I personally would have liked a touch more background given to the major apothecaries, their guild, and their history as relating to the story. More harrowing than I expected, Sands has brought to life a shadowy and dark ancient world here a quick-moving story that makes for compulsive reading. When tragedy strikes close to Christopher’s adopted home, we discover that Master Benedict had been slowly preparing Christopher to solve the most challenging, most potentially catastrophic code to ever face an apothecary- and society. With an unnatural yet honed gift for understanding potions, mixtures and solving cryptic puzzles, Christopher is grateful for his life with his beloved Master Benedict. Christopher, trailed by his steadfast best friend Tom, are usually in the midst of accidental discoveries and booming, spilling accidents. With orphaned Christoper Rowe as our intelligent, feisty and crafty narrator, readers are immersed into seventeenth century London, unforgiving, all-around harsh and filled with competing apothecaries. An enticing blend of historical mystery and suspense, with darker elements and more graphic combats along the lines of Harry Potter and The Hangman’s Daughter, The Blackthorn Key is an exciting and oft-ferocious read. Making a foray into the competitive and trend-driven world of children’s literature cannot be easy, so I applaud Canadian author Kevin Sands for crafting such a compelling, fresh and intriguing middle-grade debut novel. In his stunning debut novel, Kevin Sands brings readers on a heart-stopping adventure rich with suspense, mystery, and unforgettable characters. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart. But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn-with maybe an explosion or two along the way.

Thank you!įollowing a series of murders, an apothecary’s apprentice must solve puzzles and decipher codes in pursuit of a secret that could destroy the world in this suspenseful debut novel.

Source: Hardcopy courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada via Goodreads First Reads. Review: The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

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