| Book Review | Jennifer Hairfield |
Doctor
Illuminatus
by Martin Booth
Welcome to a world of Alchemy, History, Religion, Magic, and
Herbology. Martin Booth's novel Doctor Illuminatus is
a novel of suspense and old traditions brought back to life.
This is the first book in the series called "The Alchemist's
Son"; the second book is called Soul Stealer.
All writers write about what they know and with Martin
Booth, being British, Doctor Illuminatus is set in
the English countryside at a home called Rawne Barton where
a mysterious young boy named Sebastian meets a pair of
siblings, Pip and Tim, who now live at his home. Sebastian
has been hibernating off and on since the Middle Ages. He
wakes up each time the evil Alchemist, de Loudeac, returns
so that he can foil his evil schemes just like his father.
With the help of Pip and Tim their summer turns into a fight
between good and evil.
In this story creatures lurk in the dark, shapeshifting is a
very common occurrence, and Magic is real and very
dangerous. From the very beginning this story hooks the
reader in with the historical research that he had done,
especially with his knowledge of Alchemy. The author did a
great job with characterizing Pip and Tim but not so much
with the parents, Sebastian, and de Loudeac. I can
understand leaving some details of the two Alchemists out
but I believe there's still some space between where he left
them and that fine line between completely characterized and
mystery. As with the parents, I believe if used more in the
story, it would have felt more fulfilling and longer than
the short read that is was. The author does leave the reader
wanting more and the interaction is done beautifully between
characters. But, having more interaction with the parents
would have probably helped the story, not to mention, help
characterize them, especially the father who is only known
of in passing throughout.
I would have to say stop and pick up both Doctor
Illuminatus and Soul Stealer by Martin Booth when
you get the chance, for when you finish the first book you
will be hungry for the next.