Author:Catherine Banner
Five-year-old Cassius escaped the brutal assassination of his parents, the king and queen of Malonia, and was exiled to modern-day England. Now fifteen, Cassius continues to be hidden in England under the protection of his tutor, the great Alderbaran, who's ancient prophecy says that Cassius will, one day, return and claim his rightful place on the throne.
At the same time, fifteen-year-old Leo remains in Malonia where a repressive dictatorial regime under the new king, Lucien, followed the assassination. One day Leo discovers a wonderful book in which parts of an epic story appear each day - a remarkable story that reveals the secrets of the prophecy, the assassination and how they are connected to Leo's own family history.
Wickedly brilliant
—— The IndependentFast-pace, tongue-in-cheek, with some laugh out loud jokes
—— Sunday TimesFast, funny and very exciting
—— Daily MailFolklore, fantasy and high-tech wizardry ... hugely entertaining
—— ObserverTake our word for it, this book is going to be huge.
—— StylistBrilliantly paced with more than a few nasty surprises, Half Bad is a wickedly addictive read that will capture the imagination of any fan of YA fiction.
—— StarburstNot since the Harry Potter books - yes, I said it! - have I felt so fully immersed in an author's creation... I couldn't be more stoked over Half Bad, and this launch novel of a trilogy truly deserves all the hype surrounding it - and much more...
—— Amanda Hurley, Inkwood BooksThe Knights of the Round Table with paws
—— Sunday TimesJudging by his debut novel, The Demon's Watch, Conrad Mason is here to stay . . . Comparisons with Terry Pratchett are inevitable
—— CarouselThis exciting fantasy has well-rounded, likeable characters and a lively, twisting plot, yet it also tackles the issues of acceptance and prejudice
—— BooktrustReaders hungry for a plot as labyrinthine as the streets of the old port, pell-mell action, with chapters left hanging from cliff, roof or mainmast, should much enjoy this headlong read. Rip-roaring excitement and energy, and none the worse for that
—— Books for KeepsA very funny and very original story . . . Pirates, magic, amazing creatures and adventure, blend them into the mix and you come out with Demon's Watch, the perfect book for boys and anyone looking for a brilliant adventure
—— Armadillo MagazineThis book really does offer something for everyone and should be enjoyed by all
—— District YACleverly written, there is a whole host of twists
—— Tatty's Treasure ChestConrad Mason’s descriptions of life in Port Fayt, his humour and his turn of phrase make The Demon’s Watch a complete joy to read
—— BabbleaboutA swashbucking, magical, hilarious and scary adventure with quirky characters you can love, hate and wish you were friends with
—— Liz BankesThe whole book is fast-paced and exciting from beginning to end, filled with tavern brawls, witches, wizards and even monstrous sea creatures . . . The writing is something akin to Terry Pratchett’s style, with wonderful, crystal clear descriptions and great injections of humour throughout, making for an interesting read
—— Mostly Reading YAA terrific debut novel from Conrad Mason plunges you into a fantastic fantasy world you won't want to leave
—— Scribbler! MagazineMason is definitely one to watch . . . I eagerly anticipate the next installment
—— Behind the WordsA great family read; it has some of the best pirate banter that you will find written with oodles of imagination, humour and wit . . . Conrad has created a fantastic start to an amazing adventure
—— Mr Ripley's Enchanted BooksThis book is fantasy at its very best. A brilliant story, matched with amazing writing and characters you want to grab from the page and give a huge hug, makes a book that is just un-put-downable!
—— ReadaraptorAfter the first chapter I was gripped . . . The pacey plot is filled with action that will entertain even reluctant readers. The plot is not predictable though and I enjoyed the unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the end
—— Wright ReadingFor young readers hungry for adventure and a touch of magic, The Demon’s Watch will give hours of enjoyment. Definitely worth reading!
—— Wright Reading blogspotThis is a great fantasy adventure as well as that rarest of things: a children's book that is a great read for both children and adults
—— Nomad BooksEach page brims with adventure, magic, darkness, tension and suspense...Port Fayt is an antonym of dull and Mason’s ability to describe each detail allows us to feel the sea salt breeze, taste the slices of fried octopus and greasy paper bags of shellfish, and gulp the flagons of grog...When you complete this story, you feel a little piece of you has been left tucked among the pages, but readers console yourselves, more adventures from Conrad Mason lie ahead.
—— Catherine Duffy , Inis magazineThis book is a great family read; it has some of the best pirate banter that you will find...written with oodles of imagination, humour and wit...Conrad has created a fantastic start to an amazing adventure - I loved every minute embroiled in this story.
—— Mr Ripley's Enchanted BooksConrad Mason’s descriptions of life in Port Fayt, his humour and his turn of phrase make The Demon’s Watch a complete joy to read.
—— BabbleaboutThis can only be described as a rip roaring adventure - you get sad moments, followed by laughs, mixed in with fighting and gore. This book really does offer something for everyone and should be enjoyed by all!!! If you are a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean or the works of Terry Pratchett, I think this book is made for YOU!!!
—— District YAAmid the swashbuckling and shoot-outs, the ethos and humour recall the straighter-faced Discworld books.
—— SFXA very funny and very original story...Pirates, magic, amazing creatures and adventure, blend them into the mix and you come out with Demon's Watch, the perfect book for boys and anyone looking for a brilliant adventure.
—— Armadillo MagazineThis is such an enjoyable fantasy adventure. The worldbuilding is rather wonderful and completely credible but also unobtrusive...The action gets going right from the very first pages and it doesn't let up until the very end. The plot twists and turns without the tiniest of holes. The characters are well formed...the best thing about The Demon's Watch is the dialogue. Sparkling and energetic, it's full of wit and comic timing, with piratical idioms galore...I think this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is going to win a loyal - and thoroughly deserved - following.
—— The BookbagReaders hungry for a plot as labyrinthine as the streets of the old port, pell-mell action, with chapters left hanging from cliff, roof or mainmast, should much enjoy this headlong read. Rip-roaring excitement and energy, and none the worse for that.
—— Books for KeepsIf you want a fantasy world for your young reader that has a wonderful setting, great characters and populated by many different creatures in a hodgepodge melting pot, then you really have to get Conrad Mason’s The Demon’s Watch. It brings the best of fantasy to the reader with a whole host of cracking characters, top notch entertainment and of course demonstrates that brains can outsmart brawn be it either magical or physical.It’s cleverly written, there is a whole host of twists and Conrad doesn’t waste time by getting down to the nitty-gritty that will keep your young reader hooked to the final page. Throw in conspiracy, double dealing and selfish desires, which when fought against by the positive traits of our band of mismatched heroes, really gives the reader a treat to enjoy. Magical.
—— Tatty's Treasure ChestThis exciting fantasy has well-rounded, likeable characters and a lively, twisting plot, yet it also tackles the issues of acceptance and prejudice.
—— BooktrustA swashbucking, magical, hilarious and scary adventure with quirky characters you can love, hate and wish you were friends with.
—— Liz BankesThe Demon’s Watch is fantasy at its best...It’s a brilliant story, amazingly written and with fantastic characters. The whole book is fast-paced and exciting from beginning to end, filled with tavern brawls, witches, wizards and even monstrous sea creatures...The writing is something akin to Terry Pratchett’s style, with wonderful, crystal clear descriptions and great injections of humour throughout, making for an interesting read.
—— Mostly Reading YAA terrific debut novel from Conrad Mason plunges you into a fantastic fantasy world you wont want to leave. Filled with page turning action, surprise twists, laugh out loud moments and brilliant characters, such as the quick-thinking Tabitha, Scribbler! was on tenterhooks all the way through.
—— Scribbler! Magazine