This is it, the final adventure in The Blackthorn Key series by Canadian author Kevin Sands. Six books in, Sands has kept up a relentless pace, as Christopher, Tom and Sally confront dangers, mysteries and puzzles that place them in grave danger.

And it’s more of this page-turning excitement in The Raven’s Revenge. Sands has planted seeds for this story and its revelations from the beginning, and it all pays off in this book, as young apothecary, and now spy, Christopher finds himself squaring off once and for all with his nemesis, a villain known only as The Raven.

It’s early 1666, Christopher, Tom and Sally are settling into their new lives, but when they receive the first in a series of letters that include codes and puzzles, they realize the final game with The Raven is afoot, and Christopher knows his enemy plans to take everything from him.

But who is he? How can they best him?

Cut off from help and allies, the trio race across London putting together clues as Christopher finally begins to realize who his enemy is.

Sands keeps the story coming, it never lets up and makes for compulsive reading. He continues to marry historical reality with a captivating tale of adventure and things that have been at work since the first novel came to fruition here.

I’ve been raving about, and recommending, this series of books since I started book one. I’ve mentioned how you can pick up each book one by one, or pick up the gorgeous six-book hardcover collection from Simon & Schuster Canada.

Sure, each novel can stand on its own, but when read as part of a whole story, the emotional beats ring true, the attachments you develop with the characters is real, and you find yourself working to solve the puzzles before Christopher does. In fact, I solved one of the final ones before he did and felt like I was willing him to see it.

Sands has created a highly engaging collection of characters and I loved spending time with them, and sorry now that I’m leaving them behind as their journey is finished, but what a ride!

Please don’t be put off by the Young Adult appellation, this is just a fun series to read and enjoy whether for you, or another voracious reader in your life. The collection is so worth your time because then you won’t be waiting to get your hands on the next book, they are all on hand, and you can dive into story after story.

Sands is a masterful storyteller, and having finished this collection I think I may have to hunt down his other works.

You can pick up The Blackthorn Key collection from Simon & Schuster today, and join Christopher in the 17th century for the adventures of his life.