I received a review copy of this book and had not read the first in the series.  However, it did not take too long to get my bearings - I imagine it would have been quite enjoyable for anyone who had read the first book.  I do like a lot of YA books, even though I am somewhat past that age, but I think this is much more of a book aimed at children than YA - which is exactly as it is classified.  If I was buying it for a child, though, I would probably read it first as I know my children would have found it a bit scary.  
However, it was well written and quite interesting.

Not my type of book I'm afraid ,but I can see it appealing to young adults..

As always Robin has hit it out of the park with this book. Great for adults and children:) set in a local town! Perfect

The second book in the new series that follows on from the Whitby Witches.  Full of suspense and magic, it also emphasizes the importance of family and friends.

That was great fun, witches, magic, a Dark Lord, a robot, mythical creature and Lords of the deep. Fast moving story with some great characters. A very imaginative story set in a small town in Canada and a fast read.

I enjoyed the first book, The Power of Dark, so was not sure how this would compare but it's even better! Lots of danger, adventures and twists and turns, and all carried out with a lovely wry sense of tongue-in-cheek humour. BUT ....... the ending? Can't wait for the next instalment now!

I would like to thank Egmont Publishing for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book. 

The Devil's Paintbox is the second book in The Witching Legacy trilogy by Robin Jarvis. I previously read the first book The Power of the Dark back in March 2016 and really enjoyed it, but I have to say, I enjoyed the second book much more than the first.  

It's been a year since I read the first book and I was surprised by how easily I slipped back into Lil and Verne's world. The writing was wonderfully vivid. The plot was engaging, fast-paced and action packed from beginning to end. It sets the imagination on fire and I could easily see everything clearly in my mind's eye as I read. 

The Devil's Paintbox is full of colour, adventure, magic, and imagination, but at the same time it's dark, ominous, and creates a feeling of foreboding. This is the kind of book I would have loved to have read as a child, under the covers with a torch. I could almost feel the excitement and anticipation that young me would have felt, along with the need to turn the pages whilst being apprehensive about what's to come.

Definitely one I would recommend. I didn't want to put the book down, it was a lot of fun and I read it in one sitting. My niece and the kids in my reading group are going to love it.

Not as gripping as I had hoped. It seemed too superficial and the characters were not really believable even though it is fantasy.

I am unable to add to the reviews as this volume was out of time before I had loaded it down.

A fantasy novel involving magical powers and some gruesome ideas featuring children and good and evil. Well written and easy to read but too much for children in my opinion. I like the clever use of a paintbox as a portal to the magic. My favourite character is Jack Potts, the robot.

Now this was a wild ride. Right from the start, this latest Whitby adventure steps onto its dark and dangerous path and doesn’t step off it until the (rather abrupt) end. I had a few reservations about how things turned out in the last book, but not so this time. This is dark and ghoulish and clever and fantastical, full of action and mystery and foreboding, and I enjoyed every page.

Normally, I’m a character person. I love good characters and will happily follow them through some terrible plots. But this book has a cracking plot that carries me through some less interesting characters. Lil is a little quiet here. I felt like she only had a couple of really good, spirited moments, while most of the book she’s struggling to keep up with events and getting overshadowed by the others. Verne comes out the stronger this time around, but even he isn’t much compared to Cherry.

Cherry Cherise completely stole this book for me – well, her and Jack Potts. I love Cherry and her clever colour magic, but also her feisty spirit and refusal to let anyone walk all over her. She’s so much fun, but she’s also powerful and smart in this book and I loved how she does everything she can to protect the town.

By contrast, Lil was little more than a tool used by the paintbox to bring everything crashing down on top of them. I would have expected her to have been a bit smarter at the start and a bit more spirited through the troubles, but she does have a rather large weight on her shoulders throughout, so I can’t complain too much.

The plot, though, oh my, that plot. So much happens, and although there’s a heavy inevitability about it all, it still has the ability to surprise. Some of the paints were ingenious in their power. I didn’t even try to guess beyond the first one what everything would bring. And although Mister Dark is lurking in the shadows, somehow he feels like an afterthought because nothing he does is nearly so dangerous. He’s still awful and cruel and twisted in ordinary, nasty ways, and he definitely stirs up trouble, but the paints are everything in this book.

So if you’re a fan of dark fantasy, enjoy clever, powerful magic and the kind of curses that leave everyone struggling to find a cure, then you will probably enjoy this. Poor Whitby doesn’t fare well, but there’s magic and spirit and determination on the side of good and people to cheer for amidst the darkness. The only thing I didn’t like was how quick the ending was, leaving me feeling a bit cut off, but everything up to then was a wild, frantic, amazing ride and I cannot wait to see how everything turns out next.

It's been a while since I read the first part of Robin Jarvis' return to Whitby, his 'Witching Legacy' trilogy. I've come to expect trilogies now, (which makes the bitter sting of Deathscent resurge once more, but miracles have happened — Hagwood returned after an unusual start, after all) so I'm glad to see we're fully on track with The Devil's Paintbox, hot on the heels of The Power of Dark. Prematurely, I'd like to welcome part three.

Once again, Robin takes on the spirit of the times, populating his altered Whitby with a ghastly mixture of 80s body horror (never over the top, but... well, close...), Saharan landscapes and the thoroughly technical interconnected nature of the world in which we now live. His characters are as distinguishable and varied as ever, and the return of Jack Potts, corny to the last, is most welcome: what a player, and ever up for the gamble.

The plot is a tightly-woven as you’d expect from Robin, and has a bountiful mixture of the chilling and the emotional, with a healthy dose of action and adventure, although a mysterious request to recreate a particular artifact seems unfulfilled by the end of the book, and since the book ends on one of Robin's biggest cliffhangers since the transition from Wyrd Museum book two to book three, I guess we'll just have to wait. On a further note, copious and lovingly-rendered illustrations litter the book, and are as appreciated as ever.

Mourners of the two deceased hamsters, Eggs and Bacon, will be distressed to note that a further tinge of muricide enters the tale in its final throes. At least the little chap remains unpeeled… if not exactly unscathed.

A worthy successor to The Power Of Dark, and an absolutely cracking read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

"Legend of supernatural fantasy Robin Jarvis is back with his spellbinding sequel to The Power of Dark. 

Lil and Verne may think they have quelled the Dark forces that tried to destroy Whitby, but they have no idea that the powers they’ve been meddling with are about to turn on them. Despite Lil’s crucial role in saving her home from destruction, she notices that the townsfolk have become wary of her – even fear her. More than ever she needs the support of best friend Verne and the witch Cherry Cerise, but they are preoccupied by their attempts to uncover more secrets of the golden Nimius.

When Lil finds an antique box of watercolour paints she welcomes the diversion, little realising that every time she uses it something nasty escapes. But it is while they are distracted an old enemy finds a path to their door . . ."

Despite only realising this book was part of a trilogy 91% of the way through, I really enjoyed it and will definitely be picking up the others. 

After reading this, I am now a huge fan of Jarvis' writing style. I loved the eeriness and horror aspects of this book and have read this is akin to a lot of his other work too.

The plot was engaging, fast-paced and action packed from the get go which made this a very quick and enjoyable read. There is a lot of emotional complexity to his characters and their relationships which I also appreciated. I am now eagerly awaiting the last installment because I am hooked. Will be picking up more from Jarvis because I am annoyed about having to wait for the last installment. 

4.5/5*

I've only ever read one other Robin Jarvis book, which was the first in the series, but The Devil's Paintbox pleasantly surprised me.  I love Whitby so the setting really drew me into this series, and I must admit it was refreshing to see horror dealt with for middle-grade fiction in such a great way.  The only other author who I feel has done it as effectively is Jonathan Stroud. The characters are fun and well rendered, and the setting is believable and really draws you in.  I'll definitely be following Robin Jarvis' writing from now on!

This book is delightfully viscous and evil. A young adult book with plagues, death, witches and creatures of the dark. My younger self would have loved it.

Lil finds a paintbox hidden in the fireplace of the local witch. Trying some art work she discovers that each slab of paint in the box comes with it's own evil from plagues to death by sand dune. It's then up to them plus best friend Verne to defeat the dark forces and save Whitby.

It's rolls along at a cracking pace. I had the whole book read in a day. It's fun and delightful and I don;t think it matters actually what age you are. It's just a really good book. Go buy it!

Arrrgggghhhh! That ending...

Ok now I've got that out of my system... I've been a fan of Robin Jarvis for a couple of decades now and The Whitby Witches is an old favourite. I am really enjoying this new trilogy set in Whitby with a brand new cast of characters. The Devil's Paintbox continues the story of Verne, Lil and Cherry Cerise (psychedelic colour witch extraordinaire) after the events of The Power of Dark. Lil is growing in confidence in her new power, Verne is trying to get his head around being master of the Nimius and Cherry - who has been somewhat of a loner - is now regarded by the town with wary respect and enjoys having the pair as friends and protegees. Of course nothing is that simple and because it's Jarvis something terrible is about the happen...

This is as good as the first book in this new trilogy and in some ways better. There is a lot more emotional complexity - especially in the child-parent relationships. Jarvis is adroit at showing that adults don't stop making mistakes or being prey to petty fears and desires simply because they're adults. (I did enjoy the reappearance of Mrs Gregson too - who I cannot help feeling sorry for despite  the fact that she is by and large a horrid old woman.) All call backs to the original trilogy are greatly appreciated by yours truly. 

The horror - or Dark Fantasy if that's what we have to call it since horror isn't in fashion - is suitably disturbing. I miss some of the low key chill of Jarvis' early works but there really is only so many times you can have the world almost end on one small town's doorstep without at least some of the inhabitants thinking 'Whitby baint lyke t'other places' afterall. Especially in these days of smart phones and social media - Jarvis has sensibly moved with the times, and he has done so with wry humour and a bit of a sting in the tail for the sheer ridiculousness of the said times.

All in all this is Jarvis at his finest. I only knocked off half a star because it's just not the Whitby Witches as I fondly remember - which says far more about me than the book. (I am actually now going to dig out my Whitby Witches books and reread them, that's how much this book affected me...) 

I really need the third instalment now. I know I am not in the least patient when waiting for books but c'mon, this galley ended with 'Coming soon...' and then no word of what was coming soon! Seriously! 

Highly recommend all of Jarvis' work for fans of fantasy, dark fantasy and horror, young or old, and this series in particular for those just discovering his work. (Save the Dancing Jax trilogy until you know what you're getting into...)

4.5* well deserved stars

What a cleverly written book! Thoroughly enjoyed it as it was really different. Found I didn't want to put it down and can't wait to read the next one in the series. Loved the idea of a story written around a paintbox of colours. It was intriguing, a little scary at times. Do enjoy this author's books and would recommend this as a good read.

This second book in the Power of Dark series was just as good as the first. It was great finding out more about wacky, Whitby witch Cherry Cerise and her wonderful even more 'whackier' fashion sense just made the story all the more fun and enjoyable for me. I also loved the whole concept of the 'Devil's Paintbox', as a child I had a vivid imagination so this idea was right up my street! But what's next for Verne and Lil? I'm just sorry that I will have to wait a while to read the next instalment.

A fast paced supernatural tale with hints of Lovecraft and Spielberg, perfect for young fans of horror. Can't wait for the next installment.

Witchery in Whitby – lots of menace and death ensue

This latest novel by Robin Jarvis takes place in his favourite Whitby and continues the story of Lil, Vern and Cherry Cerise after the events of “The Power of Dark” (which I haven't read). There is a lot of action emanating from the titular paintbox. Lil and Vern do their best to help the people of Whitby but the book ends on a cliffhanger so there is more to come in this series.

It's difficult to know if this is aimed at the Young Adult fantasy lover as there is a lot of death and destruction. It is however engaging, interesting and well-written. Recommended to all followers of Robin Jarvis's work. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.