Today, I'm reviewing The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands:
Age group: 10 - 14
Page count: 384
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Summary from Amazon:
Following 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.
“Tell no one what I’ve given you.”
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.
But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. 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.
Why I like The Blackthorn Key:
- Christopher has to solve codes and puzzles - and it teaches you how to decipher them! His master leaves clues for Christopher and it is awesome to see how they are deciphered.
- The plot is amazing. I'm not going to give anything away, but it is just action-packed. I could not put it down!
- The setting is in England where apothecaries existed! So we get to see kings, holidays, mixtures of things you use in apothecaries...
I give this book a 9/10 or 0.9 or 9.0/10.0 or fraction nine on top, ten on the bottom! It is amazing. I love it.
Author bio:
Taken from his website at: http://www.kevinsandsbooks.com
Thanks!
- Vi