Sourcebooks Fire, 2013
ISBN-13: 978-1402293184
Available: Hardcover (preorder)
I received The Ghost Prison as an ARC in egalley format through NetGalley.com. The Ghost Prison was initially a short story, but has been expanded into an illustrated novella here. Author Joseph Delaney makes every word count. The story is narrated by Billy, a fifteen year old orphan who has taken his first job as a night guard in a haunted prison. Setting and atmosphere are established through dialogue and exposition as the head guard takes him on a prison tour, complete with descriptions of the hauntings and warnings of places to avoid. He’s specifically told to avoid the Witch Well, which holds a terrible prisoner who must be fed every night at midnight; neglecting to feed the prisoner will lead to uncomfortable consequences for anyone in the prison, and the head guard has taken on this responsibility to protect the other guards. The tour takes up a considerable part of the book, but the slow buildup of tension pays off, as Billy suddenly finds himself guarding the prison alone. With midnight coming soon, he can’t avoid the Witch Well; the prisoner inside must be fed.
Delaney writes to terrify, and in a very few pages, takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride with an abrupt ending, and finishes with everything neatly tied together. His prose is perfectly complemented by Scott M. Fischer’s illustrations. These take up a considerable amount of space in the book, often flowing onto the same page as the text. Fischer’s drawings lend richness to a story that, while atmospheric, suspenseful, and gory, doesn’t have much depth. I will note that since I read this as an e-galley , due to the limitations of my Kindle, I wasn’t able to see the full effect of the design; the illustrations appeared separately from the text, and there was no way for me to see a double page spread. I am certain, though, that the published hardcover will be a gorgeously produced book. A movie based on Delaney’s book The Seventh Son will also be released in October, so there is sure to be plenty of attention directed at Delaney’s work. With the high interest children and teens have in scary stories, the short length, and the frequent, detailed illustrations, this book should be a hit with both reluctant and ravenous readers. Highly recommended.
Contains: Gore