Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo, Book 1)

With almost a quarter of its pages devoted to the 'Explicarium' or glossary of terms, this first book in the series is maybe trying a bit too hard to be inventive. (Do we really need new terms for port and starboard?) But it's good read, rich in language and imagery. It follows a boy called Rossamund as he leaves the orphanage that's been his home since he was left on its doorstep as a child, and...more

With almost a quarter of its pages devoted to the 'Explicarium' or glossary of terms, this first book in the series is maybe trying a bit too hard to be inventive. (Do we really need new terms for port and starboard?) But it's good read, rich in language and imagery. It follows a boy called Rossamund as he leaves the orphanage that's been his home since he was left on its doorstep as a child, and sets off to meet his new employer in a distant city. Naturally, he takes a wrong turn almost immediately: he will end up in the company of a woman called Europe, who's basically a contract killer of monsters. For this is a land where humans are in constant battle with monsters in their many forms. And as Rossamund is about to find out, not all monsters are as black as they're painted - and not all humans have his best interests at heart. There's a hint of a secret to Rossamund's past and his destiny, but his ultimate quest is by no means clear from this first instalment. It's also a series of adventurous episodes rather than a completely satisfying story, but I imagine most kids will love it nonetheless.   hide