The apprentices by Maile Meloy
The apprentices by Maile Meloy
Text, 2013. ISBN 9781922147141.
Recommended. The apprentices like all good sequels begins
virtually where The Apothecary left off.
Janie Scott is back at school in America regaining her memories of
Benjamin Burrows and experimenting on a way to convert salt sea
water into water. Her roommate's father, an evil industrialist tries
to get Janie to work for him and when that fails; he plots to
disgrace and kidnap her.
Benjamin meanwhile is in French Indochina trying to assist the
poor, the sick and the injured. He becomes aware that Janie is in
danger and contrives to get to America. Janie is captured by the
megalomaniac tycoon Magnusson and taken to an Island of Malaya,
while Benjamin is captured by cargo cultist on a Pacific Island.
All the action contrives to keep the two young friends apart, and
they rely on the Apothecary, Pip and Jin Lo using all their
resources to rescue Janie and prevent nuclear disaster.
The path of true love is never smooth and on his journey Benjamin is
aware that he has a rival in America who cares for Janie as much as
he does. Janie too, is considering her feelings and wondering if she
and Benjamin have a future.
Maile Meloy has created a cast of wonderful characters and matinee
villains, and a story with a twist of magic and an interesting Cold
War setting. It is easy to see her continue to write them within a
variety of exotic settings with a Cold War background. As her
characters and readership grow older we can move from the Eisenhower
period to the glamorous Kennedy Presidency.
There is a lot to like about this book and it works on many levels.
Plot and character drive this novel and it should have wide and
cross genre appeal.
Michael Jongen