Afterdark
2 primary works
Book 1
AFTERDARK has been invaded. Only weedy, whining Joe Quail can rescue the last Princess of Afterdark, imprisoned in the Palace of Nightfall. Joe doesn't like Kit and Maisy. But his mother's having a rare evening out, and Joe shares their babysitter Alice Fazackerly. No sooner than his mother leaves, Joe is whirled a desperate rescue operation. Alice, last Princess of Afterdark, is taken hostage by the Mighty Cosmo, Emperor of Nightfall and King of Afterdark. A magical map shows the obstacles which Joe must overcome to save them. Joe fears failure at each challenge on his journey to the Palace of Nightfall. With luck and gradually increasing confidence, he begins to realise he 'wasn't the wrong kind of boy but only needed the right kind of adventure to sort him out'. Joe finally meets the Mighty Cosmo to realise that as ever, his fear is out of proportion. He uncovers the local bully, Kevin, who admits he'd prefer company to power. Together they release Alice, leaving Afterdark and Nightfall united.
Book 3
AFTERDARK is threatened by one man's destructive greed. Only Joe, Kevin and Flora can save the dream fields in a quest of mystery and magic...Everyone is dazzled by Vasco Shine, owner of Dream Snatchers arcade. Vasco has it all - the car, the looks and the power. Joe and Flora know something's amiss when Forest Street is submerged in thick fog overnight. Throughout the murky air, men in balloons visit each house taking dreams from sleeping children. Then their friend Kevin is kidnapped. Vasco wants him to steal the Pearl of the Deep, which holds the dreams he lost as a child. Flora and Joe start a journey through the miraculous dream fields to save the dreams of children everywhere. Meanwhile, Kevin finds his solo quest hard. At last the three adventures meet up, but disaster strikes as Vasco snatches the Pearl. When the Pearl fails to restore his dreams, Vasco throws it into the river. Immediately, his dreams return, and he goes back with them to Forest Street as a friend.