The Blackthorn Key

The Blackthorn Key #1

by Kevin Sands

“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.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Since escaping from university with a pair of degrees in theoretical physics, Kevin Sands has worked as a researcher, a business consultant, and a teacher. He is the author of the bestselling The Blackthorn Key series. His brand new fantasy adventure, Children of the Fox, is out now.

Reviews

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

In 1665, Christopher Rowe serves as an apprentice to a successful London apothecary, Master Benedict Blackthorn. Blackthorn saved Christopher from a harsh future, by adopting him from a local orphanage.

Since that time, Blackthorn has acted as a caring father figure and mentor to the young boy.



Christopher is very clever, adept at following chemical recipes, deciphering puzzles and reading complex codes.

Along with his good friend, Tom, the baker's son, Christopher gets himself into all sorts of wild hi-jinks with his numerous experiments.



When the city's apothecaries begin being systematically killed off, it is up to Christopher to figure out who is behind it and stop them before he too, falls victim.

Relying on his knowledge, acquired through his Master's many lessons, as well as his own ingenuity, Christopher slowly pieces together the mystery of the Cult at the heart of the matter; putting his own life in danger along the way.



I really enjoyed so much about this story. It's such a strong start to a mysterious Middle Grade series.

I loved the historical setting and the relationship between Christopher and Tom. Tom was a perfect, lovable side kick; those can go a long way in this type of story.



This does get really dark. I was living for it and even as a Middle Grader, certainly, would have been living for it. There are murdery-bits, and evil villain bits and actually, fairly scary bits.

If you are a Reader who is sensitive to that type of content, just go in knowing you will find that here.



As a science lover, I also enjoyed those elements included in the story. There were even codes for Christopher to work out, left for him as clues.

The narrative really made science exciting and I love seeing Young Readers exposed to a science is cool storyline. Not only is science cool, it saves the day.



I'm really excited to continue on with this series. I am definitely down for going on more adventures with Christopher and Tom.

If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced, slightly dark, Middle Grade Mystery series, I suggest you give it a go as well. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

[Candi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic, fast-paced historical mystery and I honestly did not want to put it down! Aimed at middle-graders but definitely one that any reader could enjoy, The Blackthorn Key is the complete package – mysterious puzzles and codes, thrilling and suspenseful action, history and science, and exceptional friendships.

Set in 1665 in the city of London, this book introduces us to Christopher Rowe, our clever hero, who is apprenticed as an apothecary to Master Benedict Blackthorn. Having rescued Christopher from an unknown future in the orphanage, Master Benedict acts as a compassionate father and mentor to this boy who is eager to learn everything he can about potions, puzzles, and books. The baker’s son, Tom, makes a wonderful friend and sidekick, being constantly dragged into Christopher’s little schemes and experiments. These two make a great pair and I really enjoyed every minute of their adventures with one another. When a menacing cult begins to systematically murder the city’s apothecaries, Christopher is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery before he finds himself the next victim. He must use all of the knowledge he’s gleaned from his master, along with plenty of courage and ingenuity, to solve the biggest mystery of all and escape imminent danger. There are bad guys galore and Christopher must learn who he can truly trust. I must say there is a lot of page-turning action in this book!

The Blackthorn Key gives us a snapshot of a piece of history that is quite informative but not at all mundane or too mystifying for the middle grade reader. The potions and puzzles should interest anyone that enjoys science or magic. However, one bit of warning from this reader: there is a fair amount of violence and danger in this book that could be disconcerting to a younger middle school child. Some gruesome descriptions of the murders and other brutal assaults may be okay for the mature middle grader, but I hesitate to recommend this to the complete gamut of grades 3-7 readers as noted on the back of the book. But, as always, parents use caution – you know what your children can handle. This is definitely a book worth reading and has huge potential for this debut author! I would love to see a sequel to this book; I think Kevin Sands left just enough open at the conclusion for this to be a possibility – at least I hope so! 4.5 stars

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Goodreads and Aladdin Books in a first reads giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion.

[R.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cracking good middle-grade adventure read, with loving attention to historical detail (including the religious and political aspects that often get left out), plenty of mysteries, codes and puzzles, vivid characters, high tragedy and low humour -- in short, a book many readers will love and want to recommend to others, and justly so. It shows a lot of talent, depth and confidence for a debut novel and Kevin Sands seems clearly on his way to a solid career.

If I had one niggle, it would be that there isn't much here for girl readers who hope to see characters like themselves, since the only females are some cute little girls, a sympathetic mother, and a pigeon, all of whom play a significant role in helping our boy hero but then quickly disappear. Still, there's a few hints and loose ends that could lead to a sequel, and perhaps we'll see more of characters like Sally, Cecily and Molly in further adventures.

Four and a half stars, as I can see myself reading this one again to catch all the clues and nuances, and perhaps even reading it aloud to my youngest in a year or two.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I thought this was fantasy but it’s actually a historical fiction adventure.

It was a lot of fun for me. It features 14-year-old Christopher is an apprentice apothecary in 1665. He gets caught up the schemes of some really loathsome villains. He follows clues and solves puzzles set up by his master while escaping the villains — a bit like “Goonies.”



I really enjoyed how Christopher uses chemistry and logic to defeat the bad guys. The book is clever, fast-paced, and full of adventure and explosions.



Perfect for late MG/early YA readers but enjoyable to everyone.

Clean language | No sexual content | Moderate amount of violence

[Jay Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Video Review~
https://youtu.be/8Od9fv5S3NA

Brilliant. Utterly brilliant. I won an advanced reader's copy book from a GR giveaway and I am so happy I did. This book is set to release on September 3rd 2015; which is when you should buy and read it. To be blunt, it's amazing, and quite honestly one of my new favorite middle-grades.

London 1665. A world of wigged gentlemen, drunkard peasants, and orphaned children. Christopher Rowe is an orphan at Cripplegate Orphanage, when he impresses an elite member of the apothecaries guild and is then taken in as an apprentice to Master Apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. Christopher learns all kinds of remedies, potions, and lethal poisons in his master's care; skills that will save his life more than a few times. Whispers of murder are spreading through the streets and London's apothecaries' seem to be The Cult of The Archangel's target. Christopher is set on a perilous journey involving conspiracies, codes, secret alchemists, puzzles, and pigeons. Who doesn't like pigeons?

Kevin Sands writing is superb. This book is written in 1st person, which to me can sometimes sound amateur if not done right, but Sands does it right. The mix of real history and events is blended well and keeps it interesting, however, I'm very surprised there was no mention of the plague that hit London in 1665. That sort of feels like a missed opportunity, but nevertheless the history that was given was welcome.

Edit: The plague is mentioned by the end of the book.

I completely recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about apothecaries, alchemists, potions & poisons, and anyone else who likes middle -grade. I look forward to see what Kevin Sands publishes in the future.

[joey (thoughts and afterthoughts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

[See the full review at thoughts and afterthoughts.]





Rating: 4.5/5
Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:
– Frenetically paced mystery with solvable puzzles providing an interactive reading experience
– Hist-fic world building is rustic, has medieval flair, and the tone is vividly portrayed given it’s time; mild “fade to black/off-screen” gore
– Characters and relationships (i.e. bromance) feel organic. However, there isn’t a strong female presence
– There is a pigeon named Bridget. You will have animal/pet feels
– Story is self-contained (though part of a series) and is courageously resilient, full of hilarious tomfoolery, and painfully tragic

Initial Thoughts:
It seems like stories with animal sidekicks will, without fail, garner 4+ stars from me. NO COMPLAINTS HEREEEEEE.

Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of The Blackthorn Key from the Book Blog Ontario Meet-Up. I extend thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.


Afterthoughts:

Premise
Christopher Rowe, a once-orphan now budding apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn is plunged into the gritty underbelly of the alchemical world when a string of murders claim the lives of prominent apothecaries. With the perpetrator at large and signs pointing to the Blackthorn shop, Christopher finds himself with the key to uncovering the mystery behind the disturbing deaths and the scheme at the heart of it all.

Setting
London 1665: cobblestone roads, stone mausoleums, imposing cathedrals, dusty wooden shelves lined with material knick-knacks, and a bird house for the greatest avian side-kick ever. Sands has crafted an explosive (literally) alchemical historical-fiction with medieval flair and a tone that vividly portrays its time. The story doesn’t inundate readers (considering target audience) with religious diatribes that detract from the cat-and-mouse narrative.

Narration
I’ll admit: I don’t usually do hist-fic because the past is blergh (interpret that how you will). The Blackthorn Key, I found, was packed with intrigue and credit goes to the story, the adventurous and impeccable pacing, and the penmanship to weave a page-turning experience. This book elicits a range of feels: it’s courageously resilient, full of hilarious tomfoolery, and painfully tragic.

The story made me cry. If that’s not a powerful thing…then I don’t know what is.

The coolest thing is that readers can [for the most part] unlock the puzzles before going forward, as if it were an interactive experience. The narrative provides the codes and kinks to uncover the mystery before you turn the page. Note: it’s not a gimmick. The exposition pulls you into the eyes [and world] of Christopher Rowe and connects readers to the conflict in a smart way.

That being said, the writing may not be for the faint of heart.

What I will say in terms of gore is this: as a kid, I was immersed in a lot of violence through videogames and multimedia. Am I suggesting that this book will be fine for all MG-kids? Not at all. This book has bleak as shit moments but you don’t witness the brutality. It’s like a “fade to black”. This is just a discretionary warning to those incapable of stomaching the high-stakes game of survival. It is in the context of its time and not as censored as things seem to be based on its intended audience.

Characters
Christopher Rowe is simply precious and I adored his voice. He’s emotionally invested to a life that has given him more than just borrowed time. There is so much to root for as the story promotes the cultivation of adolescent experimentation and ingenuity. Christopher isn’t a special snowflake; he’s not the only one who could have unlocked the mystery. The puzzles are his to crack because he’s the product of initiative and work ethic, and his development is one keenly demonstrated by action. (Subtext: learning is important but you should also blow things up in the process.)

The bromance is sublime. Christopher and Tom are like two peas in a pod. Their friendship can easily be mistaken as blood-related due to loyalty and it’s wholly organic. I’d call Tom a comic relief but that would short-sell his importance to Christopher.

Bridget is one badass scene stealer. This pigeon deserves all the love and then some. If you appreciate the value of Manchee for Todd’s character in the Chaos Walking Trilogy (Patrick Ness) you will surely love every feather of this flappy bird.

If there’s one thing that can be considered amiss, it’s that there’s no real female presence. Aside from Tom’s siblings and his mother, the only female with potential of a role is an orphan girl with a line or two. The implication is that this can be considered a “book about boys for boys”. It’s so much more than that.

Overall
This book punched me in the face with feels. And then did it again, and again. While this first installment is a self-contained story, it’s sequel explores the Great Plague of London [in 1665]. You don’t need to worry about cliffhangers. So, yeah, if there’s one middle-grade title you should considering reading in 2015, it’s Kevin Sands’ The Blackthorn Key. If not because I told you to, then for the explosions…or the bromance…or the interactive mystery…or most importantly: for Bridget, a damn pigeon.

[See the full review at thoughts and afterthoughts.]

[Erin Bow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is lined up to be Simon and Schuster's big Middle Grade title for the fall. GOOD CHOICE, S&S.

Set among the apothecaries -- and secret alchemists -- of London in 1665, this book is a perfect MG page-turner, with codes to crack and secret doors to open and vast conspiracies to foil, oh my. There is high adventure, some moving moments, and a truly satisfying number of explosions.

When I do bookstore events, I usually hang out in the kids and teens sections, trying to match readers with books. (Tip to other authors: this is better than sitting behind a table upfront while people try to avoid eye contact.) Blackthorn Key will be my new go-to for all those who loved Percy Jackson or Artemis Fowl. It's that kind of book, and just that good.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

»Verrate es niemandem«
Bis zu dieser rätselhaften Warnung war Christopher Rowe eigentlich zufrieden mit seinem Leben als Lehrling des Apothekermeisters und Alchemisten Benedict Blackthorn. Er hatte ein Dach über dem Kopf, sein Meister lehrte ihn nicht nur, wie man Mittel gegen Warzen herstellt, sondern auch wie man verschlüsselte Botschaften knackt und Rätsel löst. Doch das alles ändert sich, als eine Serie mysteriöser Morde London heimsucht. Fast immer sind es Alchemisten, die getötet werden. Christopher spürt, dass sein Meister in Gefahr ist. Ihm bleibt nur wenig Zeit, die Mörder zu enttarnen und hinter ein Geheimnis zu kommen, das so mächtig ist, dass es die Welt zerstören kann …

Das Cover hat es mir angetan, diese coole Mischung aus Mysterie, Abenteuer und Rätseln. Zu gefühlten 80% war es daran Schuld, dass ich den Blackthorn Code lesen wollte und ich hatte echt Erwartungen an das Buch. Die große Stärke des Buches ist die ganze Alchemie-/Apothekerthematik und dass es kaum andere (Jugend)Bücher aus dem Bereich gibt.
Die Charaktere sind liebevoll ausgearbeitet. Einerseits ist da Christopher, der ein bisschen eine Harry Potter-Rolle einnimmt, wenn ihr wisst, was ich meine. Er ist klug, hat Rätsel seines Meisters gelöst, die ich die paar Seiten, die ich Zeit gehabt hätte, sie zu knacken, nicht geschafft habe. Er ist loyal seinem besten Freund Tom gegenüber. Die Loyalität ist übrigens beidseitig, anfangs war ich mir zwar nicht so sicher, was das zwischen den beiden sein soll, doch mit der Geschichte entwickelt sich auch ihre Freundschaft insoweit, das man sieht, dass die zwei alles Mögliche für einander tun würden. Und Christophers Gefühle seinem Meister gegenüber, auf die ich jetzt nicht weiter eingehen werde, sind glaubhaft beschrieben. Die zweite der Figuren ist der bereits erwähnte beste Freund Tom. Ich bin so froh, dass ich das Buch gelesen habe und nicht nach den ersten Kapiteln auf meinen Kopf gehört habe, der keine Lust auf so eine blöde Figur hatte! Am Anfang ist Tom nur der doofe Freund, der einfach allen Blödsinn mitmacht, den Christopher vorschlägt. Doch in ihm steckt noch viel mehr. Tom ist ein wunderbarer Freund und Bruder und ich mag ihn so sehr für alles, was er aus eigenem Antrieb für seinen besten Freund tut.
Ich hatte das Gefühl, ich gehöre nicht zum angesprochenen Publikum. Es liest sich wie ein Buch für jüngere Jungs. Gründe: 1. Es kommen im ganzen Buch höchstens vielleicht 10 Mädchen oder Frauen vor. 2. Ständig kriegt irgendwer etwas in die Weichteile. (Kann mir übrigens mal jemand erklären, wieso das so lustig sein soll?) Das sind zwei Punkte, die ich herauskristallisiert habe. Die Geschichte hat einfach eine Atmosphäre um sich, die eher auf Jungs ausgerichtet ist, besser kann ich es nicht mehr beschreiben. Dennoch kann man das Buch auch so echt gut lesen. Es waren dadurch halt Kleinigkeiten dabei, die ich nicht so super fand, aber hey, ich hatte trotzdem Spaß an dem Buch!
In diesem Buch gibt es keine Liebesgeschichte. Für mich etwas ungewöhnlich, in den meisten Büchern, die ich lese, gibt es wenisgtens am Rand eine, aber alles andere hätte auch nicht gepasst. Stattdessen wird der Fokus auf das Lösen des Rätsels, des Blackthorn-Codes, und die Such nach dem Mörder gelegt.

Über den Autor:
Kevin Sands hat Theoretische Physik studiert und bereits als Wissenschaftler, Unternehmensberater und Lehrer gearbeitet. Er lebt in Toronto. ›Der Blackthorn-Code - Das Vermächtnis des Alchemisten‹ ist sein Debüt.

Fazit
Der Blackthorn-Code ist ein fantastisches Buch! Ich fühlte mich zwar nicht immer angesprochen und hatte einige Kleinigkeiten, die mich gestört haben, doch die tollen Figuren, die Thematik und der Handlungsverlauf gleichen das mehr als nur aus.

[Amber J (Thereadingwitch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is never the tool that decides. It's the hands-and the heart-of the one who wields it.”

As always my reviews are based off of my true and honest opinion and I do my best to keep all reviews spoiler free.

Christopher Rowe is an apprentice to the apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. He's learning not only how to create recipes but how to make and decipher codes. However before he knows it, Christopher Rowes life comes crashing down, and now its in danger as well. Together Christopher and his good and loyal friend Tom must figure out a secret worth killing for.

I absolutely loved this book. It was almost impossible to put down. It reminded me a lot of National Treasure with its codes and puzzles, not to mention being chased and by both the good and bad guys. Parts of it made me cry and feel for Christopher. It also reminded me of adventure/hidden objects games that I enjoy playing from time to time because Christopher needs to use his knowledge of codes and puzzles plus be resourceful with the items he has on and/or around him. I fell in love with the characters and the plot. It was easy to follow and immerse myself in. This book is a first to a series and without a cliffhanger and most things wrapped up I'm not sure what to expect in the next book, which leaves any number of wonderful possibilities.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO SATISFYING! It has humor, history, mystery, science, religion, snarky characters, potty jokes, and it reads like a middle grades version of a Dan Brown novel. I gobbled this down like Christopher Rowe gobbled down his "icey cream" on Oak Apple Day -- read the book, and that will make sense. Also, Bridget the loyal pigeon is the BEST. Definitely one I'll emphatically promote to seventh grade readers.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is by my 10-year-old who read the book and liked it.
He say's he enjoyed the characters, mystery and found the puzzles to be fine. Rated: 4.5 Stars

[Kari Ramadorai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin Sands’ Blackthorn Key is well written. Period. I would share it in a heartbeat, and it's a quick and easy read.

Christopher was an orphan in the busy London of the mid 1600’s. Taken as an apothecary’s apprentice at eleven, he’s bonded to his master. What’s more, he’s good at learning the trade. There’s a murderer about, and he stalks apothecaries. The rest you’ll have to read.

It’s been a long time since a book’s impressed me this much. Christopher and Tom are likeable, and the sensations of London come across palpably. Kevin Sands’ solid writing, the good editing, the accurate historical setting, the puzzles without making reading difficult, all of it adds together to make a great book for the 4-7th grade readers.

The only reservation that I have about it is the inclusion of a particular cult that along with some of the history wouldn’t make sense (it’s a very specific year in England’s history) to a young reader. A second concern is the deaths that start the mystery are pretty grim, though off-screen.
~review based on an ARC

[Temi Panayotova-Kendeva · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.writingis.fun/%D0%BA%D0%BB...

Нека си призная нещо – трябваше да приключа книжката още миналата седмица. Поради по-малкото ми свободно време, успях да я приключа днес.

Краткото описание на самият гръб на книгата ме съмнява, че би ви дало идея за какво е историята. Но както се казва, не съдете книгата по корицата… защото ако го направите с тази книга, ще изпуснете едно невероятно приключение!

Историята се развива през 17-сти век във Великобритания. И ако се чудите – да това е времето, в което е имало крале и замъци.

Историята ни запознава с Кристофър Роу, чирак на лондонския аптекар – майстор Бенедикт Блекторн. Дните на нашият герой преминават в задачи, уроци, смесване на различни отвари и лекове, а през свободното време се мотае с приятеля си Том и опитва да разшишрофа рецептите на майстора си.

[Iliana Simeonova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Една невероятна книга, която с лекота ме прати в далечни 17в. с увлекателния, лек и приятен начин, по който бе разказана историята.
Това е една книга изпълнена с приключения и загадки, с герои изгради по прекрасни начин, който ме накара да ми се свива сърцето, когато им се случи нещо лошо.
Това е една прекрасна книга разказваща за силата на приятелството, за смелост, борбеност, сила и отдаденост.
Ревюто на книгата тук - http://books99blogspot.blogspot.bg/20...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When his Apothecary Master dies, 14-year-old apprentice Christopher sets off to solve the mystery of the kindly man’s death, amidst codes, puzzles, secret formulas, sinister cults, and more. Humor, adventure, mystery, and danger, along with a trouble-causing, extremely likeable main character, will make this a hit with young readers! I loved it!

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, is this a fun read. Great premise, great characters, great historical fiction. More importantly, my kids absolutely loved it. I'm pretty sure they considered this one of the best books of the year.

[Andrei Cioată · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce dor mi-a fost să citesc ceva ficțiune, în genul ăsta, care să NU mă plictisească! :) Super carte, cu de toate, amuzantă, doi prieteni într-o cocârdășie super, ce să mai. Chiar merită 5 steluțe!

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

I feel there is a lack of good quality MG historical fiction that is fun and adventurous, where the point isn't to teach a history lesson, but to just have a story that sweeps you up in its magic and action. The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands fills this need.


Christopher Rowe is an apothecary's apprentice in post Restoration London. He works hard, but he has a kind master who teaches him well and allows him enough free time for adventures that often end in mischief and trouble. He can't complain about his life. All of that starts to fall apart when a series of murders occur in their small corner of London. Murders that seem to be targeting apothecaries. When Christopher's master becomes the next victim, Christopher's entire future is left unsure. Worse he finds himself a suspect. As time is running out, Christopher races to find the true murder and finds himself caught in a web of politic intrigue and ancient intrigues.

Christopher is a hero whose story it is easy to get swept up in. When the reader meets him, he is trying to convince his best friend Thomas it would be a good use of their time to build a cannon. I really enjoyed the bond between Christopher and Thomas and how they behaved very much like typical kids their age. They have the responsibilities of their time and social situation that influences their life, but they are happy, active, inquisitive kids looking for ways to lighten the intensity of their days. Modern kids will be able to find much to identify with there.

The mystery aspect of the story is well done. I felt like the discoveries Christopher made were realistic enough to not stretch incredulity, but made for an adventurous read at the same time. What he was able to do and accomplish fit his character well too. He is a bright boy and is fueled by a desire to regain control of his future. It is the world's best motivator.

This is a book that is heavy with male characters. There are girls in the story who are helpful and if there is going to be a sequel, I would love to see some of them have a bigger role and importance. However, given the world in which Christopher was moving and working, the roles the girls played made sense.

As I read, I was just so excited to be reading a fun historical mystery where that was the whole point. So refreshing.

[Ross Blocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blackthorn Key is the smart and gripping fictional tale of Christopher Rowe, a young orphan-turned-apothecary-apprentice in 1665 London who gets caught up in a plot involving a cult that seeks an alchemical weapon and is willing to kill for it. Throughout, author Kevin Sands incorporates knowledge of 17th century England and chemistry as it was understood then, discarding a lot of nonsense and highlighting the things apothecaries of the time would have had right. The book is filled with puzzles, and the protagonist's intelligence is fun to track with: Christopher is brilliant, but in a clear-headed and realistic fashion. There's no time wasted following false clues or mistaken notions. The book provides a lot of action as well: there are explosions, fights, and a whole lot of physical damage visited upon the characters. A really fun, quick read - I look forward to working my way through the rest of the series.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really rare to find a middle grade novel that's both a great page-turning adventure and also a detailed, thoroughly researched, believable piece of historical fiction. While there's a little bit of magic and some elements that border on 17th century sci fi here, the world of London in 1665 is rich and real, as are the lives of its merchants and apprentices. At the same time, the nearly non-stop action, adventure and mystery will keep readers turning the pages, and the solution to the mystery is a good, surprising twist (which is often where middle grade mystery/adventure novels fall short for me). Highly recommended!

[Brian Yahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially, The Blackthorn Key is a plot driven mystery. The problem is: without any twists--beside the one on the back of the book--it's too predictable. Sure, it's got plenty of cliffhangers and surprises, but nothing that really takes the book in a new direction.

Although it starts off strong with a quirky protagonist and his goofy sidekick having a fun little misadventure, the rest of the story is too consumed with plot to let the characters shine.

[Krissysch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver Rohrbeck (auch bekannt von den Drei ???) ist einfach ein super Sprecher, der perfekt zu dieser Geschichte gepasst hat. Die Story ist toll, schön abenteuerlich, und das Geheimnis, das aufgedeckt werden muss, wirklich spannend. Als Hörbuch fand ich die Geschichte wirklich super, nicht nur für jüngere Leser/ Hörer, sondern auch für die Älteren. ;)

[Diego Beaumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro lleno de amistad, misterios y secretos que me maravilló. Lo mejor la ambientación londinense del siglo XVII y todo el entramado mágico/alquímico que hay en torno a la trama. Me gustó mucho el portagonista y creo que leeré más sobre sus próximas aventuras.

[ally (ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

"𝖲𝖾𝖼𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗌. 𝖢𝗈𝖽𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝖽𝖾𝗌."

❥🗝️❥ this series is my roman empire. constantly, i’m thinking of sally, christopher, and tom and the many mysteries this crew has cracked. so, i thought a reread was in order.

🗝️𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗍 𝗌𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒⟱
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙠𝙚𝙮 follows newly 14-year-old christopher rowe, an apprentice to apothecary benedict blackthorn. all around london, there have been mysterious murders - many of the victims being apothecaries. when the murder cult (of sorts) targets christopher & master benedict, christopher and tom must solve the case.

❥🗝️𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗍 + 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗂𝗇𝗀🗝️❥
- the plot is a classic “besties solving a murder mystery” kinda case. i love how fast-paced this story is !! props to kevin sands for keeping my attention the who time !!

❥🗝️𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀🗝️❥
- the writing in this book>>> it’s just SO GOOD !! i love how kevin sands writes😩 and it only improves from here !!!

❥🗝️𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌🗝️❥
[<𝖼𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗋𝗈𝗐𝖾>]
- ahhh he is such a comfort character for me !! the poor kid goes through sm in this series - even in book 1😔but he is so creative and resourceful - i could never figure out all those ciphers😭

[<𝗍𝗈𝗆 𝖻𝖺𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗒>]
- aww tom !! he is my fav fs🤍 i love how while he can seem tough and grumpy on the outside, he is js a big softie on the inside🥹🤍 #justicefortombailey

[<𝗌𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗌>]
- while sally only appears in a few scenes in book 1, i love her anyway💖 she is such a great character !!

- side note: if you read this book and didn’t appreciate the lack of female characters, dw !! sally becomes a huge huge character in book 2 !!

❥🗝️𝗊𝗎𝗈𝗍𝖾𝗌🗝️❥

"𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗅𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝖽𝖾. 𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍: 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗅𝗌. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗅, 𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗄𝗂𝗅𝗅. 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗂𝗍𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗌. 𝖨𝗍'𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌—𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍—𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗐𝗂𝖾𝗅𝖽𝗌 𝗂𝗍."

"𝖶𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝗇𝗈 𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝗏𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖨𝖿 𝖲𝗍𝗎𝖻𝖻 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝗎𝗌 𝗈𝗎𝗍, 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝖺 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖽𝗈. 𝖲𝗂𝗆𝗈𝗇'𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝖿𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗂𝗍𝗒."
"𝖳𝗈 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾?"
"𝖥𝗋𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾. 𝖯𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗌, 𝖨 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄. 𝖧𝖾'𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗎𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾."
⤷if you’ve already read the series, the yk this is CRAZY foreshadowing for books 3-6 !!

"𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗋𝗒𝗉𝗍 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖻𝗎𝗂𝗅𝗍 𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗀𝗈," 𝖨 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽. "𝖫𝖾𝗍'𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗍 𝗀𝗈𝖾𝗌."
𝖳𝗈𝗆 𝖼𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗀𝖾𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗆𝗎𝗆𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗉𝗋𝖺𝗒𝖾𝗋. "𝖩𝖾𝗌𝗎𝗌, 𝗂𝗇 𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗆𝖾𝗋𝖼𝗒, 𝗉𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗌𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗈𝗅𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝗎𝗌. 𝖠𝗆𝖾𝗇."

"𝖸𝗈𝗎'𝗏𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝖽," 𝗁𝖾 (tom) 𝗌𝖺𝗂𝖽. "𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖥𝗂𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝗌𝖼𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖻𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇."
𝖨 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁 𝗅𝖾𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗉𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝖺𝗑 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝖽𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖾𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆. "𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝗂𝗍'𝗅𝗅 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄?"
"𝖨𝖿 𝖻𝗒 '𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄', 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝖾𝖺𝗇 '𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿 𝗄𝗂𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽', 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗌𝗎𝗋𝖾, 𝗂𝗍'𝗅𝗅 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄."
⤷i love tom and christopher’s banter🥹🤍

❥🗝️𝖻𝗅𝖺𝖼𝗄𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗄𝖾𝗒 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗒𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗍🗝️❥
🗝️𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝖻𝗒 𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗂𝖼! 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝗂𝗌𝖼𝗈
🗝️𝖾𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗋 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝖻𝗒 𝖻𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗒
🗝️𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝗒 𝖽𝗃𝗈
🗝️𝗋𝗎𝗇 𝖻𝗈𝗒 𝗋𝗎𝗇 𝖻𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗈𝖽𝗄𝗂𝖽

❥🗝️❥ whether you need to get out of a slump, or you’re in the mood for a good murder mystery, i highly recommend this series !!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. Great characters, intriguing story, and fun puzzles to try to figure out. Oh, and nice work at the end. Don't mess with an apprentice!

[Geraldine Robles Chipana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entonces, este libro. Ha pasado mucho, mucho tiempo desde la última vez que leí algo remotamente relacionado con códigos secretos… así que esto fue genial. Además, sentir cariño e incluso respeto hacia ciertos personajes es fácil. Hacia el maestro Blackthorn, por ejemplo. Diría que es uno de los mejores mentores que he visto y, aunque no pasan muchos capítulos antes de su muerte —por lo que no es como si se lo conociera demasiado a fondo cuando sucede—, esta realmente logra causar tristeza.
Y luego está Tom. ¿Ha escuchado eso que dicen de que un mejor amigo te ayudará con cualquier cosa, incluso si de esconder un cadáver se trata? bueno, Tom definitivamente sería esa clase de mejor amigo.
¿Christopher quiere construir un cañón? Tom ayudará. Un tanto renuentemente, pero en fin.
¿Christopher quiere colarse en propiedad privada para recuperar algo que su difunto maestro le regaló? eh, sí. Sí, Tom también irá.
¿Christopher decide investigar quién mató a su maestro lo que, de algún modo, termina con él entrando en un agujero oscuro? bueno, vale, Tom será una buena compañía ahí abajo.
Y no hablemos de la vez en que salió a plena luz del día con un disfrazado Christopher, mejor conocido en ese momento como El-Tipo-Buscado-Por-El-Asesinato-De-Su-Maestro.

[Sanne (forlornreverie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worum geht's?
Christopher ist eigentlich zufrieden mit seinem Leben. Unter den Fittichen von seinem Meister Benedict Blackthorn lernt er nicht nur die Grundprinzipien der Alchemie kennen, sondern auch noch wie man Codes entschlüsselt. Doch eine Serie mysteriöser Morde sucht London heim und Christopher spürt, dass sein Meister in Gefahr ist - denn es sind ausgerechnet Alchemisten, die ihnen zum Opfer fallen. Plötzlich steht Christopher vor einem Rätsel, dem er augenscheinlich nicht gewachsen ist. Ihm bleibt aber keine Wahl, als es zu lösen: Denn dieses Geheimnis könnte die Welt zerstören.

Meine Meinung
Rätsel? Alchemisten? Ich brauchte nicht viel Überzeugung, als ich von "Der Blackthorn Code" von Kevins Sands gehört habe. Wie schon die wunderschöne Aufmachung und der Klappentext des Buches verdeutlicht, geht es in diesem Buch um Mystik, Rätsel und Abenteuer. Und genau das habe ich auch bekommen!

Wir befinden uns im frühneuzeitlichen England - genau genommen im 17. Jahrhundert, in Zeiten wo es noch keine französische Revolution gab und jeder ein "Mann Gottes" war. Man merkt dem Autor an, dass er ausführlich recherchiert hat, denn ich habe mich wirklich in die Zeit versetzt gefühlt. Sands scheut nicht davor zurück, zu zeigen, wie schwierig es Waisen damals hatten: Eine falsche Aktion und man könnte seine Lehrstelle verlieren! Und darauf wartet nur das Leben auf der Straße. Mit diesem Konflikt hat Christopher das ganze Buch über zu kämpfen, was der Geschichte an Authentizität verleiht. Ich hatte nämlich an keiner Stelle den Gedanken gehabt "Das kann damals nicht so gewesen sein".

Die kleinen Details, wie zum Beispiel, dass England eigentlich nach dem Julianischen Kalender die Zeit rechnet und nicht nach dem Gregorianischen waren toll, wie auch die Hinweise, dass der Puritanismus in England an mehr Einfluss gewinnt. Letzteres wurde auch mit der Haupthandlung der Geschichte verbunden. Plot-Elemente wie der "Kult des Erzengels" haben diese einzigartige Charakteristik verstärkt. Hinzu kommen die ganzen Informationen zur Alchemie, die die Basis zu den Codes bilden, die Christopher entschlüsseln muss. Auch wenn nicht jeder ein Fan davon ist, so fand ich den (wenigen) Einsatz der lateinischen Sprache sinnvoll umgesetzt. Der Autor hat da mit Sicherheit viel Aufwand hinein gesteckt, um die Rezepturen so "original alchemisch" wie möglich darzustellen.

Am meisten hat mir gefallen, dass das Buch so gestaltet ist, dass es den Leser dazu einlädt, die Codes mit Christopher gemeinsam zu lösen. Hin und wieder skizziert Christopher eine Geheimsprache, die auch im Buch abgebildet sind, und auch die Symbole, die sich in den Codes wiederfinden, werden dem Leser offen gelegt. Wer ein bisschen Ahnung von griechischer bzw. römischer Mythologie hat, wird (wie ich) Freude daran haben, zumindest etwas erkennen zu können. Und wer Latein kann, ist sowieso klar im Vorteil! Bevor ich jemanden abschrecke: Latein ist logischerweise präsent, weil zu der Zeit Latein eine wichtige Sprache war - vor allem für die Wissenschaft. Bevor ihr also gruselige Flashbacks vom Lateinunterricht bekommt, könnt ihr auf die Herausforderung gespannt sein, selbst die Codes zu lösen. ;)

Obwohl der Sprachstil zu Anfang recht trocken war, so scheint er mehr ein Dynamik zu gewinnen, je weiter die Handlung voran schreitet. Wenn ich das Buch (aus Zeitgründen) längere Zeit liegen gelassen und es dann wieder aufgenommen habe, war ich wieder sofort in der Geschichte drin. Die Geschichte, die ich wunderbar erzählt finde. Am Anfang war ich mir noch gar nicht bewusst, wie verzwickt konstruiert sie ist, doch am Ende schafft der Autor es nicht nur, einen Wendepunkt nach dem anderen darzulegen, sondern auch Analogien hineinzuarbeiten, die ich als Leser so nicht erwartet habe. Jede Antwort auf ein Rätsel wirft neue Fragen und ein Rätsel auf. Gerade als man denkt, man hat den Mörder enttarnt, belehrt das nächste Rätsel des Besseren. Als geübte Fantasyleserin konnte ich immer wieder überrascht werden, was den Lesespaß enorm erhöht hat.

Fazit
Mit "Der Blackthorn Code - Das Vermächtnis der Alchemisten" entführt Kevin Sands seine Leser in ein Abenteuer voller Rätsel und Spannung. Mit den bereitgestellten Informationen und Skizzen wird der Leser dazu eingeladen, die Codes selbst zu entschlüsseln, was die Lesefreude auf eine andere Ebene bringt. Das historische Setting wird durch zahlreiche Details greifbar gemacht und verstärkt die Authentizität der Handlung und der Charaktere. Nicht nur Rätsel warten auf den Leser, sondern auch eine fesselnde Erzählung, deren Wendepunkte man nicht voraussehen kann.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

The Blackthorn Key is an engaging middle grade historical/mystery that reads very much like a 12-year-old-friendly version of an Umberto Eco book. Set during the English Restoration (17th century, when Charles II was restored to the throne after Olive Cromwell's puritan revolution/civil war) the book has wonderful historical perspectives on the times that aren't overbearing or obtrusive to the story. But at heart, this is a book about a boy's adventures in London trying to solve the mystery of his apothecary master's mysterious nightly excursions.

Story: Christopher Rowe was saved from the orphanage when a apothecary guildmember noted his mixing skills. Apprenticed to Master Blackthorn, a gentle and kind person boss, Christopher is learning valuable skills that will elevate him above his humble beginnings. But when fellow apothecary guild members begin turning up dead, and with a rumor of a mysterious "cult of the Archangel" behind the killings, Christopher and friend Tom will have to use all their courage and mettle to survive.

The Blackthorn Key makes great use of astronomy, botany and especially chemistry to solve puzzles that will lead to the source of the murders. Christopher is intent on saving his master, Blackthorn, from the deadly cult - one intent on discovering an alchemical reaction that could change the course of British (and perhaps the world) history.

There are several surprises along the way and certainly Christopher and Tom have great adventures that middle graders will love. But this is also a book that adults can appreciate - from the historical details/milieu, a touch of supernatural mystery, to some great twists and turns.

The characters are true to the era as well as their ages. Combined with a very easy and fast read, this is a book that achieves much and rewards on several levels. Certainly, as an adult I enjoyed reading this and then passing it to my 12 year old. It led to some interesting discussions about the English Civil War and the Restoration period.

Recommended for all ages. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Verrate es niemandem« Bis zu dieser rätselhaften Warnung war Christopher Rowe eigentlich zufrieden mit seinem Leben als Lehrling des Apothekermeisters und Alchemisten Benedict Blackthorn. Er hatte ein Dach über dem Kopf, sein Meister lehrte ihn nicht nur, wie man Mittel gegen Warzen herstellt, sondern auch wie man verschlüsselte Botschaften knackt und Rätsel löst. Doch das alles ändert sich, als eine Serie mysteriöser Morde London heimsucht. Fast immer sind es Alchemisten, die getötet werden. Christopher spürt, dass sein Meister in Gefahr ist. Ihm bleibt nur wenig Zeit, die Mörder zu enttarnen und hinter ein Geheimnis zu kommen, das so mächtig ist, dass es die Welt zerstören kann…

Der Waisenjunge Christopher wird Lehrling beim Apotheker Benedict Blackthorn, der ihn wie seinen eigenen Sohn behandelt. Als eine Mordserie die Einwohner Londons bedroht, die unter anderem seinen Meister Blackthorn trifft, spitzt sich die Lage zu und Christopher muss schwierige Alchemie-Rätsel lösen, um die Mörder seines Meisters zu stellen. Der erste Band der Blackthorn Reihe konnte mich ab der ersten Seite von sich begeistern. Der Protagonist Christopher ist ein sehr gelungener Charakter, der mich sofort überzeugen konnte. Der Schreibstil ist leichtverständlich, sehr locker und die Spannung wird bis zur letzten Seite aufrechterhalten. Ich traue mich fast sagen: wem Harry Potter gefällt, dem wird (vermutlich) auch der Blackthorn Code gefallen.

Von mir eine ganze klare Leseempfehlung.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I open a book, and the first thing I find is a map of Seventeenth Century London......one of my favourite settings, I feel confident that it's going to be good, and this one certainly didn't disappoint me....I loved it....
With an abundance of Apothecaries, an ancient, mysterious and much sought after formula, charts, evil plots, secret doors and chambers, several gruesome corpses, and a cast of brilliantly described characters, The Blackthorn Key is a wonderfully entertaining book, that although targeted for younger readers, is surely a great read for anyone who enjoys a fast paced and intriguing adventure.

Apothecaries apprentice Christopher finds himself fighting an evil enemy, but with the help of his quick wits, scientific skills, and the loyalty of his best friend Tom, the bad guys find themselves up against a formidable force....great stuff....I can't wait for the next instalment....