oldgum101's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly just a meh. I didn't care for the codes or the mysteries, but Christopher was actually hilarious.
leah_faith7's review against another edition
4.0
It was great! A little slow at the beginning but it quickly picked up and got intense fast!
jcarsrud's review against another edition
4.0
4.4 stars! I enjoyed this adventure and liked the mystery of it all. I would recommend it to anyone that wants a historical book or an exciting book.
efabri123's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed this story though when I picked it up I didn't realize it was part of a series. I'm committed now though and look forward to reading the rest. 3.5/5.
fionak's review against another edition
4.0
Great plot, perfect pacing, diverse interesting characters... really all the elements needed for an awesome read. But as historical fiction this book really disappointed me. Given the political climate of the setting, not nearly enough was made of it. And we sell kids short when we assume that historical context is not of interest to them.
A big fat thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advance reading copy. I really did enjoy it, but if there's a sequel: please bully Mr. Sands into making it more historical-y.
A big fat thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advance reading copy. I really did enjoy it, but if there's a sequel: please bully Mr. Sands into making it more historical-y.
hoosgracie's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent historical mystery set during King Charles' reign in England. Features puzzles and cryptography. While a children's book, would recommend to anyone.
zendegi's review against another edition
4.0
A fun YA mystery with a sympathetic protagonist, Christopher, faced with (easy) puzzles to solve. Christopher didn't really grow throughout the story or even really make any mistakes. The sidekick/best friend Tom put off a lot of Ron-from-Harry-Potter vibes. The story was mostly male dominated.
booksmoving's review against another edition
4.0
I can honestly say I have never read anything like this. It was easy to read and enthralling, and magical without being completely fantasy. Loved the characters and the setting. I hope this is a trilogy!