I say the town is unfortunate because, every so often, a monster slips through a portal and tries to wreak havoc on the town and all its inhabitants.
Thankfully, Darkmouth have had the benefit of generations and generations of Legend Hunters -- those whose life is dedicated to defending Darkmouth from creatures who would see it destroyed.
Unfortunately for the residents of Darkmouth, the current Legend Hunter-in-training is Finn -- and he's not exactly agile or swift.
For that matter, he's not exactly enthusiastic about his role as Legend Hunter either.
Hegarty's writing style is at once funny, irreverent, and addictive. He has imagined a world that is vivid and enchanting and, through the very realistic characterisation of an awkward 12-year-old boy, Finn, it is easy to get sucked in to the story.
I've seen a lot of comparisons between this series and the Percy Jackson series. However, I think that's doing Hegarty somewhat of a disservice because I find the story, as well as his writing style, unique and fresh. In fact, I think this is the sort of book that will attract book lovers and reluctant readers alike.
Also, I can't go without mentioning the illustrations, conjured up by James de la Rue. They add an extra fun layer to an already enjoyable book.
Happy hunting!
Title: Darkmouth
Author: Shane Hegarty
Illustrator: James de la Rue
Publisher: Harper Collins, $9.99
Publication Date: 05 January 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978000754612
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Fiction
