Black Arts: The Books of Pandemonium - Softcover

Prentice, Andrew; Weil, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849921326 ISBN 13: 9781849921329

Publisher: David Fickling Books (PB), 2013

Synopsis

Elizabethan London: a teeming city of traders and thieves, courtiers and preachers, riff-raff and quality, cut-throats - and demons. When scrunty Jack the 'Judicious Nipper' picks the wrong pocket at the Globe Theatre, he finds himself mixed up in an altogether more dangerous London than he could have imagined. An outbreak of devil-worship has led to a wave of anti-witch fervor whipped up by the Elect, a mysterious group of Puritans recognizable by their red-stained right hands. Rumour has it that their leader, the charismatic Nicholas Webb, wants to purge the city entirely and build a New Jerusalem. Jack has his own reason for hating him: he watched Nicholas kill his mother. Helped by Beth Sharkwell the Thief Princess of Lambeth, Kit Morely the Intelligencer and Dr Dee the Queen's Wizard, Jack pits himself against Webb's Puritans. But this is no straightforward struggle - for ever since his first encounter with Webb, there has been something wrong with Jack's vision. He keeps seeing things. Demons. "Black Arts" is the first in a series of thrilling time-travel adventures, each bringing the past to glorious life, as Jack and his companions hurtle from one epic struggle to the next.

About this title

Review:

"I really, really enjoyed it. I think it's a brilliant book, a great blend of action, adventure, magic, horror and humour. Plus the language is top notch . . . A period book that will work very well for modern readers" (Charlie Higson)

"Extremely impressive . . . Black Arts is a complete, self-contained and wholly satisfying novel in its own right. This is a sparkling and intelligent debut" (Philip Ardagh Guardian)

"I thoroughly enjoyed Black Arts and have put my name straight down for the second in this Books of Pandemonium series. We know what we want from a fantasy adventure and that's action, characters we can love or love to hate, and as much swag as the pages can fit. And Black Arts gives us all these things with gusto." (Jill Murphy BookBag)

"Prentice and Weil do know how to spin a thrilling yarn . . . Devilishly good fun" (Suzi Feay Financial Times)

"Roistering and sweaty, full of magic and mischief is Black Arts by Prentice and Weil. The authors' use of contemporary slang is brilliant" (Philip Womack Literary Review)

Book Description:

A mind-blowing adventure series filled with no-holds-barred sword and pistol swashbuckling, alchemical time travel and mystery.

About this edition

• Publisher: David Fickling Books (PB)
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1849921326
• ISBN 13: 9781849921329
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496