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The Book of Stolen Dreams #2
The Secret of the Blood-Red Key
The dazzling follow-up to the phenomenal The Book of Stolen Dreams from master storyteller David Farr, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and Philip Pullman.
Step inside the pages of an immortal adventure...
Rachel and Robert have defeated the tyrant Malstain and become the heroes of Krasnia, but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of her ailing father, who's lost without their beloved mother.
From nowhere, a boy appears knowing the secrets of the hidden blood-red key. For the key is a way into the Hinterland - and Rachel must promise that, as a new key keeper, she will answer when it calls. When a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has no choice but to use her key to save Elsa. But her fate is linked to Krasnia, and Rachel must battle to save her home as she knows it.
Step inside the pages of an immortal adventure...
Rachel and Robert have defeated the tyrant Malstain and become the heroes of Krasnia, but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of her ailing father, who's lost without their beloved mother.
From nowhere, a boy appears knowing the secrets of the hidden blood-red key. For the key is a way into the Hinterland - and Rachel must promise that, as a new key keeper, she will answer when it calls. When a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has no choice but to use her key to save Elsa. But her fate is linked to Krasnia, and Rachel must battle to save her home as she knows it.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2023
27 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
David Farr
44 books28 followersDavid Farr is is one of the UK's leading screenwriters and directors for film, TV and theatre. In 2009, he was appointed Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his productions of The Winter's Tale, King Lear and The Homecoming all opened to critical acclaim. David is known for his work on Spooks and his 2016 BBC adaptation of The Night Manager, starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. He completed his first feature film, Hanna, in 2009, and has since adapted it into a hugely successful series for Amazon Prime. The Book of Stolen Dreams is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 15, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic book tours.
The Secret of the Blood Red Key is the second book in the Stolen Dreams adventure series for children. I only received book one a few days ago, so I've read these books back to back, and I couldn't put them down. I wish there was this kind of adventure series when I was in middle grade! In ghis book we follow Robert and Rachel as they are trying to navigate life after defeating their enemy from book one; Charles Malstain. There were so many great twists and turns in this book, and I was hooked from the first few pages. After defeating Charles in book one, you'd think the pair would have better luck in book two, but this is not the case. They're up against new enemies and new situations filled with magic and intrigue from start to finish. This is such a fun series, and I can't wait to see shat they're up against in book three.
The Secret of the Blood Red Key is the second book in the Stolen Dreams adventure series for children. I only received book one a few days ago, so I've read these books back to back, and I couldn't put them down. I wish there was this kind of adventure series when I was in middle grade! In ghis book we follow Robert and Rachel as they are trying to navigate life after defeating their enemy from book one; Charles Malstain. There were so many great twists and turns in this book, and I was hooked from the first few pages. After defeating Charles in book one, you'd think the pair would have better luck in book two, but this is not the case. They're up against new enemies and new situations filled with magic and intrigue from start to finish. This is such a fun series, and I can't wait to see shat they're up against in book three.
September 19, 2023
This adventure was a lot of fun, picking up immediately after the events in Book 1. I feel a bit jealous of middle graders these days for having such great stories to read. The plot and story line was adventurous and imaginative- the metaphysical content will have given children quite a lot to chew on! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
September 29, 2024
This was a really fast, fun read! I don't know if I liked this book as much as the first one, so I might bump it down to a three stars, but for right now its four stars. I kind of feel like this book was a bit unnecessary, because the first one wraps up without any need for a second book. I also think this one wrapped up really well too, so I don't think the author will make another book in the series. If you liked the first book in this series and you are afraid that this one won't compare to the first one, you should still read it because it was pretty good, except that in my opinion it wasn't as good as the first one.
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March 21, 2025Blimey, well what can I say about this, I mean this story really gripped me. The author is amazing at writing characters as I truly loved and was rooting for the main characters and absolutely despised the villains, like with such hate, this had me hooked until the very end and I couldn't put it down. It does explore death and a different way of looking at which I thought was interesting. Despite this being good I did struggle with the death part of it as I don't know it's something I don't like to think about but I really did enjoy the story.
August 16, 2023
After a colleague had bought book one for me as a gift - a book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading - I’m sure that you can imagine my absolute delight to find this book available as an ARC! Thank you to NetGalley, David Farr and Usborne for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my review.
David Farr has done it again! I loved meeting up with Robert and Rachel as they try to navigate life after defeating the odious Charles Malstain. This time around, there were some new foes to vanquish, even greater challenges to overcome and brilliant new characters to meet along the way - who wouldn’t want a Bobby? There were so many times in this story where I found myself trying to read it as quickly as I possibly could just so that I could find out what would happen next and how out heroine could possibly discover a way out of the predicament that she found herself in. There were plenty of times where my predictions were completely wrong, thanks to the many plot twists throughout the story, all of which added to the adventure and intrigue! I was hooked!
A magically brilliant read, that I will definitely be recommending to my pupils, as well as my colleagues, that leaves this story open enough to hint at the possibility of this series being continued - something that I very much hope will happen!
David Farr has done it again! I loved meeting up with Robert and Rachel as they try to navigate life after defeating the odious Charles Malstain. This time around, there were some new foes to vanquish, even greater challenges to overcome and brilliant new characters to meet along the way - who wouldn’t want a Bobby? There were so many times in this story where I found myself trying to read it as quickly as I possibly could just so that I could find out what would happen next and how out heroine could possibly discover a way out of the predicament that she found herself in. There were plenty of times where my predictions were completely wrong, thanks to the many plot twists throughout the story, all of which added to the adventure and intrigue! I was hooked!
A magically brilliant read, that I will definitely be recommending to my pupils, as well as my colleagues, that leaves this story open enough to hint at the possibility of this series being continued - something that I very much hope will happen!
October 6, 2024
I absolutely loved the first book so I was hugely excited to read the sequel.
After defeating the tyrannical dictator Charles Malstain, Rachel Klein is yearning for adventure. One day, on the way to school, a boy appears on her route telling her of a place to call if she ever needed to because she is now a key-holder to the Hinterland, the afterlife. As well as that, she visits her friends the Meyers (the family of illustrating ghosts) and they appear shifty and secretive, piquing her interest. Which begins the adventure after she follows one of them on a train to a village in the middle of nowhere where she finds out about one of the Meyers having sent an innocent girl to the Hinterland for no reason. So, she embarks on the mission of a lifetime: to go to the Hinterland and bring the girl back, before it is too late. Will she do it? This book is really good and is jam-packed with adventure, action, mystery and betrayal and is a fantastic sequel to its predecessor. The plot is excellent and is really descriptive
- giving me a clear portrayal of the places inside. The characters are great and you get to learn more about them in the book (more than you did in the first book). I really enjoyed the book and I think that this was a good book for the sequel. For me, I really liked it.
After defeating the tyrannical dictator Charles Malstain, Rachel Klein is yearning for adventure. One day, on the way to school, a boy appears on her route telling her of a place to call if she ever needed to because she is now a key-holder to the Hinterland, the afterlife. As well as that, she visits her friends the Meyers (the family of illustrating ghosts) and they appear shifty and secretive, piquing her interest. Which begins the adventure after she follows one of them on a train to a village in the middle of nowhere where she finds out about one of the Meyers having sent an innocent girl to the Hinterland for no reason. So, she embarks on the mission of a lifetime: to go to the Hinterland and bring the girl back, before it is too late. Will she do it? This book is really good and is jam-packed with adventure, action, mystery and betrayal and is a fantastic sequel to its predecessor. The plot is excellent and is really descriptive
- giving me a clear portrayal of the places inside. The characters are great and you get to learn more about them in the book (more than you did in the first book). I really enjoyed the book and I think that this was a good book for the sequel. For me, I really liked it.
July 16, 2023
Gosh this is all kinds of brilliant. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat at one point! Lost souls, stolen children, death’s door, a familiar enemy, friendship and so much more… Bobby is delightful - some much needed relief in a story that will have you on tenterhooks! I absolutely demolished this. if you loved The Book of Stolen Dreams, you’ll love this!
August 8, 2023
I have not read The Book of Stolen Dreams (though I may have to get hold of a copy now!), but The Secret of the Blood Red Key works quite well as a stand-alone read. It essentially picks up where the previous book ended, but there have been a few developments in the interim.
Despite having defeated the evil Malstain, bringing peace and happiness to Krasnia, things are not going entirely well between Rachel and Robert. While Robert is preoccupied with his new friends, Rachel makes an unexpected discovery that has enormous implications for her.
A strange boy appears to inform Rachel that she is one of an elite group who are designated Key Keepers. They are responsible for controlling access to the Hinterland of Krasnia, where only those who have passed away are supposed to go.
So when Elsa, a young girl, is illegally smuggled into that forbidden zone, it becomes all to evident that Rachel will have to use the Key to undertake a rescue mission.
Adventure, heroism, magic and mayhem are plentifully on offer in this marvellous read. It is a really enjoyable story, and readers will find themselves swiftly transported to a faraway land, where exciting events are underway...
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
Despite having defeated the evil Malstain, bringing peace and happiness to Krasnia, things are not going entirely well between Rachel and Robert. While Robert is preoccupied with his new friends, Rachel makes an unexpected discovery that has enormous implications for her.
A strange boy appears to inform Rachel that she is one of an elite group who are designated Key Keepers. They are responsible for controlling access to the Hinterland of Krasnia, where only those who have passed away are supposed to go.
So when Elsa, a young girl, is illegally smuggled into that forbidden zone, it becomes all to evident that Rachel will have to use the Key to undertake a rescue mission.
Adventure, heroism, magic and mayhem are plentifully on offer in this marvellous read. It is a really enjoyable story, and readers will find themselves swiftly transported to a faraway land, where exciting events are underway...
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
July 23, 2023
Today I was whisked away into the Hinterland on a rescue mission by Rachel Kline and it was amazing!
When last seen Rachel and her friends saved their country Krasnia from an evil dictator in “The Book of Stolen Dreams”. In doing so they had to find and destroy the Book, the only way into and out of the Hinterland where people go once they die. Rachel is left with a special Blood Red Key, which she hides away assuming it will not be needed in their now bright, happy, friendly Krasnia. However, one day a boy mysteriously appears holding a matching key he explains it’s importance to Rachel as one of the “Keepers of the Key “. Not long after the library is ransacked, strange things occur with her ghostly friends and the key does indeed ket her know she must act to save all that she knows and loves once again.
“The Blood Red Key” successfully recaps the previous adventures from “The Book of Stolen Dreams” introducing both old and new characters without ruining the narrative. It is a mesmerising adventure story. I loved it and thoroughly recommend readers to hold on tight to the Blood Red Key and join Rachel and her brother Robert as they save us all.
When last seen Rachel and her friends saved their country Krasnia from an evil dictator in “The Book of Stolen Dreams”. In doing so they had to find and destroy the Book, the only way into and out of the Hinterland where people go once they die. Rachel is left with a special Blood Red Key, which she hides away assuming it will not be needed in their now bright, happy, friendly Krasnia. However, one day a boy mysteriously appears holding a matching key he explains it’s importance to Rachel as one of the “Keepers of the Key “. Not long after the library is ransacked, strange things occur with her ghostly friends and the key does indeed ket her know she must act to save all that she knows and loves once again.
“The Blood Red Key” successfully recaps the previous adventures from “The Book of Stolen Dreams” introducing both old and new characters without ruining the narrative. It is a mesmerising adventure story. I loved it and thoroughly recommend readers to hold on tight to the Blood Red Key and join Rachel and her brother Robert as they save us all.
June 11, 2024
The Secret Of The Blood Red-Key is the follow-up book in The Stolen Dreams Universe and is just as adventurous and magical as the first book, The Book Of Stolen Dreams. I read these books back to back and had the best time with them. Full of whimsy and magic, David Farr's storytelling and sense of wonder is impeccable. I would have absolutely adored reading these as a child, and even as an adult, the way this book captivated me is an absolute credit to the author.
After defeating the tyrant Charles Malstain in the first book, you would think that Rachel and Robert would be able to relax a little but nope they are thrown straight back into the deep end with more enemies to grapple with and situations to manage. I loved the world building in this one. Travelling to The Hinterland with these characters had me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns.
Robert and Rachel are brilliantly brave characters, and I can't wait to hopefully read more in this series. I'd highly recommend these books to both children and adults alike. They are so much fun to read and gave such a wonderful reading experience.
After defeating the tyrant Charles Malstain in the first book, you would think that Rachel and Robert would be able to relax a little but nope they are thrown straight back into the deep end with more enemies to grapple with and situations to manage. I loved the world building in this one. Travelling to The Hinterland with these characters had me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns.
Robert and Rachel are brilliantly brave characters, and I can't wait to hopefully read more in this series. I'd highly recommend these books to both children and adults alike. They are so much fun to read and gave such a wonderful reading experience.
June 6, 2024
The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is the sequel to The Book of Stolen Dreams, but if, like me, your haven't read the former, no need to worry, as it can be read as a standalone.
We follow Rachel, a keeper of a Blood-Red key, who follows the trail of a young girl who has been taken into the Hinterland ( where the dead live ) and must do all she can to rescue her. But that's enough about the story, so to find out more, be sure to pick your copy up.
So what we have here is a wonderfully imaginative work, packed full of mesmerising adventure and excitement.
It's a story that explores many important themes such as love, loss, friendship and the power of good over evil.
Character depth and development are good, the story flows well with a riveting plotline and I read this in two sittings.
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
We follow Rachel, a keeper of a Blood-Red key, who follows the trail of a young girl who has been taken into the Hinterland ( where the dead live ) and must do all she can to rescue her. But that's enough about the story, so to find out more, be sure to pick your copy up.
So what we have here is a wonderfully imaginative work, packed full of mesmerising adventure and excitement.
It's a story that explores many important themes such as love, loss, friendship and the power of good over evil.
Character depth and development are good, the story flows well with a riveting plotline and I read this in two sittings.
A big 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
December 3, 2023
Book Review - The Secret of the Blood Red Key by David Farr
The sequel to the fast-paced Book of Stolen Dreams is equally as exhilarating and engaging. Heroes Rachel and Robert Klein once more have to protect the gate to the Hinterland, the world beyond our own. Rachel has a blood red key that is pulsating and telling her something is wrong, her brother is preoccupied and her father is grieving. Rachel is on her own. What follows is an adventure into the Hinterland on a rescue mission.
From the fictional Krasnia and its ghosts, to the Hinterland and its shimmering silvery sea, the worlds that Farr creates are mesmerising and serve as wonderful backdrops to the adventure.
You will find good and evil, light and shade, ups and downs and very tense moments as the Klein children race against time to put the world back to its rightful order.
Thoroughly enjoyable story for ages 8+.
The sequel to the fast-paced Book of Stolen Dreams is equally as exhilarating and engaging. Heroes Rachel and Robert Klein once more have to protect the gate to the Hinterland, the world beyond our own. Rachel has a blood red key that is pulsating and telling her something is wrong, her brother is preoccupied and her father is grieving. Rachel is on her own. What follows is an adventure into the Hinterland on a rescue mission.
From the fictional Krasnia and its ghosts, to the Hinterland and its shimmering silvery sea, the worlds that Farr creates are mesmerising and serve as wonderful backdrops to the adventure.
You will find good and evil, light and shade, ups and downs and very tense moments as the Klein children race against time to put the world back to its rightful order.
Thoroughly enjoyable story for ages 8+.
March 1, 2024
A very enjoyable sequel, we are back with familiar characters as well as some new ones. The Hinterland sounds lovely. I love that each child is assigned a pet . I did find it annoying when all the body switching began, the mary-who-looks-like-elsa carry on was draining. You have explained the switch so I know when you are talking about or saying Rachel you mean Rachel in Malstain's body. You didn't have to explain it each time. But overall, I did enjoy the book.
June 6, 2024
I’ve had the first book on my shelf for a while and didn’t realise this was the sequel when I applied for the tour. I’m so glad I did as this was a fabulous middle grade/YA book which has now made me excited to read the first one.
Rachel meets a strange boy who seems to know about the blood-red key that she has and tells her to call should she ever need help. Soon after she hears of a young girl that has been tricked into the Hinterland and vows to get her back. This is where the story takes a turn.
The writing style of this novel makes it so easy to read, I think I read it in about a day and a half, I just couldn’t put it down. I love Rachel as a heroine and her brother, even though he needs to take more notice of what’s going on around him! I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the first book soon, even though this can be read as a standalone you may benefit from reading them in sequence.
Rachel meets a strange boy who seems to know about the blood-red key that she has and tells her to call should she ever need help. Soon after she hears of a young girl that has been tricked into the Hinterland and vows to get her back. This is where the story takes a turn.
The writing style of this novel makes it so easy to read, I think I read it in about a day and a half, I just couldn’t put it down. I love Rachel as a heroine and her brother, even though he needs to take more notice of what’s going on around him! I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the first book soon, even though this can be read as a standalone you may benefit from reading them in sequence.
September 1, 2025
A brilliant sequel to ‘The Book of Stolen Dreams’ which is just as great a read as this one. The new characters mingle seamlessly with the cast, essentially picking up where the previous book left off. Once more the plot is well structured and imaginative, laid out in an exciting, really fast and fun manner. Again, through adventure, magic and turmoil, important themes such as love, loss, friendship, perseverance, resilience and the clash between good and evil are explored.
Another great read, highly recommended for those aged around ten!
Another great read, highly recommended for those aged around ten!
February 5, 2024
Mais um livro maravilhoso desta série fantástica! É um livro com uma mensagem muito poderosa que todos deviam ler, tanto pequenos como graúdos.
Chego mesmo a sentir uma boa inveja dos middle graders por terem histórias tão boas, com uma mensagem tão poderosa e um plot tão bom como alguns livros de adultos!
O livro tem um plot cheio de aventuras, com muitas reviravoltas e cheio de heróis. Vale mesmo a pena ler esta série 💕
Obrigada à editora pela cedência deste livro para review 🙏🏼
Chego mesmo a sentir uma boa inveja dos middle graders por terem histórias tão boas, com uma mensagem tão poderosa e um plot tão bom como alguns livros de adultos!
O livro tem um plot cheio de aventuras, com muitas reviravoltas e cheio de heróis. Vale mesmo a pena ler esta série 💕
Obrigada à editora pela cedência deste livro para review 🙏🏼
February 7, 2024
I was so excited to see a sequel to The Book of Stolen Dreams as I absolutely loved the first book. It had all the characteristics that made it a wonderfully perfect magical adventure story with feisty characters, an epic journey and gripping suspense.
This book has exactly the same elements - and if you thought you'd seen the last of Charles Malstain, then think again ...
This book has exactly the same elements - and if you thought you'd seen the last of Charles Malstain, then think again ...
April 19, 2024
Finished and loved this! Just as good as book 1. The storyline was so clever and it was a great little palette cleanser.
I loved the characters and how much they’d progressed from book 1. I always feel sorry for Rachel’s dad but he really stepped up at the end of this book!
Really enjoyable and super easy to read.
I loved the characters and how much they’d progressed from book 1. I always feel sorry for Rachel’s dad but he really stepped up at the end of this book!
Really enjoyable and super easy to read.
October 12, 2024
I did enjoy this one, but not quite as much as the first. Mostly because it seemed a little bit too far fetched and hard to get on board with the concept - like it developed the world of the first too much too quickly. Despite that, it was a fun (and dark!!) adventure with some nice new characters introduced.
May 30, 2025
This book, honestly, was nothing special. At first I found the story interesting, but towards the middle it started to get a little boring. It's only towards the end that you hear the "twists".
In my opinion, the author drags the story out a lot in the middle of the book, making it a little tiring to read, but at the end it actually starts to get better. I'm a reader who can't put books down. I don't care how boring this book is in the beginning and middle, but I continued and finished the story. But if I were a reader who had no problem putting a book down, I would have already put it down at the beginning.
3.5 ⭐️( .5 because at the end I thought it was really cute that Rachel took Bobby and Titus home and gave her father her deceased mother's lock of hair.)
In my opinion, the author drags the story out a lot in the middle of the book, making it a little tiring to read, but at the end it actually starts to get better. I'm a reader who can't put books down. I don't care how boring this book is in the beginning and middle, but I continued and finished the story. But if I were a reader who had no problem putting a book down, I would have already put it down at the beginning.
3.5 ⭐️( .5 because at the end I thought it was really cute that Rachel took Bobby and Titus home and gave her father her deceased mother's lock of hair.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2023
So lucky to have had an early read of David Farr's #MG #TheSecretOfTheBloodRedKey
@Usborne
I was gripped from the start and couldn't stop reading as the story raced to its end. Rachel is such a brave and loveable protagonist. Out on the 14th September.
@Usborne
I was gripped from the start and couldn't stop reading as the story raced to its end. Rachel is such a brave and loveable protagonist. Out on the 14th September.
March 18, 2025
Very fun, the kids actually had something to do this time! The plot was pretty good too, especially towards the end as it became fairly uncertain weither or not the main cast was gonna make it out ok.
February 21, 2024
ARC...can't give a way too much other must read first book, evil forces are afoot again for living and dead and Rachel and Robert must be heroes again!
April 19, 2024
Absolutely loved it! Real feel good story that kept me turning the pages
May 26, 2024
Very well written. Only put it down to go to sleep.
June 22, 2024
Fine, but missing the whimsy of the first. Feels very thematically different, it’s a weird follow up.
July 1, 2024
Not as great as the first one. The ending seemed a little forced...too much of a happy ending.
July 17, 2024
Crazy suspenseful!!
August 7, 2024
A very creative story with many twists and turns. The second in it's series, I prefer the first book but the story was captivating either way.
November 3, 2024
Fantastic
A truly fabulous continuation of the first story.
A great read and some truly lovely characters and some truly loathsome ones too.
Fingers crossed for more of these.
A truly fabulous continuation of the first story.
A great read and some truly lovely characters and some truly loathsome ones too.
Fingers crossed for more of these.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews