The Secret of the Bloodred Key

Gr 4-6–In this sequel to the Book of Stolen Dreams, Farr sends readers on another fantastical journey through Krasnia and the Hinterland that lies beyond. Dark-haired, brown-eyed Rachel Klein has recently defeated the dictator Charles Malstain, but something is wrong. The boundaries between this world and the one beyond have become porous. As Keeper of the Blood-Red Key, Rachel must find a way to set things to right and, in the process, rescue an innocent nine-year-old girl—Elsa Spiegel—from a fate worse than death. In this book, Farr adeptly builds out the world of Krasnia. He repurposes Greek mythology to give us the Hinterland, a place filled with winged ferrymen, corrupt paper-pushers, and the residents of Liars’ Lair, Burglars’ Burrows, and Tyrants’ Tower. The author keeps tension high by placing a strict time limit on Rachel’s quest. He also adds levity by assigning each of the children in the Hinterland an animal companion to follow them on their journey.