Darkiss Reads: The Mystic Accountants - (The Banned Underground) By Will Macmillan-Jones

Just when they thought that life had returned to normal after defeating a Dark Lord in the Lake District, Chris and Linda get a letter, followed by a knock on the door. Their friends are back, and they're in trouble - again.

In the mist-haunted Dwarf Mansion, the Banned Underground has played another gig. But this time the feedback has blown the Throne of the Mountain King apart, and the Banned must find a replacement on pain of, well, pain. The junior dark lord is out for revenge, if his satnav doesn't keep him from following the band. Grizelda, the off-white witch and occasional aunt to the teenagers, is busy with some mad monks who want to conquer the world starting with Wales.

The Mystic Accountants, the second book in the Banned Underground series, is a unique mix of fantasy and Terry Pratchett-style humor for the rock generation and their kids. Different from other comedic fantasies, it parodies the touring music scene, bureaucracy, taxation and with its tongue-in-cheek slapstick humor, witty puns and word games

Again I have read the "Dedication" section of a book. It amazes me! Will Macmillian again takes you straight into the world of the book, whilst mixing it up in the real world.

Both entertaining, amusing, sarcastic and truthful the Dedication again sets the tone of the world you are about to enter. You are then introduced to the "The Cast". A section of the book which lets the reader know who are the good guys, and those that are the Tax Accountants! This, as with the first book manages to be informative whilst on my wave length of witty and dry humour at the same time.. Plus The Cast comments have footnotes - Love it! The Result, I keep reading! It looks to be as good as the first book.

Will, the author writes in a way that makes it personal to you, the reader. You almost feel like your having a chat with him.

In this book you join the motley crew of the Dwarfs, a Golem and a Green Bogtroll known as The Banned Underground, Grizelda (a witch) & Ben (the husband.. and wizard) Chris and Linda (Grizelda's nephew and niece), and Eddie (he was a taxi driver, then he met the band.. and Grizelda's sister), who start their own special quests to save our lives, and to save their own!

As always there are hic-ups, like the Grey Mange, Ned and a whole lot of Orange Robbed men in the way..

Plus in this edition we get the added extra of a couple of Dragons which I find VERY fitting as this book, as although it starts in England, it is mainly set in Wales and even travels through my home town!

As with the first book, the scene is set in the Lake District with the rain and pubs, with footnotes and witty remarks from the very start. You are then taken onto Helvyndelve, to the gig of all gigs with The Banned Underground... which as usual did not end as planned, but ended with a disintegrated Throne of the Mountain King...

The King was less than pleased. Hence their road trip and a new quest to find the Magical Waccibacci!

Smoothly linked the author takes you to the Valleys of Wales (via Manchester) where you collect the rest of the motley crew of good guys along the way. They are known as Grizelda and her witches, Eddie, Chris, Linda, a flower powered coach and Dai (a red whiskey drinking and choc biscuit eating dragon).

With plenty of modern toilet humour, disclaimer footnotes and a spell of drinking and gigging the characters take you into their world of dwarfs, mystical people and animals and also breaching into the world of the humans and police.

Follow Grizelda as she visits her first ever "Student Rave" (just don't tell Ben), and understand why some people call the toilet their throne! Get an insight to the culture of Zen, student life and the Welsh Assembly! And all of this in one book, its gotta be pretty good aye?

Although this book did not grip me as well as the first I enjoyed it greatly. I still believe Will has the rare ability to make a mass published book a most enjoyable, personal read that had me laughing and smiling to myself as the chapters scrolled by. His ability to write in a way which appeals to all ages, to have several plots going on that are easy to follow, and the fact that I can put it down and get right back into the thick of it, without having to reread a few pages is also a big hit with me and I am glad he has managed to continue this skill in his second book.

So join Fungus the bog troll and Grizelda the Witch on another adventure across the UK, and have a smile whilst you do it! x

Out of 5 stars I would rate this one 3 and a half.