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About The Book

This gothic, gory novel—the third book in the Printz Honor–winning Monstrumologist series—is “articulately literary, horrifically grotesque, and mind-bendingly complex” (Kirkus Reviews).

When Dr. Warthrop goes hunting for the “Holy Grail of Monstrumology” with his eager new assistant, Arkwright, he leaves Will Henry in Victorian New York. Finally, Will can enjoy something that always seemed out of reach: a normal life with a real family. But part of Will can’t let go of Dr. Warthrop, and when Arkwright returns, claiming that the doctor is dead, Will is devastated—and not convinced.

Determined to discover the truth, Will travels to London, knowing that if he succeeds, he will be plunging into depths of horror worse than anything he has experienced so far. His journey takes him to Socotra, the Isle of Blood, where human beings are used to make nests and blood rains from the sky—and puts Will Henry’s loyalty to the ultimate test.

About The Author

Photograph courtesy of the author

Rick Yancey is the author of The Monstrumologist, The Curse of the Wendigo, The Isle of Blood, and The Final Descent. He is also the author of The Fifth Wave series. Rick lives with his wife Sandy and two sons in Gainesville, Florida. Visit him at RickYancey.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 13, 2011)
  • Length: 560 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416989745
  • Grades: 9 and up
  • Ages: 14 - 99
  • Lexile ® 810L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

* "The relationship between Will and his master has never been more complex...Yancey’s skill as a stylist cannot be denied."--Booklist, starred review

* "Articulately literary, horrifically grotesque and mind-bendingly complex, Yancey’s trilogy conclusion might be the best of the Monstrumologist trilogy. His 19th-century dialogue and descriptions run even smoother than the previous two titles, and his characters have grown deeply complex. He deftly blurs lines between science and the supernatural, and what results is a long, dark-night-of-the-soul journey for both Will Henry and Pellinore that is certain to turn the hearts and the stomachs of every reader who dares open its pages."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A wonderful mix of period fiction and gothic horror"--The Horn Book

"An excellent addition to an amazing series. The language is perfect, era-appropriate, and wryly humorous. The details are gruesome and horrific and not for the squeamish. The action is exciting and well-paced. The characters, their relationships, and the moral dilemmas they face, however, are the true hub of the story. Warthrop is gorgeously complex—at turns petulant and enthusiastic, selfish and giving, frighteningly intelligent, then blinded by ambition. But it is Will Henry who grows in this story, as he starts truly becoming a man...This is a wonderful book, and readers will yearn for the next in the series."—VOYA

Awards and Honors

  • Kirkus Best Young Adult Book
  • ALA/YALSA Readers/ Choice

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More books from this author: Rick Yancey

More books in this series: The Monstrumologist