Review: The Secret of the Blood-Red Key

The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is the next incredible adventure in the Stolen Dreams Adventures series, and follows on from the events in The Book of Stolen Dreams which was in my top reads of 2021.  I have no doubt that this one will be in my top reads of 2023:  it is an absolutely superb, unmissable adventure.

Rachel and Robert Klein have become the heroes of Krasnia, but they seem to have gone their separate ways.  Whilst Robert is caught up in politics and speech writing with his new friends, Rachel is caring for their father who is living as a mere shadow of himself after his wife’s death.

On her way home, Rachel meets a boy who shows her a blood-red key identical to the one she has hidden at home.  He reveals that she is now a Keeper of the Key, a secret group who know the truth of the Hinterland and who must answer the call of the key.  When she discovers that the boy is telling the truth, and the key is asking for her help, she turns to her brother, but he is too distracted by his new life to listen to her.

Rachel’s investigations lead her to the revelation of a terrible wrong:  a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, has been tricked into entering the Hinterland (the Land of the Dead) by those with evil intent.  Rachel is determined to right this wrong, and uses her key to enter the Hinterland in order to rescue Elsa and reunite her with her distraught family.  But what she unearths on her journey leads her to save so much more than one child …

I absolutely loved this heart-racing adventure which I genuinely could not put down as I was transported between a newly free Krasnia to the most fascinating and richly described world of the Hinterland.  This is a world where I felt both a sense of awe and wonder and an underlying thread of fear as corruption seeps in.  There is a real sense of danger and time running out as Rachel races to find Elsa and solve the mystery of why she was sent to the Hinterland whilst her brother Robert follows a path of discovery towards his sister.  I don’t want to give away any spoilers but, oh my goodness, what incredible twists and revelations!  Gasps guaranteed!  I thought that the ebb and flow of the dual narrative worked brilliantly to tantalisingly bring the dreadful truth to light.

I really enjoyed being back with familiar characters and meeting new ones.  Whilst Rachel and Robert are adapting to their new found fame in different ways, they both have the interests of Krasnia and family at heart.  Rachel has a firm belief in doing the right thing and shows great courage in facing danger and fears, and making sacrifices for the good of others.  Robert clearly loves his sister, and is determined to make amends for not making the time to listen to her when she needed him.  I felt the way that their father’s grief is dealt with was incredibly sensitively handled, and my heart really ached for his evident pain and loss.  I will mention one other character – Bobby – readers will definitely adore Bobby!

This story is beautifully illustrated with each chapter heading having its own image, giving a clue to the contents of each. I especially adored those referencing Greek mythology and the very special animals in the story.

This is a stunning, gripping story that swept me into a wonderfully intricate world and took me on an unforgettable adventure … a must-read for 9+.

Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne for inviting me to be a Keeper of the Key, and for sending me a copy of this fantastic book.  My review is my honest opinion.