Thomas Taylor, Festergrimm (The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea #4), September 2022, Walker Books, 304 pp., RRP $18.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781529502121
Festergrimm is the fourth book in The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea series, and takes us back to reunite with Herbie and Violet.
Taylor proves once again what an exceptional writer he is in creating a spooky, tense atmosphere in Eerie-on-Sea when Sebastian Eels returns to town to open Festergrimm’s Wax Works. There’s a promise of renewed tourism because he wants to re-open it, and he sells it well enough that the adults in the town believe him. But Herbie and Violet are sure he’s up to no good
In truth, Sebastian is there searching for the Great Legend of Eerie-on-Sea, and Despite Herbie’s determinations not to have any adventures, that’s exactly what awaits them!
There is much to enjoy about this series – from the fantastic characterisation and Herbie and Violet’s voices that you cannot help but enjoy as you follow them into their next great adventure. The creepiness is palpable and enjoyable, and the pacing and humour have not waned since Gargantis.
I will admit there were times that I felt like I was flung headlong into too many things happening at once, before I decided to stop overthinking it and go along for the ride. There’s magic in Taylor’s writing that pulls you into Eerie-on-Sea, takes you on a grand, spooky, atmospheric adventure until you resurface at the other end.
Reviewed by Verushka Byrow