REVIEW: Mortlock by Jon Mayhew

Review by Alexandra. 

"The sister is a knife-thrower in a magician's stage act, the brother an undertaker's assistant. Neither orphan knows of the other's existence. Until, that is, three terrible Aunts descend on the girl's house and imprison her guardian, the Great Cardamom. His dying act is to pass the girl a note with clues to the secret he carries to his grave. Cardamom was one of three explorers on an expedition to locate the legendary Amarant, a plant with power over life and death. Now, pursued by flesh-eating crow-like ghouls, brother and sister must decode the message and save themselves from its sinister legacy."

Mortlock promises a gruesome, gothic horror read.  It’s the story of the Amaranth, a powerful flower that can create and destroy.  Such a tool of life or death should never fall in the wrong hands...

When Cardamom, the man Josie has been brought up by, is held hostage by three strange ‘Aunts’ who appear more crow-like than human, Josie does her best to save him. Soon she’s on the run and finding out a lot of new things about her life. Along the way, she learns she has a twin brother, and she also discovers the identity of her parents. 

Her mission evolves into destroying the Amarant but first she has to find it, and it may not be where she expects. On her tail the whole time are the three ‘Aunts’ and old friends of Cardamom after the same thing, all for different reasons.

Whilst this book is labelled as horror, it’s not so dark that if you’re simply after an adventure story you wouldn't enjoy this too.  It’s a good read. My only complaint was that I felt there were a couple of chapters missing somewhere in the conclusion, as the end seemed to occur a little quickly in relation to the rest of the book.

Review by Alexandra

Comments

[Sophie]

This sounds pretty interesting. Though I'm not a huge fan of rushed endings.

[Nina]

It does sounds pretty good to me! From time to time I do enjoy a good hororbook! Too bad that you felt like there where chapters missing!

[Kymberlie]

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[Nayuleska]

Initially I didn't know this was classed as horror - I can see why (I don't like horror) but I really enjoyed this book :) Plus the black jiffy it arrived in was a fun marketing strategy.

[Faun]

I read this book and didn't like it.