A quirky, creepy fantasy set in Eerie-on-Sea finds a colorful cast of characters in hot pursuit of a sea monster thought to convey a surprising gift. It’s winter in the town of Eerie-on-Sea, where the mist is thick and the salt spray is rattling the windows of the Grand Nautilus Hotel. Inside, young Herbert Lemon, Lost and Founder for the hotel, has an unexpected visitor. It seems that Violet … seems that Violet Parma, a fearless girl around his age, lost her parents at the hotel when she was a baby, and she’s sure that the nervous Herbert is the only person who can help her find them. The trouble is, Violet is being pursued at that moment by a strange hook-handed man. And the town legend of the Malamander — a part-fish, part-human monster whose egg is said to make dreams come true — is rearing its scaly head. As various townspeople, some good-hearted, some nefarious, reveal themselves to be monster hunters on the sly, can Herbert and Violet elude them and discover what happened to Violet’s kin? This lighthearted, fantastical mystery, featuring black-and-white spot illustrations, kicks off a trilogy of fantasies set in the seaside town.more
Malamander
By thomastaylor
Malamander is a wonderfully atmospheric and cleverly written eerie tale for tweens. Adults will see the touch of H.P. Lovecraft’s influence but it’s a low-key nod to the master. A deliciously scary novel but mild enough to make it appropriate for the age group. Most kids who enjoy fantasy, adventure, derring do, mystery, and magic with a bit of horror and humor will enjoy it. Probably not for the overly sensitive or easily frightened child. (Some of my younger family members adored the popular Goosebumps series. In a case of “me too” reading, other young family members then wanted these books also only to discover that they were a bit too scary for them. Something to consider.)
Malamander is a fun and refreshing tween read that adult readers might well enjoy too. Between the mild frights, the book is actually quite charming. Sprinkled with amusing nautical names for the people and places… because the setting IS, after all a lovely old seaside resort appropriately named Cheerie-on-Sea – which it is – at least in the summer. Inexplicably but fittingly, the “Ch” fall off the sign every November so that it becomes Eerie-on-Sea every winter. And it is indeed eerie during that time of year.
The locals are used to the seasonal changes in their town. Summer visitors never see “the dark side” of their vacation spot. The one of rolling fogs, magic, legend, and inexplicable events. When most locals stay off the beach and tucked safely indoors. Especially after dark.
Herbert Lemon is an easygoing, happy-go-lucky orphan boy of unknown origins who had been discovered in a crate of lemons as a tot (thus his name) amongst the beach flotsam and “adopted” by the town. Still a young lad, he works at the Grand Nautilus Hotel as the official “Lost & Founder.” He is proud of his position and a job well done. All in all, an admirable character.
Violet Parma is somewhat reckless in her determination to find her lost parents. They had gone missing while staying at Herbert’s hotel twelve years prior leaving behind the infant Violet. Now a runaway, Violet has returned to the resort… in winter. A headstrong young girl who literally falls into Herbert’s life while being chased down by a very questionable and definitely scary character.
Herbert, having had to work for a living, is more common sense and practical but that does not preclude him from fully recognizing the town’s mystery, magic and danger. He is the voice of reason to Violet’s more impulsive nature who is yet untutored in the ways of Eerie-on-Sea.
Not all is at it seems at first. The old sea captain, the ancient hotel owner, the officious hotel manager, the noted local author, the bookstore that offers books by prescription, the eatery on the pier, the professional beachcomber, the doctor, even the legend of the frightening half-man, half-fish Malamander. Every person and place holds clues. But who is trustworthy and who is not? What should one believe or disbelieve? Secret knowledge, hidden agendas and secret motives abound. Of course there are good guys and bad guys but the most intriguing are the ones that fall in between. Herbert and Violet hunt down leads, face down and escape dangers by the skin of their teeth. And the reader will delight in untangling fact from fiction along with these intrepid young investigators.
Part ghost story, part fairy tale replete with myth, magic, and dangers unknown; it is a good reminder that: “Fairy tales are more than true: Not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman, derived from G.K. Chesterton.
Recommended for anyone of any age who ever enjoyed sitting around a campfire at night listening to spooky stories. An afternoon’s read for an adult. I would not hesitate to gift this title to most children and any adults who enjoy JF/YA paranormal fantasy. While this book works fine as a stand alone, I look forward to more in the series.
What an extremely cute, fun, and entertaining story this was! I loved the construct of the Malamander, and the two main characters were a delightful blend of charm, precocity, and, straight-up kid mischief. I loved the word play with character and location naming. Eerie-on-Sea and the Hotel Nautilus offered a marvelous setting for the magic and mystery, as both were full of just the right mix of dilapidation and possibility. The story was well devised, engaging, and offered openings for further adventures. And the concept of the Lost and Foundery was fabulous – a great way to explore childhood fears and concerns and offer myriad opportunities for future installments. In other words, the book delivered exactly what I like to see in this type of children’s story!
My review copy was provided via NetGalley.
i love dis book soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much
Do you like stories about INCREDIBLE things? How about stories that take you places that seem unimaginable and yet feel as though they are just beyond your reach? Do you fancy yourself a problem solver, clue follower, or mystery cracker extraordinaire? Well then, why didn’t you say so! It’s high time you join Herbert Lemon at Eerie-by-the-Sea as he gives temporary homes and protection to all things lost and seemingly forgotten…even PEOPLE…all while minding the meddling manager, trading for his fish and chips at the local seaside (or rather almost IN the sea) restaurant, and most recently, running for his life from a creepy, spooky, hook handed, sea drenched captain from many, MANY days gone by. Add to that the mystery of the girl (Violet) he is protecting, the mechanical book prescribing mer-monkey (yes, you read that right), and the other dangers and suspicious folks lurking around this sometimes charming seaside town, and you’ve got yourself one heck of an adventure!
Honestly, it’s a wild tale filled with darkness, light, and the distant chance that things may just turn out all right in the end, even if not in exactly the way we were expecting. Though purely fantasy (or is it?), it does remind us to believe in the fantastical, give chance to the unthinkable, and above all else, believe in ourselves.
**ARC received for review; opinions are my own