Lost-and-Founder Herbert Lemon and his friend Violet are back in another adventure set within the seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea. This time a massive storm is shaking the town violently and there seems to be no end to it. If it continues it could cause the whole town to crumble into the sea.

The fishermen have a tale of a creature, Gargantis, awakening and that is the cause of the storm, but could their tale be true and what’s with the fish-shaped bottle that has washed up on the shore during an electrical storm that everyone in the town is trying to lay claims to?

Herbie and Violet are on a quest to discover the truth and save their adopted home before it is too late.

Gargantis is the second book in the Eerie-on-Sea series for middle-graders, although it is that exciting that I can see plenty of YA readers enjoying it too. The first book, Malamander, introduced us to this unlikely pair, both found by locals when they were babies and given homes within the town. Herbie is still working at the local hotel, Grand Nautilus, as the Lost-and-Founder, whilst Violet is working at the bookshop.

The book is continuous action the whole way through and the plot explosive has you hanging on every page and not wanting to put the book down. There is even a mysterious hooded man who hides his face and wants what Herbie has and resembles an Octopus when he’s in the water.

I love the characters and being back in the town, which is certainly a one-off. I was intrigued the whole way through to see if Gargantis was real and was it coming for Eerie. I can see this series being a big hit and I’m not surprised. Both books have been amazing and I hope that there will be more visits to Eerie-on-Sea in the future. I’m sure more adventures are waiting to be had!

Thomas Taylor was born in Norfolk, England in 1973, but grew up in Wales. He attended Norwich Art School in 1991, before going on to specialise in illustration at Anglia University in Cambridge, graduating in 1995. After dabbling in Theatre design he decided to concentrate on children’s books because he prefers the colours.

Since his first illustration job, the cover for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Bloomsbury), Thomas has contributed to and illustrated dozens of books, plus written and illustrated four: George and Sophies Museum Adventure, Orchard; The Loudest Roar, OUP; The Biggest Splash – OUP; and The Noisiest Night, OUP.

Thomas has recently moved from Cambridge to Normandy, France where he lives happily with his beautiful wife Célia and his little son Max. He still illustrates stories for children and loves reading them to his boy.

What did you think of Gargantis? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!