Max Helsing and the Beast of Bone Creek by Curtis Jobling

Max is a normal boy who is a bit abnormal.  I mean chasing monsters is not normal, right?

Viking Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 8th.

It's a Van Helsing tradition to hunt monsters.  In Max's case he tries to relocate them to a new place they can live peacefully.  Not all monsters are peaceful, though...

The story starts with the school going to an outdoor bound camp.  Max has a couple of friends with him and camp looks like fun.  The town is small and laid back.  If only the school bully hadn't come along it would be great.  Then odd things start to happen.

The young couple camping near them disappears.  The reporter trying to get a story disappears.  When Max tries to find the old man who's been living on the mountain to try to find out what's happening, he finds him dead.  He also finds some vampires. From there, he and his friend head back down the mountain and take shelter from the rain.  That's where they meet the troll.

While those beasts wanted to kill him, he found some friendlies, too.  A brownie that could play a soothing tune, some fairy sprites, and more.  That's a good thing, he's going to need their help.

With monsters galore, some nice and some not, this story is quite an adventure.  All I have to say is that I am glad I'm NOT a monster hunter!  

Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse by Curtis Jobling

Max's whole family killed monsters.  Max does, too.  This time, though, it looks like the monsters may win...

Viking Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 10th.  

Max lives with an old former prize fighter and they work out a lot to keep in shape.  You need to keep in shape to fight monsters.  He also has a puppy.  It's a hellhound.  It's not real pretty but it's supposed to be useful.  

The first clue Max gets that he's marked comes when his hellhound comes after him.  He has a heck of time getting out of the apartment alive.  Then when he's walking down the street that day a ghoul comes after him.  They don't go after live people and they only rise at night, so what's going on?

Each monster is pictured, described in detail and you learn how it likes to kill.  Max ends up fighting with them all in this tale.  There's lots of action, a long dead man comes back to life, enchantment is involved, and you never know who's going to win each contest.  It's good that Max has some friends.

The current threat is eliminated but there's an older meaner threat just coming to life.  Max's worries aren't over yet.  This will be an interesting series.