From the first read, Lightseekers: A Kingdom of Shadows by Emily Bain Murphy gave me Pilgrim's Progress vibes. Something about the dark world and the journey toward the light reminded me of John Bunyan, though this book is not a retelling. The Kingdom of Wildfel is a whole new world for young readers to explore.
The Story
Finn and his sister are orphans in a world where light itself is slowly disappearing. When Ehrit, a mysterious older boy, shows up leading an unlikely group of kids on a quest to find the lake of light, Finn, his sister, and best friend join to escape their past. Ehirt guides the group through a series of adventures, revealing just enough of what they need to know to grow their trust. Eventually, Finn and the others are presented with a choice. Will they follow their own way or trust Ehrit?
What I loved about Lightseekers: A Kingdom of Shadows
- Christ figure--Ehrit is clearly a stand in for Jesus. Finn and the others must learn to trust him, seeing reality more clearly as a consequence, or turn to their own way.
- Imaginative world--While the trope of a world losing light isn't new, the other elements in this story are. One of my favorites is the aurflies--glowing butterflies with literal gold in their wings.
- Theme of trust--Finn must learn where his trust has been misplaced and realign it with reality, even if it means making hard choices
- So many nuggets of truth! Here are a couple favorites:
- “The more you trust the more you see.”
- “Fear is a greedy thing … it wants to make us forget everything but itself.“
Parents should know
Finn and his best friend Adrion are thieves, though Finn hopes to escape that life. This is a world with magic, both good and bad. There are a couple brief encounters with evil witches. Also, one clearly good character appears to be disguised as a witch.
Overall, this is a great book for kids eight and up. If your kids love the Wingfeather Saga, the Wilderking trilogy, or the Chronicles of Narnia, try Lightseekers: A Kingdom of Shadows as their next read. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!
My endorsement
I was asked to write an endorsement for Lightseekers: A Kingdom of Shadows to be included in the book. So I thought I'd share it with you here.
“This story is pure light! From Finn’s care for his sister and best friend to the fantastical creatures and settings, A Kingdom of Shadows buzzes with sparks of beauty and wonder that shine in stark contrast to a world where light itself is disappearing. Join this ragtag group of misfits on their impossible quest. You won’t regret it!”
—Carolyn Leiloglou, award-winning author of the Restorationists trilogy
Carolyn Leiloglou is the award-winning author of the middle grade fantasy trilogy The Restorationists. She is the granddaughter of art collectors, daughter of an art teacher, and homeschooling mom to four wildly creative kids, two now graduated. She’s been reviewing her favorite children’s books on House full of Bookworms for over a decade. Carolyn and her husband Demetrios make their home in San Antonio, Texas, and you can find her everywhere online as House full of Bookworms.
