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A review by adam_of_the_mountains
The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
3.0
This novel was fun and kept my interest, which is honestly all I was looking for as I take a brief reprieve from some of the “heavier” (read books focusing on seemingly intractable social issues) works I’ve been reading.
As I read, though, I have to say I was intrigued by the role of religion, the monarchy, and a sort of “Social Contract” that clearly emerges from this text. I’ll confess it mostly made me uncomfortable. While I’m not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the conflict between Cromwell and the Puritans and the Catholic monarchy, the novel doesn’t do terribly much to unpack at all. Maybe that’s intentional. Maybe the author found it to be merely a context that young readers would overlook. I do think, though, that Sands might provide a bit more context within the story - there’s certainly room for it.
All that aside, the kid in me loves the idea of an apothecary whose skill borders on magic. That part of me pushed me to give it more stars, while the more staid other part wouldn’t me to put the book down.
As I read, though, I have to say I was intrigued by the role of religion, the monarchy, and a sort of “Social Contract” that clearly emerges from this text. I’ll confess it mostly made me uncomfortable. While I’m not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the conflict between Cromwell and the Puritans and the Catholic monarchy, the novel doesn’t do terribly much to unpack at all. Maybe that’s intentional. Maybe the author found it to be merely a context that young readers would overlook. I do think, though, that Sands might provide a bit more context within the story - there’s certainly room for it.
All that aside, the kid in me loves the idea of an apothecary whose skill borders on magic. That part of me pushed me to give it more stars, while the more staid other part wouldn’t me to put the book down.