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ryanboros's review
2.0
Action apothecaries in 1665
If modern kids lived in the time of Cromwell
Main character took me out of the story
If modern kids lived in the time of Cromwell
Main character took me out of the story
nitemarcher's review
5.0
This book was great. This was the first book I've read by Kevin Sands and I really enjoyed it. The main character of the story is a great kid and has you rooting for him. Master Benedict Blackthorn was a great character that cared for Christopher as his own.
dennisfischman's review
3.0
I’m a big fan of historical mysteries and of YA books, so combining the two should have doubled the pleasure. I did enjoy the book, but I felt acutely aware that it was written for someone born well into the 21st century. The best YA and even children’s fiction speaks to readers of every age. This was mere entertainment.
The author also lost me when he began talking about ways that man (definitely not woman!) could use the powers of God fir destruction. That is definitely not my theology. I had to say to myself, “It’s Christian England barely out of the middle ages and they’re alchemists, not scientists,” to finish the book.
I might read the next one in the series when I’m in the mood for a mental palate cleanser.
The author also lost me when he began talking about ways that man (definitely not woman!) could use the powers of God fir destruction. That is definitely not my theology. I had to say to myself, “It’s Christian England barely out of the middle ages and they’re alchemists, not scientists,” to finish the book.
I might read the next one in the series when I’m in the mood for a mental palate cleanser.
dr_dick's review
5.0
charming and delightful. tight story well written. so many authors of adult fiction could learn a thing or two from this author of young adult fiction.
lexicarney526's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sabrena_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
kemetaur's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I absolutely loved this book.
I will say that I had a hard time getting into this book at first. The first two chapters really did not hold my attention at all. I didn't know where the story was going after reading them and frankly didn't care at that point.
I've tried (and failed) to read this book a couple different times but never got past the first two chapters.
My second attempt was with the audiobook instead of the physical copy and while I appreciate the commitment of the narrator reading out every single letter and number and symbol when a page of code was shown in the book, listening to him speaking a random string of nonstop letters and numbers for minutes at a time was just not very fun (although I did laugh because I couldn't believe how long he went on reading them out...)
I'm glad I stuck it out in the end with the physical copy, though. It was absolutely worth it for the rest of the story!
I loved how much thought and effort the author put into the historical accuracy of timelines, social structures, and apothecaries.
The characters were interesting and had a decent amount of depth and individuality to them.
I really loved the strong bonds in the found-family relationships. There were some great quotable lines.
The tense, conflict portions of the story were well written. They really felt dangerous and didn't have immediately obvious solutions so there was suspense in not knowing what would happen next.
The "codes within codes and secrets within secrets" lines felt comically dramatic and cheesy to me, in the same way that the Da Vinci Code felt that way to read- not a bad thing for me! I personally loved that. It was so much fun to get into these elements and follow them.
I will say that I had a hard time getting into this book at first. The first two chapters really did not hold my attention at all. I didn't know where the story was going after reading them and frankly didn't care at that point.
I've tried (and failed) to read this book a couple different times but never got past the first two chapters.
My second attempt was with the audiobook instead of the physical copy and while I appreciate the commitment of the narrator reading out every single letter and number and symbol when a page of code was shown in the book, listening to him speaking a random string of nonstop letters and numbers for minutes at a time was just not very fun (although I did laugh because I couldn't believe how long he went on reading them out...)
I'm glad I stuck it out in the end with the physical copy, though. It was absolutely worth it for the rest of the story!
I loved how much thought and effort the author put into the historical accuracy of timelines, social structures, and apothecaries.
The characters were interesting and had a decent amount of depth and individuality to them.
I really loved the strong bonds in the found-family relationships. There were some great quotable lines.
The tense, conflict portions of the story were well written. They really felt dangerous and didn't have immediately obvious solutions so there was suspense in not knowing what would happen next.
The "codes within codes and secrets within secrets" lines felt comically dramatic and cheesy to me, in the same way that the Da Vinci Code felt that way to read- not a bad thing for me! I personally loved that. It was so much fun to get into these elements and follow them.
improvisingnerd's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25