Alfie Bloom and the Talisman Thief: 2 Paperback – 2 Jun. 2016

Alfie Bloom is a young lad who has both magical powers and a grand home in the north of England. The book is presumably aimed at the children's and young teenagers' reading market but I, a somewhat mature adult, thoroughly enjoyed the tale, the human and magical characters and settings, and the overall somewhat breathless pace of narration. The story zips along, is a rollercoaster ride and thoroughly enjoyable ... suspend belief and read on. I will certainly read Alfie Bloom as the series progresses. A great find.

Another excellent instalment in the Alfie Bloom series my son and I love them and are eagerly awaiting the next release.

Good

Fab. My 8 year old daughter has loved both of the Alfie Bloom books so far. Roll on number 3 from Ms.Kent. Highly recommended.

This book is full of action which makes it difficult to put down. Loved it and can't wait for the next one.

Nothing bad and such a gripping and tension filled book that you have to read although it's a shame there isn't a third book

When Alfie Bloom inherits a castle full of magical secrets, his dull and lonely life is changed forever. But what he didn’t realise is, it comes at a price with dangers he could never have expected along the way.In ‘Talisman Thief’ there are many revelations. We learn more about Alfie’s mysterious butler Ashford and discover the real magnitude of Alfie’s inheritance as hidden secrets of the castle emerge.  Things come to a head when Ashford is kidnapped in the middle of the night. It becomes the catalyst for a number of strange events and the castle come under threat from a terrible enemy. Trapped inside with only his twin cousins and best friend Amy, it’s up to Alfie to defend the castle and protect the country from a sinister force.‘Alfie Bloom’ is a magnificent adventure which will hold you in its grasp and keep you frantically turning the pages demanding more. Full of the unexpected it never ceases to surprise me as it gradually unpeels the mysterious layers which cover the truth of Alfie’s destiny. Whilst Alfie is a brilliant protagonist, Gabrielle has assembled a worthy supporting cast in his feisty cousins and best friend Amy. They are each tested and pushed to their limits, they are not mere accessories, their individuality and presence shine through the story. With echoes of the breadth of characters in Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, we see each of our children look inside to find their inner strength and face their own battles. We are left with a hint of what lies ahead for Alfie as he chooses to accept the inevitably of his future. What lies ahead is uncertain but we can only wait and see what Gabrielle has in store for him next. For me that moment can’t come soon enough!

Alfie Bloom and the Talisman Thief is the sequel to Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle (hereinafter referred to as SHC) which I reviewed back in July. I thoroughly enjoyed SHC, especially the humour and the pacy smart writing, but TT surpasses it in every way imaginable.SHC had the burden of the setup, with Alfie being inducted into a previously unknown world of magic and druids and time travel, but TT already has all that setup done for it, so can relax and spread its storytelling wings.And it’s a great story. Alfie’s magic is tied up with the talisman he always wears (which made its first appearance in SHC) but such a powerful magical object is bound to attract the attention of others. When Alfie’s enigmatic butler Ashford is captured, Hexbridge Castle is besieged by relentless enemies who want Alfie’s talisman, and it’s up to Alfie, with the help of his cousins Robin and Madeleine, and best friend Amy, to fight back – or the repercussions could be more serious than just a lost talisman. The fate of the world is in the balance…What TT reminded me most of all is a really good Doctor Who “base under siege” story. There are even some really clever bits of temporal paradox thrown into the resolution (none of which I can mention here without spoiling the surprise!) that made me grin when their secrets were revealed.There’s more fun with Artan the bear/flying carpet, intriguing revelations about Ashford, and a lot of the minor characters get more time in the spotlight. Despite all the revelations, there are still intriguing hints about more secrets to be unveiled.I don’t think Alfie is going to run out of adventures any time soon – which is fantastic news. Roll on the next in the series!