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| The Black Tattoo | 
 enlarge | Author: Sam Enthoven
Publisher: Razorbill
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $4.38
You Save: $15.61 (78%)
New (42) Used (32) Collectible (5) from $0.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 580267
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.8
ISBN: 1595141146
EAN: 9781595141149
ASIN: 1595141146
Publication Date: October 5, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new. Small publishers mark. Ready to ship.
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Book Description
Jack's best mate, Charlie, has always been effortlessly cool. When Charlie wakes up one day and finds a mysterious, moving black tattoo on his back, it's a clear sign that he's even cooler than Jack thought. To top it off, Charlie is suddenly able to fight like a kung-fu master, fly, and control the minds of others. Yes, he's got super powers. Or does he? Jack soon learns the terrifying truth: Charlie's incredible powers come from an age-old demon called the Scourge, who is using Charlie to bring about its evil master plan. To stop the Scourge, Jack and Charlie join forces with Esme, a girl with super powers of her own, trained from birth to fight the demon. But time is running out, as Charlie falls deeper under the Scourge's dark spell. When the Scourge vanishes with Charlie, Jack and Esme follow their friend from the streets of London into Hell itself, where they face horrors that may well cost them their lives. Can they survive to outwit the Scourge, save Charlie, and stop an even greater evil?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
Gladiator meets The Matrix March 8, 2007
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
It took me weeks to read this book
Much longer than it should
It's long and sometimes rambles, though
It's basically quite good
For several thousand years or more
Entrapped beneath a tree
There lies the evil demon Scourge
Who's yearning to get free
He snares an unsuspecting host
To help with his escape
The Black Tattoo's his trademark
And it's always changing shape
A battle with the Brotherhood
Soon puts them to the test
Can Esme and the loyal Jack
Derail the Scourge's quest?
A tale of evil and of good
With other stuff as well
A floating shark, a bat and
Gladiators down in hell
The dialogue is sometimes weak
The plot may be confusing
But though this novel is quite dark
You'll find some parts amusing
For readers who are 9 and up
And know what they're about
It isn't Harry Potter
But it's well worth checking out
Amanda Richards, March 8, 2007
 Very Enjoyable Read. October 7, 2006
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I was in need of something a little different than what I typically would read on a Trans-Pacific flight back to the states, and having previously picked up a copy of 'The Black Tattoo' at the BEA show, had packed Sam Enthoven's book with my for the long flight home. I am very glad I did.
Sam Enthoven has written a wonderfully interesting and enjoyable read that is was as enjoyable to me as the Harry Potter books, but perhaps, a bit more interesting in the pronouncement of darkness and gaits of humor the author splashes throughout the story. Filled with expected thrills of the genre' that make up young adult science-fiction, readers will cheerish this story of friendship, of good v. evil, and of the many important ethical and moral issues all readers can relate to.
When Jack Farrell notices a dark spot on the back of Charlie Farnsworth's neck - a moving tattoo - the reader is soon taken onto Enthoven's fascinating story. The tattoo that Charlie bears on his neck came from a demon known as the Scourge. Scourge wants to use Charlie for his own wicked plans which would change the world forever. When Charlie and Jack join forces with Esme, a girl trained to fight demons, in order to stop the Scourge, the three new companions adventures into a spell-binding, fast moving plot keep the reader turning through the pages. After Esme's father is killed, she, Jack, and Charlie follow the Scourge straight into Hell, where Charlie falls deeper under the Scourge's spell, while Esme and Jack try to find a way to defeat the Scourge and save Charlie's life.
I am a big fan of Ms. Rowling, Mr. Paolini, Mr. Jordan, and the Eddings, and of course, the late Tolkien. I am now a fan of Sam Enthoven and look forward to the awaiting adventures that may hopefully ensue. Regardless if you are a young adult reader or an adult who enjoys coming of age science fiction, 'The Black Tattoo' delievers on all levels.
Mixed feelings about this one October 28, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I really am scratching my head. The premise of the book sounded fascinating - The Scourge, an evil entity is released to awaken a dragon in Hell to destroy the universe. I started reading and must say that the book captured you and kept you reading. But do the characters make you like them? Do you want to read its sequel?
This is one dark book - most of the action takes place in Hell. Charlie has been duped by the Scourge into thinking he will rule Hell, and goes with him into the realm, Jack, his best mate, follows to rescue him, and then Esme, the last member of an ancient organization to imprison the Scourge, follows them to contain the Scourge and place him back in his prison.
I didn't like the varied demons. I didn't like that God joined Hell because he was bored with things. I didn't like the French secret group how were supposed to 'save' Esme.
The trio of Esme, Jack and Charlie have the potential to create an interesting series, but I do not think I will be reading them.
This is not Hogwarts. This is not Harry, Ron and Hermione. I do not see any comparisons other than there are 3 young people.
As a fan of sci-fi, thrillers, I can tell you this is one heck of a book. (sorry I had to do that) But it did not click for me.
Well written, good cover and poster.
You may really like the book - it has potential and you may like this struggle between light and dark. But I did not, and cannot see a young person reading this without being disturbed by the beings and the action in Hell.
Why am I giving the book 5 stars? It is an excellent read, and many will like it, but I am honest in telling you this was not my kind of book.
Best book I've read so far this year! May 13, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book is simply excellent. I had expected this book to be a good read, but not THAT good of a read. This book is filled with fantasy, magic, a wonderful plot, twists and turns, interesting characters that come alive, magic and more. Anybody that graded this three stars or lower...well? I don't know why. Hmm?
This story starts with two normal teenage boys, Charlie and Jack. Even though they are both ENTIRELY different people they've still been best friends for as long as they can remember. They end up running into a man named Nick who is the leader for a small group of people called "The Brotherhood". The Brotherhood's job is to keep a demon called the Scourge from escaping and going back to Hell. They don't exactly KNOW his intentions but they do know that they are very bad. The Scourge has been let out and it's up to Jack, Charlie (?), and a butt-kicking woman from the Brotherhood, Esme to stop the caos and save the world from the forces of Hell. They'll be going on an adventure they'll NEVER forget.
I hope that you all at least try this book and I hope that you enjoy as much as I did.
HAPPY READING!
SciFi fans will love this one October 17, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader's Views (10/06)
The Scourge has been released again. It's up to Esme, Jack, Charlie and the Brotherhood of Sleep to stop Scourge in its plot to destroy the world.
Fourteen year old Charlie has been chosen to lead the Brotherhood of the Sleep. Charlie insists he won't do it without his friend Jack's assistance. The Brotherhood of Sleep is an ancient organization that is the "jailer's of Scourge, a demon." Scourge is "a being of pure liquid darkness, bent on a path of destruction." A member of the Brotherhood is a traitor and has freed the demon. But all is not as it seems. Nick has passed the Scourge on to Charlie. A black tattoo suddenly appears on Charlie's back, seeming to radiate from his spine. "It was an odd sort of pattern. The tattoo's broad, curving shapes reminded Jack of certain tribal designs, Celtic or Native American ones, but it wasn't quite like anything he'd ever seen before. The shapes seem to radiate out of Charlie's spine, scything across his back like a crest of broad feathers or a set of great curved sword blades. The shapes were black against Charlie's pale skin-completely, utterly black-and each and every one of them ended in a perfect, razor-sharp point. Charlie clenched his arms, and the black shapes seemed to bunch and shift of their own accord as his muscles moved underneath them." A needle did not make this tattoo.
Esme has been training for this battle for years. She is proficient in martial arts and sword fighting. She will need this and more to survive her encounter with the demon.
The cover of "Black Tattoo" entices the reader to delve inside. The print is easy to read. The plot flows smoothly. I was hooked from page one. Work had to wait, I couldn't put the book down, and I had to continue reading. This book contains a bit of humor and a lot of cliched dialogue. The best description for this book is dark. Science fiction fans will love this one.
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