I continue to love this series and it doesn't disappoint in its second outing to Eerie-on-Sea. Love the characters and the strong sense of the south east coast of England. Quirky, fun with a touch of danger thrown in.

It's so wonderful to head back to Eerie-on-Sea for another mysterious adventure! Gargantis is the sequel to the thrilling Malamander, and is another exceptionally good seaside mystery.

Herbert Lemon has a new case in his role as Lost and Founder, and it might be his toughest one yet! From the very beginning, this is dark and scary and foreboding, so much foreboding!

One of the things I loved about this novel was how well it threw different elements of Eerie-on-Sea against each other, with different factions all claiming ownership of a mysterious bottle, and poor Herbert caught in the middle. Of course, he has Violet stuck there right along side him, and I love how we see her own character grow and develop from book one. Her work in the book depository has given her knowledge of all sorts of myths and legends about Eerie-on-Sea that just might come in handy.!

There's a lot of depth to this novel, with it hard to tell at times who is in the right and who's clearly not, apart from our young heroes. I think I was left doubting just about everyone at some point, apart from Herbert and Violet. This is kept up throughout the book, with some startling revelations making us reassess any assumptions we might make and question everyone's motivations.

It's also incredibly atmospheric. Eerie-on-Sea really does feel almost real, this storm swept little seaside town is as much a character as anyone else in the book.

A thrilling, complex adventure novel, with two lovable young heroes and a whole host of fascinating characters.

After loving Malamander so much, I had extremely high hopes for the sequel. I was not disappointed.
Gargantis is a perfect continuation of the Eerie-on-Sea stories. It is a must read for any reader who loves mystery, excitement and exquisite characterisation and story-telling.
I recommended Malamander for our Year 5 classes and will be doing the same with this one.

Sadly I didn’t realise this was a sequel to a novel I hadn’t yet read. However Gargantis was still extremely enjoyable, it’s a fast paced novel with plenty of intrigue and adventure. I was hooked from start to finish but I will definitely be reading the first novel soon to find out how this entire story began.

Hugely enjoyable sequel to Malamander, following the hijinx of Herbie & Violet as a storm threatens to destroy Eerie-on-Sea once and for all. Herbie, put in charge of a mysterious fish-shaped bottle and the glowing spark inside, must find out who is its rightful owner before it's too late. A hard enough task without the looming presence of a hooded individual tracking their every move.

This book is a masterclass in exciting, nail biting and descriptive writing. So much scope for use in the classroom and a delight to read.

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!

Gargantis is fantastic! I loved Malamander, and I think Gargantis is even better. The story of the hooded man, the mechanical "crab" and Herbert's developing friendship with Violet all combine to make this a brilliant middle grade story for anyone who wants a fun, mysterious, magical adventure.

I was lucky to get a Netgalley Arc of Thomas Taylor's latest book Gargantis and I was tickled pink but first I have a couple of confessions to tell you. I had Malamander sitting on my shelf to be read until I read it May this year and omg why had I not picked it up sooner it was one incredible ride and my second confession is I had Gargantis already on preorder and could not wait to read it but when I got it I didn't want to read quickly as I didn't want the adventure to end. If you are looking for spoilers I am afraid you will not find them here but I would say is you must start with the first book and you will not be disappointed. In these books which are set in eerie on sea we have two main characters Herbie Lemon and Violet Parmar and their characters are strong and well written as are the characters like Mrs Fossil and Dr Thalassi but there is another character that does not speak but is totally alive and in Gargantis we see alot more of it is Eerie on Sea. I'm dying to see what happens next and hoping that there will be another book very soon. So for these reasons my rating has to be 5 stars

What an adventure! It was great to be back in Eerie-On-Sea with Herbie and Violet. In this exciting adventure the seaside town is plagued by storms and the townsfolk begin to believe in ancient legends about the monster Gargantis. Add in the mysterious guest who appears on the first page of the novel, and Herbie's reluctance to seek help from the Mermonkey in the book shop and we're in for a great adventure.
I can think of a few children at school who will like this one so will be recommending we add it to our school library.
I read this in 2 sittings, and now I'm ready for the third offering in the series...hoping we'll learn more of Herbie's origins and perhaps find out more about the mysterious Erwin the cat.

I received an eARC of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Eerie-on-sea series is as good as the first! So wonderful to be back with Herbie in his Lost & Foundery. Another fast-paced adventure.with rich vocabulary and some sinister new characters interspersed with the residents we already we are already familiar with. Highly recommended

This book was just as phenomenal as the first installment, Malamander. There's just something about Eerie-on-sea that grabs you and doesn't let you go. Gargantis is a whirlwind of events - fast-paced and heart-stopping, full of adventure and magic. A perfect book for any middle-grade fan!

Yet again, Thomas Taylor’s writing had me gripped from intriguing beginning to thrilling end. Gargantis is seafaring mystery, full of suspense, monsters and a cast of fantastical and endearing characters. With a ferocious storm raging in Eerie-On-Sea, Herbie is once again thrust in the centre of an investigation, as not only has a mysterious hooded stranger arrived at the hotel but Herbie is also entrusted with discovering the true owner of the fish shaped bottle washed up in the storm. Together with Vi, Erwin and a couple of new friends - will Herbie be able to solve the mystery of the Gargantis? I will be highly recommending this fabulous adventure to upper KS2.

I absolutely adored my second visit to Eerie-on-Sea, perhaps a little more than the first, due to my familiarity with the unique characters and quirky setting. Despite the eerie goings-on, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the seaside as I was reading Gargantis; if only Seegol's Diner, The Grand Nautilus Hotel and The Eerie Book Dispensary (Mermonkey and all) really did exist!

Having devoured Malamander, I was delighted to see the return of Herbert Lemon and Violet Parma (and Erwin the talking cat, of course!) in another suspense-filled mystery. I raced through it, and was sad when it ended.

Thomas Taylor's writing really draws the reader in, with his excellent characterisation, dramatic action scenes and vivid description of Eerie-on-Sea. His personification of the storm and use of pathetic fallacy (sorry, that's the teacher in me talking!) is amazing. The language he uses in Gargantis may be slightly challenging for its intended audience. However - like the Harry Potter series - this only serves to make Thomas's rich and powerful writing exciting and engaging for all readers!

Gargantis is full of mystery, suspense, friendship and laugh-out-loud humour: I couldn't have asked for any more. These books will become modern classics and every Upper Key Stage 2 classroom should have a copy of both! Mine certainly does, and I will be reading them both to my Year 5-6 class at the earliest opportunity. I sincerely hope there is another installment on the way!

Thank you to Thomas Taylor, Walker Books UK and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I couldn't wait to pack my suitcase for a return to Eerie on Sea: the strange and mysterious seaside town like no other created by author/illustrator Thomas Taylor. I felt amongst old friends as I settled down into the cubby hole of the Lost and Founder of the Grand Nautilus Hotel with Herbert Lemon and Violet Parma and waited for them to embark on the next great Eerie adventure. The arrival of a strange hooded figure whom Herbie nicknames “Deep Hood” during the worst storm Eerie on Sea has ever seen signals the beginning of the new adventure. And when a dishevelled Mrs Fossil is carried into the hotel by fisherman clutching her greatest ever beach-combing find, a strange fish-shaped bottle, the bottle and its contents will open up the pages of Eerie legend, spilling out tales of saints and a gargantuan creature with the power to destroy the entire town. It’s a race against time for Eerie’s greatest ever Lost and Founder to reunite the strange object with its true owner, but with so many claims from Eerie residents, how will Herbie ever decide who is the true owner?

The way Thomas Taylor writes in the present and Herbie’s regular direct address of the reader makes you feel as though you are racing along with Herbie and Violet and you’re truly a part of the action. This quirky seaside town is fast becoming as familiar to me as Hogwarts or Narnia, and this instalment of the saga dug so much deeper into the history and the people of the town. I loved the development of the fishermen and their superstitions, and of course a return to my favourite place in Eerie—the Book Dispensary (every town should have one). Gargantis is the perfect sequel to Malamander and I can’t wait for the next seaside escapade. It’s also worth mentioning that if you have a local independent book shop, the extra short story version is also absolutely perfect—a little extra Herbie can only ever be a good thing!

I loved the first book in this series, Malamander, and am pleased to say that this follow-up does not disappoint! Perfect mix of adventure, myth, magic and humour. In Herbie Lemon we have a perfect hero, always wanting to do the right thing by his friends, even if that means facing his greatest fear. I will happily recommend this all day to anyone who will listen and cannot wait to find out what will happen next.

It was a welcome return to Eerie-on-Sea; another opportunity to delve into this weird and wonderful world, thrust once more into mysterious happenings. Garganits follows on in the tradition of book 1 in revealing long held secrets and hinting at more to come. Before I forget, I must mention that the illustrations are wonderful. Seeing the map, orientated me in a way that only reading can. As much as I enjoyed Malamander as an audiobook, I believe I missed out on not seeing the illustrations as I read.

The story starts with a massive storm battering Eerie and our two intrepid heroes from Malamander are taking it in their stride. Luckily, that doesn't last too long and fairly sharpish, they are slap, bang in the middle of another perilous escapade after a mysterious guest arrives at the hotel where Herbert Lemon works. This is followed shortly by an intriguing lost object, a strange found item and the introduction of another legend - Saint Dismal. Commencing the start of another rollicking adventure.

Gargantis is well written with excellent dialogue, developed characters and a plot that makes you want to stay up that little bit longer to find out more. I am sure that book 3 will provide new, exciting thrills and daring deeds for Herbert and Violet to be in the midst of. Hopefully it will feature greater detail on their backstory.

Read the full review on the blog engrossedreader.com

I absolutely loved Malander last year. Every so often I read a middle grade book and absolutely cherish the journey I get swept up on. I’ve noticed that my thoughts haven’t stayed too far from Herbet and Violet and Eerie-on-Sea.

Once the sequel Gargantis was announced I couldn’t wait to read it which is why I’m so thrilled to have had the chance to read an arc. Thank you to Walker Books and Toppsta.

While I don’t think life in somewhere like Eerie-on-Sea is ever mundane it seems as though things were calmer than my last visit until they weren’t of course. I have to say I think I loved this visit even more than the last. Being familiar with some of the characters and the places meant it was just like visiting old friends and it was fantastic to meet some new ones too.

Thomas Taylor has unleashed a beast here because I now intend to visit Eerie-on-Sea every year. Consider it my annual holiday.

Seriously loved this book. Having just finished Malamander I couldn't believe I was fortunate enough to have been granted early access to this book. It takes up after Malamander (but could be read by someone who hasn’t read the previous book ( though I would heartily recommend it)
With Herbert and Violet in Eerie On Sea. There’s another mystery to solve based in and around the Grand Nautilus Hotel with the regular cast and some newcomers. Herbie and Violet’s friendship holds up well under the pressure of a sea-faring experience, being attacked and hunted down by strange characters.
A brilliant sequel, and well worth a read,,either by or to a child, or to the whole class. I read this to my 10 year old son and we both loved it. There are cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter, which had him begging for more and more.
A sure hit!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for ages 8-99

3.5 stars!

I want to preface this review by stating that my rating is 3.5 stars because I just felt there was a little something missing in the book. I did thoroughly enjoy it and thought it was a great adventurous story but there was something about it that just didn't wow me enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gargantis is the story of Herbert Lemon, the Lost and Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel in Eerie-on-Sea. Herbet and his best friend Violet team up to solve a magical mystery that is risking the safety of their lovely seaside town. Herbie and Violet must figure out what to do with the lost items that have turned up to Herbie's Lost and Foundery and somehow get stuck in the middle of a magical, confusing battle between different people in town.

Gargantis has an amazing narration style which honestly sold it to me straight away. Herbert Lemon's narration of the adventure is fun, realistic and transporting.

This is a perfect story for someone looking for a fast read where you will escapee's reality for a bit and live in a great seaside town with secretive and interesting characters.