The Raven's Revenge
The Raven's Revenge
By the time I closed the door, Tom was sitting up. “A little jumpy today, are we?” he grumbled.
He swung himself out of bed and began to dress while I examined the letter. There were only two markings on the outside. The first was my name.
Christopher Rowe
Apprentice to Master Apothecary Benedict Blackthorn
Palace of Whitehall
Apprentice to Master Apothecary Benedict Blackthorn, I thought.
That wasn't true anymore. And yet...it was. In my heart, it would always be true, more true than anything else I would ever become.
It was also the first time the Raven had called me by that title. Was it significant? Was there a hidden meaning? A clue in the words?
Calm, child, Master Benedict said.
Tom was right. I was jumpy. Looking for significance in everything, everywhere.
That's the game the Raven wants to play, I argued.
You cannot win playing his game, Master Benedict said. You can only win by playing yours.
That was a good point. I needed to keep my mind clear. I took a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves.
“So?” Tom said. “What does it say?”
The second marking on the letter was the seal. Just a featureless circle pressed into red wax. I broke it open, and we read it together.
Begin where the ground drinks the blood of queens. Visit the House where their bones rest, and pray for the path to be revealed.
“That's it?” Tom said.
“That's enough,” I said, heart racing. “Let's get Sally.”
“Wait...you know what this means?”
“I do. And so do you,” I said. “After all, we've visited the place before.”
The Raven's Revenge, the sixth and final installment in “The Blackthorn Key” series, begins dramatically with Christopher's arrest for murder. As he tries to determine what is going on and what exactly he has been accused of, Christopher soon realizes the severity of his plight when he finds himself at Newgate Prison where he is quite likely awaiting execution. Fortunately, Lord Ashcombe comes to his rescue in time. Nevertheless, Christopher is shaken by the experience. But as he and his new master, Lord Walsingham, review these events, several things become clear. The person who framed Christopher was most certainly the Raven. And this latest move gives them a few more things to consider about their opponent and potential leads to follow up on. So once more, Christopher and his long-suffering best friend Tom are soon pursuing leads that might yield new information about the identity of their adversary.
But, as their previous experiences have proven, the Raven is cunning and heartless. Once again, he leads them into a trap where he issues a final challenge to Christopher. This will be a game for him and Tom and Sally (the third member of their tight-knit trio), yet another contest in which the three friends will have to solve the Raven's various riddles. If Christopher wins, he will meet his nemesis face-to-face. If he loses, they will all die. The Raven, himself, presents this new ultimatum, and he then leaves five more dead bodies in his wake.
With no choice but to embark on this new quest and to play by the Raven's rules, Tom and Sally and Christopher begin. They follow clues and decipher codes and try to stay one step ahead of their ruthless opponent. But, all the while, Christopher knows that it may all be for naught, that they may well all die regardless of whether he wins or loses. He also becomes nearly overwhelmed by the reality that absolutely anyone might be one of the Raven's accomplices, that there is truly no one who is above suspicion. With the clock ticking, the three friends play this sinister game which leads inexorably to a final confrontation and some predictably shocking revelations.
As with all of the previous books in this series, this final volume is filled with all the intrigue and plot twists and clever crafting that readers have come to expect. From the very first page, the tension is high and remains so for the duration. The pacing is vigorous and propelled by a sense of urgency as Christopher and his pals race to solve the Raven's clues and puzzles within the time he has allotted. And while it is to be expected within the mystery genre that many, if not most, characters may be considered as potential suspects, Christopher's realization that even his master, spymaster Walsingham, himself, could actually be the culprit creates a new level of despair for him, a profound sense of “aloneness” that adds an extra layer to the story. The final showdown between Christopher and the Raven is taut and climactic, heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, and as finely-executed as readers will have hoped for. There is no shortage of surprises, but there is resolution at last.
Kevin Sands has proven his skill at weaving intricate plots, but he is no less adept at creating sympathetic, engaging and highly memorable characters. Christopher remains a truly noteworthy protagonist who is not only quick-witted and clever, but also kindhearted and compassionate. His ongoing internal dialogue with Master Blackthorn, the man who first recognized Christopher's potential before his untimely demise, helps create a vivid portrait of both of these characters and enables the deceased Master Blackthorn to remain a strong secondary character right up to the end. However, it is Tom who is perhaps to be credited as being among the very best secondary characters in all of children's literature! The friendship between him and Christopher is one of the most outstanding highlights of this book and series. While there are fewer humourous moments this time around, Tom's response to the Raven in the final scene is so touching that few will be left dry-eyed. Altogether, The Raven's Revenge is a fitting and satisfying conclusion to a remarkable series. While everything is convincingly resolved and revealed, readers will not be disappointed if further stories involving these characters materialize in the future.
Lisa Doucet is Co-Manager of Woozles Children’s Bookstore in Halifax, Nova Scotia.