This book takes place mostly in the north part of the County. Tom goes to train with another Spook for six months to learn about water witches and the other things that live in or near the water. Water witches are delightfully creepy and I really enjoyed seeing another part of the County. ( )

With his second winter as the spook’s apprentice fast approaching, Thomas Ward is to be sent north to Caster to spend the next six months under the apprenticeship of the spook Bill Arkwright. Tom is told he will learn a lot in the north, that it will toughen him up, but he is not looking forward to leaving the spook or Alice, and according to his letter Arkwright is not looking to having him stay.

When he arrives he soon learns that things are different in the north, yes there are still witches to contend with but these are mostly water witches and nothing like the witches he has encountered so far. The worst of these is Morwena, the Fiend’s own daughter who has made killing Tom her sole purpose in life. But Tom’s is not the only life in danger, and when a deal is made with the dark the spook will make the biggest mistake of his life.

The Spook’s Mistake could cost lives or lose him an apprentice as his greatest fear of the darks influence comes to bare. As Tom is drawn ever closer to the dark and to his own demise, Alice will stop at nothing to protect him despite the consequences. But when truths are revealed and alliances are made, the line between dark and light is blurred and in the half light the future of all is uncertain. Another brilliantly entertaining story. ( )

Tom Ward is sent north by himself to be trained by one of the Spook's former apprentices, Bill Arkwright. Bill lives in an abandoned mill, haunted by his dead parents, and teaches Tom to fight physically. Then, Tom is attacked by the water witch, Bloodeye, who is a daughter of his archnemisis. Good plot twists, especially with friend Alice and foe, the Fiend. ( )

Joseph Delaney's books deserve six stars. ( )

An interesting story about ye ol' apprentice broadening his horizons. New horrible creature to deal with, etc.

My issue with this was the definition of the fiend as the dark, but no corresponding force for the light. The line between dark & light is continuing to be blurred and the Spook is presented as an old fool for not using the dark against the dark. ( )