The Initiation ( Lock and Key #1) by Ridley Pearson
Release Date: September 20, 2016Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: publisher
Format: eARC
Pages: 384
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Bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and the Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson reimagines the origins of the epic rivalry between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty. Set in modern times and focusing on Moriarty's bone-chilling beginnings, this middle grade mystery-adventure series will upend everything you thought you ever knew about Sherlock Holmes—and the true nature of evil.
In the pantheon of literature’s more impressive villains, Sherlock Holmes’s greatest nemesis, James Moriarty, stands alone. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle describes him in the classic tale “The Final Solution,” Moriarty is a genius, a philosopher, and a spider in the center of his web. He is the Napolean of crime—and now, for the first-time ever, New York Times bestselling novelist Ridley Pearson explores the origins of his evil ways.
Our story begins when James and his younger sister, Moria, are unceremoniously sent off to boarding school at Baskerville Academy. It is not a fate either want or welcome—but generations of Moriarty men have graduated from Baskerville’s hallowed halls. And now so too must James. It’s at Baskerville where James is first paired with a rather unexpected roommate—Sherlock Holmes. The two don’t get along almost instantly, but when the school’s heirloom Bible goes missing and cryptic notes with disconcerting clues start finding their way into James’s hands, the two boys decide that they must work together to solve a mystery so fraught with peril, it will change both their lives forever!
It’s another seat-of-your-pants mystery from the bestselling author of Peter and the Starcatchers and The Kingdom Keepers series, Ridley Pearson.
I originally picked this up not knowing ANYTHING about it. I had just finished reading some dark dystopians and wanted to break this up with a quick MIDDLE GRADE title. While I feel like this is more YA than MG...I am head over heels in love with this book!
The Initiation turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be. First of all, I think it was absolute BRILLIANCE on the part of Ridley Pearson to write a re-imagining of the whole Sherlock Holmes story. This story centers on the tumultuous relationship between Holmes and Moriarty, and I personally ate it UP! It was so brilliant to stage this at a boarding school , the Baskerville Academy. Ahhh!! EPIC!
The Moriarty's are a huge deal to the Baskerville Academy and have been attending for over 5 generations. James and Moria are both sent there by their father and that's when this story truly takes off! James finds himself stuck with the most annoying, arrogant room mate, none other than a young Mister Sherlock Holmes. Squeee!!!
The story is told through the eyes of Moria Moriarty in a modern day setting. This book was absolutely perfect in every way! I am a HUGE Sherlockian , and I have read countless takes on the original beloved classic. I've read everything from the originals, the children of Sherlock, his niece, and all the way to the manga versions and this stood out from them all!
There is mystery, suspense, secret societies, secret codes, and just so soooo many SECRETS! This book is totally EPIC and I hope that the author continues on with more stories in this style. If your a fan of Sherlock Holmes, and secret societies than this book is PERFECT for you! I highly recommend it!
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