In this first installment of Woods’ Cerythian Chronicles YA fantasy series, a teenage boy and his friend stumble across a hidden city far below the Earth.

Sixteen-year-old Declan Riley and his friend Patrick Pierce find a mysterious journal from the year 1490 that hints at the existence of a “pale” civilization that came to the Americas and enslaved the natives years before Christopher Columbus’ arrival. After they were eventually defeated, it was decided that “the pale people would be sealed in the very tunnels they had forced [the natives] to dig. Two hundred and forty-four passed one by one into the opening.” Convinced that this account is more than a fairy tale, Declan and Patrick uncover a secret staircase that leads them to the underground world where those known as “Cerythians” have managed to survive. Their leader, Kairo, soon discovers the outsiders’ presence and endeavors to trap them in there forever. The boys receive help from two unexpected Cerythian allies, Elora and Laef, who try to return Declan and Patrick to their home—but they have no idea what horrors await in the dark. Woods launches his novel with a bang: “Declan Riley was sixteen years old when he stood at the edge of a hole in the ground and looked down at something that shouldn’t exist.” The excitement never lets up—not even at the book’s conclusion, a thrilling cliffhanger that just might find readers literally jumping out of their seats. From Declan and Patrick's well-rounded friendship to the intricate lore of the Cerythian people, every story element engages; the author expertly balances explorations of nuanced emotions (particularly as Declan’s friendship with Elora and Laef develops) with tense physical conflicts, complete with arena-style combat. The result is a dazzling and unique take on the teenagers-must-battle-for-their-lives trope that is sure to leave audiences breathlessly awaiting the next installment in the series.

A richly complex tale of friendship and an exhilarating adventure with nail-biting action.