extremely dangerous to witches. However, as an extremely powerful witch, Malkin is able to live on as a dead witch, oozing into people's heads to control them. The Spook advises Tom that a witch can only be truly killed and sent to the Dark (an afterlife for creatures of the Dark and malicious humans roughly analogous to Hell) in one of two ways: either one must eat the witch's heart, or one must burn the witch's body. The book ends as the undead Malkin chases Tom back to his family's farm. He greatly weakens her with salt and iron, greatly effective against witches and other creatures of the Dark, and she flees into a pig pen. Malkin is then wholly eaten by pigs and thus goes to the Dark. Ward is firmly positioned as Gregory's apprentice, with Alice as an ally tolerated by the Spook. Characters Thomas Ward, apprentice to John Gregory and a seventh son of a seventh son. John Gregory, the main spook for the County who mentors Thomas. He previously was a priest. He is also a seventh of the seventh son. Alice Deane, a young witch who befriends Tom. Bony Lizzie, a malevolent witch and Alice's ex-teacher and her aunt. She uses Bone Magic Mother Malkin, Bony Lizzie's aunt and a malevolent witch who was bound in a pit by the Spook. Tusk, the monstrous abhuman son of Mother Malkin. Mam, Tom's mysterious mother who seems to be able to look into the future. John Ward, Tom's father, a farmer, and a former sailor. Jack Ward, Tom's oldest brother, who inherited the farm except for one room meant for Tom. James Ward, Tom's second oldest brother, a blacksmith by trade. Ellie Ward, Jack's wife. Mary Ward, the young daughter of Ellie and Jack. Father Gregory, the Spook's brother. They haven't spoken with each other in over forty years. Film adaptation The book was very loosely adapted into a 2014 film titled Seventh Son released in 3-D and IMAX 3D. Whilst most of the characters remain, their story has been much changed and expanded (presumably to better suit an older audience & the film's more 'epic' stature.) – It stars Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore. Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander were cast as Tom Ward and Alice but in June 2011 Variety revealed that Ben Barnes was cast as Tom Ward. Drama script In 2014,