The ending is just right, even if it isn't totally explained. Though of course a big part of why and how he does things is because of her. I was bit let down when we didn't get to see so much of Sido, but really this is Yann's story. He's such a flawed hero and you root for him anyway. I now really understand why people use that phrase now. The French Revolution is often painted as something relatively heroic and as a reader I learned just how much went wrong even after the nobles were overthrown. Gardner's descriptions are just so rich and fit this time period. You get sucked in so easily in this world.

It may have been because I didn't read it in one stretch, but again I urge future readers to pay attention. Sometimes I'd have to flip pages to jog my memory. I actually had a hard time remembering who was who sometimes.

The plot to this story is very intricate so it's important to pay attention to names. And as most people guess (I'm sure this really isn't a spoiler) that Count Kalliovski still roams the catacombs of Paris. Sido on the other hand is safe in London, but is not as safe as everyone assumes. He uses his extraordinary powers to help people escape the unforgiving guillotone and becomes to be known as the Silver Blade. Yann Margoza has become a Robin Hood of sorts. Seriously, I almost felt like I could smell the blood. This one is darker in tone and there is even more dread of death upon everything.

The sequel to The Red Necklace certainly does not dissapoint. Prior to The Door That Led to Where (nominated for the Carnegie 2016), Sally released another Young Adult fiction novel, which is a modern gothic tale called Tinder, stunningly illustrated by David Roberts, which was shortlisted for both the Carnegie and the Kate Greenaway Medals 2015.I think this one comment sums it all, 'Gardner just keeps getting stranger and better.' The Telegraph Sally also won the 2005 Nestle Children’s Book Prize for her debut novel I, Coriander. The Red Necklace (shortlisted for 2007 Guardian Book Prize) and The Silver Blade, are set during the French Revolution, the film rights for which have been purchased by Dominic West. Sally’s genre-defying novel, The Double Shadow (Orion 2011) received great critical acclaim and was also longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2013. Her novel, Maggot Moon (Hot Key Books 2012), won both the Costa Children’s Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal 2013 and has been adapted for the and performed on stage to rave reviews (Unicorn 2019).

TelferTravel - Summer Reading Challenge.

Ormsgill Literary Festival - 30th June 2022.

Signed by Nick Arnold - Horrible Science.

The silver blade sally gardner