Jane Doe and the Key of All Souls is the second book in the Jane Doe Chronicles series written by Jeremy Lachlan. Did you know that Jeremy Lachlan got his idea for this series when he got lost in a museum and that it took him 12 years to finish the first book? In 2019 he won the Australian Book Industry Awards in the “Book of the year for older children” category.
The story in The Key of all Souls picks up where the adventures of the first book left off. In the first book, we follow Jane Doe’s quest in the labyrinth called “The Manor”. The Manor connects different kinds of worlds. It is not safe there. Not only are there perpetually dangerously altered rooms that don’t stay in one place, but there’s a villain out there who wants to claim The Manor for himself and destroy it. In The Key of All Souls, Jane is in even more danger. Can Jane save The Manor before it’s too late?
The cover with the sandy plain and Jane Doe on the front fits the story. Not only does it attract attention, but the cover also plays a big part in the story because of how the first book ended. Personally, I think the Dutch covers of this series are a lot nicer and it draws my attention more than the English covers. The Dutch covers describe the books more and the illustrations are more beautiful. In The Key of All Souls, the story is told from Jane’s perspective. Every now and then there is a chapter that is told from someone else’s perspective, such as from the bad guy. Just like in The Cradle of All Worlds, Jane as a character is thoroughly developed. She is a character who is unsure of her fate and sometimes does things she does not think about. But besides that, she is also a character that contains a good dose of humor. This ensures that you occasionally cannot hold back your laugh while reading.
English Cover 
Dutch Cover
The story reads smoothly due to Lachlan’s fine writing style. The events are clearly described and the plot is also well developed. Throughout the book, he ensures that he has your attention and that you cannot put the book down. The idea of The Manor remains interesting and unique. Just like in the first book, The Key of All Souls also explains once again how The Manor came into being. This is a nice addition if you have forgotten that. All in all, this is a great book and I am looking forward to more books from Lachlan.
Jeremy Lachlan not only shows that he is a good writer, but also that this series is not only intended for young people. Older readers can enjoy these books just as much. The Key of All Souls is a fantastic children’s book that I can recommend to everyone.
Thank you to the Dutch Publisher for sending me a review copy!
Details:
Title: Jane Doe and the Key of All Souls
Series: Jane Doe Chronicles (#2)
Author: Jeremy Lachlan
Rating: ★★★★ ✩
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