9 +. Esmelia Sniff and her much more talented apprentice Sam are back in the second volume of the much-praised Witches at War! series. Armed with the Black Wand, evil Diabolica Nightshade is creating an army of witches to take over the world. It's up to Esmelia and her apprentice Sam to stop her, but the only thing that can stand against the Black Wand is - another wand of equal power. Can Sam and Esmelia put their differences aside for long enough to uncover the ancient spell to create such a wand? What will Sam discover about her past? And will Esmelia ever take off that false beard? The first in the series is The Wickedest Witch.
Martin Howard writes absurdly funny books for children. His last was a Sunday Times Book of the Week and he has been compared to Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams and the Monty Pythons. Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull is his favourite so far.
