The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, by Chris Wooding, is a challenging, complex and utterly intriguing novel that grips with spine-chilling certainty from the very first page.

Set in the dark streets of London after the Vernichtung, a war that left the city and its people damaged and rotten to the core, the enigmatic Alaizabel Cray wanders alone and vulnerable amid the debris. As she wanders through the labyrinth of the Old Quarter, touching people with beauty while holding the key to the evil all around, Alaizabel crosses the thresholds of the souls that lurk in the darkness...

This is a stunning and unforgettable novel, rich in imagination and executed with a touch of unforgettable class. Reminiscent of work by Joan Aiken and Philip Pullman, there is also an extra dash of pure horror that will send a shiver down the spine, making it a great read for even the most reluctant reader. (Ages 11 and over) --Susan Harrison

It happened after the Vernichtung-the war left the city damaged, bruised, battered, its people shattered and battle-scarred, and open to a terrifying retribution...Foul things lurk within the labyrinth of the Old Quarter, and those who venture out a night are easy prey. Prey for the wolves and murderers that stalk the crooked streets, and for creatures far more deadly-the wych-kin. But evil diguised is deadliest of all. And behind the facade of wealth and charity that surrounds the uppermost levels of society lies a terrifying pact with the wych-kin that threatens humankind's very existence. At the heart is the beautiful, vulnerable, enigmatic Alaizabel Cray-key to the ultimate evil. Chris Wooding weaves an utterly compelling story set against a vividly imagined cityscape. You will be drawn irresistibly into its cobbled lanes, where the darkness awaits.

2008-05-16 Amazing

As voracious reader, I've read many books, and I have to say, this book is one of the best I have ever read. The plot is superb, the characterisation is believable, the description is so good you feel as if you were actually there with the characters... I think there is something in this book for everyone, and I would urge you to read it.