The Witch Hunter Chronicles: The army of the undead by Stuart Daly
Random House, 2011. ISBN: 9781742750552.
(Age 12+) Recommended. This, the second book in the Witch Hunter
Chronicles, follows the adventures of 16 year old Jakob von
Drachenfels. In the first novel, The Scourge of Jericho,
Jakob joins the Hexenjager (an order of witch hunters in 1600's
Germany) under false pretences. Having barely survived his first
encounter in a witch infested castle, in this the second novel, he
is part of a team racing across Europe and the Ottoman Empire to
prevent The Watchers (fallen angels) from destroying the Tablet of
Breaking and bringing about the end of the world.
This is a rollicking, historical action adventure that runs at
breakneck speed. It is a cross between The Three Musketeers,
Tomb Raider with a big nod to Indiana Jones. Full of
sword fights, zombies, evil angels, traitors and booby trapped lost
temples, there is much that teenage boys especially will enjoy.
There is a fair bit of gore, and horrifying deaths, and the death
rate does take its toll on young Jakob. He sees many of his friends
and allies brutally killed in front of him, and then witness the
terrible indignity they suffer, when they are raised from the dead
by The Watchers. Former friends are now zombies and deadly enemies
and he is faced with the dilemma of having to destroy those he loved
and respected. Considering the amount of hardship and terror Jakob
faces, he shows fortitude to continue on the quest with the
determination that the deaths will not be in vain.
The author is a history teacher, and this shows in the attention to
detail, historical notes, lists of weapons and a bibliography at the
end of the book. There is also the sense that the author is having
fun with twisting events of the past to suit his story. There is
even a Leonardo da Vinci inspired submarine - and more booby traps
than all the Indiana Jones movies combined.
I can imagine that this series will be popular with ages 12+
particularly, but not exclusively, for boys.
Alicia Papp