Reviews and Comments

This story is an excellent adventure featuring two of Ireland’s greatest icons, Bram Stoker and Molly Malone – as kids.

Molly Malone is the leader of a gang of street kids, Shep, Rose, Billy the Pan, Calico Tom, and of course their dog Her Majesty. The gang are known as the Sackville Spooks. These characters are full of charm and personality as they go about their schemes while trying to survive in Victorian Dublin City.

Whilst times were hard for these kids, Nolan is sure to focus on the fun they have during their adventures, which are full of laughs and memorable moments.

Bram makes a nice addition to the Spooks. Though from a privileged background, the gang accept him all the same due to his shared love of adventure.

The villains in this story are comical. There's Count Vladimir – who is reminiscent of Count Dracula (without being a vampire), and his dim-witted henchmen, Messers Bounderby and Caddsworth who provide plenty of laughs when the kids get one up on them throughout the story.

I flew through this book in a couple of days and highly recommend to the young people in your life.

If anything this book will teach you the importance of the elephant of surprise!

There are so many good things about this book and series, it’s difficult to know where to start.

Peadar Ó Guilín’s style of writing is very easy to read. You end up flying through the book, not only because it’s an engaging story but because his style is so seamless, it doesn’t feel like you’re reading at all. A lot of people say this about Brandon Sanderson and as someone who’s read both authors, the style of writing is very similar in that way (without it being the same).

Nessa is such a determined and brave character; she’s very easy to root for. You want her to succeed and it’s great any time she gets one up on the fairies. One of the things that I’ll say about this book is that it’s very clever. There are times Nessa would think of a plan or an action and you very much have a “why didn’t I think of that?” moment.

Anto goes through a new character arc, trying to handle the power of his arm. It nearly has a personality of its own, as it shares the Sídhe’s values of killing and destruction. This of course contrasts with Anto’s pacifist views and gentle nature. Also, Anto hears the rumours of Nessa being a traitor and struggles between the perceived evidence that Nessa is one and what he knows about Nessa. I think the magic system here is interesting and Peadar further develops the idea of the Sídhes’ obsession with promises which makes for some great plot points and again is very clever.

I really enjoyed this duology, and it would be nice to be able to read more about this world again. But one thing is certain: I’ll definitely be reading more Peadar Ó Guilín in the future.

There are so many good things about this book and series, it’s difficult to know where to start.

Peadar Ó Guilín’s style of writing is very easy to read. You end up flying through the book, not only because it’s an engaging story but because his style is so seamless, it doesn’t feel like you’re reading at all. A lot of people say this about Brandon Sanderson and as someone who’s read both authors, the style of writing is very similar in that way (without it being the same).

Nessa is such a determined and brave character; she’s very easy to root for. You want her to succeed and it’s great any time she gets one up on the fairies. One of the things that I’ll say about this book is that it’s very clever. There are times Nessa would think of a plan or an action and you very much have a “why didn’t I think of that?” moment.

Anto goes through a new character arc, trying to handle the power of his arm. It nearly has a personality of its own, as it shares the Sídhe’s values of killing and destruction. This of course contrasts with Anto’s pacifist views and gentle nature. Also, Anto hears the rumours of Nessa being a traitor and struggles between the perceived evidence that Nessa is one and what he knows about Nessa.

I think the magic system here is interesting and Peadar further develops the idea of the Sídhes’ obsession with promises which makes for some great plot points and again is very clever.

I really enjoyed this duology, and it would be nice to be able to read more about this world again. But one thing is certain: I’ll definitely be reading more Peadar Ó Guilín in the future.