan which could put the whole world in danger.

This is an action-packed fantasy adventure, with a great cast of characters. Twins Jax and Jovi are brave and funny. Fourth (William Russell-Hood the Fourth), is the son of the local police commissioner, struggling to live up to his father's expectations. Esau Monday is in a wheelchair - a very high-tech wheelchair - but his disability does not prevent him from taking a full and active part in the Moonlighters' escapades. Indeed, it is his technical knowledge that plays a huge part in preventing a potential global disaster. The four friends work together as a team to support each other and defeat the dastardly London Pike, the villain of the novel.

The book is extremely well written and its short chapters make it very accessible and appealing to the reluctant reader. The bold, manga-style illustrations provided by the author are fabulous; sometimes double-page, they provide a perfect addition to the story, as do the maps included at the start of the book.

At its heart this is an adventure story, but the author does introduce some important themes, such as the abuse of power and genetic engineering and this could lead to some interesting class discussions. We are left in no doubt that there will be a sequel - the author ends the novel with a huge cliffhanger which will leave the reader begging for the next book. I predict waiting lists in school libraries all around the country! Highly recommended.

272 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Sue

In Moonhaven, Jax and his twin sister, Jovi, with their friends, Esau and Forth enjoy breaking curfew and roaming the streets. Calling themselves the 'Moonlighters', they feel safe as there have been no werewolf attacks for years. However, when an attack happens, the friends find themselves prime suspects and go on the run, fearing capture by the Nighthawks. As they start to uncover the truth, a dark web of dangerous lies emerges . . .

One of my favourite picture book authors/ illustrators, Rob Biddulph does not disappoint with this brilliant adventure! The Last Wolf is such an enjoyable read that it is sure to be a huge hit! Jax, Jovi, Esau and Forth are a great group of friends. There are real differences between them, leading to some tension and squabbling, reflecting genuine friendship groups - something not always seen in stories! But their loyalty to one another is never in doubt and friendship is very much at the heart of the tale.

Pacy and engaging, the story is richly written with plenty of action and layers of plotting which make it a very satisfying and quite challenging read. Children will enjoy the world building and the attention to detail as well as the elements which are thought provoking such as how those who are seen as 'different' are treated and how power can control and corrupt.

Chapter headings are named after the full moons throughout the year, perfect for piquing interest and encouraging readers to learn more about these and the ancient traditions connected to them. Short chapters and plenty of atmospheric illustrations add to the appeal of the story for those who find sustaining reading a challenge, but I defy anyone to resist the 'just one more chapter' urge to find out what has happened in this very compelling read!

The Last Wolf would make an excellent class story, full of things to discuss and debate with the ending offering plenty of possibilities for predicting what might happen next! I can't wait for the next book!

272 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher