Wormwood by G.P. Taylor
Sabian Blake (the back of the book says that he is Dr.Sabian Blake but this is supported no where in the story) has possesion of a mysterious book called the Nemorensis. He thinks that this is a wonderful, truthful book given to him by divine providence. The Nemorensis has prophesied the coming of a comet called Wormwood which will come and end the world, and then the people will get 21 days to make the world deserving of being destroyed or not. Well, sure enough, the comet does come, and blots out the sun, and begins night and day anew. The animals go berserk, and every dog and horse in all London goes rampaging and tries to kill every human around. Amazingly enough, once the rampage ends, the people forget about it and go back to their business.
Blake, however does not forget. He calls various people together to discuss what he knows about the ending of the world, and begins to get sucked deeper into a bad business. His servant Agetta is sought out by numerous people looking for the Nemorensis. Her father, an innkeeper and petty crook, has a real angel in his attic. Agetta must sort through the characters suddenly befriending her.
My advance copy informs me that a large marketing campaign is planned and that the publishers are hoping that this will be the next Harry Potter, but I don't see that happening. The main characters are adults and children who act like adults, which isn't a great idea in children's literature. The religous nature of the plot is not pulled off well. And to top all this, the ending has absolutely no sense of finality.
Happy reading.
