SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When Tim and Pip move into a new house with their parents, they discover a strange boy, Sebastian. Sebastian looks like a kid, but it actually much older. He explains that its his job to stop Pierre de Loudeac, which is why he has woken. At first, they don't believe him, but eventually some strange events lead them to believe he is telling the truth.
OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS
Tim is blunt, honest, and sarcastic. He tends to be dramatic and exaggerate. He does most of the research and investigation regarding Sebastian's claims.
Pip is artistic but practical, and is usually the calmer of the two siblings.
Sebastian is calm, and acts more like an adult than a child. He speaks in a rather old fashioned way but it knowledgeable of the modern world.
Pierre De Loudeac is Sebastian's sworn enemy. He wants to make a homunculus and Sebastian is trying to stop him.
PACING
The pacing is rather slow, and the story doesn't really have any action until half way through the book. Sebastian has gone away, and it feels as though the reader should be seeing his perspective, instead of the siblings. When he returns, we only get a vague idea of where he was. I suppose it was supposed to be mysterious, making Pip and Tim investigate, but we never really figure out what he was doing, exactly.
THE PROBLEM OF SEBASTIAN
I think the major problem with this book is Sebastian. I realized I couldn't connect with him. He was born in the 1400s, so it makes sense that he would talk so old fashioned. But honestly, I expected some sort of “fish out of water” aspects to him; some misunderstandings about the current culture and his culture. But this is never explored. Nor does he have any awkward moments or wonder at the latest inventions. He simply explains he understands how it works because he is so smart.
Now it is revealed that Sebastian has awoken recently, in the past fifty years. But regardless of how many times he has awoken, his goal has been to defeat De Loudeac, not to alter the ideas and values he was born with.
Perhaps this part of him could have left him cold, not really having any friends. Simply waking, doing his job, and going back to sleep. Not quite human. But this is never implied either. He just feels lacking.
A NEW FRIEND
Because of the problem of Sebastian, I couldn't get why Pip and Tim wanted to learn more and put themselves at risk. There weren't any endearing qualities that would make me take such risks. I felt like they were investigating because the story called for it. It did help to learn more, but they never seem to figure out where this could lead to: danger.
To be fair, when this comes, they do wonder if they can trust Sebastian. But it's a mere second of wonder and seems out of the blue. They never doubted him before, not that they know much about him other than a dry history lesson he gives them. Even when reveals something personal its hard to connect to him.
OUR VILLAIN
We only get to see De Loudeac when he has shape-shifted, so I didn't really feel like I got to see who he was. I understand this is the first book of a series, but he just felt like a shadowy figure. And shifting into a cranky old man sure didn't make me fear or hate him.
EXPLICIT CONTENT
There are some rather detailed descriptions of ripped apart bodies, including a dog. And we actually see the dead people later one, including one who has had his head cut open. I honestly wasn't expecting this in a fantasy book for kids. Just something to note.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
In the end we do get to face the homunculus. And although exciting, I thought Sebastian disappearing in the end was just another way to try to make him seem mysterious. But it this point I couldn't imagine there is much more to him. So I don't think it had the intended effect on me. It just felt awkward. Also, the dead bodies we so grossly witnessed, can apparently be undone. A reset button made their original scene feel cheap.
CONCLUSION
Alchemy and a time traveling boy are very promising ideas. Pip and Tim and likable enough. And although the pacing is slow, when the book starts it does get interesting. But I just never bonded with Sebastian, who feels so dull, even when he has shape-shifted into a dog. He is just so matter-of-fact when the reader wants to feel amazed. Sadly, Pip and Tim don't make up for that fact. I give “Doctor Aluminatus” two and half stars.
<
No comments:
Post a Comment