A KINGDOM OF SHADOWS

A group of young people journeys to find a mythical source of light before the dark completely consumes their kingdom.

Ever since the Great Betrayal, light in the Kingdom of Wildfel has slowly been consumed by shadow and darkness. Twelve-year-old master thief Finn, who was orphaned at a young age, wants to flee with his younger sister, Lydia, before the light disappears completely. He and his best friend, Adrion, have an idea: They’ll catch and sell auerflies, insects with gold-veined wings, and earn enough to start over elsewhere. Their plan falls apart, but they meet Ehrit, a strange older teen who claims to know how to find the legendary Lake of Light. The trio join him and a few other misfits on a thrilling search for the lake. Along the way, they encounter things they never imagined existed, both dangerous and beautiful: light-eating snakes, a waterfall made of starlight, and mirror spiders that produce silver. The danger-filled journey changes everything Finn thought he knew about the world—and about himself. Murphy’s middle-grade debut is a fantasy adventure series opener that’s full of excitement, action, twists, and explorations of the darkness of the world and of humans. The group’s journey centers on trust, friendship, and finding one’s path in life. Finn and Adrion have golden-brown skin, freckled Lydia has light brown skin, and Ehrit has dark brown skin, like other Florians.

An exciting beginning to an epic adventure.