Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice #1) by Joseph Delaney

Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice #1) by Joseph Delaney

Goodreads Synopsis
For years, Old Gregory has been the Spook for the county, ridding the local villages of evil. Now his time is coming to an end. But who will take over for him? Twenty-nine apprentices have tried—some floundered, some fled, some failed to stay alive.

Only Thomas Ward is left. He's the last hope, the last apprentice.

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Interesting start to a (very long) series. It was obviously written for a younger audience, which kind of dissuaded me from reading, but it had enough in it to keep me enticed.

I liked Tom. I thought he was a solid main character for this novel. He is young and still has a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do. I think it is good that he gets out into the world on his own and starts to learn his own trade. I would imagine it being hard to be a seventh son (but I wouldn't know because a) I am an only child and b) I am a girl) but it would be difficult to live up to what your preceding brothers have already done. As well, you wouldn't be able to do the same trade as them because you wouldn't want to be compared to them. I think he made a lot of stupid decisions and doesn't know how to follow directions very well, but that is something he can learn as time goes on.

I loved the Spook. I think he is interesting and mysterious. He really knows his stuff and has a lot to teach Tom and I think this was a good introduction to what the Spook can do, can teach, and will be able to leave with Tom when Tom takes over the title as Spook. (That's an obvious conclusion, right?)

I am on the fence about Alice. She has the potential to be a great character, but I don't like that she is influencing Tom as much as she is. I think they need to have some time apart for both of them to grow as people before they become friends and are attached at the hip.

It did seem a little far fetched that Tom was able to be so good at his job the first time around, but obviously he couldn't die in the first novel (or really any). I do hope that the villains do become more believable though.

Overall: 3/5 stars. Will be reading the rest of the series, but good introduction to the series and the characters.