The Filth Licker

Miku and her friends are on a school trip to an Adventure Camp in Wales. It should be a fantastic week, but Miku is worried. Her best friend Cait is acting strangely; Oscar has a serious rash; the camp is not at all as expected – and there is a Filth Licker – an akaname – in the boys’ toilets. Once again Miku must battle against a host of Japanese demons intent upon taking over her world.

This is the second adventure about Miku and her friends. Once again the reader is introduced to a variety of extraordinary demons – there is a useful glossary at the end to help with pronunciation and identification – some of whom are helpful, but most seriously nasty. By setting the action in the more remote countryside of Wales, the author is able to add an extra layer of tension. The Japanese folk traditions from which Cristy Burne draws her demons open a window onto another world that captures the imagination and adds interest. Characterisation is lightly handled, while short sentences and plenty of dialogue ensure the action moves at a brisk pace. A very useful addition to the primary school library.