The Dark Army

July 1, 2016
Tom Ward, the Chipenden Spook, is back from the dead and ready to fight against the monstrous wolflike Kobalos horde, with his apprentice, Jenny Calder, and the witch assassin Grimalkin by his side.The two white humans and the shape-shifting lamia do their best to prepare to fight evil, but old friends and foes enter the picture and complicate things. By the story's end not much has changed for our heroes, but the author does a good job driving in circles and making readers feel like they're seeing new scenery. Delaney's usual blunt expository dialogue and clumsy narrative drive are on full display here, but so are his worldbuilding and mood-setting. Tom's world, a boilerplate alternative medieval Europe, is filled with fog and moonlight and creepy creatures lurking behind every tree. Tom and Jenny don't get much to do other than cope with bloody terror, but Delaney knows how to build a horrifying set piece. The adventure is no better built than the last, continually ambling toward a massive showdown with the enemy but never getting there, however a late reveal of an old foe provides just enough spark to make the book worth fans' time. Here's hoping the next installment will finally give readers a payoff to all this buildup. Skippable for newbies, but fans will salvage enough to make it worthwhile even as they hope for payoff next time. (Grimalkin's notes, glossary) (Fantasy. 10-14)

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January 14, 2013
Drawing liberally from The Island of Dr. Moreau, Shepherd debuts with a dark novel, the first in a planned trilogy, which explores many of the themes of the Wells book, including the ethics of scientific experimentation, progress, and civilization. Several characters have parallels in the original—Moreau, the disgraced physiologist; his assistant, Montgomery; and a rescued castaway named Edward. Assuming the role of narrator is 16-year-old Juliet Moreau, who has eked out a living in London following her father’s downfall and mother’s death. When Juliet learns her father is possibly alive, she sets off for the island he escaped to, along with Montgomery, who is recast as a dashing former childhood friend of Juliet’s. At times, the horrors of Moreau’s experimentations take a backseat to the romantic passions that engulf Juliet (“Being so close to a half-naked man—to Montgomery—made me breathless”), as her affections vacillate between Montgomery and the mysterious Edward. Nonetheless, Shepherd’s atmospheric interpretation ought to pull readers in, with unexpected twists and a cliffhanger ending that should leave them craving more. Ages 13–up. Agent: Josh Adams and Quinlan Lee, Adams Literary.