posted on 03 Nov 2024

The Clockwork Key by Vashti Hardy, illustrated by Rebecca Sheerin

It’s always fun to be there at the start of a new series – in this case, Vashi Hardy’s ‘Relic Hunters’ with The Clockwork Key being the first. Those readers who enjoyed the author’s previous ‘Griffin Gate’ series (see reviews here, here and here) will have a good idea of the mix that might be expected: adventure, fantasy and exciting puzzles to confront the intrepid protagonists. 

This time we meet Mabel and Will Greystone, the children of history professors, who are going on a relic hunt with their Aunt Lucy. Mabel is as spontaneous and excitable as Will is orderly and reserved – two sides of the same coin. And we also get to meet their cat – Grimm. ‘So what?’ you may be thinking – well he’s a bit special because he’s a talking cat – oh, and he’s stuffed…

He's a present from one of Aunt Lucy’s previous relic hunts and no-one knows why this stuffed cat can talk – but he can and he doesn’t stand for any nonsense. Now Aunt Lucy is taking them all on a trip to try and find the lost, fabled land of Umber – the place that is reputed to be the founding home of clockwork. All they have to go on is a map and a strange clockwork key to help them.

And, of course, all good stories need a villain to add a little spice and jeopardy to the story – so take a bow, Byron Cogsworth, smarmy journalist and glory hunter who is seemingly always on the heels of Aunt Lucy waiting to cash in on her knowledge and hard work for his own ends.

Now you know the cast of characters, I really don’t want to reveal the details of what happens on their exciting quest because anything I tell you is likely to be a bit of a spoiler. Suffice it to say the clockwork key in Aunt Lucy’s bag proves to be the missing link in finding where Umber is and also ends up unwittingly unleashing a terrible clockwork threat to the intrepid explorers.

The full and part page illustrations from Rebecca Sheerin are perfect for the story and help give the characters a presence. The story romps along at a good pace and would be suitable for anyone aged 8 and above.

The book comes from the good people at Barrington Stoke who specialise in publishing for reluctant readers of all kinds and you should be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

November 2024