The Children of the Lost

Reviews

The speed with which you fall under a book’s spell is testament to the author’s skill and The Children of the Lost had me from the first page. Picking up the second book in a series, almost a year after reading the first, can sometimes require a period of adjustment but this was not the case here - it was just like visiting old friends. The fantasy genre thrives on escapism (which this book offers in abundance) and that is why, when it is good, it can provide a most exhilarating reading experience... The Midnight Charter laid impressive and firm foundations and The Children of the Lost builds well upon them. The city of Agora still stands out as the most wonderful of creations and it has a brooding atmosphere all of it's own - FantasyBookReview.co.uk

The Children of the Lost is in some respects very different from the Midnight Charter. But it is also achingly similar; a beautiful tale that culminates in a fantastic and awe inspiring way... The Children of the Lost is an inventive, well written sequel to a great debut novel, every page oozing with beautiful story telling. The ending is particularly profound, and the best ending I have ever read. In a way, it reminds me very much of the Lord of the Rings; bittersweet. - Thirst for Fiction

The Children of the Lost is an excellent sequel to The Midnight Charter. The narrative switches back and forth between viewpoints so that the world outside of Agora is explored while the reader is still kept up-to-date with events inside the city-state. This is a useful tool for visiting some of the minor characters from The Midnight Charter in greater depth while also moving the storyline forward and introducing new people and places. It is interesting to see the characters of both Mark and Lily develop as they try to break free of their past and make sense of the new world they find themselves in. The sometimes antagonistic relationship between the two is nicely expanded upon too... The Agora books are highly original and are great works of fantasy and the ending of The Children of the Lost has left me anxious to get hold of the next book - Bookgeeks

Something is rotten in Agora, the ancient city-state where anything can be bought and sold. On the council of the shadowy Libran Society, a former servant is beginning a long and deadly rise to power, whilst in the slums, a new, radical voice threatens to tear the city apart. And the ruler of the city – the mysterious Director of Receipts – says that the fate of Agora rests on the shoulders of two children – Mark and Lily.

But they are no longer in the city. Banished into the outside world – cold, hungry and alone in the primeval forests, they have taken refuge in the seemingly idyllic pastoral village of Aecer, where everyone is equal, and private ownership is unknown. Lily, who has always hated the ruthlessly mercantile nature of her home, is convinced that they have found a paradise, but Mark is suspicious. This new country of Giseth is beautiful, but after Mark is denounced and punished for daring to oppose the Speaker of the village, both of them find themselves asking new questions. What secret is the silent Father Wolfram concealing? Why are two of their new friends so reluctant to reveal their mutual attraction? And who is the mysterious woman who appears in Mark's and Lily's dreams, telling them that they must find the Children of the Lost?

Mark and Lily soon discover that paradise comes at a price, and it is far higher than either of them could suspect. In the land of Giseth, nightmares don't end just because you wake up...

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Author photographs by Gordon Ward

Background parchment image from www.myfreetextures.com