Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull (2) The Beast From Beneath Book Review

What is The Beast From Beneath about?

Mallory Vayle’s Necromancer skills are growing, and so is her reputation in town as ‘The Skull Girl.’ She is helping her Aunt Lilith with running and improving Carrion Castle, using her skills to banish troublesome ghosts and spirits from her town’s resident’s lives. Payments are however, often pitiful.

This need for money makes Aunt Lilith perform a spell to try and improve their lives – but it goes terribly terribly wrong. Mallory and Maggoty are the only ones who can save Aunt Lilith, and soon the entire world from a malevolent force in the shape of a Nightmare.

Review

The laughs are plenty and continuous as the tension and terror builds in the 2nd part of this illustrated Middle Grade series.

I laughed out loud and was glued to the page as Mallory faced increasingly powerful spirits from the lounge of Carrion Castle to deep in the depths below it. Maggoty Skull is hilarious, if not annoying as he goes on and on, and ON about the new wig he wants.

His desire to be human again is tested, with surprising results as they face Death himself. Mallory’s vastly improved and tested necromancy skills have also left her with an intriguing question, and I can’t wait for the next in the series to learn the answer.

Book Style

286 Pages / 27 Chapters / Q&A with Author Martin Howard

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

8+

Where & When is it set?

In a fictional Castle (Carrion Castle) in a small historical English Victorian town called Stabbings.

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Third person / Past tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is The Beast From Beneath?

Middle Grade Spooky Historical Humour

Themes

Humour / Historical / Horror / Series / Family / Courage

Is it part of a series?

Yes

1. Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull
2. Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in… The Beast from Beneath
3. Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in… The Castle of Horrors

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Elston Fright Series

Author

Martin Howard

Illustrator

Pete Williamson

Publisher

Nosy Crow

(2024, Series, Historical, England, Funny, Humour, Talking Skull, Spooky Castle, Psychic Aunt, Family, Ghost)