Martin Booth spent his childhood in Hong Kong and Kenya. He is well-known as an adult novelist, and has been shortlisted twice for the Booker award. He has two grown-up children and lives in Devon.
Gr 5-7-Continuing the story begun in Doctor Illuminatus (Little, Brown, 2004), this blend of fantasy and horror has little to offer except a fast-paced plot, and even that is full of loose ends. Having vanquished the corrupt alchemist de Loud?ac, English twins Pip and Tim think the biggest challenge facing them now is the start of seventh grade at their new private school. By the end of the first day, however, they've met a teacher and a student who seem more, or perhaps less, than human. Their friend Sebastian, who has "hibernated" magically for most of the past 600 years, recognizes the teacher as another wicked alchemist and the student as a beastlike "wodwo." He and the siblings set out to foil the evildoers' plan, which includes controlling people by stealing their souls. Many important details remain unexplained: Sebastian's magical powers, de Loud?ac's return from the dead, and the origin of the frightening visions-or are they real?-that pursue the twins as they track down the wodwo and the alchemist. Even readers who enjoyed the first book will likely be disappointed in this lackluster sequel.-Beth Wright, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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