The bloodcurdling Last Apprentice series ends with this title. Readers who have battled evil along with Tom Ward, the Spook apprentice of Master Gregory, in the previous installments will find a full quotient of adventure, horror, and trouble here. Old friends and enemies reappear, and the most important relationships in Tom's life, those with Gregory and Alice, come to some resolution. All the tension builds to a final battle in which Tom meets his most dangerous enemy, the Fiend, and it's one both epic d puzzling. In part, that's because of the time travel, but also because even as some events conclude, the door is certainly left open for the launch of a new series following Tom's life as a Spook. Throughout the series, there is a directness and clarity to Delaney's writing that set his books above similar titles. That, combined with the books' carefully conceived art and design, will make this series a favorite for a long time to come.

With its usual dark magic and darker illustrations, this series-ender sees Tom Ward achieve several of his original goals. But the defeat of one problem creates a worse one, and a jump to the future raises even more questions, including questions of shifting loyalties. Fans will be pleased that the Last Apprentice ends up promoted to Chipenden Spook at last.