Title: The Secret of the Blood Red Key

Written by: David Farr

Illustrated by: Kristina Kister

Published by: Usborne Publishing

The Secret of the Blood Red Key is the sequel to David Farr’s much acclaimed, The Book of Stolen Dreams. But do not worry if you have not read the first book as The Secret of the Blood Red Key is a completely unique story in itself.

Rachel and Robert have defeated the tyrant Malstain and become the heroes of Krasnia, but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of her ailing father, who’s lost without their beloved mother.

From nowhere, a boy appears knowing the secrets of the hidden blood-red key. For the key is a way into the Hinterland – and Rachel must promise that, as a new key keeper, she will answer when it calls. When a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has no choice but to use her key to save Elsa. But her fate is linked to Krasnia, and Rachel must battle to save her home as she knows it.

The book encompasses the themes of loss and grief and good overcoming evil. Rachel has twenty-four hours to save Elsa from the new antagonists, The Truebloods who have devised a plan to prolong their lives. Meanwhile Rachel has to help her father through the grief of losing their mother, whilst Robert is busy preparing for an  important debate. I enjoyed the strong brother-sister bond between Rachel and Robert and although their lives are drifting apart now they have returned to Krasnia, they will do anything to protect each other. I instantly felt a rapport for the characters as though they were long lost friends I’d known my whole life.

Brava is well thought out and realistic setting. I would place it somewhere in Germany or Austria. I could easily visualise the restored library and the coffee shop. And the world of Hinterland was amazing. This was world-building at its best. It was beautifully described in a few words so I could easily imagine what it was like from the black and white Caves of Loss to the colourful fields of the meadow of Children.

The world had complex rules where people were allocated to and area using their moral paperwork. This would make a good discussion in a PSHE lesson with KS” on how we judge people and what qualities they think would get them into the different areas of the Hinterland, such as Tyrants Towers of Liars, Liars.

There are some beautiful black and white double page illustrations scattered throughout the book which make the book feel more magical.

The Secret of the Blood Red Key is a magnificent middle grade adventure that will make you think. Fingers crossed there will be a third book in the series as I believe there is so much more to learn about the Hinterland and Krasnia and the surrounding areas.

I was lucky enough to be included on the blog tour for The Secret of the Blood Red Key, where I was able to post an extract of the book. You can see the post here: Blog Tour – The Secret of the Blood Red Key by David Farr.

You can buy copies of The Secret of the Blood Red Key by David Farr from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

I have also reviewed this book on Amazon and Goodreads.