The sequel to the wonderful The Book of Stolen Dreams is as good as we hoped it would be, highlighting once again the bravery of sister and brother, Rachel and Robert Klein and building further on the world of Krasnia and the Hinterland. The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is an exciting and unforgettable adventure exploring many themes in a cinematic and timeless manner. It makes you hope that there will be more to follow!

Can it be two years since the first book in the Stolen Dreams series was published? The Book of Stolen Dreams was one of my favourite children’s books of 2021 and when a sequel was promised I was delighted that we would have the chance to meet Rachel and Robert Klein again. So long to wait I thought then but here we are back in the world of Krasnia and thanks to David Farr’s excellent storytelling within pages I was once again enthralled by this adventure and in particular by the bravery of young Rachel. Over three hundred pages sped by in this thrilling sequel.

The land of Krasnia is now free of the tyrant Charles Malstain thanks to Rachel and Robert, the people are free and children play happily once more in the Brava city streets. But for Rachel things are still a little difficult. Robert is caught up with his new friends and Rachel is left alone to comfort and support her grief stricken father who remains devastated at the loss of his wife. When Rachel tries to tell Robert about a strange boy she has met who has told her that he too knows the secrets of the hidden blood red key he dismisses her concerns and Rachel is left to pursue things alone. As the story progresses Rachel discovers that as a keeper of the key she must help a young girl who has been smuggled into the Hinterland. Once there in the land of the dead Rachel and her new friend are exposed to mounting danger and sinister plotting by evil villains.

There are some truly chilling moments in this epic story. David Farr has cleverly combined characters from The Book of Stolen Dreams with new ones in a plot that at times is both unpredictable and unsettling. There are big themes threaded through the action such as justice and retribution, how people should be judged on their past behaviours and also on the biggest questions about life and death. This is a book that manages to be both exciting and thoughtful. In order to avoid spoilers I’m reluctant to give too much detail about the Hinterland but the author incorporates nods to religion, myth and folklore in the building of this world.

David Farr’s writing enables the reader to see the world he has created and he has clearly drawn on his background as screenwriter and theatre director. Although the setting in this sequel is subtly different to the first book it still feels disturbingly real. As a reader I enjoyed being reunited with Rachel and Robert and by the end of the story cared greatly about new characters such as Elsa and Bobby. As for the villains, both old and new feature and you will have to read the book to find out more!

The fabulous cover and the inside illustrations in this hardback edition are once again by Kristina Kister. The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is published by Usborne Books on 14th September and I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist very much for my advance copy.