Doctor Illuminatus: The Alchemist's Son, Part I

I read Doctor Illuminatus awhile ago, and didn't think much about it till recently, when I cracked it open and skimmed it a bit. And then I realized something I hadn't when I was fourteen -- that is, that this is one of the darkest and most horrifying teen books I have ever read. This "dark and horrifying" scale could have been left fine and dark with the dead dog and bloody severed leg left in the woods to warn the twin protagonists Pip and Tim, but this apparently was not enough for the author. In one of the most gruesome and disturbing scenes I have ever read in my life, dead hippies described in gory detail -- some only heads, most just sickening pale bodies with twisted, evil smiles on their faces -- dangle lifelessly outside Pip's window, their corpses animated by the evil villain to, again, scare the kids off. This scene is nicely complemented by the head dead hippie tipping his hat to Pip, revealing his crushed skull. However -- and herein lies one of the greatest flaws of the book -- this scene seems to be in here simply for shock value, since the characters display nothing but mild disgust and momentary terror for what could easily be something that would skew their psyche and pretty much mess them up for the rest of their lives. And, moreover, they are not scared off. Not even a little bit. With Sebastian the ages-old alchemist's son at their side, the evil insects trailing Pip and the occasional festival of grinning corpses don't seem to bother the twins at all. Don't get me wrong. This book is well-written and plotted, and even though the characters are often annoying and their reactions not quite realistic, I'd recommend it. Just be aware that it is a novel meant for teens at the very least -- I'd say fourteen minimum -- and that you really don't want to read it at night. Dead hippies on the brain does not help your dreams any. Rating: Pretty Good

I love this book because it seems so real. I love how it deals with a modern setting rather than the boring Harry Potter world with nothing to do but read and write. Actually, I think it's better than Harry Potter. I can't wait to read the sequal.

I really enjoyed the start to this new series. I am an adult and I did not feel like I was reading a children's book. In fact I learned a lot of information, like what a ha-ha is (it's not a laugh by the way :) Pip, Tim and Sebastian are bright kids (even though technically Sebastian is not a kid). My only complaint is that is was too short for me. While for a children's book it might be a good length, as an adult reading it, I have come to expect longer because of the Harry Potter series and books like Eragon. I highly recommend this book for people of all ages, especially if you like fantasy and magic!

Twins Pip and Tim have just moved with their parents to a house built in 1422 near the village of Brampton. Imagine their surprise when one night they meet Sebastian, also 12 years old, and the son of the man who built the house. Sebastian's father had been a powerful alchemist and Christian, fighting evil and training Sebastian to follow in his footsteps. When he died, Sebastian was charged with continuing the mission, and given a potion which would allow him to attain a state of suspended animation, rousing only when their old enemy was active. Pip and Tim join forces with Sebastion and try to defeat de Loudeac in his attempt to create an evil homunculus, an artificial being with no soul or morality. This highly readable book has well-drawn characters and a plot that moves right along. One of it's strengths is the way that Sebastian can relate modern scientific technology to alchemic principles he was taught. A warning, though - one scene is grisly and may upset younger readers. Though complete in itself, this first volume of a series leaves the reader anticipating more adventures with Sebastian, Pip, and Tim.

Teen siblings, Tim and Pip, aren't exactly looking forward to moving to an old English country estate with their parents, and the strange knocking coming from within the walls of the home isn't a very welcoming sign, at least not in their opinion. But when the two of them find a mysterious boy named Sebastian, who claims to be not only the son of a medieval alchemist, but to have been sleeping for nearly six hundred years, the two sibs don't know what to think. Sebastian informs them that his Father's arch nemesis, known as de Loudeac, has also awoken, and that he plans on using the secrets of alchemy to create an artificial human, known as a homunculous, from dead matter that only he will be able to control. Before they have even unpacked their belongings, Tim and Pip find themselves mixed up in a bizarre web of magic, filled with intrigue and horror, as they join Sebastian in his attempt to stop de Loudeac's crazy plan. Martin Booth has created an intricately woven, well-crafted novel filled with fast-paced adventure, intrigue, horror, and more. Tim and Pip are exciting characters, wise beyond their years, who will quickly capture the hearts, and the attention, of readers both young and old; while Sebastian, and the crazy schemes thought up by de Loudeac, will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the opening page to the last, dying to find out what will happen next in this exciting thriller. Science fiction and fantasy fans will enjoy the magic created within the pages of DOCTOR ILLUMINATUS: THE ALCHEMIST'S SON, while mystery and thriller fans will find the fast-paced action right up their alley. Overall this was an amazing novel that will be loved by reader's the world over. Erika Sorocco Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper