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Archibald Lox #1-3
Archibald Lox Volume 1: The Missing Princess
When a young locksmith finds his way into the Merge, he discovers a parallel universe filled with an infinite number of bizarre, remarkable worlds. Setting off on the adventure of a lifetime, he soon makes allies and friends who help inform and direct him, but he must also overcome the threat of cold-blooded killers, ravenous hell jackals, evil Empresses and more. As his skills develop, he finds himself part of a perilous mission to save a realm from the forces of tyranny, but he holds the key to its success or failure, and he fears he might not be up to the task. The greatest challenge of his life awaits...
- GenresFantasy
506 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2020
46 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Darren Shan
243 books8,274 followersLibrarian's note: Also writes books for adults under the name Darren Dash. And in the past he has released books for adults under the names D.B. Shan and Darren O'Shaughnessy.
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 15, 2020
I think that this book was a brilliant departure from the YA horror books I’m used to from this author. Without spoilers, this is primarily a fantasy adventure which follows a boy/girl duo as they traverse many fantastical worlds to succeed in their adventure.
Each area they pass is unique, some are desolate and lonely, some creepy, while other are immense and whimsical, I found myself drawn most to the latter of the three personally.
The lead characters are enjoyable to follow, their banter humorous at times, and their relationship shines both as a duo or when they are around the rest of the cast.
Which brings me to one of my favourite parts- the side characters. I found myself always excited to see who the protags were going to meet next, how the characters would look, act, and what role they would play, as each one they met seemed to be better than the last. I particularly liked the characters of Cal, Kurtis and Queen Pitina.
In terms of plot I think the book got better as it went on, as we got to see the more populated areas of this world: seeing other people live in the world was great for me in learning about the place and its customs. There is sometimes exposition told to us as to learn about the world even more, but it is paced out through the book so is never overwhelming or confusing, nor does it feel out of place with the story.
Despite not being a horror-book fan, I’ve always loved this author’s work and read anything he has written. But now, having a fantasy book written by him, which is my favourite genre, I have a blessing that I am so happy to receive. I felt like a tween again, reading my favourite fantasy books for hours and hours and wishing so much I could be in that magical world too. I can’t wait to go back to this world, either by re-reading The Missing Princess, or through the second book once it is released- exciting times!
Each area they pass is unique, some are desolate and lonely, some creepy, while other are immense and whimsical, I found myself drawn most to the latter of the three personally.
The lead characters are enjoyable to follow, their banter humorous at times, and their relationship shines both as a duo or when they are around the rest of the cast.
Which brings me to one of my favourite parts- the side characters. I found myself always excited to see who the protags were going to meet next, how the characters would look, act, and what role they would play, as each one they met seemed to be better than the last. I particularly liked the characters of Cal, Kurtis and Queen Pitina.
In terms of plot I think the book got better as it went on, as we got to see the more populated areas of this world: seeing other people live in the world was great for me in learning about the place and its customs. There is sometimes exposition told to us as to learn about the world even more, but it is paced out through the book so is never overwhelming or confusing, nor does it feel out of place with the story.
Despite not being a horror-book fan, I’ve always loved this author’s work and read anything he has written. But now, having a fantasy book written by him, which is my favourite genre, I have a blessing that I am so happy to receive. I felt like a tween again, reading my favourite fantasy books for hours and hours and wishing so much I could be in that magical world too. I can’t wait to go back to this world, either by re-reading The Missing Princess, or through the second book once it is released- exciting times!
January 9, 2021
I recieved this book for Christmas and have spent the last few days devouring it. Even though this came out as ebooks partway through 2020 I enjoy the feel of a real book and knew I'd be more immersed reading it in this format. Anyway to the review...
I loved reading this book, such an original idea. Shans take on Limbo, but a Wonderland style Limbo. The adventure of Archie and Inez as they Traverse the many zones and kingdoms which make up the Merge. I really liked Cal as a character and hope he will show up in the next books. I also like the foreshadowing of the animosity between protagonists and Kurtis, an interesting twist on a love triangle. I noticed one thing in the book that made me smile more than other bit the line "its an anticlimax, like turning up for a chess match with a grand master, only to find that your opponent is actually a big mouthed amateur" I like to think Darren put that in referencing Lord Loss's chess match with Grubbs in his Demonata series but maybe I look to much into things (lol). I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to my next adventure with Master Lox.
I loved reading this book, such an original idea. Shans take on Limbo, but a Wonderland style Limbo. The adventure of Archie and Inez as they Traverse the many zones and kingdoms which make up the Merge. I really liked Cal as a character and hope he will show up in the next books. I also like the foreshadowing of the animosity between protagonists and Kurtis, an interesting twist on a love triangle. I noticed one thing in the book that made me smile more than other bit the line "its an anticlimax, like turning up for a chess match with a grand master, only to find that your opponent is actually a big mouthed amateur" I like to think Darren put that in referencing Lord Loss's chess match with Grubbs in his Demonata series but maybe I look to much into things (lol). I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to my next adventure with Master Lox.
January 14, 2021
As soon as I saw Darren Shan had released another book series, I could not download it fast enough.
I enjoyed every page can't wait for the other volumes 100% Recommend if you love Darren's style of writing you will love this.
I enjoyed every page can't wait for the other volumes 100% Recommend if you love Darren's style of writing you will love this.
February 23, 2023
My second time reading it, I want to refresh my memory before reading volume 3 for the first time. A great beginning to a fantastical world with both loveable and hateable characters. I can't wait to see where the next adventure takes Archie and Inez.
January 23, 2023
“Sometimes the people best equipped to change a world are those who have no idea what they’re doing.”
Archibald Lox has been on my radar for quite some time because of two reasons:
(1) the first ebook is free on amazon.
(2) Darren Shan is my favorite YA author.
I'm so glad that I gave the series a chance. This series is full to the brim with humor, adventure, building romance (maybe?), and decent world building. Think Alice in Wonderland meets Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere.
I already bought all three volumes - one volume contains three books - so I'm excited to continue on with Inez and Archie. The books are excellent palate cleansers and offer such a cozy vibe.
Give it a shot! Darren Shan is a brilliant author and I'm sure you will think so as well!
October 30, 2024
Reread in October 2024: I enjoyed and appreciated this Volume even more the second time around.
52 Book Club 2024 Reading Challenge- Prompt 40: Set During a Holiday you don't Celebrate
Written for a Middle-Grade audience, whilst never "speaking down" to them, this first Volume of the Archibald Lox series was an exciting adventure with as many twists and turns as the vines within the Merge itself.
It may not be (quite) as dark as some of Shan's earlier works- with children ALMOST, rather than actually getting eaten by wolf-like entities- being a key example.
However, readers familiar with the author's other works can rest assured that villains are encountered (and dispatched) with the trademark Shan glee, which keeps me returning to his books.
The worlds of the Merged and SubMerged are fascinating realms with plenty of space left to explore and delve into and it is with impatience that I'm waiting for the next Volume to be released on Kindle.
Overall, the first book was definitely the slowest in this volume, prioritising world-building and plot setup, but once these necessary details were established, the rest of the pages flew by.
This series definitely deserves more recognition, though hopefully it will gain momentum as future books are released!
52 Book Club 2024 Reading Challenge- Prompt 40: Set During a Holiday you don't Celebrate
Written for a Middle-Grade audience, whilst never "speaking down" to them, this first Volume of the Archibald Lox series was an exciting adventure with as many twists and turns as the vines within the Merge itself.
It may not be (quite) as dark as some of Shan's earlier works- with children ALMOST, rather than actually getting eaten by wolf-like entities- being a key example.
However, readers familiar with the author's other works can rest assured that villains are encountered (and dispatched) with the trademark Shan glee, which keeps me returning to his books.
The worlds of the Merged and SubMerged are fascinating realms with plenty of space left to explore and delve into and it is with impatience that I'm waiting for the next Volume to be released on Kindle.
Overall, the first book was definitely the slowest in this volume, prioritising world-building and plot setup, but once these necessary details were established, the rest of the pages flew by.
This series definitely deserves more recognition, though hopefully it will gain momentum as future books are released!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2023
Már nem voltam a célközönség, mikor megtalált Darren Shan fatasy világa, de engem is bevonzott a kalandos vámpíros, démonos történeteivel. Nagy szerencséje van a mai fiataloknak, hogy ma már ennyire széleskörű a választék, mindenki megtalálhatja a hozzászóló regényeket. Ezért is örültem annyira, hogy jön egy újdonság az írótól, és szokása szerint sorozat van betervezve, de szerencsére már eleve tömbösítve az első három részt kapjuk meg magyarul.
Archie szüleit lefoglalja a testvére miatti gyász, ezért vele nem foglalkoznak. Kóborolásai alkalmával rátalál egy új világra, ahol felfedezi rejtett képességeit, barátokra talál és segíti őket a küldetésükben. Igazi kalandtörténet portál fantasy elemekkel megfűszerezve.
Nagyon jó volt olvasni, vitt a lendület és a nosztalgia. A karakterek útját követve kibontakozik a világ, amit Archieval együtt fedezhetünk fel. Néha frusztrált, hogy az infókat visszatartják, és direkt nem mondanak el mindent a főhősünknek, de értettem ennek a miértjét és néhányra még ő is kapott magyarázatot, ezért megbocsájtottam.
Érdekes volt a világ felépítése, a szférán belüli helyek és az átjárhatóság is nagyon érdekes volt. Néhol emlékeztetett más művekre, de nagyon nem volt zavaró. Összességében élvezetes, mozgalmas kalandos fantasy történetet kaptam, jöhetnek a többi részek!
Ajánlom a kalandos fantasy szerelmeseinek!
Archie szüleit lefoglalja a testvére miatti gyász, ezért vele nem foglalkoznak. Kóborolásai alkalmával rátalál egy új világra, ahol felfedezi rejtett képességeit, barátokra talál és segíti őket a küldetésükben. Igazi kalandtörténet portál fantasy elemekkel megfűszerezve.
Nagyon jó volt olvasni, vitt a lendület és a nosztalgia. A karakterek útját követve kibontakozik a világ, amit Archieval együtt fedezhetünk fel. Néha frusztrált, hogy az infókat visszatartják, és direkt nem mondanak el mindent a főhősünknek, de értettem ennek a miértjét és néhányra még ő is kapott magyarázatot, ezért megbocsájtottam.
Érdekes volt a világ felépítése, a szférán belüli helyek és az átjárhatóság is nagyon érdekes volt. Néhol emlékeztetett más művekre, de nagyon nem volt zavaró. Összességében élvezetes, mozgalmas kalandos fantasy történetet kaptam, jöhetnek a többi részek!
Ajánlom a kalandos fantasy szerelmeseinek!
March 5, 2021
well, that was a fun read, it is fast paced, and entertaining , It kind of reminded me of "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman, especially the two villains.
I liked the Locks parts that was unique , thought I have to admit that the space, the vines and the inter-merging part is totally frozen my mind, and I barley understood what is going on. but that what would be awesome if it was turned into a manga version. am sure of it, I think I would like to read the next volume, and more interested in Kurtis -I hope he does NOT turn to be evil- and Pol too.
I liked the Locks parts that was unique , thought I have to admit that the space, the vines and the inter-merging part is totally frozen my mind, and I barley understood what is going on. but that what would be awesome if it was turned into a manga version. am sure of it, I think I would like to read the next volume, and more interested in Kurtis -I hope he does NOT turn to be evil- and Pol too.
March 1, 2022
This is a wonderful story set in such an imaginative world. I enjoyed the wide array of characters. Inez and Archie must be based on real people; their mannerisms are wonderfully quirky. The Merge is a fascinating setting where it seems anything is possible. It is wonderful to see Darren Shan's roots in horror shine through at times; it gives an edge to the villains and creatures in The Merge and gives our hero a challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
April 6, 2021
Not as good as the cirque du freak series but it is pleasantly whimsical and filled with thrills, while maintaining a fast pace.
June 3, 2022
Great to see Mr Shan in Tunbridge Wells recently too. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
December 29, 2021
Hraðskreið furðusaga.
September 30, 2025
Archibald Lox is one of those gems that deserves much more attention than it gets. I love finding these books, ones which fly under the radar but when you give them a chance, you count your lucky stars you did. See my reviews for the Nick Holleran series for example, which has been my favourite series so far this year.
But Darren Shan is no novice when it comes to writing middle-grade / YA speculative fiction. Who could forget Cirque Du Freak, Demonata, or his Zom-B series. But what makes this different is Shan has left the horror themes behind to bring us this fantastic portal fantasy.
The first thing you should know is that The Missing Princess is not just one book, but three. You can obtain them separately or as one volume.
I decided to review the volume as opposed to each one separately. This is mostly due to time restraints (I’m currently trying to finish editing my first YA novel, a new year’s resolution I set myself which I still hope to achieve). But I hope to capture all the great things I like about this book (or books).
World Building:
Shan has brought lots of unique features to his world. The story starts off with Archibald, a young preteen/early teen boy who sees a girl making strange faces on a bridge in London. She then disappears into a borehole, escaping from two dangerous assassins. With a dose curiosity as well as looking for an escape from his depressed life at the loss of his foster brother, Archibald follows the girl.
To follow the girl, Archibald must pick a lock. It’s not an average lock, but a magical one which expands to Archie’s touch and allows him to reach his hands in and manipulate the levers and cogs inside. It appears he’s a locksmith and, in the Merge, the world he travels to, he has a sought-after gift.
The Merge is an interesting place – a series of interconnecting worlds which you can travel between using boreholes, giant vines, or by boat on the blood river. It’s unique in the sense that it’s created by people known as devisers who generate the mountains and cities from the Merge’s mushrooms, the food which the people there eat. These divisors can create anything from these mushrooms, meaning you never know what the next world will be like when Archie passes through each borehole.
Archie also meets Winsten, a fellow locksmith who takes Archie under his wing. He lives at the Empire State building in New York where the real world (the Born world) overlaps with Merge, distorting reality in a way that all the world’s landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids of Egypt can be seen in one skyline. Winston is a gentle mentor who teaches Archie the ways of the locksmith.
Characters:
Archibald is a likable character and is an ideal companion for the reader to take this adventure with. Like us, he’s new to the Merge and we learn about its customs through him. He’s brave, compassionate, and we learn to care for the characters around him the way he does.
The first character we meet in the Merge is Inez Matryoshka. She’s been in the Merge for hundreds of years but is as young as Archie. She’s our resident expert, who explains the world around us. She’s on a mission, one which is kept secret until the final moments of the third book.
You meet further characters along the way. For example, Archie and Inez join up with the thesps, a group of actors who put on plays. There you meet characters like the sassy Baba Jen, though in the body of a small child, is hundreds of years old. We also get to spend time with Cal, the gentle giant who takes to protecting Inez and Archie and reoccurs throughout the stories.
Stories are only as good as their villains and there are plenty to choose from. Firstly, there are the two assassins I mentioned earlier. Orlan Stiletto and Argate Axe. Carrying knives as weapons, Shan does an excellent job introducing these characters from the get-go and they are truly terrifying. There was a moment I thought Shan was going to off the main character from the start. These characters appear throughout the books and are shown to be immensely skilled killers.
I also enjoyed the gambling Empress of Suanpan, Urszula, who is also a deviser. As stated before, she has the power to create things in the Merge but get on her wrong side, she also has the power to destroy everything around her, including our favourite protagonists, Archie and Inez.
Plot:
As this is three books in one overarching story, each part acts as a story in its own right as well as a part of a bigger picture. Though this is unique, this isn’t so different from Shan’s other works as his books are generally short, so if your used to reading Shan, this won’t be so unfamiliar.
The first book does an excellent job setting up the world-building, much of which we discover in scenes with Archie and Inez. The back and forth feels natural, and you never feel like Shan is info dumping. The information is experienced through the characters making it digestible to the reader.
The second book takes place in a zone called Suanpan. I really enjoyed this one, as Inez is recruiting for her mission and that involves teaming up with the thesps and playing with the notorious gambling empress. The plot is clever and engaging, and we learn more about the merge along the way.
In book three, all is revealed as to Inez’s mission. I don’t want to say too much here but it’s another action-packed story in a world which you will want to get lost in. Here we’re introduced the sport of Grop (think rugby if there was a prison rules version) which plays an integral part in volume two.
I highly recommend this book and I think it deserves the same attention as the likes of Percy Jackson. I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into volume two of the series.
https://markkieltywriter.com/2025/09/...
But Darren Shan is no novice when it comes to writing middle-grade / YA speculative fiction. Who could forget Cirque Du Freak, Demonata, or his Zom-B series. But what makes this different is Shan has left the horror themes behind to bring us this fantastic portal fantasy.
The first thing you should know is that The Missing Princess is not just one book, but three. You can obtain them separately or as one volume.
I decided to review the volume as opposed to each one separately. This is mostly due to time restraints (I’m currently trying to finish editing my first YA novel, a new year’s resolution I set myself which I still hope to achieve). But I hope to capture all the great things I like about this book (or books).
World Building:
Shan has brought lots of unique features to his world. The story starts off with Archibald, a young preteen/early teen boy who sees a girl making strange faces on a bridge in London. She then disappears into a borehole, escaping from two dangerous assassins. With a dose curiosity as well as looking for an escape from his depressed life at the loss of his foster brother, Archibald follows the girl.
To follow the girl, Archibald must pick a lock. It’s not an average lock, but a magical one which expands to Archie’s touch and allows him to reach his hands in and manipulate the levers and cogs inside. It appears he’s a locksmith and, in the Merge, the world he travels to, he has a sought-after gift.
The Merge is an interesting place – a series of interconnecting worlds which you can travel between using boreholes, giant vines, or by boat on the blood river. It’s unique in the sense that it’s created by people known as devisers who generate the mountains and cities from the Merge’s mushrooms, the food which the people there eat. These divisors can create anything from these mushrooms, meaning you never know what the next world will be like when Archie passes through each borehole.
Archie also meets Winsten, a fellow locksmith who takes Archie under his wing. He lives at the Empire State building in New York where the real world (the Born world) overlaps with Merge, distorting reality in a way that all the world’s landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids of Egypt can be seen in one skyline. Winston is a gentle mentor who teaches Archie the ways of the locksmith.
Characters:
Archibald is a likable character and is an ideal companion for the reader to take this adventure with. Like us, he’s new to the Merge and we learn about its customs through him. He’s brave, compassionate, and we learn to care for the characters around him the way he does.
The first character we meet in the Merge is Inez Matryoshka. She’s been in the Merge for hundreds of years but is as young as Archie. She’s our resident expert, who explains the world around us. She’s on a mission, one which is kept secret until the final moments of the third book.
You meet further characters along the way. For example, Archie and Inez join up with the thesps, a group of actors who put on plays. There you meet characters like the sassy Baba Jen, though in the body of a small child, is hundreds of years old. We also get to spend time with Cal, the gentle giant who takes to protecting Inez and Archie and reoccurs throughout the stories.
Stories are only as good as their villains and there are plenty to choose from. Firstly, there are the two assassins I mentioned earlier. Orlan Stiletto and Argate Axe. Carrying knives as weapons, Shan does an excellent job introducing these characters from the get-go and they are truly terrifying. There was a moment I thought Shan was going to off the main character from the start. These characters appear throughout the books and are shown to be immensely skilled killers.
I also enjoyed the gambling Empress of Suanpan, Urszula, who is also a deviser. As stated before, she has the power to create things in the Merge but get on her wrong side, she also has the power to destroy everything around her, including our favourite protagonists, Archie and Inez.
Plot:
As this is three books in one overarching story, each part acts as a story in its own right as well as a part of a bigger picture. Though this is unique, this isn’t so different from Shan’s other works as his books are generally short, so if your used to reading Shan, this won’t be so unfamiliar.
The first book does an excellent job setting up the world-building, much of which we discover in scenes with Archie and Inez. The back and forth feels natural, and you never feel like Shan is info dumping. The information is experienced through the characters making it digestible to the reader.
The second book takes place in a zone called Suanpan. I really enjoyed this one, as Inez is recruiting for her mission and that involves teaming up with the thesps and playing with the notorious gambling empress. The plot is clever and engaging, and we learn more about the merge along the way.
In book three, all is revealed as to Inez’s mission. I don’t want to say too much here but it’s another action-packed story in a world which you will want to get lost in. Here we’re introduced the sport of Grop (think rugby if there was a prison rules version) which plays an integral part in volume two.
I highly recommend this book and I think it deserves the same attention as the likes of Percy Jackson. I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into volume two of the series.
https://markkieltywriter.com/2025/09/...
March 12, 2024
Izgatottan vettem kézbe a könyvet: végre valami más, mint eddig, érdekesnek tűnő sztorival.
Az elején rendben is volt minden. Kissé ugyan lassan volt adagolva a világépítés, de elment.
Érdekes maga a kiindulási alap, a holtak élete (!), és nagyjából a könyv feléig még élvezhető is volt. Onnan aztán annyi új szereplő és helyszín jött be, hogy teljesen elvesztettem a fonalat, nem volt világos, ki kivel van, miről is van szó, hol is vagyunk, és mi történik. És miért.
Teljesen követhetetlenné vált a történet.
A végére alakult egy kis rendezettség, de nem tette teljesen tisztába a dolgokat, és maradt a zavarodottság: mi a fene volt ez?
Olyannyira maradt, hogy a folytatás már egyáltalán nem vonz, és nem érdekel.
Az elején rendben is volt minden. Kissé ugyan lassan volt adagolva a világépítés, de elment.
Érdekes maga a kiindulási alap, a holtak élete (!), és nagyjából a könyv feléig még élvezhető is volt. Onnan aztán annyi új szereplő és helyszín jött be, hogy teljesen elvesztettem a fonalat, nem volt világos, ki kivel van, miről is van szó, hol is vagyunk, és mi történik. És miért.
Teljesen követhetetlenné vált a történet.
A végére alakult egy kis rendezettség, de nem tette teljesen tisztába a dolgokat, és maradt a zavarodottság: mi a fene volt ez?
Olyannyira maradt, hogy a folytatás már egyáltalán nem vonz, és nem érdekel.
May 20, 2025
I love everything Darren writes and have read every single one of his books and the Archibald Lox books are no different. Darren does amazing world building and his characters are always interesting and unique. Will add these to my yearly read through of Mr Shans’ books
March 27, 2022
Amateur-ish
October 19, 2023
Cute books. I read the individual books instead of the bundles. Definitely need to be part of a bundle because the individual books themselves are short and end abruptly
January 1, 2024
Awesome read from start to finish. Nothing deep or complex but I have zero complaints.
January 15, 2025
Welcome to the Merge
Originally published as three separate books, The Missing Princess is a complete first arc of Archibald Lox's grand adventure. The story picks up the pace right from the start and makes you want to immerse yourself in the world created by the Author.
While the concept of a boy discovering a unique ability which allows him to cross into another dimension might not seem unique enough to make a story stand out, the Author's creative world-building and an incredibly strong cast of characters make the Archibald Lox series a truly unique reading experience.
To my mind, it is the Merge, a mysterious realm the majority of the story takes place in, that makes the book so compelling. It is filled with unique characters, places, and a lot of interesting concepts. Speaking of characters, Archibald makes a strong protagonist and is well-developed over the course of the story. The same can be said about the friends (and enemies) he makes throughout the journey.
If you're a fan of YA fantasy and want to spend some quality time in an imaginative universe with a cast of truly likeable characters, look no further. Step into the Merge and make yourself at home.
Originally published as three separate books, The Missing Princess is a complete first arc of Archibald Lox's grand adventure. The story picks up the pace right from the start and makes you want to immerse yourself in the world created by the Author.
While the concept of a boy discovering a unique ability which allows him to cross into another dimension might not seem unique enough to make a story stand out, the Author's creative world-building and an incredibly strong cast of characters make the Archibald Lox series a truly unique reading experience.
To my mind, it is the Merge, a mysterious realm the majority of the story takes place in, that makes the book so compelling. It is filled with unique characters, places, and a lot of interesting concepts. Speaking of characters, Archibald makes a strong protagonist and is well-developed over the course of the story. The same can be said about the friends (and enemies) he makes throughout the journey.
If you're a fan of YA fantasy and want to spend some quality time in an imaginative universe with a cast of truly likeable characters, look no further. Step into the Merge and make yourself at home.
October 7, 2023
Nagyon sajnálom, hogy ezzel a kötettel nem sikerült nagyon rezonálnom, pedig nagyn vártam, hogy végre olvassak Darren Shantól. Lehet a Rémségek cirkuszával kellett volna próbálkoznom.
Igazából nem tudom megmondani, mi az ami miatt nem tudtam élvezni annyira ezt a könyvet, de egyszerűen olvasás közben folyamatosan azt éreztem, hogy nem érdekel, mi fog történni, és így elég nehéz egy 500+ oldalas történetet végigolvasni. Talán ott mehetett félre a dolog, hogy nagyon nem fogtak meg a főszereplők, és hát onnantól nehéz élvezni egy történetet úgy igazán.
Igazából nem tudom megmondani, mi az ami miatt nem tudtam élvezni annyira ezt a könyvet, de egyszerűen olvasás közben folyamatosan azt éreztem, hogy nem érdekel, mi fog történni, és így elég nehéz egy 500+ oldalas történetet végigolvasni. Talán ott mehetett félre a dolog, hogy nagyon nem fogtak meg a főszereplők, és hát onnantól nehéz élvezni egy történetet úgy igazán.
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