Illustrations – Richard Pritchard, Sierra Pritchard & Max Pritchard
Wylah is now the Koorie Warrior and she’s determined to free her family and friends from the Dragon Army’s camp. Meanwhile, Tiller, Livingstone and Captain Frye are working on the duality machine, cooking up some alchemical evil.
As the Koorie Warrior, Wylah has great responsibilities. We are introduced to more people that need her help, some friendlier than others, and some new baddies who will be doing their best to thwart her efforts.
There are a lot of new megabeasts to meet as well, including scorpions, spiders and penguins.
This book is jam-packed with action, which young readers will enjoy. My favourite scene, though, was when Wylah was in the Dreamtime with Grandma. I love Grandma.
‘Times of great trouble are coming, Wylah. Many battles will be fought and a war must be won and you need to be ready.’
As with the books before it, this one ends in a cliffhanger. The Dragon Army are not done being dastardly yet.
Thank you so much to Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin, for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Wylah is finally the Koorie Warrior, but her troubles are far from over!
Her family and people are still prisoners of the cruel Dragon Army, and animals and children are disappearing. Faced with new responsibilities and a dangerous new adversary, can Wylah rise to the challenge and become the leader and protector her people need?
Excitement and suspense await in the thrilling third instalment of the best-selling Wylah the Koorie Warrior series. Inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture, this is a must-read for adventure lovers of all ages!
Mary-Kate’s first two adventures were with her mother, the Prof, and both included very close encounters with the monstrous kind. Granny, who she’s travelling with to Scotland, is into romance novels and the shopping channel so Mary-Kate is confident nothing scary will happen.
Just in case, though, she makes sure to pack a selection of lucky items. You can’t be too careful, after all.
It’s a good thing she does because it isn’t long before Granny tells her the reason they’re travelling to Bonkillyknock Castle. They’re attending the 93rd annual World Society of Monster Hunters’ Conference. This can only mean that small talk is in Mary-Kate’s near future. Maybe she should have packed more lucky items.
Mary-Kate isn’t the only novice monster hunter at the castle. There’s Simon, who we first became suspicious of in the second book, and Millicent, who I loved as soon as I heard she wasn’t on time because she was up late reading the night before.
A Mary-Kate Martin book isn’t complete without a good ol’ monster hunt.
‘There’s been some kind of attack and I need your help.’
This monster has luminous green fur and if that’s not fun enough, allow me to assure you that the castle does have a library.
Mary-Kate is adorable. She’s one of the bravest characters I know; she has anxiety, yet she continues to do things that scare her. I wish kid me would have had the chance to meet her. We would have bonded over glitter pen colour choices and which lucky item was the right one for each circumstance.
I’ve been wanting to spend more time with Granny and she didn’t disappoint. I loved her even more when I heard her say, ‘Yoo-hoo!’
Freda Chiu’s illustrations continue to complement the story, bringing the humans and monsters to life in a way that capture the heart of both.
I can’t wait for the next book. I hope at some point we get to go on an investigation with all three generations of monster hunters – Granny, the Prof and Mary-Kate. I’m looking forward to finding out more about Mary-Kate’s father.
‘I’m definitely not doing anything dangerous ever again.’
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Mary-Kate and her granny are going to stay at a very quiet castle near a very quiet Loch in the Scottish village of Bonkillyknock. The perfect destination for reading beside fireplaces, going for long walks in galoshes and drinking cups of tea with Granny’s old friends. At least, that’s what Mary-Kate thinks.
However, this is no ordinary reunion – it’s a World Society of Monster Hunters’ conference. So, when an ear-shattering howl interrupts the convention, Mary-Kate isn’t too anxious. After all, the experts are on hand to investigate.
But when the castle kitchen is turned upside-down and the experts suspect the usually secretive Loch Morgavie monster, Mary-Kate isn’t sure the clues add up. Could there be some other kind of beastly problem bothering Bonkillyknock Castle?
Miss Mary-Kate Martin might only be a beginner, but she’s determined to get to the end of this monstrous mystery in the third exciting instalment in the Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters series.
Mary-Kate wasn’t expecting another close encounter with the creature kind after her first investigation led her to the Woolington Wyrm. A peek at P.K. Mayberry’s A Brief Guide to Monsters and Monster Hunters may have told her otherwise.
The Rule of Monsters states that people who have met one monster are statistically much more likely to meet another.
The stats take Mary-Kate to the Greek Islands. While the Prof, her mother, is working on an archaeological dig at a sardine processing plant, Mary-Kate meets a potential new friend, Nikos, even if he does own bicycles that don’t match.
Mary-Kate soon learns that the sardines aren’t the only fishy thing about this island. Rumour has it that the legendary two headed hydra has been causing all sorts of trouble recently.
Together, Mary-Kate and Nikos explore the island. While they’re investigating, Mary-Kate has plenty of opportunities to face her fears.
Fortunately, she came prepared. She has her trusty red sparkly shoes, coordinating outfits, strawberry scented notebook, glitter pens, novelty torch, back up novelty torch and some other very important lucky items on hand.
Mary-Kate is the anxious child role model a lot of us needed when we were kids. She acknowledges her fears while working to overcome them. She asks for help when she needs it and can be specific because she knows what helps her.
Mary-Kate is an absolute sweetheart. I want to follow her and the Prof around the world as they track down elusive, but certainly not mythical, creatures.
‘There are all sorts of weird and wonderful things in the world.’
I loved Freda Chiu’s illustrations as much as I did in the first book. The characters are quirky and expressive and the monsters are wonderful. The details match the descriptions in the text, something that doesn’t always happen in children’s books. My favourite illustration in this book shows Granny in her zebra print dressing gown.
I’ve been keen to spend more time with Granny so I’m thrilled that she’s accompanying Mary-Kate on her next investigation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Mary-Kate and her mother are visiting Galinios, an idyllic Greek Island filled with history and surrounded by the shimmering Aegean Sea. An ancient mosaic has been unearthed at the local sardine processing plant and Professor Martin must investigate, leaving Mary-Kate to enjoy a few days of sunshine and antiquity.
But a message asking for help changes everything. A wrecked boat and smashed jetty have recently disrupted life on this tranquil island and point to a monster-sized mystery. Could the local legend of the Two-Headed Hydra be more than a story? If so, what could make this historically serene sea creature so angry?
Armed with her glitter pens and strawberry-scented notebook, Miss Mary-Kate Martin is determined to find answers. She might be scared of heights, but there is no problem too big for her to solve.
I’m all for judging a book by its cover and this one is absolutely breathtaking. More often than not, though, I choose a book because of who wrote it. Sometimes I get an unexpected bonus, discovering an illustrator whose work I wasn’t already familiar with.
This book, though, I chose to read specifically because I wanted to see more of the illustrator’s work, having fallen in love with their style when I read The Glimme.
This time, it was Sofie Laguna’s words that surprised me, drawing me into Ruby’s world just as much as Marc McBride’s illustrations did.
Ruby has had a rough week at school when she comes across the creature at the beach. Hoping she’s found a new friend, Ruby takes the creature home but quickly learns that caring for it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be.
This is such an adorable book. Ruby is an absolute sweetheart who is yearning for connection. The story majors on friendship and has more heart than I usually find in picture books.
Within its pages you’ll visit the bakery of my dreams and meet one of the most colourful, imaginative creatures you’ll ever encounter.
Kid me would have loved the story, wanted to be friends with Ruby and spent way too much time poring over every detail of the creature. Adult me loves the story and has spent so much time poring over every detail of the creature, marvelling at how the riot of colours don’t seem like they should work so well together but somehow do.
I’m putting my hand up for the bakery’s leftover cakes and hoping that one day I’ll walk into a store and find a plush toy creature to adopt.
This author and illustrator team complement one another brilliantly. I definitely need to clear some space in my TBR pile for the books they’ve written and illustrated that haven’t taken up residence in my heart yet.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this picture book.
Title: A Friend for Ruby Author: Sofie Laguna Illustrator: Marc McBride Publisher: Allen & Unwin Published: 29 August 2023 RRP: AUD $24.99
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Ruby led the creature out into the garden. She drew a dancing circle in the sand. ‘I choose you!’ she said to the creature.
Walking along the beach, Ruby finds a strange creature on the shore. She takes it home, feeds it and makes a bed of straw for it in her cubby – but a cubby is no place for a creature from the sea.
Ruby must draw on all her resources to help the creature find their way home – and perhaps, along the way, she might just find an unexpected friendship.
A whimsical tale of friendship, compassion and resourcefulness, from a wonderfully talented creative team.
Today I have the privilege of interviewing Remy Lai, the author of GHOST BOOK.
Hi Remy. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me.
GHOST BOOK was one of my most anticipated graphic novel reads of the year. It exceeded my expectations and I loved it even more during my reread.
What inspired you to write this book?
July and William popped into my head and wouldn’t leave. I knew they are friends, William is a ghost, and one would sacrifice for the other. But the story didn’t click into place until years later when I figured out Hungry Ghosts play a role. From there, I drew inspiration from the Chinese myths and stories that I grew up with.
July and William meet. That’s Floof on William’s head. I adore Floof!
Hungry Ghost Month is about the gates of the underworld opening. How much fun was it creating your version of the underworld?
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most fun, it was 20. I mean, to be honest, when I was in the thick of drawing street market scenes, I thought the fun score was a 2, because it was so time-consuming and I felt trapped in a never-ending loop of drawing street vendors and crowds. But the end product is so worth it.
Even though it was easy for me to connect emotionally with both July and William, I didn’t expect to get misty-eyed. How do you create characters that readers care about?
I try show the characters as truthfully as I can, from their strengths to their flaws and vulnerabilities.
All of the Hungry Ghosts fascinated me but my current favourite is Needle-throat Ghost. Do you have a favourite Hungry Ghost? What’s their backstory?
The vomit-licking Hungry Ghost is probably the most fun to draw because of the long tongue. When they were alive, they must have done something heinous involving puke.
July and her classmates encounter a Hungry Ghost
Dumplings play a pivotal role in this graphic novel and I found myself craving them as I read. I have to ask, how many dumplings were consumed in the name of research during the creation of this graphic novel?
298. Which isn’t excessive considering it took me 8 months to draw this book.
You’ve said that you create the artwork for your books digitally using an iPad. What apps do you use? Do you have a favourite brush?
Clip Studio and Photoshop. No favourite brush as I use different ones for different books — whichever is best to tell that story.
If you could spend time with a character in this book, who would it be and what would you do together?
Heibai Wuchang. They’re hilariously solemn, and I’d like to try to tell them a joke so good they’d laugh. Or at least chuckle.
What do you want readers to take away from July and William’s story?
That a little kindness might mean the world to someone.
What are July and William doing now?
They’re probably having another adventure. I think there’s another story set in the world of GHOST BOOK. I just haven’t figured it out yet.
What’s next for you?
I have a much, much spookier book coming out next year titled READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. It’s an illustrated prose book about a girl who played an Ouija board-like game and unleashed an evil that started communicating with her in her journal.
That sounds incredible! I can’t wait to read it!
Lastly, is there anything else you’d like readers to know that we haven’t already covered?
During Hungry Ghost Month, do not go swimming.
Based on what I’ve read about Hungry Ghost Month, that is very good advice. It’s been an absolute honour talking to you today, Remy.
Thank you so much for having me! I’m so glad you enjoyed GHOST BOOK!
GHOST BOOK is published by Allen & Unwin. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you grab a copy.
Remy Lai writes and draws for kids. She is the author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed PIE IN THE SKY, FLY ON THE WALL, PAWCASSO, and the junior graphic novel series SURVIVING THE WILD. Her latest book is the spooky graphic novel GHOST BOOK. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, where she can often be found exploring the woods with her two dogs —Poop Roller and Bossy Boots. Sometimes, she eats ice cream for breakfast.
Once Upon a Blurb
Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die …
July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren’t real. So she pretends they don’t exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it’s Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He’s a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth – for William to live, July must die.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this resoundingly hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice and the unseen world of ghosts is a dazzling heir to beloved Studio Ghibli classics.
Oxhead and Horseface had one job. I guess underworld training isn’t what it used to be…
We catch up with them twelve years later, when cause has had sufficient time to become effect. We join the effect during Hungry Ghost Month.
THE GATES OF THE UNDERWORLD ARE OPEN!
July Chen does her very best to pretend she can’t see ghosts, primarily because it upsets her father. July may as well be a ghost herself because she makes no lasting impression on anyone. Her classmates don’t even remember her.
Then she meets ghost boy William Xiao and his floofy companion, Floof. Only ghost boy isn’t actually a ghost. He is a wandering soul and the “luckiest unluckiest boy”. On the plus side, he can remember July!
This was one of my most anticipated graphic novel reads of the year and it didn’t disappoint. I loved July and William as individuals but it was their friendship that sucked me in.
Sometimes I don’t connect as deeply with graphic novel characters as those I meet in novels. This wasn’t the case here. However, I didn’t realise how much I was invested in their friendship until I was surprised by a misty eyed moment.
Unacceptable. Anarchy.
I enjoyed my second read even more than my first. I teared up much earlier but I was also able to appreciate details I missed when I devoured the story the first time.
It was so much fun browsing with underworld inhabitants at the Dire Market. I had trouble choosing the best Hungry Ghost; my current favourite is Needle-throat Ghost. Floof stole my heart and can sit on my head whenever they want.
The illustrations are the perfect complement to the story. There’s some sweet and some creepy. The characters are expressive, particularly June.
This story explores loss, sacrifice and the bonds of friendship and family. I won’t forget my trip to the underworld anytime soon. I hold the author personally responsible for my ongoing craving for dumplings.
A broken heart is a heart that has loved and been loved.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this graphic novel. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Title: Ghost Book Author: Remy Lai Publisher: Allen & Unwin Published: 1 August 2023 RRP: AUD $19.99
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die …
July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren’t real. So she pretends they don’t exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it’s Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He’s a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth – for William to live, July must die.
Inspired by Chinese mythology, this resoundingly hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice and the unseen world of ghosts is a dazzling heir to beloved Studio Ghibli classics.
Illustrations – Richard Pritchard & Sierra Pritchard
When we last saw Wylah and Po, they were on their way to the mountains to find Po’s sister, Merri, having received her message stick. Wylah has united the great tribal Guardians but the Dragon Army are still holding her tribe captive. In order to free them, they will need to go through the Valley of the Spirits, “a legendary place where terrible creatures dwell between our world and the Dreamtime.”
Wylah may not be great at climbing trees or balancing but she has determination, courage and resilience.
There’s plenty of action in this book. The megafauna are at the forefront a lot, much to my delight. Butt crashing his way into some of my favourite scenes was Tulna, an adorable mega wombat. That’s him saying ‘cheese!’ next to Wylah on the front cover. See? Adorable!
The release of this book during Reconciliation Week is perfect timing. It invites readers to learn more about Indigenous Australians and their history and culture.
I still love that Wylah doesn’t have a success only journey. She has to make tough decisions. She needs to choose when to fight and when to show kindness. You can easily imagine being her friend.
Unlike other heroes, she doesn’t magically have all of the skills she needs as the Koorie Warrior immediately. She has to train and learn from her mistakes. She’s still finding her feet as a warrior, gradually building her confidence and realising that it’s okay to ask for help. She’s a hero you want to get behind because she’s so authentic.
I love turning the page to in search of the next illustration. The humans and animals are expressive and the animals in particular are brilliant. My favourite illustration in this book features a happy Mama Yowie.
Consistent with the first book in the series, chapters where we follow Wylah are told in first person and have a boomerang picture above the chapter numbers. Those that focused on what is happening with the rest of the tribe are in third person, the pages are grey and the picture above the chapter numbers changes to an amulet.
Another feature I loved in the first book was replicated here, a glossary in table form at the end of the book that tells readers both the English and Peek Whurrong words for names, their meaning and how to pronounce them. For the animal characters, their species is also included.
A fun new addition in this book were two character profiles, Pippy and adorable Tulna.
While this is a kid’s book, it’s also an entertaining read for adults. I always enjoy finding gems in kid’s books that only adults will truly appreciate. Here, Alinta, who Wylah meets along the way, channels her inner Mick Dundee.
‘That’s not a boomerang, this is a boomerang’
Be on the lookout for one of Australia’s national treasures, drop bears!
‘Why are there so many creatures out here that want to eat us?!’
Thank you so much to Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin, for the opportunity to read this book. I am really looking forward to the next one.
Title: Custodians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 2 Authors: Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard Publisher: Allen & Unwin. I love the book’s activity sheet on their website. Published: May 2023. RRP: AUD $15.99.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Wylah has already accomplished the unbelievable feat of uniting the five Guardians, but her journey is far from over. Together with her megafauna friends, she must travel through the treacherous and forbidden Valley of the Spirits to face off against the Dragon Army.
Can Wylah defeat the perils that lay ahead and become the ultimate Koorie Warrior?
Embark on a heart-stopping journey filled with danger and excitement with book 2 in the bestselling Wylah the Koorie Warrior series. Inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture, this is a must-read for adventure lovers of all ages!
Pow Pow Pig, Kung Fu Duck, Cha Cha Chicken and Barry the Goat have made it out of Ancient Greece and are on their way to 2030 to save the world. Well, they would be if their time machine worked properly. It got the 30 right this time but they’ve landed in the middle of the ocean in 1630. And they’re wearing pirate clothes.
Before their time machine finds its way to the bottom of the ocean they’re met by the Super Show Ship (SSS), whose circus crew include Grizzo, a grizzly bear in a tuxedo. It’s not all fun, though, because theirs isn’t the only ship in the ocean. Pretty soon the Purring Pirates make an appearance and they’re not the cuddliest cats you’ll ever meet.
There’s treasure and the threat of walking the plank but a surprisingly small amount of pirate talk. Z team and the SSS crew work together to prevail against the fearsome felines and one character discovers they’re happier when they stop hiding and find the courage to be themselves.
I’m not sure how many adventures it’s going to take before Z team finally wind up in the correct year but the target audience are going to love all of the detours. I still love the stickers included at the end of each book.
I was going to talk about how much I enjoyed reading an Anh Do book that didn’t feature a crossover with one of his other series. It was a refreshing change but unfortunately my relief is short lived. I’ve looked ahead and the next book is a crossover with Ninja Kid…
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Pow Pow and the crew are back, and this time there arrrrrrrre pirates!
Ahoy, me hearties! It’s Pow Pow Pig.
Me and the Z team are on a mission.
We’re trying to the save the world!
But somehow we’ve ended up on the high seas instead…
It’s going take a swashbuckling effort to get out of this mess!
Gwen and her pack are travelling by train to Tunny, where her parents were last seen. On their way, Gwen finally gets to see her sister, albeit briefly.
Their arrival at Tunny attracts plenty of attention and it isn’t long before Gwen and the dogs wander into a crossover with the characters from the Rise of the Mythix series.
This series started out with so much promise but it’s frustrating me now. Gwen travels all over the place but she’s not really getting anywhere. Her lost family are dangled in front of her, the hoped for reunion is thwarted, over and over again.
Crossovers can be fun when they make sense. Your favourite characters are placed in situations you wouldn’t usually find them in and their interactions with characters from other series can show you aspects of their personality you didn’t know existed. A crossover done well can enrich both series. Crossovers in Anh Do’s books have been feeling like advertisements for quite a while now.
Stubborn hope has kept me here this long. I want to be there for the payoff. The stakes remain high, there are plenty of action scenes and the target audience are probably still loving this series. I’m just looking for the heart that was there in the beginning, in the time before crossovers.
Multiple animals were harmed in the pages of this book.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
As the train Wolf Girl is driving hurtles towards the locked gates of an enemy city, the last thing Gwen expects to see out the window is her long lost sister!
Soon the pack are on an epic chase, encountering deadly enemies and plenty of prehistoric surprises.
But just when things seem most dire, help arrives in an unexpected form!
One of the things I remember my Nan saying throughout my childhood was ‘normal is boring’. She was most certainly never boring and she didn’t want me to be boring either. An all too obvious outcome of being told this by my favourite person in the world has been that if I hear something’s weird, my brain says, ‘Ooh, tell me more’. A book with weird in the title is pretty much guaranteed to wind up on my TBR pile.
The more mysterious or gruesome the better!
Dr Leila McCreebor’s great grandfather, “the eminent explorer and philosopher Dr McCreebor”, left notebooks containing records of the curiosities he encountered in his life. Here, Leila presents annotated records of curios grouped into the following categories:
Artificialia – pieces of art
Naturalia – natural objects, animals and people
Spiritualis – the spirit world
Scelus et Supplicium – crime and punishment
Scientifica – scientific instruments
Magicae – magic
Morteum – death.
There are so many ingenious and bizarre finds in this book, and I’m tempted to tell you about all of them. I’m going to restrain myself, though, sharing my favourite weird thing from each chapter.
The Tempest Prognosticator (storm predictor) was the brainchild of George Merryweather. George had paid enough attention to leeches to realise that they become agitated before a storm. George transformed this fun fact into an early warning system, inventing a contraption that consisted of twelve glass jars, levers and some bells. A leech in a jar would flick a lever when agitated, which would then ring a bell. If all the bells tolled, then it was a sure sign inclement weather was on its way.
People believed that if the hand of a hanged man was severed as he still swung from the gallows, the hand would gain the powers to put people to sleep and unlock doors. The perfect tool for a burglar! The thief could even light the fingers of the hand, as if they were candles. If any of the fingers or thumb failed to light, it showed there was someone still awake in the house.
Trepanning: when you cut holes in people’s skulls for … reasons, oftentimes without anaesthetic.
I’d heard of the Brazen Bull before. A victim would be locked inside a hollow bronze bull, a fire would be lit under the bull and then the cooking alive would begin. What I wasn’t aware of previously was that the bull’s head contained tubes and pipes that “turned screams of agony into the sound of a bellowing bull, like some warped musical instrument.” The moral of this story? Don’t set your Delorean to Sicily around 2,000 years ago.
You’ve heard of having a feather in your cap but have you heard of a cap covered in teeth? Eighty eight teeth cover this 19th century London tooth puller’s felt cap.
Want revenge Roman style? Well, you’re going to need a curse tablet. Then you can call upon the gods or demons to exact revenge upon those who vex you.
Every three years, at a ritual known as Ma’nene, the Torajan dig up their dead relatives, give them a wash and dress them in new outfits before burying them again.
I really enjoyed this book and know my Nan would have loved it too. There was enough information to be interesting but not so much that readers who aren’t as fascinated as I am with all things weird and wonderful would get bogged down in details.
Celsius Pictor’s illustrations complimented the text well. They had a vintage feel to them. This made the book seem more authentic, as Dr McCreebor is said to have lived during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
In the 21st century, a scientist uncovers their Victorian ancestor’s notebook in a box. This ancestor is Dr. McCreebor – an eminent explorer, philosopher, and collector of the very strange and truly creepy.
Dr. McCreebor’s book is filled with the dark and disturbing stories he has collected on his travels around the world. And now, after over 125 years in a dusty attic, Dr. McCreebor’s writings can be read by only the bravest.
Discover the fascinating stories behind a series of objects, people, and places in every chapter. McCreebor writes from a Victorian perspective – and his descendant isn’t afraid to write notes in the margins, bringing the science into the 21st century.
Uncover Artificalia (man-made objects), Naturalia (natural creatures and beings), Spiritualis (the spirit world), Scelus et Supplicium (crime and punishment), Scientifica (scientific tools), Magicae (magical objects), and Morteum (skulls, bodies, and more). Steampunk illustrator Celsius Pictor intricately illustrates McCreebor’s sketches, maps, records, and photographs.
From shrunken heads to witches’ charms, saints’ blood to graverobbers’ remains, hangman’s salve to trepanning tools, this book is a peek into our grisly and macabre past.
Schizanthus Nerd 