Immortal Remains (Weirdsville) by Rook Hastings - Revision history

Sue at 11:31, 1 September 2020

2020-09-01T11:31:50Z

Jill at 18:55, 10 April 2018

2018-04-10T18:55:24Z

Sue at 13:43, 31 December 2014

2014-12-31T13:43:45Z

Jill at 12:33, 3 September 2010

2010-09-03T12:33:12Z

Jill: Created page with '{{infobox |title=Immortal Remains (Weirdsville) |author=Rook Hastings |reviewer=Jill Murphy |genre=Teens |summary=Enjoyable follow-up to Hastings's first tale of the unexpected s…'

2010-09-03T12:32:00Z

Created page with '{{infobox |title=Immortal Remains (Weirdsville) |author=Rook Hastings |reviewer=Jill Murphy |genre=Teens |summary=Enjoyable follow-up to Hastings's first tale of the unexpected s…'

New review

{{infobox
|title=Immortal Remains (Weirdsville)
|author=Rook Hastings
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Teens
|summary=Enjoyable follow-up to Hastings's first tale of the unexpected set in Weirdsville, sorry Woodsville. It's just as creepy, has just as good a twist in its tail, and readers will enjoy the developing character relationships.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|paperback=0007258119
|pages=272
|publisher=Harper Collins
|website=http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/Authors/8613/rook-hastings
|date=September 2010
|isbn=0007258119
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007258119</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0007258119</amazonus>
}}

Welcome back to Weirdsville, sorry Woodsville, the town set in a truly creepy hollow, whose forest contains the greatest concentration of ghosts you'll find anywhere in England. Fresh from vanquishing a ghost army and enabling Emily to pass on to the other side and be reunited with her mother, our four reluctant ghosthunters have a new mystery to solve. Freak accidents have killed four local girls in the last four months, and Charlotte is convinced she will be next. She's the only one left alive from a seance she and her friends took part in, and she is certain that death is stalking her.

But is our trusty band of Woodsville ghosthunters up to the task? Jay has had a worrying encounter with his own ghost, who predicted his death, so his mind isn't really as sharp as it should be. Bethany was foolish enough to write a supernatural blog and post it on the school website, so she's drawn some unwelcome attention and is fighting off pranks and freak-hating bullies. Kelly is missing Hashim and trying to avoid being sucked into Beth's social pariah status. And Hashim - poor Hashim - he's bailed out altogether, unable to banish memories of poor dead Emily from his mind, and just as unable to avoid the ghosts who follow him around all day and all night.

Grandad Albert isn't feeling too hopeful either...

Hooray! ''Immortal Remains'' was just as enjoyable as Rook Hastings's [[Nearly Departed by Rook Hastings|first book]] about Woodsville. It's just as creepy, has just as good a twist in its tail, and maintains the same lightness of touch. I love the dialogue between the main characters in particular - it's smart and snappy and full of smart one-liners. Readers should pinch some as catchphrases! In ''Nearly Departed'' we got quite a bit of character backstory, but in ''Immortal Remains'' we see relationships develop into some interesting conflicts. Kelly fancies Hashim, Jay fancies Kelly, Bethan fancies Jay. But somehow, they need to put all that aside so they can save the world. I like the way Hastings treats the romantic conflict in her books - it's there and it's interesting, but it's not the whole point. It's a welcome change from the entire paranormal romance genre that's grown up around [[Twilight by Stephanie Meyer|Twilight]].

The writing is accessible and efficient, with a good sprinkling of wit. The pace is good and so is the tension, and as you read you find yourself making guesses about what the inevitable twist will be - so Hastings involves her readers all along the way. ''Immortal Remains'' will appeal greatly to all junior lovers of creepy fiction - boys ''and'' girls - and I'd particularly recommend it to tweens and early teens.

My thanks to the good people at Harper Collins for sending the book.

If they're into all things that go bump in the night, they might also enjoy [[The Dead (The Dark) by David Gatward]], which is gloriously gruesome, or [[The Glittering Eye by LJ Adlington]], which adds timeslipping and Ancient Egypt into the ghostly mix.

{{amazontext|amazon=0007258119}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=7688735}}

{{commenthead}}

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 My thanks to the good people at Harper Collins for sending the book.
-If they're into all things that go bump in the night, they might also enjoy [[The Dead (The Dark) by David Gatward]], which is gloriously gruesome, or [[The Glittering Eye by LJ Adlington]], which adds timeslipping and Ancient Egypt into the ghostly mix.
+If they're into all things that go bump in the night, they might also enjoy [[The Dead (The Dark) by David Gatward]], which is gloriously gruesome, or [[The Glittering Eye by LJ Adlington]], which adds timeslipping and Ancient Egypt into the ghostly mix.  You might also enjoy [[Grymm by Keith Austin]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=0007258119}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox2
 |title=Immortal Remains (Weirdsville)
 |author=Rook Hastings
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |date=September 2010
 |isbn=0007258119
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007258119</amazonuk>
+|aznuk=0007258119
-|amazonus=<amazonus>0007258119</amazonus>
+|aznus=0007258119
 }}

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |buy=Yes
 |borrow=Yes
 |pages=272
 |publisher=Harper Collins
@@ Line 32: / Line 31: @@
 If they're into all things that go bump in the night, they might also enjoy [[The Dead (The Dark) by David Gatward]], which is gloriously gruesome, or [[The Glittering Eye by LJ Adlington]], which adds timeslipping and Ancient Egypt into the ghostly mix.
-{{amazontext|amazon=0007258119}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=7688735}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=0007258119}}
 {{commenthead}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Grandad Albert isn't feeling too hopeful either...
-Hooray! ''Immortal Remains'' was just as enjoyable as Rook Hastings's [[Nearly Departed by Rook Hastings|first book]] about Woodsville. It's just as creepy, has just as good a twist in its tail, and maintains the same lightness of touch. I love the dialogue between the main characters in particular - it's smart and snappy and full of smart one-liners. Readers should pinch some as catchphrases! In ''Nearly Departed'' we got quite a bit of character backstory, but in ''Immortal Remains'' we see relationships develop into some interesting conflicts. Kelly fancies Hashim, Jay fancies Kelly, Bethan fancies Jay. But somehow, they need to put all that aside so they can save the world. I like the way Hastings treats the romantic conflict in her books - it's there and it's interesting, but it's not the whole point. It's a welcome change from the entire paranormal romance genre that's grown up around [[Twilight by Stephanie Meyer|Twilight]].
+Hooray! ''Immortal Remains'' was just as enjoyable as Rook Hastings's [[Nearly Departed by Rook Hastings|first book]] about Woodsville. It's just as creepy, has just as good a twist in its tail, and maintains the same lightness of touch. I love the dialogue between the main characters in particular - it's smart and snappy and full of smart one-liners. Readers should pinch some as catchphrases! In ''Nearly Departed'' we got quite a bit of character backstory, but in ''Immortal Remains'' we see relationships develop into some interesting conflicts. Kelly fancies Hashim, Jay fancies Kelly, Bethan fancies Jay. But somehow, they need to put all that aside so they can save the world. I like the way Hastings treats the romantic conflict in her books - it's there and it's interesting, but it's not the whole point. It's a welcome change from the entire paranormal romance genre that's grown up around [[Twilight by Stephenie Meyer|Twilight]].
 The writing is accessible and efficient, with a good sprinkling of wit. The pace is good and so is the tension, and as you read you find yourself making guesses about what the inevitable twist will be - so Hastings involves her readers all along the way. ''Immortal Remains'' will appeal greatly to all junior lovers of creepy fiction - boys ''and'' girls - and I'd particularly recommend it to tweens and early teens.