I loved this book. My daughter also started it and enjoys it as well. Easy to read, keeps you engaged with the mystery and characters. I look forward to more in this series.

This was a cute, quick read. I would have loved to read a story like this when I was younger. It had a very Lemony Snicket feel to it which I loved.

This is a fast paced, salty tale set in the wonderfully named Eerie on Sea! Thomas Taylor is also an illustrator, and this was evident in the evocative and beautifully described locations, including the Grand Nautilus Hotel and the Eerie Book Dispensary. An imaginative middle grade thriller full of myth and legend. A real page turner.

3.5/5 This is a fun kids book to read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the Lemony Snicket books, or anything else that could be described as quirky. Some of the plot points and characters worked really well for me, while others seemed to need to be flushed out more. With the way it ended, it makes me wonder if there is going to be some sort of continuation so perhaps some of the topics touched on could be expanded. I think the idea of a mermonkey dispensing books is fabulous and there are so many other books he could dispense to Herbie and Violet that could send them on new adventures.

MALAMANDER is one of those books that is almost infuriatingly good.

Thomas Taylor could teach a masterclass in atmosphere. Eerie-on-Sea straddles the line between familiar and strange so effortlessly, conjuring the recognisable world of seaside towns and magnifying all their strangeness. There are creaking piers and twisty alleys and people who aren't QUITE ordinary, doused with the scent of salt and chips. I felt utterly enveloped in this world (and I'm desperate to know what book the mermonkey would choose for me).

The main characters, Herbie Lemon and Violet Parma (geddit?) are perfectly loveable. Herbie's voice is just strong enough, effortless and exciting and a perfect choice for this in-between world. There's a fantastic mystery which touches on the emotional threads of family, as well as the more exciting threads of mythical monsters, and this combination of heart and adventure was just *kisses fingers* golden.

What can I say? The writing is flawless, the plot is clever, the pace is breathless, and it oozes charm. It's a great start to the series, and one I would wholeheartedly recommend to lovers of quirky middle grade mysteries. 5/5

"Malamander" is a quirky delightful read. It is part mystery and part science fiction. We are given the details of this adventure through the eyes and words of Herbie Lemon, the Lost and Founder of the Great Nautilus Hotel. Herbie is in charge of things that have been left in the hotel over the many decades of its operation. He himself is a foundling and was taken in by the grand mistress, Madame Kraken. Herbie uses his deductive abilities to find the rightful owner of this lost property. One evening, a mysterious young girl, Violet Parma, suddenly shows up at the hotel seeking Herbie's help. She is being chased by the Boat Hook Man. This at first sounds like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" but there are other mysterious forces at work here. There is a ring of familiarity in this tale that reminded me of the "Edge Chronicles" by Chris Riddell and Paul Stewart. This is derived from the quirky description of the Malamander itself. There is more to this tale than I have written here but I don't want to spoil it. This is definitely a quick adventure down to the seaside. I look forward to further adventures written by Thomas Taylor.

Fun and Well Written, But Maybe Wackier, (Plotwise), Than It Needs to Be

I had a neighbor who made his own beer. It was plain and based on classic recipes, and delicious. But then he discovered hops. He went nuts experimenting with hops and made more and more complex, and less drinkable, beer. Eventually the stuff was like perfume, with bubbles. That's a little bit like what I felt here.

The book starts out extremely well. Eerie-on-Sea is the perfect adventure locale. Cold and damp and misty; perched on a dark and threatening sea; off season; loaded with odd buildings and odder people. The author never loses his grip on the great mood and atmosphere of the place, and you just know that this little city will be crammed with adventures, quirky residents, and cool twists.

Then we get two great hero characters. Herbie Lemon is a foundling who was taken in by the owner of the grand hotel in the middle of town. Appropriately, (and with the sort of sly humorous touch that distinguishes this book), he has been put in charge of the hotel's lost and found. He takes his job very seriously. He is clever, resourceful, good natured, and observant. A bit on the cautious side, you know he has sterner stuff within. He's our first person narrator, and he tells this tale in a dry, deadpan sort of style where much of the tension and humor is enhanced by his tendency toward understatement. An excellent character all around.

One day Violet Parma, who is being chased by a hulking pirate type guy with a boat hook for a hand, tumbles through the casement window of Herbie's basement "office". She lost her parents twelve years before, when they just disappeared and she was found abandoned in this very hotel. Violet, who declares herself "found" directs Herbie that it's his job to now find her parents and return her to her rightful owners. Violet is smart, feisty, headstrong, and impulsive. She and Herbie immediately click, and their game is afoot.

At this point we get a real tour of Eerie, and meet literally a dozen colorful and engaging characters. Most of these people are odd but dependable and kind sorts, a few are clearly villains, and a few could go either way, which sets up the rest of the action.

At this point, though, we go what might be a bridge too far. Violet's father was researching "The Malamander", a legendary local sea beast. Is the monster real? Better consult the mermonkey machine that hands out cryptic clues in the form of odd rare books. Or skulk around town. Or talk to the white cat. Or consult at least four different adults who offer extended speeches about the Malamander. Or watch the action from a secret cameraluna. And the Beast lays a magic egg once a year. The egg grants wishes. And it looks like everybody is searching for it. And we all start running around. And on, and on. Whew.

The thing is that each individual wrinkle is well done, interesting, effectively presented, and very imaginative. The mermonkey machine is captivating. The Book Dispensary, where books are prescribed and handed out like medicine for what ails your mind, is subtley but beautifully conceived. Any individual adult's Beast story is fascinating. Even the breathless skulking and hiding and escaping is fun, until the twelfth time.

There's just so much going on that you almost lose track of the fact that this is a Herbie/Violet buddy action adventure tale. Their dialogue is funny and sometimes touching, and almost always authentic feeling. They don't need quite so many exotic hops added to the brew.

So my bottom line was that I very much admired the crisp, effective, and evocative writing. I liked and enjoyed following the main characters. I appreciated the many clever and whimsical touches. The sly humor and subtle puns were a delight. I was impressed by the depth of personality reflected in the secondary characters. And I loved Eerie-on-Sea. Maybe I'm not giving enough credit to the need to keep the wheels constantly spinning for young readers. Maybe, after Harry Potter type books, you need fantasy and magic and exotic beasts in every tale. I don't know. I do know that I'd like to give this book to as many kids as I could, and see what they think.

And I'm very keen to see where we go in the two promised sequels.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

THE MALAMANDER BY THOMAS TAYLOR


I RECEIVED THIS FREE ARC OF THE MALAMANDER THROUGH NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY REVIEW .THANKS AGAIN TO NETGALLEY AND WALKER BOOKS US FOR THE OPPORTUNITY .

It has been and extremely long time since i have finished a book in two days i received this ebook yesterday and finished it today . I really enjoyed the intriguing story line and the imagination and mystery with which the story was told . i was so happy and relieved when i was pulled into the story from the start ,most of the time it takes me a 100 pages plus to get into a story and i end up putting the book down , That was not the case with this book. Here is a goodreads summary about what the book is about :Malamander is told from the perspective of Herbert Lemon, the Lost-and-Founder of the Grand Nautilus Hotel, who tries to unite objects that have been left at the hotel with their owners. Other characters in the story include Violet Palma, who is lost and needs to be found, and the eponymous Malamander, who controls people’s dreams. - source-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43132607-malamander


In my reviews i will usually put what i liked and what i didn't like but with this book there wasn't anything i didn't like . The story and the plot keep you guessing and wondering and except for a few fantastical elements human nature and what people will do for greed come shining through . i had a tough time putting this book down and when i absolutely had to i was thinking about what was going to happen next i really enjoyed the names of all the characters they fit each character like a glove and the story had a good balance of humor ,sadness and a little bit of spooky thrown in . I really needed a good book pick me up one that would feed my imagination and let me escape for a while and this book is it .I felt that it leaves room for a sequel so i'm hoping that is in the works , There are a few illustrations in the book which i cant wait to get my hands on a physical copy so i can see them come to life . I would say this book falls under the age of a middle grade chapter book. The genre is fantasy/adventure .This book was published May 2nd, 2019 and will be available to you on September 10, 2019. It is however available for preorder .