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A Kingdom of Shadows
A band of misfits seek to fight the darkness that's slowly overcoming their kingdom—the start of a grand adventure series in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga.
The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.
There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he's brave enough to step into the light.
The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.
There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he's brave enough to step into the light.
Unknown Binding
Published March 3, 2026
10 people are currently reading
3853 people want to read
About the author
Emily Bain Murphy
5 books588 followersEmily Bain Murphy is a critically acclaimed author of books for adults and young adults. She was born in Indiana and raised in Hong Kong and Japan. She graduated from Tufts University and has also called Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California home.
Murphy is the author of the YA fantasies The Disappearances, which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and Splinters of Scarlet, which received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Bookpage and was nominated for the MASL Truman Readers’ Award. Both are available now from HarperCollins.
Murphy’s adult historical mystery Enchanted Hill is available now from Union Square and Co./Hachette. The Ivory City, a standalone adult historical mystery set at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, will be published in November 2025 from Union Square and Co./Hachette.
Murphys’s debut middle grade fantasy trilogy Lightseekers will be published in March 2026 from WaterBrook Multnomah/Penguin Randomhouse.
Murphy is represented by Peter Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary and Media. She currently lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, three children, and a rescue bunny. Find her online at Instagram @emilybainmurphy and Facebook @emilybainmurphy.
Murphy is the author of the YA fantasies The Disappearances, which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and Splinters of Scarlet, which received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Bookpage and was nominated for the MASL Truman Readers’ Award. Both are available now from HarperCollins.
Murphy’s adult historical mystery Enchanted Hill is available now from Union Square and Co./Hachette. The Ivory City, a standalone adult historical mystery set at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, will be published in November 2025 from Union Square and Co./Hachette.
Murphys’s debut middle grade fantasy trilogy Lightseekers will be published in March 2026 from WaterBrook Multnomah/Penguin Randomhouse.
Murphy is represented by Peter Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary and Media. She currently lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, three children, and a rescue bunny. Find her online at Instagram @emilybainmurphy and Facebook @emilybainmurphy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 5, 2026
2 stars, personally ⭐️ Light Christian Fiction - Middle-Grade Fantasy (with magic)
About this book:
“A band of misfits seek to fight the darkness that's slowly overcoming their kingdom—the start of a grand adventure series in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga.
The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.
There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he's brave enough to step into the light.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Lightseekers” series.
Spiritual Content- Finn asks Ehrit for help twice in his mind (like a prayer and says that if he can hear him, he needs help; *Spoilers* ); The phrase “pride goeth before a fall” is remembered; A mention of a prayer (not said towards Whom);
*Note: Before the light started to dim in this fictional world, magic was more commonplace and originally only held by royals and used for good, but as the kingdom grew darker, so did the magic and it’s mainly used by “the seftars” (the kingdom’s witches); It’s said that the king of the kingdom sought out a “great and powerful witch” to create a seed of darkness, which was planted and whoever ate the fruit of the seed could “control the darkness and use it against the light”; An important side character (Ehrit) is said to be a “Current” and it’s later said that anyone can become one, they just have to “learn how to connect to the hidden magic of the world, the underlying magic that holds everything together, and has for as long as the kingdom has existed”, how the shadows “broke the connection” and “only a few people can find it now” (Finn is told that the person would have to start by trusting that it’s still there, then learn about it, connect with it, and “eventually become a conduit of it”; Ehrit adds that those who don’t understand it think it looks like magic, but for those who have learned it, it’s a “deep kind of knowledge about how this kingdom really works” and Finn starts to believe that this hidden magic exists); Finn and his best friend call Ehrit a “guru” because he talks like one (this word is of Hinduism and Buddhism origin); Someone asks if Ehrit is a “wizard or something”, but the answer isn’t shared; Finn asks if magic is bad because he only knows of the magic that seftars use, but Ehrit says what he does has nothing in common with that kind as it comes from “a place of darkness”; *Spoilers* *Major Spoilers* ; When Finn touches someone, he can see the “forrest” inside of that person (some are lush, but others are dry; Finn later wonders if this ability is magic); Finn asks Ehrit if he can see the future or know things that are going to happen ahead of time, but Ehrit says that it’s intuition; Finn and the others are told to never eat an apple that “smells like shadows” or the shadows will “gain access to the deepest parts” of them and turn them into “something you don’t want to be”; When two people lie after swearing on the kingdom’s rulers, their voices are taken away and can only come back if they answer truthfully to the people they were trying to deceive in the first place (one person accuses that they were cursed, but another says it’s a powerful oath); Finn and the others cross a “haunted bridge” that has a red mist that tries to take their special memories (up to semi-detailed); It’s said that everyone used to have a little magic, but that back then it wasn’t considered magic but a talent; Talks about trusting someone (Ehrit); Many mentions of magic, using magic, magical places, “seftars” (witches), & their dark magic; Mentions of a magical book; Mentions of a haunted bridge with mist that tries to steal the crosser’s memories; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of curses; A couple mentions of a book of spells; A couple mentions of wizards; A couple mentions of ghosts (as in someone looking like they saw one or being as pale as a ghost); A couple mentions of something tasting “like heaven” and a place being “heaven”; A mention of fairies & gnomes; A mention of something being said “devilishly”; A mention of being taught to worship a public figure.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘gah’, an unfinished ‘what the—‘, a ‘why the devil’, four forms of ‘dumb’, and six ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses (said, not written; including by Finn); Fictional, in-world phrases and insults (including “thank the General” and “for the love of the General”, a public figure held in respect & muttering “bogs” when shocked or disappointed); Someone is called a “pain in the rear”; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Some lying; Fighting, Being held at knife-point, Being punched, Being chased, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Blades/Knives are aimed and thrown at others (some in a rescue attempt and others to mean harm, up to semi-detailed); Stealing (with some guilt and trying to reason that it was justified as the person lied to him); Rescuing someone who was pushed into the water (pushed with the intent to drown the person, up to semi-detailed); Seeing others held at knife-point, injured, in pain, & bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Being attacked by snakes, spiders, burning fireflies, and wolves & seeing others bitten or almost bitten by them (up to semi-detailed); Snooping through others’ belongings (with some guilt); A nightmare of a snake attack and being bitten (up to semi-detailed); A bit of jealousy; Finn says he has to save his sister (from harm or death) so he can kill her himself (not literally); Finn steals a desert and a drink from food carts; Finn and his best friend bet on a coin about being able to do something (gambling); Going to a tavern (for stealing and for information, no drinking by a main character); Finn thinks about when he and his best friend swindled a man who swindled them and how proud they were of that, but doesn’t want to share it with others “for some reason”; Finn recalls stealing out of necessity, but also when he was bored, liked the thrill of it, or didn’t like the look of someone (he notes that he doesn’t want to be that person who would steal from others anymore and feels guilt over it); Finn feels more invigorated when there’s a “simmer of revenge” in him; A boy says a man who was interested in his mother would roughen him up and told him to either runaway or he will be harmed; Many mentions of thieves, pickpockets, stealing (including stealing to survive), & stolen items; Mentions of deaths & a massacre/fire (including of parents and a brother); Mentions of possible and near drownings; Mentions of gangs, violence, & threats; Mentions of fights/fighting, weapons, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of gambling, betting, & cons (with Finn and his best friend would do to others to survive); Mentions of taverns & alcohol-like drinks; Mentions of animal/insect abuse (a fictional butterfly-like creature that some will kill while extracting gold from its wings); Mentions of venomous spiders and snakes & poisons (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of deceit/deception; A couple mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of fart jokes (and a boy saying he loves them); A couple mentions of animal bones & something eating them; A mention of a possible serial killer; A mention of kidnappers; A mention of a lie about a mother threatening to cut off her son’s hands (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of rotting food smelling like death; A mention of a tattoo;
*Note: Finn and his sister, Lydia, do not know what happened to their mother (she left when they were little & they wonder if she’s still out there and could find her; Finn imagines that their mother was hiding them from their father or that their mother was “a terrible person who took them from” their father; Finn wonders if he did something wrong and that’s why their mother left, but doesn’t know why she would leave Lydia who was just a baby then); Finn and Lydia kiss their fingers and touch a flag to show their loyalty to a public figure.
Sexual Content- Finn asks his sister is she has a crush on an older boy (she says she does not).
-Finn, age 12
P.O.V. of Finn
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Two Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
This was a wild card book for me—I haven’t read any of the author’s other books (this is her debut middle-grade book) and I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea. I definitely was lost at times but overall, it was an…interesting plot. I think it had decent potential, but there definitely were some plot-holes and parts that didn’t make sense to me; I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or just missing some more needed details or a combination of both. It took me a while to get into this story because of the lack of explanation about different elements of the setting and the world. The main character doesn’t really know what is going on either, so at least I wasn’t alone, but it didn’t help my confusion any.
There are very, very subtle faith content elements—almost like having a very light allegory to the plot. A teenaged character is a type of guide and has implications of being like Jesus, but I would have preferred it to be more obvious. It’s more of a Light vs Darkness kind of storyline than I would say being an actual allegory.
As I found plot-holes and parts of the book confusing, it’s difficult for me to give ratings to the usual age groups I usually share ratings for. The ratings listed above are more due to content and age-appropriateness with some intense and scary scenes than an actual recommendation of a book I enjoyed. I think other readers may enjoy this book more than I did, but it’s not one I’m going to personally recommend.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook Multnomah) for this honest review.
About this book:
“A band of misfits seek to fight the darkness that's slowly overcoming their kingdom—the start of a grand adventure series in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga.
The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.
There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he's brave enough to step into the light.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Lightseekers” series.
Spiritual Content- Finn asks Ehrit for help twice in his mind (like a prayer and says that if he can hear him, he needs help; *Spoilers* ); The phrase “pride goeth before a fall” is remembered; A mention of a prayer (not said towards Whom);
*Note: Before the light started to dim in this fictional world, magic was more commonplace and originally only held by royals and used for good, but as the kingdom grew darker, so did the magic and it’s mainly used by “the seftars” (the kingdom’s witches); It’s said that the king of the kingdom sought out a “great and powerful witch” to create a seed of darkness, which was planted and whoever ate the fruit of the seed could “control the darkness and use it against the light”; An important side character (Ehrit) is said to be a “Current” and it’s later said that anyone can become one, they just have to “learn how to connect to the hidden magic of the world, the underlying magic that holds everything together, and has for as long as the kingdom has existed”, how the shadows “broke the connection” and “only a few people can find it now” (Finn is told that the person would have to start by trusting that it’s still there, then learn about it, connect with it, and “eventually become a conduit of it”; Ehrit adds that those who don’t understand it think it looks like magic, but for those who have learned it, it’s a “deep kind of knowledge about how this kingdom really works” and Finn starts to believe that this hidden magic exists); Finn and his best friend call Ehrit a “guru” because he talks like one (this word is of Hinduism and Buddhism origin); Someone asks if Ehrit is a “wizard or something”, but the answer isn’t shared; Finn asks if magic is bad because he only knows of the magic that seftars use, but Ehrit says what he does has nothing in common with that kind as it comes from “a place of darkness”; *Spoilers* *Major Spoilers* ; When Finn touches someone, he can see the “forrest” inside of that person (some are lush, but others are dry; Finn later wonders if this ability is magic); Finn asks Ehrit if he can see the future or know things that are going to happen ahead of time, but Ehrit says that it’s intuition; Finn and the others are told to never eat an apple that “smells like shadows” or the shadows will “gain access to the deepest parts” of them and turn them into “something you don’t want to be”; When two people lie after swearing on the kingdom’s rulers, their voices are taken away and can only come back if they answer truthfully to the people they were trying to deceive in the first place (one person accuses that they were cursed, but another says it’s a powerful oath); Finn and the others cross a “haunted bridge” that has a red mist that tries to take their special memories (up to semi-detailed); It’s said that everyone used to have a little magic, but that back then it wasn’t considered magic but a talent; Talks about trusting someone (Ehrit); Many mentions of magic, using magic, magical places, “seftars” (witches), & their dark magic; Mentions of a magical book; Mentions of a haunted bridge with mist that tries to steal the crosser’s memories; Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of curses; A couple mentions of a book of spells; A couple mentions of wizards; A couple mentions of ghosts (as in someone looking like they saw one or being as pale as a ghost); A couple mentions of something tasting “like heaven” and a place being “heaven”; A mention of fairies & gnomes; A mention of something being said “devilishly”; A mention of being taught to worship a public figure.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘gah’, an unfinished ‘what the—‘, a ‘why the devil’, four forms of ‘dumb’, and six ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses (said, not written; including by Finn); Fictional, in-world phrases and insults (including “thank the General” and “for the love of the General”, a public figure held in respect & muttering “bogs” when shocked or disappointed); Someone is called a “pain in the rear”; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Some lying; Fighting, Being held at knife-point, Being punched, Being chased, Injuries, Pain, & Blood/Bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Blades/Knives are aimed and thrown at others (some in a rescue attempt and others to mean harm, up to semi-detailed); Stealing (with some guilt and trying to reason that it was justified as the person lied to him); Rescuing someone who was pushed into the water (pushed with the intent to drown the person, up to semi-detailed); Seeing others held at knife-point, injured, in pain, & bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Being attacked by snakes, spiders, burning fireflies, and wolves & seeing others bitten or almost bitten by them (up to semi-detailed); Snooping through others’ belongings (with some guilt); A nightmare of a snake attack and being bitten (up to semi-detailed); A bit of jealousy; Finn says he has to save his sister (from harm or death) so he can kill her himself (not literally); Finn steals a desert and a drink from food carts; Finn and his best friend bet on a coin about being able to do something (gambling); Going to a tavern (for stealing and for information, no drinking by a main character); Finn thinks about when he and his best friend swindled a man who swindled them and how proud they were of that, but doesn’t want to share it with others “for some reason”; Finn recalls stealing out of necessity, but also when he was bored, liked the thrill of it, or didn’t like the look of someone (he notes that he doesn’t want to be that person who would steal from others anymore and feels guilt over it); Finn feels more invigorated when there’s a “simmer of revenge” in him; A boy says a man who was interested in his mother would roughen him up and told him to either runaway or he will be harmed; Many mentions of thieves, pickpockets, stealing (including stealing to survive), & stolen items; Mentions of deaths & a massacre/fire (including of parents and a brother); Mentions of possible and near drownings; Mentions of gangs, violence, & threats; Mentions of fights/fighting, weapons, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of gambling, betting, & cons (with Finn and his best friend would do to others to survive); Mentions of taverns & alcohol-like drinks; Mentions of animal/insect abuse (a fictional butterfly-like creature that some will kill while extracting gold from its wings); Mentions of venomous spiders and snakes & poisons (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of deceit/deception; A couple mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of fart jokes (and a boy saying he loves them); A couple mentions of animal bones & something eating them; A mention of a possible serial killer; A mention of kidnappers; A mention of a lie about a mother threatening to cut off her son’s hands (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of rotting food smelling like death; A mention of a tattoo;
*Note: Finn and his sister, Lydia, do not know what happened to their mother (she left when they were little & they wonder if she’s still out there and could find her; Finn imagines that their mother was hiding them from their father or that their mother was “a terrible person who took them from” their father; Finn wonders if he did something wrong and that’s why their mother left, but doesn’t know why she would leave Lydia who was just a baby then); Finn and Lydia kiss their fingers and touch a flag to show their loyalty to a public figure.
Sexual Content- Finn asks his sister is she has a crush on an older boy (she says she does not).
-Finn, age 12
P.O.V. of Finn
320 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Two Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
This was a wild card book for me—I haven’t read any of the author’s other books (this is her debut middle-grade book) and I wasn’t sure if it would be my cup of tea. I definitely was lost at times but overall, it was an…interesting plot. I think it had decent potential, but there definitely were some plot-holes and parts that didn’t make sense to me; I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or just missing some more needed details or a combination of both. It took me a while to get into this story because of the lack of explanation about different elements of the setting and the world. The main character doesn’t really know what is going on either, so at least I wasn’t alone, but it didn’t help my confusion any.
There are very, very subtle faith content elements—almost like having a very light allegory to the plot. A teenaged character is a type of guide and has implications of being like Jesus, but I would have preferred it to be more obvious. It’s more of a Light vs Darkness kind of storyline than I would say being an actual allegory.
As I found plot-holes and parts of the book confusing, it’s difficult for me to give ratings to the usual age groups I usually share ratings for. The ratings listed above are more due to content and age-appropriateness with some intense and scary scenes than an actual recommendation of a book I enjoyed. I think other readers may enjoy this book more than I did, but it’s not one I’m going to personally recommend.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook Multnomah) for this honest review.
![Profile Image for emily ྀིྀི ✞ || [fallon's vrs].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1772751311i%2F182352191._UY200_CR10%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Want to read
September 9, 2025If Emily Bain Murphy writes it, I want to read it. plain and simple
November 30, 2025
I first stumbled across this book on NetGalley and was immediately drawn in by the cover. Then I knew I had to read it when the author's site described this middle grade novel as "in the tradition of the Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather series."
The first line was SO good and pulled me in immediately. This group, comprised of a few hopefuls, some runaways, and a mysterious, kind leader are traveling to find a way to bring light back to a kingdom that is being overcome by darkness.
I absolutely loved this and cannot wait for its release, as well as further books in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy!
The first line was SO good and pulled me in immediately. This group, comprised of a few hopefuls, some runaways, and a mysterious, kind leader are traveling to find a way to bring light back to a kingdom that is being overcome by darkness.
I absolutely loved this and cannot wait for its release, as well as further books in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy!
September 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing | WaterBrook for this ARC!
I have been reading a couple of chapters of this with my son (9) over the last few days. Last night we really got into it and ended up basically finishing the book. He really enjoyed this story and so did I to be honest!
The main characters are all children and my son really enjoyed their adventure to fix the dying light of the Kingdom of Wildfel. The book perhaps would suit older children more - maybe 10-12 plus - due to some of the language used, multiple characters in any one scene, and more complicated storylines than standard. However, my son is used to reading older style books so he coped just fine. I did need to remind him who was who a few times though so that might be the same for other children but it was still a good fun read!
This light vs darkness aspect of the book was quite a unique concept that my son had not read before so he enjoyed that. He also really liked Mops and her broom. He said he could see her character really clearly in his head.
The world building was interesting and the plot was engaging. Can only recommend to anyone with children!
Thanks for reading!
I have been reading a couple of chapters of this with my son (9) over the last few days. Last night we really got into it and ended up basically finishing the book. He really enjoyed this story and so did I to be honest!
The main characters are all children and my son really enjoyed their adventure to fix the dying light of the Kingdom of Wildfel. The book perhaps would suit older children more - maybe 10-12 plus - due to some of the language used, multiple characters in any one scene, and more complicated storylines than standard. However, my son is used to reading older style books so he coped just fine. I did need to remind him who was who a few times though so that might be the same for other children but it was still a good fun read!
This light vs darkness aspect of the book was quite a unique concept that my son had not read before so he enjoyed that. He also really liked Mops and her broom. He said he could see her character really clearly in his head.
The world building was interesting and the plot was engaging. Can only recommend to anyone with children!
Thanks for reading!
![Profile Image for ezra [semi ia].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1761881301i%2F177253884._UX200_CR0%2C17%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 12, 2025
‧₊˚⊹꒰ “𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫“ ꒰‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
okay, first off i was a bit scared that this book wasn’t going to deliverer the ‘similar to wingfeather saga,’ promise in the description well enough for my standards… since wingfeather is pretty much the peak and most original middle grade book that i’ve read—but it certainly did!
i literally had a similar vibe while reading this book, so fans of wingfeather… PICK THIS UP!!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
setting that aside, the book itself was pretty good. not my absolute favorite, but good.
although it felt a little dark at times, the author handled it really well, making sure it that the topics wouldn’t weigh the reader down.
a little BTS; i wouldn’t usually comment on this, but since this is a middle grade novel, thought I might touch on the topic…
i mean, the book itself is literally called, ‘kingdom of shadows,’ and it’s all about the darkness slowly chasing away the light. but setting that aside, the author handled the themes extremely well, weaving everything in the story so nicely and seamlessly i often felt like i was immersed in the world myself, expierincing the events right along with the characters.
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
okay we’re kind of veering a little bit off here to talk about the characters:)
finn was quite literally the best, and I LOVED his character arc! his growth as a character was so realistic in my opinion, and at one point i had to sit back and say, “wow. he’s grown A LOT.”
pretty crazy experience, but yeah.
and also he reminded me soo much of janner it was almost nostalgic! loved him!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
to wrap this up, the book was alright. I found myself growing bored at times and unfocused… but at other times I was completely gripped in a scene. it probably has something to do with the fact that I just finished a five star book that surprised me soo many times.
that being said, this book truly was original. the world was really well-thought out, and I feel like many christians—and non-christians—will enjoy this book!!
hope you guys will enjoy this as much as I did!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐦𝐬. 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐑𝐂! 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
okay, first off i was a bit scared that this book wasn’t going to deliverer the ‘similar to wingfeather saga,’ promise in the description well enough for my standards… since wingfeather is pretty much the peak and most original middle grade book that i’ve read—but it certainly did!
i literally had a similar vibe while reading this book, so fans of wingfeather… PICK THIS UP!!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
setting that aside, the book itself was pretty good. not my absolute favorite, but good.
although it felt a little dark at times, the author handled it really well, making sure it that the topics wouldn’t weigh the reader down.
a little BTS; i wouldn’t usually comment on this, but since this is a middle grade novel, thought I might touch on the topic…
i mean, the book itself is literally called, ‘kingdom of shadows,’ and it’s all about the darkness slowly chasing away the light. but setting that aside, the author handled the themes extremely well, weaving everything in the story so nicely and seamlessly i often felt like i was immersed in the world myself, expierincing the events right along with the characters.
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
okay we’re kind of veering a little bit off here to talk about the characters:)
finn was quite literally the best, and I LOVED his character arc! his growth as a character was so realistic in my opinion, and at one point i had to sit back and say, “wow. he’s grown A LOT.”
pretty crazy experience, but yeah.
and also he reminded me soo much of janner it was almost nostalgic! loved him!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
to wrap this up, the book was alright. I found myself growing bored at times and unfocused… but at other times I was completely gripped in a scene. it probably has something to do with the fact that I just finished a five star book that surprised me soo many times.
that being said, this book truly was original. the world was really well-thought out, and I feel like many christians—and non-christians—will enjoy this book!!
hope you guys will enjoy this as much as I did!
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐦𝐬. 𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐑𝐂! 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧.
March 3, 2026
4.5 stars
Thank you to PRH Audio for the advance audio copy.
This book was pitched as being in the vein of Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga and that felt very accurate. It had the vibes of a classic and strong themes of finding light in the darkness. The setting was very atmospheric with really beautiful world building elements.
The narrator was excellent and felt like a narrator for a Narnia audiobook. He captured all the different voices and the legend vibes very well.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the advance audio copy.
This book was pitched as being in the vein of Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga and that felt very accurate. It had the vibes of a classic and strong themes of finding light in the darkness. The setting was very atmospheric with really beautiful world building elements.
The narrator was excellent and felt like a narrator for a Narnia audiobook. He captured all the different voices and the legend vibes very well.
October 6, 2025
I knew I had to read this series when I saw it pitched as the Chronicles of Narnia meets The Wingfeather Saga. It was a beautiful story with a fun and lovely cast. Although the fantastical plot centered around a war between light and darkness is very thematically obvious, the themes remain timeless and the final chapters made me cry. It also makes me happy that high fantasy middle grade like this is still being written but with a fresh voice. I'm looking forward to seeing where Murphy takes the rest of the trilogy!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing | WaterBrook for the ARC!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing | WaterBrook for the ARC!
October 31, 2025
The story begins with Finn, a young thief living in the Bells. Orphaned and alone, save for his younger sister, Lydia, and his best friend Adrion, Finn dreams of a life where he no longer has to steal for food or hide away from bullies. And in a world surrendering to darkness, a home where light is abundant and never-ending. One day the three meet a mysterious stranger, a young man named Ehrit, who offers them friendship and an adventure: a journey to the lake of light and a mission to break the curse of darkness.
A Kingdom of Shadows flows like other Christian fiction fantasies, such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Middle Earth series. The familiarity of it, combined with the story's own unique qualities makes for a wonderful, cozy adventure that readers of all ages are certain to enjoy.
Some of the things I liked:
1. Finn's gift to see a person's inner forest, understood to be a reflection of their spirit. Loved how he came to recognize this connection and see how his own inner forest (his spirit) was growing stronger and changing for the better as the story unfolded.
2. the clever and well-placed Christian symbolism, some obvious and others more subtle, allowing the audience to make the connections for themselves. Each felt like a little gift tucked in the pages.
3. Murphy's characters are well-written and complex. They have personality, emotion, and individual histories that add depth to each character. This creates a level of connection and relatability that some stories lack, and it truly makes a difference.
There were a few areas that felt slow or were harder to stick with, but I'll just acknowledge that I'm not the intended reading age (though I enjoy a good middle-grade fiction) and leave it at that.
I truly enjoyed getting to read through this story. Looking forward to future additions to the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an arc of this book!
A Kingdom of Shadows flows like other Christian fiction fantasies, such as The Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Middle Earth series. The familiarity of it, combined with the story's own unique qualities makes for a wonderful, cozy adventure that readers of all ages are certain to enjoy.
Some of the things I liked:
1. Finn's gift to see a person's inner forest, understood to be a reflection of their spirit. Loved how he came to recognize this connection and see how his own inner forest (his spirit) was growing stronger and changing for the better as the story unfolded.
2. the clever and well-placed Christian symbolism, some obvious and others more subtle, allowing the audience to make the connections for themselves. Each felt like a little gift tucked in the pages.
3. Murphy's characters are well-written and complex. They have personality, emotion, and individual histories that add depth to each character. This creates a level of connection and relatability that some stories lack, and it truly makes a difference.
There were a few areas that felt slow or were harder to stick with, but I'll just acknowledge that I'm not the intended reading age (though I enjoy a good middle-grade fiction) and leave it at that.
I truly enjoyed getting to read through this story. Looking forward to future additions to the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an arc of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing | WaterBrook Children's
What a magical adventure story!
You might want to read the blurb first ☺️
In short, Finn, Lydia, and Adrion join Ehrit’s group. Together, they gather the materials needed to create the key to the Lake of Light.
As Ehrit says in this book:
"There's still danger in the world. It will come to you regardless of which path you choose.”
Their journey is not always smooth; they face many challenges, including dangerous yet breathtaking terrains, powerful enemies, betrayal, occasional disagreements, and more.
I enjoyed how the magic system and the kingdom’s conflict fit well into the story.
I liked all the characters. They behave like children their age, which makes their interactions feel natural. Of course, each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes they made me feel annoyed but also sympathetic toward them.
I also liked Finn’s character development, as he eventually chooses to follow his heart and becomes a better person.
One thing I learned from this book is that even in the hardest times, as long as you have trust, courage, knowledge, and humility, you can face and get through them. Believe that happiness is waiting for you in the future.
What a magical adventure story!
You might want to read the blurb first ☺️
In short, Finn, Lydia, and Adrion join Ehrit’s group. Together, they gather the materials needed to create the key to the Lake of Light.
As Ehrit says in this book:
"There's still danger in the world. It will come to you regardless of which path you choose.”
Their journey is not always smooth; they face many challenges, including dangerous yet breathtaking terrains, powerful enemies, betrayal, occasional disagreements, and more.
I enjoyed how the magic system and the kingdom’s conflict fit well into the story.
I liked all the characters. They behave like children their age, which makes their interactions feel natural. Of course, each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes they made me feel annoyed but also sympathetic toward them.
I also liked Finn’s character development, as he eventually chooses to follow his heart and becomes a better person.
One thing I learned from this book is that even in the hardest times, as long as you have trust, courage, knowledge, and humility, you can face and get through them. Believe that happiness is waiting for you in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Emily Bain Murphy presents a compelling magical canvas in the kingdom of Windfel, no less wonderous for the encroaching shadows dimming its vibrancy. In this world, we meet Finn, an orphan doing what it takes to survive and care for his younger sister Lydia—even when that means thieving. Finn and his best friend and partner-in-crime Adrion have plans to decamp from their hometown to make a fresh start in a new place, but those plans are derailed when they cross paths with a mysterious older boy, Ehrit, who invites them on a quest to find the mythical Lake of Light, which just might be the key to pushing back the shadow once and for all.
Finn is delightfully well characterized. The hard circumstances of orphaned life have pushed him into thieving, for which he has mixed feelings—he justifies theft as survival, but when he’s being honest with himself, he recognizes that sometimes he steals for the thrill of it, too. Finn is fiercely loyal both to his little sister, for whom he has been the sole caretaker, and his best friend, who has been a lifeline in a hard world. But, when confronted with the new path Ehrit presents, Lydia and Adrion pull in different directions (Lydia toward Ehrit, Adrion away), forcing Finn to decide whom he will follow and who he wants to be. Plus, I loved Finn’s intuitive visualization of the state of souls (his own, Lydia’s, and as the book progresses, others’, as well) through the imagery of a forest—either lush and green or desiccated and dying.
The others in the traveling band are, a bit unfortunately, less well characterized. Lydia is innocent faith; Adrion, a self-interested cynic; Mops is a young adventurer; Sella, quiet strength. Perry, who joins later, seems primarily to be a somewhat clumsy skittish prop for the foil of Adrion’s suspicion and Ehrit’s trust. That said, even though we generally only see a single side of most characters, there are glimpses of additional facets to their personalities here and there, such as moments of tenderness from Adrion. Moreover, despite the relatively thin characterization of each traveler on their own, they complement and play off of one another to create a satisfyingly rich group dynamic.
Ehrit is perhaps the most frustratingly characterized: In the beginning, he comes across as simply an unrealistically saintly “guru,” as Adrion derisively labels him. I desperately wanted Ehrit to show some dynamic range in his personality, rather than the unflappable calm that felt so impersonal. But, if you stick with it, as Finn learns to trust Ehrit, you discover Ehrit’s profound groundedness, goodness, and wisdom. As such, Murphy brings the reader along on the same ride as Finn in developing a relationship with Ehrit.
Indeed, trust is a dominant theme in the novel—not only trust of Ehrit, but trust of other members of the band, trust of political figures, and even trust of all one has believed about the world. Who is trustworthy and whom will Finn trust are major sources of tension and suspense that drive the novel forward, even to the final page.
The plot moves along at a good clip through most of the book, with ever shifting tensions and suspense keeping reader interest high as the travelers have to change course and overcome unforeseen obstacles to reach their destination. In addition to tensions within the group and within Finn himself, soldiers, evil magic-wielding seftars, and even the shadow-infested environment yield a dynamic web of motivations, goals, and challenges to keep everyone on their toes throughout.
The marketing copy invoking both the Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga sets high expectations for A Kingdom of Shadows, but I do believe Emily Bain Murphy has actually done it: The novel blends the magical wonder and allegory of Narnia with the adventure and strong character arc of the Wingfeather Saga in an exciting and moving first installment of a new epic. I eagerly await the next!
Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Finn is delightfully well characterized. The hard circumstances of orphaned life have pushed him into thieving, for which he has mixed feelings—he justifies theft as survival, but when he’s being honest with himself, he recognizes that sometimes he steals for the thrill of it, too. Finn is fiercely loyal both to his little sister, for whom he has been the sole caretaker, and his best friend, who has been a lifeline in a hard world. But, when confronted with the new path Ehrit presents, Lydia and Adrion pull in different directions (Lydia toward Ehrit, Adrion away), forcing Finn to decide whom he will follow and who he wants to be. Plus, I loved Finn’s intuitive visualization of the state of souls (his own, Lydia’s, and as the book progresses, others’, as well) through the imagery of a forest—either lush and green or desiccated and dying.
The others in the traveling band are, a bit unfortunately, less well characterized. Lydia is innocent faith; Adrion, a self-interested cynic; Mops is a young adventurer; Sella, quiet strength. Perry, who joins later, seems primarily to be a somewhat clumsy skittish prop for the foil of Adrion’s suspicion and Ehrit’s trust. That said, even though we generally only see a single side of most characters, there are glimpses of additional facets to their personalities here and there, such as moments of tenderness from Adrion. Moreover, despite the relatively thin characterization of each traveler on their own, they complement and play off of one another to create a satisfyingly rich group dynamic.
Ehrit is perhaps the most frustratingly characterized: In the beginning, he comes across as simply an unrealistically saintly “guru,” as Adrion derisively labels him. I desperately wanted Ehrit to show some dynamic range in his personality, rather than the unflappable calm that felt so impersonal. But, if you stick with it, as Finn learns to trust Ehrit, you discover Ehrit’s profound groundedness, goodness, and wisdom. As such, Murphy brings the reader along on the same ride as Finn in developing a relationship with Ehrit.
Indeed, trust is a dominant theme in the novel—not only trust of Ehrit, but trust of other members of the band, trust of political figures, and even trust of all one has believed about the world. Who is trustworthy and whom will Finn trust are major sources of tension and suspense that drive the novel forward, even to the final page.
The plot moves along at a good clip through most of the book, with ever shifting tensions and suspense keeping reader interest high as the travelers have to change course and overcome unforeseen obstacles to reach their destination. In addition to tensions within the group and within Finn himself, soldiers, evil magic-wielding seftars, and even the shadow-infested environment yield a dynamic web of motivations, goals, and challenges to keep everyone on their toes throughout.
The marketing copy invoking both the Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga sets high expectations for A Kingdom of Shadows, but I do believe Emily Bain Murphy has actually done it: The novel blends the magical wonder and allegory of Narnia with the adventure and strong character arc of the Wingfeather Saga in an exciting and moving first installment of a new epic. I eagerly await the next!
Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
December 3, 2025
3.5 stars
this is not the first book I have read by Emily Bain Murphy, so I am familiar with her style.
There were times when reading this book that I was trying to understand what was going on, the purpose of the journey that was being taken, and to learn the words that were new terms. It wasn't too much at once, but it did take me a little bit of time.
Finn and his sister Lydia were abandoned by their mother (they don't see it as such) when they were quite small. They were left with a woman who raised them until she left them to care for themselves (also still quite small).
Wildfel is a place filled with darkness (just a little bit of light here and there), especially in the Bells, the place where Finna and Lydia live. There are insect type of lights used called Auerflies (different than lightning bugs/fireflies - which are also in this book at one point). Finn and his best friend Adrion are used to stealing them and selling them for money and survival. They want to get out of the Bells and see what is outside of the city. This puts them on a journey to explore more of Wildfel.
There is also a king and a general that are talked about throughout this book. The king has taken away the light and is the enemy of the people. The general was once close to the king and wants to protect the people and be able to bring the light back. This is what they have been taught their whole lives.
There are also seftars, vidkins, and other creatures mentioned throughout this book (this is what I had to try to learn more about as I read it). I think it would have been better if these things were described a little more than how they were.
Finn, Adrion, and Lydia end up meeting another who is a teenager on a similar mission, named Ehrit. They end up going on a journey with a couple other people too (and later even others). This book talks a lot about trust, understanding, trying to figure out the truth. Ehrit seems to be a guide and a bit like Jesus, from what I can gather, as this is written with a Christian understanding (kind of like Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia).
The journey is to find the Lake of Light, which is talked about in terms of legends. Finn and Lydia also want to see if it is possible to find their mother too, or at least learn more about her.
Finn has this one ability where he can "see people's forests" within them. To me, that came out of nowhere, though it was nice to learn about.
The coolest part of the journey was about a weird spider and what their webs and bites are like and what they do to you. I feel like in these adventure stories, there is always some spider in them, but at least this has a unique take on it. I found it creative and exciting.
The book was not bad at all, but I wanted to be taken in more heavily into it. The descriptions just could have been a little better at times to make me enjoy it, but the book wasn't that long, and maybe in a way, it should have been.
The way the book ended was really good and definitely prepares for the second book, which I do hope to read when that comes out (granted I am writing this review months before this book, the first book, actually comes out too). Oh yeah, so I am reviewing this as the publisher has sent it to me, which I read on my tablet/Nook. It was a really great book to get access to, and I am sorry I didn't embrace it more. I hope to love the second book.
This was a sentence I enjoyed reading in the book. It's not crazy, but I did like it and wrote it down.
"The weight of those instructions hit Finn. He had no idea how to keep the others safe. He wasn't a leader. But he didn't have time to second-guess himself. He plunged into the forest, his footsteps instantly muffled by pine needles."
this is not the first book I have read by Emily Bain Murphy, so I am familiar with her style.
There were times when reading this book that I was trying to understand what was going on, the purpose of the journey that was being taken, and to learn the words that were new terms. It wasn't too much at once, but it did take me a little bit of time.
Finn and his sister Lydia were abandoned by their mother (they don't see it as such) when they were quite small. They were left with a woman who raised them until she left them to care for themselves (also still quite small).
Wildfel is a place filled with darkness (just a little bit of light here and there), especially in the Bells, the place where Finna and Lydia live. There are insect type of lights used called Auerflies (different than lightning bugs/fireflies - which are also in this book at one point). Finn and his best friend Adrion are used to stealing them and selling them for money and survival. They want to get out of the Bells and see what is outside of the city. This puts them on a journey to explore more of Wildfel.
There is also a king and a general that are talked about throughout this book. The king has taken away the light and is the enemy of the people. The general was once close to the king and wants to protect the people and be able to bring the light back. This is what they have been taught their whole lives.
There are also seftars, vidkins, and other creatures mentioned throughout this book (this is what I had to try to learn more about as I read it). I think it would have been better if these things were described a little more than how they were.
Finn, Adrion, and Lydia end up meeting another who is a teenager on a similar mission, named Ehrit. They end up going on a journey with a couple other people too (and later even others). This book talks a lot about trust, understanding, trying to figure out the truth. Ehrit seems to be a guide and a bit like Jesus, from what I can gather, as this is written with a Christian understanding (kind of like Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia).
The journey is to find the Lake of Light, which is talked about in terms of legends. Finn and Lydia also want to see if it is possible to find their mother too, or at least learn more about her.
Finn has this one ability where he can "see people's forests" within them. To me, that came out of nowhere, though it was nice to learn about.
The coolest part of the journey was about a weird spider and what their webs and bites are like and what they do to you. I feel like in these adventure stories, there is always some spider in them, but at least this has a unique take on it. I found it creative and exciting.
The book was not bad at all, but I wanted to be taken in more heavily into it. The descriptions just could have been a little better at times to make me enjoy it, but the book wasn't that long, and maybe in a way, it should have been.
The way the book ended was really good and definitely prepares for the second book, which I do hope to read when that comes out (granted I am writing this review months before this book, the first book, actually comes out too). Oh yeah, so I am reviewing this as the publisher has sent it to me, which I read on my tablet/Nook. It was a really great book to get access to, and I am sorry I didn't embrace it more. I hope to love the second book.
This was a sentence I enjoyed reading in the book. It's not crazy, but I did like it and wrote it down.
"The weight of those instructions hit Finn. He had no idea how to keep the others safe. He wasn't a leader. But he didn't have time to second-guess himself. He plunged into the forest, his footsteps instantly muffled by pine needles."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first Christian fiction children's book in AGES! And boy am I glad I decided to pick it up when I saw it up for review via Netgalley (opinions are true and my own). It is a heart changing beautiful adventure.
Themes of good versus evil, character growth, trust, sibling love, and friendship take center stage artfully.
This was definitely on account of the fact that younger readers would be participating in reading this but world building and descriptions are beautifully described without being complicated or hard to grasp. Which is sometimes not the case with fantasy adventure books. I really appreciated that.
I do not usually enjoy books written with only one character's perspective as I like to know what the other characters participating in the story think. However, I really enjoyed that this was written in Single POV. It helped to add to the mystery of the story because apart from the one POV character you truly have no idea who to fully trust and how things could possibly work out. That definitely kept me turning the pages.
The book is also written in a way that draws you into each scene. Feels like you are actually witnessing it. Makes the heart race slightly (enough to give excitement but not terrorise) during dangerous scenes, and fills you with warmth during gentle ones. I loved that about this story.
There are spiders, snakes, wolves etc as this is an adventure through danger so if those things might be heavily unsettling to you, please go in knowing you will run into them as part of the story. They are however not written in a way that would give nightmares but then again I suppose this is subjective? I personally was not feeling deathly chilled and unsettled as I read these scenes.
"Sometimes the worst things that happen to us are the things that, in the end, change us for the better. So tell me, when that happens-are they still the worst things?" It is a story layered with wisdom that's easy to digest and life lessons taught in an interesting way. I felt so edified as I journeyed with these cuties. Loved that.
As to Christian themes, they are underlying as opposed to being openly obvious. This is lovely in its own way because it allows for the readers to read in between the lines and infer. I will always give points to writing that believes in the reader's mental ability.
While journeying through this book you feel invested and cheer on for the very humongous important quest that these teens and preteens are on. With all my 30 plus years of age I'm genuinely looking forward to book 2. It's a wonderful story that reminds you of the important things while taking you on a largely unpredictable adventure!
Themes of good versus evil, character growth, trust, sibling love, and friendship take center stage artfully.
This was definitely on account of the fact that younger readers would be participating in reading this but world building and descriptions are beautifully described without being complicated or hard to grasp. Which is sometimes not the case with fantasy adventure books. I really appreciated that.
I do not usually enjoy books written with only one character's perspective as I like to know what the other characters participating in the story think. However, I really enjoyed that this was written in Single POV. It helped to add to the mystery of the story because apart from the one POV character you truly have no idea who to fully trust and how things could possibly work out. That definitely kept me turning the pages.
The book is also written in a way that draws you into each scene. Feels like you are actually witnessing it. Makes the heart race slightly (enough to give excitement but not terrorise) during dangerous scenes, and fills you with warmth during gentle ones. I loved that about this story.
There are spiders, snakes, wolves etc as this is an adventure through danger so if those things might be heavily unsettling to you, please go in knowing you will run into them as part of the story. They are however not written in a way that would give nightmares but then again I suppose this is subjective? I personally was not feeling deathly chilled and unsettled as I read these scenes.
"Sometimes the worst things that happen to us are the things that, in the end, change us for the better. So tell me, when that happens-are they still the worst things?" It is a story layered with wisdom that's easy to digest and life lessons taught in an interesting way. I felt so edified as I journeyed with these cuties. Loved that.
As to Christian themes, they are underlying as opposed to being openly obvious. This is lovely in its own way because it allows for the readers to read in between the lines and infer. I will always give points to writing that believes in the reader's mental ability.
While journeying through this book you feel invested and cheer on for the very humongous important quest that these teens and preteens are on. With all my 30 plus years of age I'm genuinely looking forward to book 2. It's a wonderful story that reminds you of the important things while taking you on a largely unpredictable adventure!
March 3, 2026
This children's fantasy novel lives up to its name....it is a story full of light and shadows.
The Kingdom Wildfel is a place where creeping shadows rule, blocking out life giving sunlight and it is only getting worse day by day ever since the Great Betrayal.
Each year, the auerflies come in droves, drawn to any light source, bearing pure molten veins of gold in their wings. Capture enough and you could be rich.
Lydia & Finn are orphans. Finn and his best friend Adrion are master thieves, making a living off pickpocketing strangers in their town of Bells. Tonight promises to be their best pickings ever. If they make enough, they can get out of Bells and go elsewhere safer.
At this juncture, they come across a well dressed, confident young boy completely at ease in a strange town in the gloom, unafraid and almost carelessly insouciant.
The boys decide he is their next target, but as it transpires, he is not an easy mark. They find themselves coming under his spell and his invitation to join him on his travels.
Who is Ehrit? Is he on the side of good or the bad? Why does he capture their attention so? Join Ehrit, Finn, Adrion, Lydia and others on their thrilling, hair raising adventures to the mythical (?) Lake of Light. Ehrit says it exists, the children and others disbelieve him, but they join him all the same, seeking the Light, seeking to become children of light.
Emily Bain Murphy has penned a beautifully allegorical fantasy of good vs evil, Christ & his followers vs Satan & his emissaries. With unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you on your toes, until the final, completely unexpected reveal. Fans of Narnia will love this book. For children aged 8-12, but also for adults lovers of Christian fantasy.
I received an ARC copy from the publisher via @Netgalley, but these opinions are my own.
The Kingdom Wildfel is a place where creeping shadows rule, blocking out life giving sunlight and it is only getting worse day by day ever since the Great Betrayal.
Each year, the auerflies come in droves, drawn to any light source, bearing pure molten veins of gold in their wings. Capture enough and you could be rich.
Lydia & Finn are orphans. Finn and his best friend Adrion are master thieves, making a living off pickpocketing strangers in their town of Bells. Tonight promises to be their best pickings ever. If they make enough, they can get out of Bells and go elsewhere safer.
At this juncture, they come across a well dressed, confident young boy completely at ease in a strange town in the gloom, unafraid and almost carelessly insouciant.
The boys decide he is their next target, but as it transpires, he is not an easy mark. They find themselves coming under his spell and his invitation to join him on his travels.
Who is Ehrit? Is he on the side of good or the bad? Why does he capture their attention so? Join Ehrit, Finn, Adrion, Lydia and others on their thrilling, hair raising adventures to the mythical (?) Lake of Light. Ehrit says it exists, the children and others disbelieve him, but they join him all the same, seeking the Light, seeking to become children of light.
Emily Bain Murphy has penned a beautifully allegorical fantasy of good vs evil, Christ & his followers vs Satan & his emissaries. With unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you on your toes, until the final, completely unexpected reveal. Fans of Narnia will love this book. For children aged 8-12, but also for adults lovers of Christian fantasy.
I received an ARC copy from the publisher via @Netgalley, but these opinions are my own.
March 5, 2026
Light is precious. Especially in a world where shadows and darkness are getting stronger and longer. In Emily Bain Murphy’s book, “The Kingdom of Shadows” the first book in her “Lightseekers” series, twelve year-old Finn and his ten year-old sister Lydia live a hand to mouth existence in the town of Bells. They, together with Finn’s best friend Adrion, want to leave Bells to find a better life and have made a plan that starts with catching as many of the rare breed of auerflies as possible. Then they meet Ehril. He invites them to join him in an adventure to find the Lake of Light. The journey will be hard and perilous, but the reward of light will be worth it. Follow these children as they travel through many challenges, do some self discovery and figure out who to trust.
I enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Murphy has crafted a story that grabbed my attention and kept it engaged to the end. As one reads, one realizes the light and the encroaching darkness is an allegory to good and a creeping evil. The children encounter many different characters. Some seem trustworthy and turn out not to be. Others have a rough outward appearance and inside have a heart of gold. These are lessons that we all can learn from, the most important being that what is on the surface isn’t necessarily what is underneath it. Trust is a thing that is built over time and experience and can’t be hurried. All of these are very subtle lessons. I eagerly await the next installment in this series. This is a great adventure story that will appeal to late elementary and middle schoolers.
I wish to thank Penguin Random House Christian Publishing for the eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#AKingdomOfShadows
#PenguinRandomHouseChristianPublishing
#NetGalley
#ChildrensFiction
#Lightseekers
I enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Murphy has crafted a story that grabbed my attention and kept it engaged to the end. As one reads, one realizes the light and the encroaching darkness is an allegory to good and a creeping evil. The children encounter many different characters. Some seem trustworthy and turn out not to be. Others have a rough outward appearance and inside have a heart of gold. These are lessons that we all can learn from, the most important being that what is on the surface isn’t necessarily what is underneath it. Trust is a thing that is built over time and experience and can’t be hurried. All of these are very subtle lessons. I eagerly await the next installment in this series. This is a great adventure story that will appeal to late elementary and middle schoolers.
I wish to thank Penguin Random House Christian Publishing for the eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#AKingdomOfShadows
#PenguinRandomHouseChristianPublishing
#NetGalley
#ChildrensFiction
#Lightseekers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
** “Fear is a greedy thing, isn’t it? It wants to make us forget about everything but itself and miss all of the things to delight in.” **
Emily Bain Murphy delivers an incredible story geared for middle grade readers, but will appeal to adults too, with “A Kingdom of Shadows.”
Since the Great Betrayal, a battle between the king and the kingdom’s general, the light in the Kingdom of Wildfel has been growing weaker over time, with darkness overtaking the world. So siblings Finn and Lydia, along with their friend Adrion, desire to leave their town and seek more light and more riches elsewhere.
Along their way, they run into the enigmatic Ehrit, who promises to reveal the Lake of Light to anyone who chooses to trust and follow him. But they keep facing trial after trial on their quest. Can their trust in Ehrit be enough? And will they find the Lake of Light and its healing powers?
Murphy creates an allegorical story reminiscent of following Jesus and the light and healing he provides. She creates intriguing worlds and scenarios, as well as characters that struggle to find their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. She also fills “A Kingdom of Shadows” with several great themes, like hurting others wounds ourselves even more; overcoming shame; the overwhelming and all-encompassing power of fear; lies can spread quicker than truth; and determining whom we can trust.
Fans of the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, The House at the Edge of Magic series by Amy Sparkes and even the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis will truly enjoy “A Kingdom of Shadows,” which is due out March 3.
Five stars out of five.
WaterBrook Children’s provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Emily Bain Murphy delivers an incredible story geared for middle grade readers, but will appeal to adults too, with “A Kingdom of Shadows.”
Since the Great Betrayal, a battle between the king and the kingdom’s general, the light in the Kingdom of Wildfel has been growing weaker over time, with darkness overtaking the world. So siblings Finn and Lydia, along with their friend Adrion, desire to leave their town and seek more light and more riches elsewhere.
Along their way, they run into the enigmatic Ehrit, who promises to reveal the Lake of Light to anyone who chooses to trust and follow him. But they keep facing trial after trial on their quest. Can their trust in Ehrit be enough? And will they find the Lake of Light and its healing powers?
Murphy creates an allegorical story reminiscent of following Jesus and the light and healing he provides. She creates intriguing worlds and scenarios, as well as characters that struggle to find their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. She also fills “A Kingdom of Shadows” with several great themes, like hurting others wounds ourselves even more; overcoming shame; the overwhelming and all-encompassing power of fear; lies can spread quicker than truth; and determining whom we can trust.
Fans of the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, The House at the Edge of Magic series by Amy Sparkes and even the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis will truly enjoy “A Kingdom of Shadows,” which is due out March 3.
Five stars out of five.
WaterBrook Children’s provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
February 6, 2026
This is the type of story I could see myself writing. The good old struggle of light vs dark, good vs evil, right vs wrong. With loveable and relatable protagonists that struggle with their choices and with trusting someone who has changed their world for the better.
This is also the type of story that I would have loved as a kid. I would have wanted to live in this world and journey right alongside the characters, just like I did for so many other stories growing up, from Narnia and the DragonKeeper Chronicles to the Door Within trilogy and Dreamhouse Kings series.
I love the world Emily has created. It’s so creative with so many fun elements. The story progresses along the lines of “the characters did this, then they did this, then they went here, and then they went there.” While that type of storytelling along with the themes of light vs dark may seem very cliche, the way Emily presents the story is done in a way that feels fresh and new. The world and the characters make it come to life in its own charming way.
This book is for middle grade readers but it can speak to any reader because Emily doesn’t shy away from hard topics in this book. The characters deal with a lot of “dark” moments, but there is always light, always hope, waiting for them on the other side of those choices. The truths woven throughout the story are deep and hit hard, weaving together with the plot in such remarkable ways. The ending left me longing to be a kid once again experiencing this kind of wide-eyed belief for the first time.
I can tell that this book (and series) is going to be some kid’s favorite story. And I can’t wait to read this book/series with my own son someday.
This is also the type of story that I would have loved as a kid. I would have wanted to live in this world and journey right alongside the characters, just like I did for so many other stories growing up, from Narnia and the DragonKeeper Chronicles to the Door Within trilogy and Dreamhouse Kings series.
I love the world Emily has created. It’s so creative with so many fun elements. The story progresses along the lines of “the characters did this, then they did this, then they went here, and then they went there.” While that type of storytelling along with the themes of light vs dark may seem very cliche, the way Emily presents the story is done in a way that feels fresh and new. The world and the characters make it come to life in its own charming way.
This book is for middle grade readers but it can speak to any reader because Emily doesn’t shy away from hard topics in this book. The characters deal with a lot of “dark” moments, but there is always light, always hope, waiting for them on the other side of those choices. The truths woven throughout the story are deep and hit hard, weaving together with the plot in such remarkable ways. The ending left me longing to be a kid once again experiencing this kind of wide-eyed belief for the first time.
I can tell that this book (and series) is going to be some kid’s favorite story. And I can’t wait to read this book/series with my own son someday.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have loved the young adult and adult books by this author and her middle grade debut did not disappoint. I look forward to reading this to my kids when they are older. Her creativity is on display in the colorful and exciting world building. There are characters to root for, twists and surprises that make you want to keep reading, and a beautiful message of hope woven throughout.
Fans of Jonathan Auxier or N.D. Wilson will enjoy this book.
Most relatable line: "I want to do something big with my life," she'd told Finn once. "Something that matters. That works for the good." Finn felt guilty when he heard that. He just wanted to be comfortable.
Favorite image: "The recollections were etched on pieces of glass and hung in thousands of wind chimes all around the bridge. They served as reminders for those who felt lost that joy was possible again. A hopeless visitor could come and take a single piece of enchanted glass and let its happiness fill them. It gave them enough to go on. Then, when their lives turned and they found joy again, they came to bring their own memory."
Thank you NetGalley and Emily Bain Murphy for the early reader's copy!
Fans of Jonathan Auxier or N.D. Wilson will enjoy this book.
Most relatable line: "I want to do something big with my life," she'd told Finn once. "Something that matters. That works for the good." Finn felt guilty when he heard that. He just wanted to be comfortable.
Favorite image: "The recollections were etched on pieces of glass and hung in thousands of wind chimes all around the bridge. They served as reminders for those who felt lost that joy was possible again. A hopeless visitor could come and take a single piece of enchanted glass and let its happiness fill them. It gave them enough to go on. Then, when their lives turned and they found joy again, they came to bring their own memory."
Thank you NetGalley and Emily Bain Murphy for the early reader's copy!
November 17, 2025
"A Kingdom of Shadows" is a middle grade, Christian fantasy. This adventure was exciting, with non-stop danger: running from a rival thief to avoiding soldiers and witches to fireflies that literally start fires and spiders that spin pure glass and whose bite can kill. The main characters were engaging. A Christ-like teenager invited several children to help him gather what's needed to make a key to open the way to the Lake of Light. He used the various trials they faced to build their trust in him, but not all of the children chose to remain as one of his followers. Finn had to decide if he'd continue living for his own gain (even if it hurt others) or join the fight for the Light. Both good and bad characters could do magic, with the witches using it to create the shadows that threaten life (less sun means less food, etc.) and the good people used magic to fight the darkness. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting adventure.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A true spiritual successor to the Chronicles of Narnia, Lightseeker Book 1: A Kingdom of Shadows, truly gave me everything I’d hoped for and more! Ringing with themes of faith and trust, this middle grade debut from Emily Bain Murphy marks the start of a modern classic that everyone should read, regardless of age!
Filled with quotes to remember that echo Biblical truth, the reader is invited alongside Finn, Lydia, and Adrion on an adventure full of danger, but on the other side is an immeasurable treasure…if they can find it.
I absolutely loved this cast of characters and the wonderful found family, with Ehrit leading the band of misfits like a kind, brave, and loyal older brother. I cannot wait to give this book to my nieces and nephews and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!
Perfect for fans of Narnia, the Wingfeather Saga, Tolkien (but make it for kids), and Ted Dekker’s Circle Trilogy!
(I received this book for free in advance from the author.)
Filled with quotes to remember that echo Biblical truth, the reader is invited alongside Finn, Lydia, and Adrion on an adventure full of danger, but on the other side is an immeasurable treasure…if they can find it.
I absolutely loved this cast of characters and the wonderful found family, with Ehrit leading the band of misfits like a kind, brave, and loyal older brother. I cannot wait to give this book to my nieces and nephews and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!
Perfect for fans of Narnia, the Wingfeather Saga, Tolkien (but make it for kids), and Ted Dekker’s Circle Trilogy!
(I received this book for free in advance from the author.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 Stars
This middle grade novel is suitable for upper middle graders who enjoyed The Wingfeather Saga (though many compare it to the Narnia series, I wouldn’t).
This story is about a group of children (boys and girls) who are trying to find the Lake of Light so they can battle the shadows that are growing darker by the day. The children have secrets of their own though they need to develop trust as they face the dangers of the Wildfel Forest - memories can be stolen; spiders spin deadly webs of glass, and more. And the creatures they meet in the forest aren’t who they seem.
The leader of the pact seemed too perfect and too secretive, but I’m not sure if this is usual in middle grade novels. As for some of the details of the dangers that awaited the children, sensitive readers may find it too scary (I myself skipped over some of those parts).
The story is well written.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
This middle grade novel is suitable for upper middle graders who enjoyed The Wingfeather Saga (though many compare it to the Narnia series, I wouldn’t).
This story is about a group of children (boys and girls) who are trying to find the Lake of Light so they can battle the shadows that are growing darker by the day. The children have secrets of their own though they need to develop trust as they face the dangers of the Wildfel Forest - memories can be stolen; spiders spin deadly webs of glass, and more. And the creatures they meet in the forest aren’t who they seem.
The leader of the pact seemed too perfect and too secretive, but I’m not sure if this is usual in middle grade novels. As for some of the details of the dangers that awaited the children, sensitive readers may find it too scary (I myself skipped over some of those parts).
The story is well written.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 15, 2025
A questing fantasy adventure.
The themes of light and dark were well done, with other biblical themes woven in as well.
I guess I expected to spend a little longer in the Bells from the cover, so I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to explore much of the canal city. Though that probably just has to do with me being a fan of that type of setting.🙂
It's clear from the places we do get to explore and the new characters we meet that Murphy has well developed the storyworld, which will likely only get further explored in future installments.
I didn't connect with the book like I was hoping to, but I've been finding that happens more and more often with middlegrade books lately. 😕
The ending ties things up nicely, while leaving plenty of room for more adventures in the series.
Cautions: brief, non-graphic violence
(I received an eARC through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
The themes of light and dark were well done, with other biblical themes woven in as well.
I guess I expected to spend a little longer in the Bells from the cover, so I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to explore much of the canal city. Though that probably just has to do with me being a fan of that type of setting.🙂
It's clear from the places we do get to explore and the new characters we meet that Murphy has well developed the storyworld, which will likely only get further explored in future installments.
I didn't connect with the book like I was hoping to, but I've been finding that happens more and more often with middlegrade books lately. 😕
The ending ties things up nicely, while leaving plenty of room for more adventures in the series.
Cautions: brief, non-graphic violence
(I received an eARC through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
October 28, 2025
I cannot even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book! I was glued to the pages from beginning to end! A Kingdom of Shadows is about a group of young misfits that find themselves working together “mostly” in search of a common item, light. This light is more than just a brightness that fills the world, but it is also magically intermingled with a feeling of joy. Although light is something that brings joy it can also be used for self-gain as we see in this story. There are those who want the world to live in a constant state of darkness and they monopolize light for both power and financial gain.
Travel along with these Lightseeker’s as they search for the lake of light and grow through each of their own internal struggles as they choose to live for the light…or the dark.
5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend this book for young readers and adults alike! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Travel along with these Lightseeker’s as they search for the lake of light and grow through each of their own internal struggles as they choose to live for the light…or the dark.
5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend this book for young readers and adults alike! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Confession: I initially read this book for its cover 😊 it’s so pretty! I don’t read a lot of middle grade fiction, but I am so glad I read this one. I definitely see why it’s compared to Narnia and the Wingfeather saga. It also made me think of the Benedict Society (though that one contains no faith content.) and the Winter King—good versus evil, children showing courage, teamwork, etc. There are Christian elements sprinkled through though those moments are subtle.
I loved the characters, and the mystery kept me turning pages. This is the first book, so there’s a lot of world and character building, and I expect the next to be even better.
Highly recommend for kids 12-adults who love an inspiring adventure story.
Content: some scary moments, child abandonment, some injuries
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley. I wasn’t required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I loved the characters, and the mystery kept me turning pages. This is the first book, so there’s a lot of world and character building, and I expect the next to be even better.
Highly recommend for kids 12-adults who love an inspiring adventure story.
Content: some scary moments, child abandonment, some injuries
Note: I received an ARC from Netgalley. I wasn’t required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a great adventure and journey A Kingdom of Shadows took me on! We get world building, character building, and all the fun fantasy and imaginative magic. Light vs Darkness is a key battle throughout this book, and it's well written! I also thought the characters seemed relatable and made decisions I felt were pretty relatable too. I could see my kids being able to relate to these characters and not feel that it was too unrealistic. It honestly gave me Narnia/Wingfeather vibes. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to any more that comes from this series. It's a great clean read for middle grades and those who enjoy Narnia, The Wingfeather Saga, adventure, and anything similar.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 16, 2025
"We're just travelers," Ehrit repeated, "trying to make our way home."
This middle-grade fantasy quest story is perfect for lovers of Narnia, The Hobbit, and the Wingfeather Saga. This cozy adventure is filled with clever Christian symbolism, in-depth world-building, and well-written characters. I would have loved this book as a kid (and I love it now as an eighteen-year-old *laughs*). I highly recommend this book and am waiting not-so-patiently for the next one!
Content warnings: some violence and wounds, but minor, dead parents (but they don't "show" them dying), and some "magic" but no spells (very much Narnia and Wingfeather Saga magic).
Note: I received this book as an eARC from the author on NetGalley.
This middle-grade fantasy quest story is perfect for lovers of Narnia, The Hobbit, and the Wingfeather Saga. This cozy adventure is filled with clever Christian symbolism, in-depth world-building, and well-written characters. I would have loved this book as a kid (and I love it now as an eighteen-year-old *laughs*). I highly recommend this book and am waiting not-so-patiently for the next one!
Content warnings: some violence and wounds, but minor, dead parents (but they don't "show" them dying), and some "magic" but no spells (very much Narnia and Wingfeather Saga magic).
Note: I received this book as an eARC from the author on NetGalley.
February 4, 2026
Note: I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley
I saw someone mention this book in a video, and the first thing that caught my attention was the author. I'd only read one other Emily Bain Murphy book before this, but I loved it and gave it five stars. The concept of this book sounded interesting enough, but I had very high hopes because of the author. My expectations were met. A Kingdom of Shadows was a heartfelt, cozy story with unique worldbuilding and great themes. The characters also had a cute dynamic. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series when it comes out.
Read my full review here: https://lyrat16.wixsite.com/read-it-a...
I saw someone mention this book in a video, and the first thing that caught my attention was the author. I'd only read one other Emily Bain Murphy book before this, but I loved it and gave it five stars. The concept of this book sounded interesting enough, but I had very high hopes because of the author. My expectations were met. A Kingdom of Shadows was a heartfelt, cozy story with unique worldbuilding and great themes. The characters also had a cute dynamic. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series when it comes out.
Read my full review here: https://lyrat16.wixsite.com/read-it-a...
March 6, 2026
I think this is the beginning of a great series.
An adventure quest, battle between light and dark (good versus evil), this book provided a little nice twist to this near the end of this first book.
A band if young people are on a quest to seek a place where there is plenty of light to overcome the dimming sun. Their adventure leads them all over the kingdom of Wildfel. As they visit each part, they experience different landscapes, customs, and foes.
It's a great middle-grade read.
Additional review here:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/...
An adventure quest, battle between light and dark (good versus evil), this book provided a little nice twist to this near the end of this first book.
A band if young people are on a quest to seek a place where there is plenty of light to overcome the dimming sun. Their adventure leads them all over the kingdom of Wildfel. As they visit each part, they experience different landscapes, customs, and foes.
It's a great middle-grade read.
Additional review here:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/bright/...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Christian Publishing | WaterBrook for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When darkness seeks to overtake their kingdom, a group of misfits anchored by siblings Finn and Lydia and newfound stranger Ehrit, embark upon the adventure of a lifetime. It's refreshing to experience such rich high fantasy for the middle grade readers.
Compared with The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga, A Kingdom of Shadows is book one of Emily Bain Murphy's Lightseekers series, one that I will be recommending to many readers.
When darkness seeks to overtake their kingdom, a group of misfits anchored by siblings Finn and Lydia and newfound stranger Ehrit, embark upon the adventure of a lifetime. It's refreshing to experience such rich high fantasy for the middle grade readers.
Compared with The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga, A Kingdom of Shadows is book one of Emily Bain Murphy's Lightseekers series, one that I will be recommending to many readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A few chapters in and I was hooked. After finishing the book, I am thoroughly invested! Also, I think I fell for Ehrit. Idk. I want to keep following this series and see how it ends, and I like that I don't really have an idea of what they will do next that I'm sold on. X)
8/10 good story. Dear author, I enjoyed your book and am looking forward to getting my own copy once I see it in stores. Can't wait to have that and hopefully more from this series! No pressure. Maybe just a little. Teehee
8/10 good story. Dear author, I enjoyed your book and am looking forward to getting my own copy once I see it in stores. Can't wait to have that and hopefully more from this series! No pressure. Maybe just a little. Teehee
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