This is the debut children’s novel from Reece Carter who is best known in his home country of Australia as a nutritionist and author of two non-fiction titles for adults. He had always wanted to write for children and thank goodness he did! Readers are going to fall in love with Corpse in this thrilling adventure which manages to be both dark and downright scary, alongside having lighter moments that are genuinely joyous.

‘If my hair looks like bright green seaweed, it’s because that’s exactly what it is. My eyes, a pair of abalone shells, polished blue by sand. Teeth, two rows of pebbles. And my skin is made of wax.

Corpse never asked to be a kid ghost. She doesn’t remember anything from her life – all she knows is her home on the rock-that-doesn’t-exist, her friend Simon the spider, and the vile Witches whose magic she steals.

So, when she discovers that there’s a powerful treasure which could give her all the answers to what she’s lost – her memories, her family, her name – Corpse sets off to find it. On her journey across the stormy sea, she must battle magic, sea monsters and a cruel figure from her past. But the Witches want the treasure too. And they’ll do anything to get it first.’

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As I said, there are plenty of elements in this story which visit the very darkest realms of magic and will please even the most ardent of horror fans. Add a scattering of disappearing children and ghost shrouded in a body of wax with seaweed for hair and you have the recipe for the perfect read as the nights start to draw in.

To balance the liberal dose of dark magic and pure evil provided by the rock’s ruthless coven of witches, there are some truly heart-warming friendships. Despite my general dislike of spiders, I couldn’t help but fall for Simon – the huntsman spider who’s Corpse’s best friend. The love and loyalty they display towards each other provide a glimmer of light on times of great peril.

I don’t want to say anything which will give away some of the secrets revealed as the story progresses, but I will say that this story has the kind of ending which just begs for a sequel…

A great read for anyone aged 9+ who likes their stories magical, malevolent, and mysterious.

Library Girl.

*Many thanks to Kaleidoscopic Tours and Usborne for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*