Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II [Paperback]

Martin Booth (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Alchemist's Son

modern-day tale that merges past and present, alchemy and adventure, and science and suspense, Soul Stealer is the pulse-racing sequel to Doctor Illuminatus. Siblings Pip and Tim once again come to the aid of Sebastian-a medieval alchemist's son who has awakened from a centuries-long slumber-when he finds himself face-to-face with a grand and terrifying evil. Appearing in a cunning disguise, another one of Sebastian's father's enemies has emerged from the past with a deadly plan: to get a hold of Gerbert d'Aurillac's ancient book of spells and use it to steal the souls of millions. As Sebastian primes them on the secrets of alchemy and spells, Pip and Tim must still rely on quick wit and courage when a school field trip seems fated to turn into a nuclear disaster. Soul Stealer brings The Alchemist's Son tales to a riveting and astounding conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 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 Loudéac, 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 Loudéac'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 © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Junior high has begun for new kids Pip and Tim, but it offers little escape from the terrors of Doctor Illuminatus (2004), the first book in Booth's The Alchemist's Son series. It seems their homeroom teacher is a reincarnated fifteenth-century mage specializing in mind control. Compounding that bad luck is the task of training Sebastian, a medieval good guy only recently awakened from a state of suspended animation, to pose as a student so he can keep an eye on things. The trio thwarts a wildly improbable plot to adapt England's nuclear energy infrastructure as a delivery system for evil. Leavening the dire goings-on are incidents of cultural disconnect between the twins and their courtly, humorless companion, inserted with such an air of dogged effort that few readers will find that they fulfill their intended function. Offer this to those who enjoyed the first book; they likely won't mind the focus on action over plausibility. Readers intrigued by the alchemy history referenced throughout might also enjoy Avi's The Book without Words (2005). Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316059935
• ISBN-13: 978-0316059930
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Soul stealing, June 26, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II (Hardcover)

Martin Booth's teenage alchemist returns in "Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II," a somewhat shaky but somewhat stronger fantasy thriller. It's a more entertaining, creepy adventure, though the "alchemist's son" of the title is the book's biggest weakness.

Tim and Pip are about to start at their new school, which would seem normal if Sebastian had not given her an "evil detector" pendant. The two of them soon discover that not all is well at their school: One of the teachers, Yoland, is an evil magician who helped kill his father, and the local bully Guy Scrotton is an undead wodewose ("wild man").

So Pip and Guy take their riskiest step yet: Enrolling Sebastian in a modern high school. The three teenagers begin searching for Yoland's master plan, while trying to keep the savage Scrotton from ripping them to shreds. Then they learn that his plot may have something to do with their upcoming field trip... to a nuclear plant.

"Soul Stealer" has something of the same general plot as "Doctor Illuminatus" -- teen heroes, cameo by Satan, megalomaniacal sorcerers, beast-men, sheep with fangs, computer hacking, and some creepy medieval alchemy. It wouldn't take much more than that to make a really entertaining fantasy thriller.

And to some degree, the book is more engaging than its predecessor. It has a strong unifying plot, more descriptive prose and fewer brand names. Booth has obviously gotten a handle on his storytelling, now that he has introduced the main characters. What's more, he has some truly chilling villains, especially the savage wodewose Scrotton.

Sebastian the teenage alchemist is the biggest problem of the book. He comes across as rigid and humourless, useful mainly for historical background. Putting him in a typical school setting could have given the book some much-needed humour, and shown Sebastian in a more human light, but it never happens. Worse, Booth uses Sebastian to spout bits of historical minutiae that aren't really relevant.

The "alchemist's son" is a major weakness, but the "Soul Stealer" is a stronger second installment in Martin Booth's series. Flawed, but worth reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read, January 23, 2007

By 

Laura Hays "bardic_chick" (Jefferson City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II (Hardcover)

Soul Stealer, the sequel to Alchemist's Son is a wonderful book. It brings that touch of fantasy in without going over the board and tipping it into a different world. The setting is in England and although you occassionally forget that, the author is very good at reminding you. I would rate it five stars but for one thing. These books were obviously supposed to be part of series, unfortunately the author died the year after publishing Soul Stealer. So while any good book leaves you wanting more, this one leaves you wanting just a bit too much more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Soul stealing, September 2, 2006

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II (Paperback)

Martin Booth's teenage alchemist returns in "Soul Stealer: The Alchemist's Son Part II," a somewhat shaky but somewhat stronger fantasy thriller. It's a more entertaining, creepy adventure, though the "alchemist's son" of the title is the book's biggest weakness.

Tim and Pip are about to start at their new school, which would seem normal if Sebastian had not given her an "evil detector" pendant. The two of them soon discover that not all is well at their school: One of the teachers, Yoland, is an evil magician who helped kill his father, and the local bully Guy Scrotton is an undead wodewose ("wild man").

So Pip and Guy take their riskiest step yet: Enrolling Sebastian in a modern high school. The three teenagers begin searching for Yoland's master plan, while trying to keep the savage Scrotton from ripping them to shreds. Then they learn that his plot may have something to do with their upcoming field trip... to a nuclear plant.

"Soul Stealer" has something of the same general plot as "Doctor Illuminatus" -- teen heroes, cameo by Satan himself, megalomaniacal sorcerers bent on ruling us all, beast-men, sheep with fangs, computer hacking, and some creepy medieval alchemy. It wouldn't take much more than that to make a really entertaining fantasy thriller.

And to some degree, the book is more engaging than its predecessor. It has a strong unifying plot, more descriptive prose and fewer brand names. Booth has obviously gotten a handle on his storytelling, now that he has introduced the main characters. What's more, he has some truly chilling villains, especially the savage wodewose Scrotton.

Sebastian the teenage alchemist is the biggest problem of the book. He comes across as rigid and humourless, useful mainly for historical background. Putting him in a typical school setting could have given the book some much-needed humour, and shown Sebastian in a more human light, but it never happens. Worse, Booth uses Sebastian to spout bits of historical minutiae that aren't really relevant.

The "alchemist's son" is a major weakness in the plot, but the "Soul Stealer" is a stronger second installment in Martin Booth's series. Flawed, but worth reading for those seeking something a little different.