What people say about St Halibuts
“Hilariously funny, deliciously dark, witty, smart and suitably gross! Loved it.”
“A lovely – warm, funny, energetic – read.”
“The most effortlessly hilarious book I’ve read in a long time. The Orphans of St Halibut’s is a sometimes dark and always rollicking tale in the vein of Roald Dahl and MG Leonard, with an unforgettable cast.”
“What a wonderful caper – Sophie Wills made me laugh so much with this fantastically high-spirited but also truly heartwarming story. It is, as all the best stories are, full of hopeless or dastardly grown-ups and brilliant and resourceful children. And I adored David Tazzyman’s illustrations – such energy and mischief. Far more importantly, my nine-year-old son loved it just as much, and he says: ‘this book is very funny and great for adventure fans!’”
“Stupendous and hilarious! Hapless heroes, slime ball villains, and a volatile goat. Deliciously disgusting at times, and filled to the brim with Sophie’s dark humour. Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket.”
“A fabulously funny tale of clever orphans, rambling houses, angry goats and grizzly ends . . . made me laugh out loud!”
“Deliciously funny, dark, eccentric and clever.”
“If you mixed St Trinians (the cartoon not the film) with Roald Dahl and then got it drunk… you’d still be only halfway to the pure chaotic glee of this!!”
“Fast-paced, witty and clever with wicked twists and turns and a brilliant bunch of characters. David Tazzyman’s illustrations are spot on!”
“Deeeliciously dark and laugh out loud funny! I LOVE The Orphans of St Halibut’s.”
“This book will make you snort, squirm and scream with laughter!”
“Dark, funny and very, very clever. With gloriously gothic artwork from David Tazzyman.”
“This book will make you laugh, cry and cringe all at the same time. The voice manages to be somehow classic and yet modern – though never deviating from hilarious. And then there are the illustrations by David Tazzyman which work so beautifully with the text. All-round perfection!”
“With incredibly clever, witty writing, loads of jokes, loveable characters, and lively illustrations from David Tazzyman, this is a highly enjoyable middle-grade adventure for readers of around 10. I will definitely look out for what else Sophie Wills writes.”
“There’s a wonderful whiff of brilliance about this (or that might just be Pamela the goat…). Make some space on your shelves!”
Reviews from Netgalley
Oh this book is the first for a while to make me actually laugh out loud… An absolutely brilliant read.
An incredibly fast read and I enjoyed every second.
Here is a real delight for young readers happy to lose themselves in a richly described fictional, and distinctly weird, setting. The writing can be enjoyed on many levels… a rollicking, fun adventure… As my local expert (an eleven year old grandson with wide reading tastes and a hungry appetite for interesting and entertaining books) explains “As you read the book you really feel like you are part of the adventure that’s being described”… a book he really didn’t want to put down when it was time to turn the light off.
…chapter after chapter of hilarious, twisted escapades… This macabre comedy is enjoyable on so many levels! … brilliant description makes each page a joy to read.