欧宝娱乐

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

讴賳鬲 讴丕乇賱卮鬲丕蹖賳

Rate this book
Count Karlstein, or The Ride of the Demon Huntsman, was Philip Pullman's first novel for children, published by Chatto and Windus in 1982. It is a wonderful Gothic melodrama which he first wrote as a play for school-children when he was an English teacher.
No one in the village of Karlstein dares to leave their home on All Souls Eve - the night Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman comes to claim his prey.
But the evil Count Karlstein has struck a terrible bargin with Zamiel, and so the lives of his young nieces, Lucy and Charlotte,are in danger. Their only hope lies with Hildi, a castle maidservant, and her fearless brother, Peter. Can they save the girls from their dreadful fate? Only one thing is certain - the Demon Huntsman will not return to his dark wood unsatisfied!

227 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 1982

44 people are currently reading
1,491 people want to read

About the author

Philip Pullman

275books25.1kfollowers
Sir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945". In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the eleventh most influential person in British culture. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
403 (15%)
4 stars
853 (33%)
3 stars
975 (38%)
2 stars
252 (9%)
1 star
43 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
Profile Image for Samantha.
130 reviews70 followers
October 22, 2017
This is a spooky-fun romp; Young Frankenstein for tweens!!!! It is a perfect mixture of gothic horror and slapstick comedy. Involves deals with the Devil, lost heirs, reunited lovers, and jailbreaks.
Profile Image for Sara Kamjou.
656 reviews500 followers
June 13, 2018
亘賴 賳馗乇 賲賳 讴賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 鬲賵蹖 亘蹖爻鬲 氐賮丨賴 亘賴 噩丕蹖 丿賵蹖爻鬲 賵 亘蹖爻鬲 氐賮丨賴 禺賱丕氐賴 亘卮賴! 丨丿賵丿 丿賵 爻賵賲 讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 禺賵賳丿賲 賵 丕夭 丕蹖賳讴賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲鈥屬囏� 丿賵乇 禺賵丿卮賵賳 賲蹖鈥屭嗀必屫� 賵 賴蹖趩 丕鬲賮丕賯蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屫з佖ж� 爻乇诏蹖噩賴 诏乇賮鬲賲 賵讴鬲丕亘 乇賵 亘爻鬲賲! 丨鬲蹖 亘乇丕賲 賲賴賲 賳亘賵丿 倬丕蹖丕賳卮 趩蹖 賲蹖鈥屫促�!
Profile Image for Payam Ebrahimi.
Author听68 books169 followers
March 2, 2023
賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 禺賵亘 賵 噩匕丕亘蹖 亘賵丿. 賮囟丕爻丕夭蹖鈥屬囏� 毓丕賱蹖 亘賵丿. 乇賵賳丿 丕鬲賮丕賯丕鬲 賴賲 噩丕賱亘 亘賵丿.
丿賱蹖賱 賵 賱夭賵賲蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丿丕卮鬲賳 趩賳丿 鬲丕 乇丕賵蹖 丿乇 賲蹖丕賳賴鈥屰� 讴丕乇 賳丿蹖丿賲. 禺氐賵氐丕賸 丕蹖賳鈥屭┵� 丿乇 倬丕蹖丕賳 賴蹖賱丿蹖 亘賴鈥屫官嗁堌з� 乇丕賵蹖 賲毓乇賮蹖 卮丿 讴賴 禺亘 丿乇 亘爻蹖丕乇蹖 丕夭 賲賵丕賯毓 賲賳胤賯 乇賵丕蹖鬲 乇賵 夭蹖乇爻賵丕賱 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ必�.
賳讴鬲賴鈥屰� 毓噩蹖亘 蹖讴爻丕賳 亘賵丿賳 賱丨賳 乇丕賵蹖鈥屬囏й� 讴丕乇 亘賵丿. 丕賱亘鬲賴 亘賴鈥屬嗀肛辟� 賲卮讴賱 丕夭 鬲乇噩賲賴 亘賵丿貙 趩賵賳 亘毓囟丕賸 讴賱賲丕鬲蹖 丿乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 丿蹖丿賴鈥屬呟屸€屫簇� 讴賴 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賵 爻賳 乇丕賵蹖 鬲賳丕賯囟 丿丕卮鬲 賵 賲蹖卮丿 賲胤賲卅賳 卮丿 讴賴 丕卮鬲亘丕賴 丕夭 賲鬲乇噩賲賴. 亘賴鈥屬嗀肛辟� 亘乇禺賵乇丿 賲鬲乇噩賲 亘丕 賲鬲賳 亘爻蹖丕乇 爻乇爻乇蹖 亘賵丿 賵 賲鬲乇噩賲 鬲賳賴丕 賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 賲鬲賳 乇賵 丕夭 爻乇 禺賵丿卮 亘丕夭讴賳賴. 丿乇 毓蹖賳 丨丕賱 讴賴 賲卮讴賱丕鬲 賮丕乇爻蹖 夭蹖丕丿蹖 賴賲 鬲賵蹖 賲鬲賳 丿蹖丿賴 賲蹖鈥屫簇� 讴賴 亘賴鈥屬嗀肛� 賲蹖鈥屫必迟� 亘丕蹖丿 亘賴鈥屫官嗁堌з� 亘禺卮 孬丕亘鬲蹖 丕夭 鬲乇噩賲賴鈥屬囏й� 丌賯丕蹖 賮乇亘丿 賵 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 倬乇蹖丕賳 亘倬匕蹖乇蹖賲. 丕賲丕 丿乇 賳賴丕蹖鬲 禺賵丿 讴鬲丕亘 丕賵賳賯丿乇 賯賵蹖 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕卮鬲亘丕賴丕鬲 亘爻蹖丕乇 鬲乇噩賲賴 賴賲 賳賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 噩賱賵蹖 賱匕鬲鈥屫ㄘ必� 丕夭 賲鬲賳 乇賵 亘诏蹖乇賴.
賳讴鬲賴鈥屰� 丌禺乇 丕蹖賳 讴賴 倬丕蹖丕賳 禺賵卮貙 丿乇 丕蹖賳 丨丿 賵 丕賳丿丕夭賴 亘賴鈥屬嗀肛辟� 亘蹖卮鬲乇 賲賳丕爻亘 蹖讴 讴鬲丕亘 胤賳夭 亘賵丿 鬲丕 趩賳蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘蹖. 倬丕蹖丕賳 賲蹖鈥屫堎嗀池� 丕賳賯丿乇 禺賵卮 賵 诏賱 賵 亘賱亘賱 賳亘丕卮賴 賵 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 亘氐賵乇鬲 禺蹖賱蹖 賮乇賲丕蹖卮蹖 賵 睾蹖乇毓丕丿蹖 爻乇賳賵卮鬲 禺賵亘蹖 乇賵 亘乇丕蹖 鬲賲丕賲 卮禺氐蹖鬲賴丕 乇賯賲 賳夭賳賴
Profile Image for Sheila Beaumont.
1,102 reviews169 followers
March 18, 2017
This supernatural thriller is a bit scary, but it's also very funny. It's based on the legend of the Wild Hunt and the Demon Huntsman. The story involves plenty of outlandish characters and hilarious incidents. The high point is the shooting match near the end where one very improbable coincidence after another is revealed. Grownups, don't miss out on this one. It's not just for children.
Profile Image for giada.
651 reviews99 followers
November 6, 2024
Another spooky season read! This time I went back to the basics and read something by an author that I've been desperately trying to read from again (I swear my reread of His Dark Materials will happen one day).

In the first children's book ever published by Pullman, with elements inspired by Weber's opera Der Freisch眉tz , an evil count intends to sacrifice his two nieces to the Demon Huntsman on the night of All Soul's Eve. In a series of tales recounted by different narrators, we discover how one of the castle's servants, Hildi, helps the two girls escape, but that is only the beginning of their incredible adventures.

The cast of characters is picturesque and improbable, and the language used lends itself perfectly to the cartoonish events. Even the style of the different point of view reflects the personalities of the current speakers: the two girls, lovers of Gothic fiction, write as if just escaped from a Radcliffe novel, with affected tones and exaggerated emotions, the assistant of a fraudulent magician gets distracted on every sentence he speaks, while Hildi, who ends up being the main narrator, is more matter of fact.

Despite lacking the depth of the books that brought the author to international fame, Count Karlstein was a fun and quick read, perfect for young children but also okay for adults that like to relieve their childhood as well.

I do have to say that the names of some of the characters and sometimes even their descriptions hold antisemitic values - first and foremost the count himself, with his Jewish sounding surname and his desire to kill his precious English nieces for the sake of wealth; the fact that this is a children's book doesn't excuse the continued portrayal of a racist stereotype that is so common it's become almost invisible to our eyes, so much so that I'm willing to believe Pullman didn't even notice doing it - maybe in the eighties when the novel was first published it wasn't discussed as much, but as modern readers we have to force ourselves to notice and denounce this kind of thing when it happens.
Profile Image for Sarah.
8 reviews
July 31, 2012
This story is both scary and hilarious at the same time. It reminded me of Dracula or Frankentein for the younger reader, as it had the same gothic aspects and style of writing.

Set in the fictional swiss village of Karlstein, it tells the story of the evil Count Karlstein; who makes a terrible deal with the Demon Huntsman, Zamiel. The Count's two young neice's Lucy and Charlotte are in danger as a result of their Uncle's bargain and it is up to Hildi, the castle's maidservant to help them. With the aid of a few funny characters along the way, including the marvellous Cadaverezzi and his assistant Max, Hildi sets out to save her friends.

This book could be read independantly by strong readers in Y5 or Y6 but some aspects may need explaining if it was read to younger children. What I found most enjoyable about this book was the different narratives and how Pullman has managed to make each character have their own voice. This is something which could be explored in class, encouraging the children to imagine they are writing their own account of the story and then they could compare with each other to see how they have understood or interpretted different parts of the story differently.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
33 reviews7 followers
May 29, 2010
I do not profess to be an expert on the works of Philip Pullman, but I have read a few, and I have to admit this book, of which I never knew of its existence until I saw it on the shelf at the library, is one of his finest. In a writing style and narrative I feel to be completely different from his other works, Pullman puts together a first person account of an extraordinary adventure full of danger, confusion, several mishaps, and everything finally set to rights, told by several of the main characters of the novel. The book is divided into three parts, the first and last told by Hildi, and the middle a collection of accounts by different participants. I wasn't sure if I liked it this way--I thought it should either all be told by Hildi, or the switching narratives be more evenly distributed, but in the end it comes together perfectly, and leaves you in far more suspense if it had been done any other way. I was able to figure out what was going to happen long before it did in some instances, but that did little to diminish my enjoyment or satisfaction of the book.
Profile Image for Melki.
7,008 reviews2,561 followers
October 24, 2017
When maidservent Hildi overhears her employer Count Karlstein discussing his nefarious plans for his two nieces, she knows she must do something to stop him. But, she's only a young girl herself. What can she do?

And so the fun begins . . .

I took away one star because Hildi, so instrumental to the whole story, isn't there at the rescue.

That aside, there's a huge cast of colorful characters, with plenty of hijinks, and mistaken identity. It reminded me of grand opera, and would in fact make a fantastic musical, or even a Tim Burton movie.
Profile Image for Nicky.
4,138 reviews1,100 followers
August 10, 2011
Count Karlstein isn't as good as Clockwork -- maybe that's the fact that I didn't read it as a child and I don't have associated nostalgia, though. Anyway, it's in a similar vein, a little bit of a Gothic story with suspense and an improbably wonderful conclusion. Fun, easy to read, but not ground-breaking, and predictable.

Definitely something I imagine children would get more out of than an adult. One thing I did find quite fun was Lucy and Charlotte's narratives -- their overwrought style of narration was perfect.
Profile Image for Annie.
711 reviews62 followers
January 30, 2021
Ein ehemaliges Theaterst眉ck aus Philip Pullmans Tagen als Lehrer aufgearbeitet als kindgerechter Schauerroman.
Und kindgerecht war es leider - aber auch putzig. Und witzig! Glatt w眉nscht man sich einen Lehrer wie Philip Pullman, der in der eigenen Schule - oder der Schule der eigenen Kinder - solch ein St眉ck auf die Beine stellt!
Wahrscheinlich bin ich pers枚nlich ein bisschen zu alt f眉r dieses Buch.
Ist also mehr eine Leseempfehlung f眉r Kinder im Grundschulalter. Mit 230 Seiten auch kurz und leicht verdaulich.

Profile Image for Setzoka.
32 reviews43 followers
May 25, 2019
讴鬲丕亘 禺賵亘蹖 賳亘賵丿. 亘毓丿 丕夭 讴賵讴蹖 丕賳鬲馗丕乇 丿丕卮鬲賲 蹖賴 趩蹖夭 賮賵賯鈥屫з勜关ж� 丕夭 賮賱蹖倬 倬賵賱賲賳 亘禺賵賳賲. 丕賲丕 丕蹖賳 乇丕囟蹖賲 賳讴乇丿.
蹖賴 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 賲賳 鬲賵蹖 丕睾賱亘 賳賵卮鬲賴鈥屬囏� 丿賵爻鬲 丿丕乇賲 鬲睾蹖蹖乇 乇丕賵蹖蹖賴. 亘丕毓孬 诏爻鬲乇卮 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘賴 氐賵乇鬲 卮丕禺賴鈥屫й� 賲蹖卮賴. 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 丨鬲蹖 蹖讴賲 乇賵蹖 乇蹖鬲賲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕孬乇 丿丕乇賴. 賵 賴賲蹖賳胤賵乇 蹖賴 賴賳乇賳賲丕蹖蹖賴 丕夭 胤乇賮 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴. 丕賲丕 鬲賵蹖 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丕氐賱丕 禺賵亘 丿乇 賳蹖賵賲丿賴 亘賵丿. 亘乇毓讴爻 乇蹖鬲賲賵 讴賳丿 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿. 亘蹖卮 丕夭 丨丿 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 倬賴賳丕 倬蹖丿丕 讴乇丿賴 亘賵丿 賵 丨賵氐賱賴 爻乇 亘乇 卮丿賴 亘賵丿. 蹖賴 亘丕乇 蹖讴蹖 亘賴賲 诏賮鬲 禺蹖賱蹖 賲賴賲賴 鬲賵蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺賵丕賳賳丿賴 賴賲卮 亘倬乇爻賴 禺亘 亘毓丿卮 趩蹖 賲蹖卮賴責
賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘诏賲 賲賳 賵丕賯毓丕 丕賴賲蹖鬲 賳賲蹖鈥屫ж� 亘毓丿卮 趩蹖 賲蹖卮賴. 鬲賳賴丕 丿賱蹖賱蹖 讴賴鈥� 禺賵賳丿賲卮 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 賳賲蹖鈥屫堌ж池� 蹖賴 讴丕乇 賳氐賮賴鈥屭┴ж辟団€屰� 丿蹖诏賴 鬲賵 夭賳丿诏蹖賲 亘丕賯蹖 亘賲賵賳賴. 賵诏乇賳賴 丿賴鈥屬囏� 亘丕乇 賵爻胤卮 賵賱卮 賲蹖鈥屭┴必�.
賲蹖鈥屫堎嗁� 亘诏賲 丨鬲蹖 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賴丕 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 鬲賵蹖 丕賱賯丕蹖 丕丨爻丕爻丕鬲 賲卮讴賱 丿丕卮鬲. 亘丕 丕蹖賳 讴賴 丨噩賲 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賳爻亘鬲 亘賴 倬蹖乇賳诏 夭蹖丕丿 亘賵丿 賵 讴卮 丿丕乇佻 卮禺氐蹖鬲丕 丕讴孬乇 亘丿 倬乇丿丕禺鬲 卮丿賴 亘賵丿賳. 丕夭 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賲賳賮蹖 亘丿賲 賳賲蹖鈥屫з堎呚�. 亘丕 卮禺氐蹖鬲丕蹖 賲孬亘鬲 丨丕賱 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 丿乇讴卮賵賳 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�. 亘乇丕賲 毓賲蹖賯 賳亘賵丿賳! 丕賱亘鬲賴 卮禺氐蹖鬲 丿讴鬲乇 讴丕丿丕賵乇鬲爻蹖 乇賵 讴賴 蹖賴 卮毓亘丿賴 亘丕夭 亘賵丿 禺賵亘 倬乇丿丕禺鬲賴 亘賵丿 賵 丿賵爻鬲卮 丿丕卮鬲賲. 丕賲丕 賳讴鬲賴 丕蹖賳 亘賵丿 讴賴 丕蹖賳 卮禺氐蹖鬲 讴丕賲賱丕 賮乇毓蹖 亘賵丿! 毓賲賱丕 讴丕乇 禺丕氐蹖 賳賲蹖鈥屭┴必�!
禺賱丕氐賴鈥屰� 賲丕噩乇丕 丕蹖賳 讴賴 禺蹖賱蹖 賳丕丕賲蹖丿 卮丿賲.
Profile Image for Ham.
Author听1 book43 followers
September 30, 2012
This full cast recording was awesome. It was a little distracting have the music start up in the middle of the story for no apparent reason (other than to manipulate our mood) but overall I loved the actors and sound effects.
Pullman is a great writer, and knows how to make memorable characters. His problem is plot. He goes off on tangents (that are often fun, but serve to weaken the reader's involvement). I found myself liking this book, but not feeling particularly interested in what might happen next.
I imagined myself finishing and being dissatisfied. So I quit to save time.
Profile Image for Eden Silverfox.
1,191 reviews98 followers
June 26, 2012
10 years ago Count Karlstein made a deal with Zamiel, the demon huntsman. That deal is soon coming to an end and Zamiel will be coming to collect his part of the deal. The deal was Count Karlstein is to give Zamiel prey, two humans and Count Karlstein has decided to sacrifice his two nieces.
Hildi, the maidservant, overhears his evil plan and knows she has to do something. She can't let anything happen to Lucy and Charlotte. So, Hildi comes up with a plan of her own.

Philip Pullman is a favorite author of mine, but it has been awhile since I've read one of his books. I choose this one as it is one I hadn't read yet. And this book reminded me just exactly why Pullman is one of my favorite authors. He puts together a story filled with action, mystery and a bit of the supernatural.
The book is split into three parts, first part is narrated by Hildi. Part two is narrated by various characters and it actually works out rather well. It was neat to get inside the head of other characters from the book besides Hildi. The third part is again narrated by Hildi.
I quite liked the characters. Hildi was very nice and caring. She didn't want anything to happen to Lucy or Charlotte. And of course, there is Lucy and Charlotte. You really have to feel for them, their uncle wants to give them to the demon huntsman to save his own life. Plus, there are other wonderful characters that do their part for the story.
I really thought this was a great book. I love it. It just has all the right things to keep a story interesting and make you want to keep reading.
Profile Image for Lilly.
15 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2009
You may be familiar with The Golden Compass and the Sally Lockhart Mystery Series, but the best Pullman I've listened to is Count Karlstein. Like the others, it is a full-cast production. It's gothic darkness is offset by it's surprising good humor. I enjoyed the adventure of the 14 years Hildi Kelmar, as she encounters a broad array of well-drawn gothic characters. Her practical problem solving, determination and good humor held the story together for me. It's a delightful one-off of Pullmans. Perfect road trip listen!
Profile Image for 褟蟽胁蔚褟褌.
322 reviews17 followers
March 20, 2025
讴鬲丕亘 夭蹖亘丕蹖蹖 亘賵丿 丨丕賱 賵 賴賵丕蹖蹖 讴賴 丿丕卮鬲 賲賳丕爻亘 乇賳噩 爻賳蹖 賳賵噩賵丕賳 賴爻鬲卮 賵賱蹖 亘賴 禺丕胤乇 賯賱賲 卮蹖乇蹖賳 倬賵賱賲賳 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱 賴賲 賱匕鬲 賲蹖鈥屫ㄘ辟�
丿乇 讴賱 禺蹖賱蹖 賳賯賱蹖 噩賲毓 賵 噩賵乇 賵 賮丕賳鬲夭蹖 賯卮賳诏蹖 丿丕卮鬲
賵賱蹖 丨蹖賮 讴賴 賴乇 趩蹖夭蹖 讴賴 丕夭 倬賵賱賲賳 賲蹖禺賵賳賲 匕賴賳賲 賳丕禺賵丿丌诏丕賴 亘丕 賳蹖乇賵蹖 丕賴乇蹖賲賳蹖 丕卮 賲賯丕蹖爻賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 賵 丕賲鬲蹖丕夭 讴賲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 丕夭 讴鬲丕亘賴丕卮
丨賯 丕蹖賳 讴賳鬲 讴丕乇賱卮鬲丕蹖賳 趩賴丕乇 爻鬲丕乇賴 丕爻鬲 丨丿丕賯賱 丕賲丕 趩賴 讴賳蹖賲 讴賴 亘賴鬲乇蹖賳 賴丕乇賵 賴賲蹖卮賴 賲蹖禺賵丕蹖賲
Profile Image for Patricia.
155 reviews35 followers
June 30, 2011
This book is very entertaining but keep in mind it's directed to a younger audience (if that really matter to you and if you are looking for a more adult read). I read this book when I was 16 and enjoyed it a lot even though I was a bit too old for it. Philip Pullman is a great story teller and every time I read one of his books I feel like it has entertaining secrets for his older and more philosophical audience..... this book is no exception so I recommend this for the young at heart.
Profile Image for Haniyh Mir.
208 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2022
丿丕爻鬲丕賳 噩丕賱亘蹖 丿丕卮鬲 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 賵賱蹖 亘賴 賳馗乇賲 鬲賴卮 禺蹖賱蹖 夭蹖丕丿 夭賵丿 亘爻鬲賴 卮丿. 丕賱亘鬲賴 賮讴乇 賲蹖讴賳賲 丕蹖賳 禺丕氐蹖鬲 讴鬲丕亘鈥屬囏й� 讴賱丕爻蹖讴蹖 賲孬賱 丕蹖賳 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘丕卮賴.
禺蹖賱蹖 夭蹖丕丿 賲賳 乇賵 蹖丕丿 卮亘丨 丕倬乇丕 丕賳丿丕禺鬲 亘丕 丕蹖賳讴賴 賴蹖趩 鬲卮丕亘賴蹖 鬲賵卮 賳亘賵丿.
丿乇 讴賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 禺蹖賱蹖 噩丕賱亘蹖 丿丕卮鬲.
Profile Image for Nader Nate.
275 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2025
In the beginning I felt lost between the characters and the plot as well, but in the second act I was able to connect the characters and events, and the experience was good.
The story involves silly and hilarious moments with fun spooky adventure too, I liked the story's illustrations, despite it distracted me a bit at first.
There was a lacking depth in the story but overall the book was fun and quick read with a good ending too.
**
#VERDICT
(6.8/10)
Profile Image for 賲赖卮蹖丿.
505 reviews26 followers
December 24, 2021
讴賳鬲 讴丕乇賱卮鬲丕蹖賳. 禺亘 亘毓丿 丕夭 賲丿鬲賴丕 蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘 賳賵噩賵丕賳 賴賲 賲毓乇賮蹖 讴賳賲. 丕蹖賳 讴鬲丕亘 丿丕爻鬲丕賳蹖 卮丕丿 賵 賲賮乇丨 丿丕乇賴. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 丿乇 丕氐賱 诏夭丕乇卮蹖 丕夭 蹖賴 讴賳鬲 丿乇賵睾蹖 賵 亘丿噩賳爻蹖 賴丕蹖蹖 賴爻鬲 讴賴 爻乇 亘乇丕丿乇夭丕丿賴 賴丕卮 丿乇賲蹖丕乇賴. 賴蹖賱丿蹖 丿禺鬲乇讴 禺丿賲鬲讴丕乇 賯氐乇貙 亘丕 夭乇賳诏蹖 賵 噩爻丕乇鬲貙 讴賱讴 賴丕蹖 讴賳鬲 丿乇賵睾蹖 乇賵 乇賵 賲蹖讴賳賴 賵 賲丕噩乇丕蹖 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 乇賵 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖讴賳賴. 丕賱亘鬲賴 亘禺卮 賴丕蹖蹖 丕夭 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賴賲 丕夭 夭亘丕賳 亘丕賯蹖 卮禺氐蹖鬲 賴丕 鬲毓乇蹖賮 賲蹖卮賴. 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 亘乇丕蹖 賲禺丕胤亘 亘夭乇诏爻丕賱 賲賲讴賳賴 讴賲蹖 胤賵賱丕賳蹖 賵 讴爻賱 讴賳賳丿賴 亘丕卮賴 丕賲丕 賮讴乇 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗁� 亘乇丕蹖 賲禺丕胤亘 賳賵噩賵賵賳 丕賳鬲禺丕亘 禺賵亘蹖賴.
Profile Image for Yeganeh.
5 reviews
December 23, 2024
When I was in the primary school, I read this book and I was literally OBSESSED! I think this book is pleasurable for young girls, cause two main characters who defeat the villain(their uncle) are teenage girls while being in a miserable state.
And this is why I really love this book since childhood. 馃槄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Beverly.
219 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2023
This was a delightful offering from the author of the 鈥淗is Dark Materials鈥� series. Set in a fictional Swiss village in the early 19th century, this tale combines a cast of interesting characters, a wild and scary plot, and lots of humor. I particularly enjoyed the middle part which relayed the story first hand from a variety of players. The 鈥減olice report鈥� from Sergeant Snitch was like a Monty Python routine. Good fun and skillfully narrated by BBC actor, Mark Gatiss of 鈥淪herlock鈥� fame.
Profile Image for Morvling Bookink.
242 reviews3 followers
December 27, 2024
The storyline was a bit chopped up sometimes because of the comics, but i loved it nonetheless!
567 reviews
May 29, 2019
Count Karlstein - a nasty, miserly, evil character for sure! Cheering the good guys, booing the bad guys, sympathizing with the wee ones - a terrific gothic tale! Delightful from start to end!
Profile Image for 鈽篢谤颈蝉丑.
1,307 reviews
April 22, 2023
Great folk tale filled with thrills and suspense with two young damsels in distress, an evil uncle and his oily henchman, and assorted other characters both good/brave and some stupid/wicked.
Very good ending . . . Good triumphs over evil! Hooray!
Profile Image for Haley The Caffeinated Reader.
821 reviews63 followers
May 11, 2020


3.5/5

Usually, I adore anything Philip Pullman writes, I mean I may someday tattoo his name in a heart instead of the usually 鈥楳om鈥� tattoo.

But, this wasn鈥檛 one I adored.

Wildly entertaining? Yes

A good read for Middle-Grade children? I want to say yes without hesitation but鈥ut鈥鈥檓 just not sure about the use of the word slut. Now, I鈥檓 not saying Middle-Grade children can鈥檛 handle it! Kids can always handle more than we think, YA, in general, is a good example of that, adults love YA books, but, they鈥檙e written for teens and despite what we may think of the content, there鈥檚 nothing wrong with it for YA aged audiences.

I just hate that the word Slut had to be used at all. And, that isn鈥檛 the only reason I gave it three stars lol, there鈥檚 not a lot of action for a book that should be packed with it. I think that my daughter would be a little bored in the lulls, but, the humour was on point and when there was action, it was delightful! So, I did enjoy this, I just didn鈥檛 love it. And I wanted to love it.
42 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2014
The book is written in a half short story/ half comic book style, with both pictures and words used to tell the story. The book itself is based around All souls eve, Which I perceive to be a take on all Hallows eve. A lonely man stands on a cliff awaiting to call the Demon Huntsman and his blood thirsty hounds, to grant him all the things he desires most in the world. Although this comes at a cost, with the now Count Karlstein having to give the Demon Huntsman a life in return for his new found power.

Likes:

As previously mentioned the book is written in two different styles, which may sound confusing but actually works quite well. It breaks up the story and actually mean more children who aren't so strong at reading would still be able to follow the story.

I also like how the author and Illustrator have drawn and labelled the each charter or item mentioned in the book, even down to things such as a 'spooky tree'. Which I feel gives the reader the ability to really imagine the characters.

The book starts each chapter with headings such as 'great escape or the great loss' which I have never come across before. I quite like this point about each chapter as it gives the reader a sort of choice as to what they prefer the chapter to be named.

Dislikes:

Although I have stated that I like the way the book is laid out with the use of written language as well as comic book style scenes, I feel that some children that were of the ability level to read the book would simply end up skipping through the pages to just look at the pictures and not really focus on improving their reading or understanding of words.

Age Range:

I feel that the book would be best suited for upper key stage two pupils or those of 10+ with a good level of reading ability.

Use in a classroom:

This book could be used as a paired reading tool, or in a lesson based about pupils learning how to draw/write a comic strip in a combined Art/English lesson.
12 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2011
Phillip Pullman narrates the captivating story of the evil Count Karlstein whose evilness gets the better of him when he strikes a dangerous and greedy deal with the Demon Huntsman Zamiel. Count Karlstein plays with fire when he accepts a wish granted by Zamiel and in return promises to provide a human sacrifice on All Soul's Eve ten years from the day on which the wish is granted. In a desperate attempt to keep his wish of an honourable name and a great estate, Count Karlstein sacrifices his beloved nieces only for it to all backfire on him. With the help of their caring housemaid and surrounding friends, the sweet girls manage to breakaway from danger after an intense and exciting journey
The author engages the reader throughout with his magical themes and snips of comedy. The cartoon animations provide key pieces of information and help maintain the readers attention. A lesson throughout the book is that of helpfulness and to treat others that way you wish to be treated. Throughout the book characters are tempted with good fortune and wealth but at the expense of a friend or loved one, and so must use their good judgment in order to do the right thing.
It is an exciting book set in the Transylvanian lands that will capture the attention of all and provide startling moments and gentle laughter.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.