Shadow Creatures

Lost Worlds #2

by Andrew Lane, Andy Lane

Action adventure from the bestselling author of Young Sherlock Holmes

A world of adventure a mouse-click away . . .

Calum Challenger is desperate to find a creature not yet discovered by anyone else. He is sure that its DNA will unlock a cure to his paralysis.

But a sinister corporation called Nemor is desperate for rare DNA too. They want to make millions from it . . . and will stop at nothing to get there first.

As Calum guides a group of friends in a thrilling search for a shadowy creature, it looks as if he has the upper hand. But then a spate of brutal kidnappings puts everything at risk. With Calum held hostage in New Mexico and computer-hacker Tara locked up in London, who can warn the rest of his group - ex-SAS soldier Rhino, free-runner Gecko and Natalie, the spoilt daughter of Calum's guardian -that they are hurtling headlong into the jaws of death?

Genres: Adventure

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2014

About the author

See also work published as Andy Lane

During 2009, Macmillan Books announced that Lane would be writing a series of books focusing on the early life of Sherlock Holmes. The series was developed in conjunction with the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lane had already shown an extensive knowledge of the Holmes character and continuity in his Virgin Books novel All-Consuming Fire in which he created The Library of St. John the Beheaded as a meeting place for the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.

The first book in the 'Young Sherlock Holmes' series – Death Cloud – was published in the United Kingdom in June 2010 (February 2011 in the United States), with the second – Red Leech – published in the United Kingdom in November of that year (with a United States publication date under the title Rebel Fire of February 2012). The third book – Black Ice – was published in June 2011 in the UK while the fourth book – Fire Storm – was published originally in hardback in October 2011 with a paperback publication in March 2012. The fifth book, Snake Bite was published in hardback in October 2012 and the sixth book, Knife Edge was published in September 2013. Death Cloud was short-listed for both the 2010 North East Book Award. (coming second by three votes) and the 2011 Southampton's Favourite Book Award. Black Ice won the 2012 Centurion Book Award.

Early in 2012, Macmillan Children's Books announced that they would be publishing a new series by Lane, beginning in 2013. The Lost World books will follow disabled 15-year-old Calum Challenger, who is co-ordinating a search from his London bedroom to find creatures considered so rare that many do not believe they exist. Calum's intention is to use the creatures' DNA to help protect the species, but also to search for a cure for his own paralysis. His team comprises a computer hacker, a free runner, an ex-marine and a pathological liar.

Reviews

[lily yakunimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

avesse dato almeno mezza spiegazione a una qualsiasi delle innumerevoli incognite

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book

[Rennai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Lost World series and I didn't realise that when I chose to read it. I suspected that I had missed something along the way but you can easily read this and enjoy it without reading the first book in the series. It may have rated a 4 stars if I had have read the first book! Plenty of action and adventure in this book - more than enough to keep the reader from getting bored - which is great if you are trying to get reluctant readers to read. A good touch of science and technological advances (and some fictional touches) makes the book interesting. The main character, Calum, has lost the use of his legs in a suspicious car accident that killed his parents a few years ago. He has a team of young people he works with in trying to find "lost/mythical" creatures in the hope of making a scientific breakthrough that will help him walk again. Calum is determined to help society, as well as himself, and not sell out to the big corporation that is after his research. I highly recommend the book to those young people that like a bit of suspense, mystery, action and science mixed in together!

[Hollie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read this book I didn't realize this was the second book of the series but even without reading the first book, it gives you reflections on the first book from the characters.
The book is a good adventure it switches perspectives throughout the book after the team gets split up into three perspectives, I love the concept of the futuristic side of animal DNA and how it was manipulated in this story, and how all the characters see things differently but was a fun story to read I'm sad there aren't any more books in this series I would have loved to have seen what challenges may have been next over all it is a good book and a fast read once you get into it.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the second book in the Lost Worlds series by Andrew Lane. This book wasn't quite as good as it's prequel but did seem more mature and explained things more than the first novel.

I enjoyed the further development of the characters but didn't feel that Rhino gelled with the group. It was an interesting addition to have romantic interests for Tara and Natalie; as two other characters in the group like them both. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in book 3.