Spellslinger 4: Soulbinder

Spellslinger 4: Soulbinder

By Author / Illustrator

Sebastien de Castell

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471406737

Format

Hardback

Published

04-10-2018

Synopsis

The fourth book in the page-turning SPELLSLINGER fantasy series. Kellen and his murderous squirrel cat, Reichis, are on their own. They've heard rumour of a mythical monastery, known as the Ebony Abbey. It's a place that outsiders can never find - but Kellen is getting desperate. He's been told that the monks inside the Ebony Abbey know more about the Shadowblack than anyone else - and that they even know how to cure it.Then Kellen and Reichis are separated and for the first time, Kellen must face the world alone - and venture deeper into shadow magic than he ever knew he could.Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher.

Reviews

Linda

Soulbinder is book four of the fantastic Spellslinger series. Each book engages the reader in a journey of deception, magic, betrayal, loyalty and trust that the main character Kellen and his trusted 'business partner' Reichis ( who is a murderous squirrel cat) have to deal with in the search for a cure of the Shadowblack. In Soulbinder, Kellen is now alone (apart from Reichis) and straight from the first page he is in trouble once again, but this time there is no Ferius to come along and save his skin. He has got to think for himself for the first time in this series. On his journey to find the Ebony Abbey, Kellen gets into trouble. He ends up with people that have the Shadowblack, but gets separated from Reichis, and is desperate to find him. Kellen doesn't know who to trust or how to save what he loves the most. Soulbinder is much darker and slightly more violent than the others in the series. Kellen, as he is on his own, has now begun to develop and mature, but still manages to deliver his humorous one liners that constantly get him deeper into trouble. He ventures deeper than ever before into the Shadowblack and starts to understand what his markings mean and how he can use them. I can't say too much more as I will be filling the page with spoilers, but once again the story is so well written that you become totally engrossed in each page. My one gripe was the lack of Reichis, I was so concerned about this character as I could not imagine the books without him. I missed his grouchiness, his demands for butter biscuits and of course his constant threats to eat someone's eyeballs!! Ferius also only comes into the story this time through Kellen's thoughts and memories. I did miss this character but appreciated that it stops Soulbinder being a repeat of the previous books, just hopes she returns before the end of the series. In this part of the adventure some past characters re-emerge and we get introduced to some amazing new ones that I hope will also come up again later in the series. This author just knows how to keep his audience entertained and engaged. 432 well written, engaging pages that are suitable for 12+ readers of all abilities (and the occasional adult!).Would also be great for book clubs or reading aloud to reluctant readers who would like to escape into a world of wizardry and magic. Get a copy and get comfortable, as you will once again enter a rollercoaster of an adventure. 432 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 11+

 

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