A New Darkness

The first book in a chilling new trilogy from the author of the internationally bestselling Last Apprentice series! Tom Ward is an apprentice no longer—he is a full-fledged spook battling boggarts, witches, and other creatures of the dark. A New Darkness is the first in a three-book arc that introduces brand-new readers to Joseph Delaney's haunting world.

Tom Ward is the Spook, the one person who can defend the county from bloodthirsty creatures of the dark. But he's only seventeen, and his apprenticeship was cut short when his master died in battle. No one trusts Tom's skill, not until he's proven himself. And a fifteen-year-old girl named Jenny knows more about the three mysterious deaths in the county than Tom does. She is a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and she wants to be Tom's first apprentice—even though a female spook is unheard of. Together, Tom and Jenny will uncover the grave danger heading straight toward the county, and they'll team up with a witch assassin to confront it.

A New Darkness begins a three-book arc that will introduce new readers to Joseph Delaney's deliciously scary imagination, and electrify his longtime fans. A New Darkness is perfect for every reader who loves thrills, chills, action, and adventure—no prior knowledge of The Last Apprentice series is necessary!

The Last Apprentice series, the first internationally bestselling series about Tom Ward, is now a major motion picture, Seventh Son, starring Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia Williams, Antje Traue, Djimon Hounsou, and Julianne Moore as Mother Malkin.

But with a new evil rising, can an untested spook and his rule-breaking apprentice survive their first mission together?

• Breaking Tradition: A girl apprentice is unheard of, but Jenny—a mysterious seventh daughter of a seventh daughter—is determined to become Tom's first.
• Master and Apprentice: Tom's training was cut short when his master died. Now he must become the teacher, even as he faces threats he was never prepared for.
• Monster Hunting: From haunted inns to shadowy forests, Tom and Jenny must confront the ghosts, boggarts, and witches that plague the County's darkest corners.
• Sword and Sorcery: Featuring chilling magic, desperate battles, and a powerful witch assassin who is as much a threat as she is an ally.
• YA Horror: Perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, this is a deliciously scary adventure that will leave you sleeping with the lights on. No prior knowledge of the series is needed!