Darkmouth #1: The Legends Begin - Softcover

Hegarty, Shane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062311301 ISBN 13: 9780062311306

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2016

Synopsis

Darkmouth: The Legends Begin is the first book in a spirited tween fantasy series that Kirkus Reviews called "Ghostbusters meets Percy Jackson as written by Terry Pratchett."

For generations, Finn's family has protected Darkmouth from the fierce magical creatures known as Legends. Now the Legends are plotting a major attack, and it's Finn's turn to defend his hometown. So it's too bad he's the worst Legend Hunter in history.

The world's unlikeliest hero is also its only hope in this middle grade series full of madcap adventure and mythological creatures--perfect for fans of How to Train Your Dragon and The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom.

About this title

Review:

"Hegarty's debut and the first of a projected series is Ghostbusters meets Percy Jackson as written by Terry Pratchett. Readers will be hunting for the sequel in short order."--Kirkus Reviews

"Incredible. The next big thing."--Eoin Colfer, New York Times bestselling author of Artemis Fowl

"Hegarty creates a believable setting with its own history and character, which makes for an enjoyable read. The smooth writing and brisk plot keep the narrative moving along nicely."--School Library Journal

"With a tone reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, Darkmouth has no shortage of off-kilter humor or imagination. Landing somewhere between the Percy Jackson series and the Edge Chronicles, this new series holds plenty of promise."--ALA Booklist

"Hegarty puts a fun spin on the monster-hunting trope, creating a sympathetic, underachieving hero who nevertheless rises to the occasion. Between the entertaining premise, the tongue-in-cheek humor, and the frequent moments of excitement and action, there's plenty to enjoy in this promising series opener."--Publishers Weekly

"Finn is sharply funny and not afraid to look dumb, excellent traits in the protagonist of a new series...Fans who have finished or moved on from the How to Train Your Dragon series will find this to be a logical next step."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Back Cover:

Most people know them as monsters.
The Hunters know them as Legends.
All Finn knows is they're ruining his life.

For as long as anyone can remember, Finn's family has kept Darkmouth (mostly) safe from the dangerous mythical creatures known as Legends. Finn has trained all his life to become a Legend Hunter. Soon it will be up to him to protect his hometown.

So it's too bad Finn is terrible at hunting Legends. Send him to capture a Minotaur and he'll trip over his own fighting suit. Give him a Basilisk to trap and he'll accidentally capture a car.

If Finn doesn't finish three hunts before the Completion ceremony on his thirteenth birthday, he'll be the first member of his family to fail. Ever.

But that's about to be the least of his problems, because the Legends are plotting something big. Something involving strange crystals, a possible traitor, and a mysterious prophecy. A prophecy about Finn.

Finn might just be the worst Legend Hunter in history--and now he's Darkmouth's only hope.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0062311301
• ISBN 13: 9780062311306
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432
• Illustrator: De La Rue James