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By Martin Howard (author) , Pete Williamson (illustrator) Part of the Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull series
"Spook-tacular Middle Grade fiction at its most characterfully kooky — think Lemony Snicket meets Araminta Spook meets The Addams Family."
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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Comically spooky and woven with whimsy, Martin Howard’s Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull presents an inventive raising-the-dead adventure around breaking a necromancer’s curse. Mallory is a marvellous character to die for — a kooky smart cookie, in fact — with sidekick Maggoty Skull providing plenty of flamboyant humour.
The arresting opening scene sees Mallory’s parents’ ghosts “chattering through their own funeral as if they were at an afternoon tea party”. In the wake of their tragic deaths, Mallory is set to be sent to an orphanage, until a mysterious turbaned woman at their funeral turns out to be her long-lost Aunt Lilith — a woman formerly known as Hilda, who wonders whether Mallory has inherited the family “talent to part the curtains of death itself and speak with those who have passed over”. While Mallory can hear her deceased parents, Lilith’s claims to have psychic powers turn out to be fraudulent
And so to Lilith’s Carrion Castle, Mallory’s first impressions of which are far from favourable: “The mansion oozed a spite that twisted Mallory’s insides. Whatever was inside felt hungry. Old. Evil”. Next morning, Mallory is horrified to discover she can no longer hear her parents.
Rather, she’s called-to-action by a talkative, wig-loving skull named Maggoty who tells her his former mistress Hellysh Spatzl chopped off his head and cursed him, leaving his spirit locked inside his own skull for 500 years. Oh, and he also informs Mallory that she’s a necromancer.
After striking a deal with Maggoty — “if you can help me find my mother and father then I suppose I’ll get you a wig and help lift your curse. We have a deal” — comes a pact with Hellysh Spatzl. To quote Maggoty, “What’s the worst that could happen, eh?” And so, a spirited adventure unfolds, with splendidly atmospheric illustrations by Pete Williamson enhancing the creepy vibe, and a spectacular showdown at a séance concluding an exciting, amusing, and sometimes moving novel.
Super funny, super spooky middle grade for budding horror fans about a talkative skull and a necromancer-in-training - perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Wednesday and The Beast and the Bethany.
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Super funny, super spooky middle grade for budding horror fans about a talkative skull and a necromancer-in-training - perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Wednesday and The Beast and the Bethany .
Mallory Vayle would list her interests as being normal, books about ponies and very definitely NOT talking to dead people. But when her parents' carriage takes a leap off Gibbett Bridge - an accident for which there appears to be no explanation - she is taken in by a strange aunt the family disowned years ago and brought to her new, and very spooky, home. Aunt Lilith, a charlatan psychic, is quick to monetise Mallory's prodigious skills in talking to dead people and starts to advertise grand seances (ticketed obvs) in her spiritual news sheet.
The ghosts of her parents also take up residence in the house but are cruelly snatched away by the shadow of Hellysh Spatzl, the grimmest, wickedest necromancer in all of history. To get them back, Mallory will have to learn how to use the talents she hates and raise the old hag from the dead. Her teacher?
A talking skull called Maggoty, who wants some favours in return for his help - not just a gorgeous blond wig and some sparkly earrings, but for Mallory to break the curse that has left his spirit locked inside his own skull for 500 years.
Mallory will have to lean into who she is and what she can do and make a pack with the evil Hellysh Spatzl to get her parents back while at the same time putting on a sensational Halloween spectacular at only five shillings a head for an amazed audience at Nightmare Castle. And learn to love her chatty sidekick and his glorious wig...
As darkly hilarious as The Addams Family, this is really good fun. An alternative spooky Victoriana packed with laughs and outrageous characters, at its heart, it's a story of a young girl coming to terms with her own gifts and accepting that nobody is 'normal'.
Martin Howard writes absurdly funny books for children. His last was a Sunday Times Book of the Week and he has been compared to Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and the Monty Pythons. Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull is his favourite so far.
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I enjoyed reading this book and got carried away with it in my mind and it was really exciting to read and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
I found this super funny but a little bit spooky, but it was very humorous. Mallory loved reading books about ponies but she had to go and live with her strange aunt who had skills in talking to dead people and had spiritual news sheets.... Read Full Review
It's a real page turner for fans of spooky fun stories.
My daughter absolutely loved Mallory Valle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull, I knew she would. She loves a little spooky story that has a very Adams Family/Lemony Snicket vibes. Anyone who enjoys a little spooky with humour would really enjoy.... Read Full Review
Super funny, super spooky middle grade for budding horror fans about a talkative skull and a necromancer-in-training - perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket, Wednesday and The Beast and the Bethany. Mallory Vayle would list her interests as being normal, books about ponies and very definitely NOT talking to dead people.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-10 years old
Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Horror & Ghost Stories, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull was written by Martin Howard and published by Nosy Crow
Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull has 287 pages
Yes it is part of Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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