It's not long before Hanna encounters a strange magical creature called a Hikey Sprite who has been called back to this world to battle the evil Shuck — a monstrous, huge black dog with glowing red eyes — and its partners in crime, the two Fomorian Giants Balor and Tethra. Together, the giants and the Shuck have wreaked havoc before, causing untold death and destruction. And now they're back.
Soon, a string of disturbing events starts to unfold in the community: there's a pile-up on the motorway that causes numerous injuries; a fire sweeps through the nearby industrial estate; and the school is vandalised. As the power of the Shuck increases, it's up to Hanna, her friend Sophie, Gem the dog, and Kalan the Hikey Sprite to not only stop it, but destroy it and the giants forever.
This is an entertaining tale of adventure and suspense. Author Robert Coyle has made clever use of Norfolk folklore to bring to life a cast of magical creatures in a classic battle between good and evil. And in Hanna and Sophie, Kalan's human accomplices, he has created two quick-thinking girls who rise admirably to the challenge!
Title: The Hikey Sprite
Author: Robert Coyle
Publisher: Pen Press, $19.99 RRP
Publication Date: May 2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781780035246
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Fiction