The Great Betrayal causes the diminishing light, along with other negative consequences. Evil and danger lurk in the spreading shadows, as evidenced by shadow-infected fruits. The characters encounter the Domino, a mist in the forest that sucks happy memories from unwary travelers. Everyone once possessed a little magic, a gift, but the Great Betrayal took it away. The land is now dark and depressing, and many characters hope to take advantage of those less fortunate. This setting makes Ehrit’s dream of light and hope stand out in stark contrast. The author saves a surprise for near the end, flipping the story upside down.
Ehrit is the “mysterious stranger” leading the characters to the Lake of Light, but the quest creates unease between Finn and his best friend Adrion. The boys have lived a life of thieving to stay alive, but Ehrit seems to live a life of honesty and hope. Finn finds it difficult to believe anyone can be kind and generous without wanting something in return. Finn begins to believe in the possibilities Ehrit is preaching, but Adrion is ever the skeptic. Finn is torn between loyalty to his best friend and the trust he is forming with Ehrit. Lydia, Finn’s younger sister, symbolizes goodness, and the siblings hold out hope of finding a mother they hardly remember. They still recall a bedtime song that may be the key to discovering their family history and future, and surprisingly, Ehrit knows the song, too.
Other characters join the group along the way, adding various motivations and personalities. One of them steals key ingredients needed to reach the Lake of Light, and Finn is suspicious of everyone. His feelings are ironic, since he’s been a thief for most of his life. Another group member suffers from a curse that limits how many words he can speak each day. He often points to tattooed words on his arms to circumvent the curse. Another girl likes to “boop” the others with playful, affectionate punches, and she becomes buddies with Lydia. Finn wonders if Ehrit can see into the future, because he always seems to know what will happen. Readers may notice similarities between Finn and Ehrit and begin to wonder if it’s significant.
What didn’t work as well:
The concept of increasing darkness is abstract and sometimes hard to understand. It’s not a big factor for the characters’ progress until shadow creatures pop up along the way. These obstacles are creative and infuse suspense. Some readers may interpret religion in the story, but it’s more spiritual than worshipping a god. The suggested reading level is eight and older, but eight is too young.
The final verdict:
This book offers a classic good-versus-evil story, although readers can’t always tell one from the other. The characters and creative plot are the highlights. I recommend you give this book a shot!
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