Tales of Fayt, Book 1

The Demon's Watch

An accessible, rip-roaring adventure full of pirates, magical creatures and unlikely heroes. This is fantasy at its best.

Amid the swashbuckling and shoot-outs, the ethos and humour recall the straighter-faced Discworld books

Mason's writing is lively and engaging, and his message of tolerance is a potent one

A hugely entertaining and comic fantasy story that will have young readers enchanted. Conrad Mason has filled his story with characters to rival those in any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels

Sparkling and energetic, it's full of wit and comic timing, with piratical idioms galore . . . I think this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is going to win a loyal - and thoroughly deserved - following

Brilliantly drawn, with wonderfully descriptive passages, and excitement and tension aplenty, this story cleverly intermingles the worlds of humans and mythical beings, so that its hardly seems like a fantasy novel at times

An excellent debut fantasy novel which will entrance readers in its humour,  setting and essential humanity, but which is original, witty and wise. Full of  pace and unexpected twists it will engage younger readers.

...The thing that makes The Demon’s Watch a good book, rather than an average one, is the delicate balance between light heartedness and serious suspense. Mason is definitely one to watch . . . I eagerly anticipate the next installment

Based on The Demon's Watch, his debut novel, Conrad Mason is most definitely an author to watch out for in the future....I loved it! Yet again, David Fickling has struck gold! For me there are two things that really make The Demon's Watch: the characters and the dialogue between them. The two combined make for a hugely entertaining and comic fantasy story that will have young readers enchanted. Conrad Mason has filled his story with characters to rival those in any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.

Judging by his debut novel, The Demon's Watch, Conrad Mason is here to stay . . . Comparisons with Terry Pratchett are inevitable

This exciting fantasy has well-rounded, likeable characters and a lively, twisting plot, yet it also tackles the issues of acceptance and prejudice

Readers hungry for a plot as labyrinthine as the streets of the old port, pell-mell action, with chapters left hanging from cliff, roof or mainmast, should much enjoy this headlong read. Rip-roaring excitement and energy, and none the worse for that

A very funny and very original story . . . Pirates, magic, amazing creatures and adventure, blend them into the mix and you come out with Demon's Watch, the perfect book for boys and anyone looking for a brilliant adventure

This book really does offer something for everyone and should be enjoyed by all

Cleverly written, there is a whole host of twists

Conrad Mason’s descriptions of life in Port Fayt, his humour and his turn of phrase make The Demon’s Watch a complete joy to read

A swashbucking, magical, hilarious and scary adventure with quirky characters you can love, hate and wish you were friends with

The whole book is fast-paced and exciting from beginning to end, filled with tavern brawls, witches, wizards and even monstrous sea creatures . . . The writing is something akin to Terry Pratchett’s style, with wonderful, crystal clear descriptions and great injections of humour throughout, making for an interesting read

A terrific debut novel from Conrad Mason plunges you into a fantastic fantasy world you won't want to leave

Mason is definitely one to watch . . . I eagerly anticipate the next installment

A great family read; it has some of the best pirate banter that you will find written with oodles of imagination, humour and wit . . . Conrad has created a fantastic start to an amazing adventure

This book is fantasy at its very best. A brilliant story, matched with amazing writing and characters you want to grab from the page and give a huge hug, makes a book that is just un-put-downable!

After the first chapter I was gripped . . . The pacey plot is filled with action that will entertain even reluctant readers. The plot is not predictable though and I enjoyed the unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the end

For young readers hungry for adventure and a touch of magic, The Demon’s Watch will give hours of enjoyment. Definitely worth reading!

This is a great fantasy adventure as well as that rarest of things: a children's book that is a great read for both children and adults

Each page brims with adventure, magic, darkness, tension and suspense...Port Fayt is an antonym of dull and Mason’s ability to describe each detail  allows us to feel the sea salt breeze, taste the slices of fried octopus and  greasy paper bags of shellfish, and gulp the flagons of grog...When you complete this story, you feel a little piece of you has been left  tucked among the pages, but readers console yourselves, more adventures from  Conrad Mason lie ahead.

This book is a great family read; it has some of the best pirate banter that you will find...written with oodles of imagination, humour and wit...Conrad has created a fantastic start to an amazing adventure - I loved every minute embroiled in this story.

Conrad Mason’s descriptions of life in Port Fayt, his humour and his turn of phrase make The Demon’s Watch a complete joy to read.

This can only be described as a rip roaring adventure - you get sad moments, followed by laughs, mixed in with fighting and gore.  This book really does offer something for everyone and should be enjoyed by all!!! If you are a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean or the works of Terry Pratchett, I think this book is made for YOU!!!

Amid the swashbuckling and shoot-outs, the ethos and humour recall the straighter-faced Discworld books.

A very funny and very original story...Pirates, magic, amazing creatures and adventure, blend them into the mix and you come out with Demon's Watch, the perfect book for boys and anyone looking for a brilliant adventure.

This is such an enjoyable fantasy adventure. The worldbuilding is rather wonderful and completely credible but also unobtrusive...The action gets going right from the very first pages and it doesn't let up until the very end. The plot twists and turns without the tiniest of holes. The characters are well formed...the best thing about The Demon's Watch is the dialogue. Sparkling and energetic, it's full of wit and comic timing, with piratical idioms galore...I think this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is going to win a loyal - and thoroughly deserved - following.

Readers hungry for a plot as labyrinthine as the streets of the old port, pell-mell action, with chapters left hanging from cliff, roof or mainmast, should much enjoy this headlong read. Rip-roaring excitement and energy, and none the worse for that.

If you want a fantasy world for your young reader that has a wonderful setting, great characters and populated by many different creatures in a hodgepodge melting pot, then you really have to get Conrad Mason’s The Demon’s Watch. It brings the best of fantasy to the reader with a whole host of cracking characters, top notch entertainment and of course demonstrates that brains can outsmart brawn be it either magical or physical.It’s cleverly written, there is a whole host of twists and Conrad doesn’t waste time by getting down to the nitty-gritty that will keep your young reader hooked to the final page. Throw in conspiracy, double dealing and selfish desires, which when fought against by the positive traits of our band of mismatched heroes, really gives the reader a treat to enjoy. Magical.

This exciting fantasy has well-rounded, likeable characters and a lively, twisting plot, yet it also tackles the issues of acceptance and prejudice.

A swashbucking, magical, hilarious and scary adventure with quirky characters you can love, hate and wish you were friends with.

The Demon’s Watch is fantasy at its best...It’s a brilliant story, amazingly written and with fantastic characters. The whole book is fast-paced and exciting from beginning to end, filled with tavern brawls, witches, wizards and even monstrous sea creatures...The writing is something akin to Terry Pratchett’s style, with wonderful, crystal clear descriptions and great injections of humour throughout, making for an interesting read.

A terrific debut novel from Conrad Mason plunges you into a fantastic fantasy world you wont want to leave. Filled with page turning action, surprise twists, laugh out loud moments and brilliant characters, such as the quick-thinking Tabitha, Scribbler! was on tenterhooks all the way through.

Conrad Mason was born in 1984. He studied Classics at Cambridge University, and now works in London as an Editor of children's fiction.

'We're the Demon's Watch, son. Protectors of Port Fayt. Scourge of all sea scum. Don't tell me you've never heard of us?' 
 
Half-goblin boy Joseph Grubb lives in Fayt, a bustling trading port where elves, trolls, fairies and humans live side by side. Fed up of working at the Legless Mermaid tavern, Grubb dreams of escape - until a whirlwind encounter with a smuggler plunges him into Fayt's criminal underworld. There he meets the Demon's Watch and learns of their mission to save the port from a mysterious and deadly threat. Can Grubb and his new allies uncover the dark plot in time, or will they end up as fish food in Harry's Shark Pit?

Conrad Mason

With adventure, emotion and one heck of a plot, any kid (or adult) will struggle  to put it down!

Hugely entertaining, this second book has certainly built upon the magical setting from the first...a superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galore, and a huge dollop of mayhem and mischief.

Joseph and Tabitha are resourceful and brave characters that the reader can easily identify with and like, thus making The Goblin’s Gift an enjoyable and exciting read.

even more action packed that its predecessor The Demon’s Watch

Tales of Fayt, Book 2

Joseph Grubb is the newest member of the Demon's Watch. He and his fellow watchmen protect Port Fayt, where humans live in peace alongside trolls, elves and fairies. And now the town needs them more than ever, because the almighty League of the Light has sent an armada to wipe it off the map. 
 
Fayt's only hope is to persuade the magical merfolk to fight with them. But the merfolk won't go to war. Not unless their princess is returned to them from the clutches of the most dangerous nine-year-old in the Ebony Ocean. 
 
It's up to Joseph and his friend Tabitha to rescue the mermaid princess . . . But a secret from Joseph's past is about to change everything.

The Goblin's Gift

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

sectionTitle

isEnabled

anchor

anchorLabel

prhuk/featured-book

prhuk/praise-section

maxBooks

showViewMore

prhuk/books-section

hideAuthorAlert

formName

iterableDivision

iterableBrand

buttonText

description

heading

legalText

successHeading

successText

image

alignment

variation

prhuk/email-section

prhuk/series-section

prhuk/biography-section

prhuk/articles-section

prhuk-authors

The perfect gift? A Penguin Shop gift card

Conrad Mason

Praise for The Goblin's Gift

With adventure, emotion and one heck of a plot, any kid (or adult) will struggle to put it down!

Hugely entertaining, this second book has certainly built upon the magical setting from the first...a superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galor ...

Joseph and Tabitha are resourceful and brave characters that the reader can easily identify with and like, thus making The Goblin’s Gift an enjoyable and exciting read.

With adventure, emotion and one heck of a plot, any kid (or adult) will struggle to put it down!

Hugely entertaining, this second book has certainly built upon the magical setting from the first...a superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galor ...

Joseph and Tabitha are resourceful and brave characters that the reader can easily identify with and like, thus making The Goblin’s Gift an enjoyable and exciting read.

With adventure, emotion and one heck of a plot, any kid (or adult) will struggle to put it down!

Hugely entertaining, this second book has certainly built upon the magical setting from the first...a superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galor ...

Joseph and Tabitha are resourceful and brave characters that the reader can easily identify with and like, thus making The Goblin’s Gift an enjoyable and exciting read.

Books by Conrad Mason

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter