The Unknown Realms

The Secret of the Tirthas #5

by Steve Griffin

They have the Book.

They have the Artefacts.

Now they need just one more thing – the girl with witch’s blood in her veins.

Lost through the tirthas, Lizzie Jones must find a way back home to stop the demons and their collaborators from destroying the magical portals. But a further betrayal awaits her – a betrayal that will throw her into the hands of those she despises most.

Those who plan to use her for their own treacherous ends.

The Unknown Realms is the thrilling, action-packed climax to The Secret of the Tirthas series.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2018

About the author

Steve Griffin is the author of eighteen books, best known for his atmospheric ghost stories and supernatural thrillers - including the bestselling Ghosts of Alice series and his spine-tingling Christmas tales. His latest festive chiller, The Old Man of the Black, follows a young man and an enigmatic woman who must survive a night of ghostly terror when a blizzard traps them in a remote Scottish mansion.

Steve’s other books include The Secret of the Tirthas, a fast-paced mystery adventure series for young adults. The City of Light, the first in the series, was praised by The Guardian as “entertaining and exciting.” He lives in the Surrey Hills with his wife and two sons and when he’s not writing he’s out hiking, going to indie gigs, or watching classic horror films.

Follow him on Amazon or @stevegriffin.author for new releases and behind-the-scenes updates.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so Lizzie's journey comes to an end. It has taken her to nearly all the continents of the world until it ends as it began, in a garden deep in the Welsh Marches. It' is an excellent story well told by an author with a gift for vivid description and should appeal to younger teenagers, although it can be read with pleasure by all ages.
It's not giving anything away to say that in the end good triumphs and evil goes down to defeat but as for the Secret of the Tirthas you will have to read and find out!

[Elisabeth Korn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and was really sad to get to the end of the series.

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had awaited the arrival of this book with so much anticipation that my hands were trembling as I held the book and gazed at the cover taking in every detail. I didn’t miss that the cover design continued unto the back. How cool is that? My thoughts were filled with much trepidation as I remembered that I had literally left Lizzie perilously dangling for her life with the Pisaca of Kashi traveling through the Astral worlds between the Tirthas. This book is neckbreaking fast and not just the pace but the storytelling from all sides. The story is told from so many points of view that sometimes I felt I was going to whiplash myself which, of course, all contributed to that motion sickness feeling I felt. When the author can pull you into the story like that it is pure ecstasy for the reader and a dream come true for the author. This is by far the best middle grade series I have read in a long time.

Let me leave you with this...
* “The world was an abundant place, full of magic and mystery....“ Unknown Realms
* “Nothing is terrible except fear itself”
Sir Frances Bacon

A thought just popped into my brain. What if a much older Lizzie decided to traverse the Astral world between the Tirthas once again? I hope she takes me with her....

[Sherry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This five book series, The Secret of the Tirthas, is one of the best fantasy adventure series out there for middle school children or teens. It is the kind of series that makes a lasting impression and can inspire one to want to read. As an adult reader, I was transported back to that world of imagination, excitement and novelty that reading gave me growing up. And on top of all that, the books have depth, meaning and relevance. They qualify as literature, not simply escapism. A young person reading these books will be entertained, thrilled and also be encouraged to think about life, values, the impact of decision making: the impact of evil. It makes the read rich.

I will say a bit about the set-up of this series and then move on to a few words about its conclusion, book five, The Unknown Realms. But I don’t want to give too much away. I want to encourage you to read the whole series, to give it as a gift to a middle school child or teen in your life, and to know that it ends in a way that makes reading the series a satisfying experience. The best kind of experience.

The series offers an original take on portal travel with high stakes adventure for its characters and for us, its readers. Indeed, “tirtha,” means “portal” in the Hindu culture. Lizzie, the 13-year-old protagonist, has recently lost her dad. She and her mother inherit a lovely cottage with an even more beautiful garden, where they move. Lizzie soon discovers that the garden is magical; it has portals to other places, even other times, and it hides a secret and holds a power that is beyond imagining. And this power and garden is somehow tied to her and her family on her dad's side. The garden has rooms that represent different cultures. Lizzie’s first time traveling through a portal, or tirtha, takes her to India. Here she meets several of her most trusted friends, who appear in some of the tales, but not all. But they remain in her heart throughout and are linchpin examples of goodness amidst so much evil and so many that cannot be trusted.

The Unknown Realms is the mysterious place where all the evil participants in this book fear to go. They are being drawn there. It is a cosmic event. This knowledge has been woven into the series with subtle craft, so that what is happening and why it’s happening is revealed slowly. Clues emerge, powerful artifacts are discovered and as the reader, you enjoy the discoveries as well as the task of figuring out what is happening. This last book comes full circle, with Lizzie’s dear friends participating in the breathtaking finale. I won’t reveal any more details, but I will say you are compelled to read to the end. I truly became teary-eyed when I finished. That is because I just didn’t want to say goodbye to Lizzie and all her adventures.