An action-packed adventure of the best kind: My review of "The Shadow Lamp" by Stephen R. Lawhead @DailyVineCA

about the book....

The quest for answers—and ultimate survival—hinges on finding the cosmic link between the Skin Map, the Shadow Lamp, and the Spirit Well.

The search for the map of blue symbols began in a rainy alley in London, but has since expanded through space, time, and to include more searchers.

Kit, Mina, Gianni, Cass, Haven, and Giles have gathered in Mina's 16th-century coffee house and are united in their determination to find a path back to the Spirit Well. Yet, with their shadow lamps destroyed and key pieces of the map still missing, the journey will be far more difficult than they imagine. And when one of their own disappears with the Sir Henry's cryptic Green Book, they no longer know who to trust.

At the same time, the Zetetic Society has uncovered a terrifying secret which, if proven, will rock the very foundations of Creation. The quest for answers is no longer limited to recovering an unknown treasure. The fate of the universe depends on unraveling the riddle of the Skin Map.

my review....

Stephen R. Lawhead returns in fine style with his fourth installment to the "Bright Empires" series. Written with his usual dramatic flair and vivid descriptions, "The Shadow Lamp" is an action-packed adventure of the best kind. Kit and Mina return along with fellow ley travelers Gianni, Cass, Haven and Giles, continuing their search for the skin map and the path to the Spirit Well that Kit observed. I have enjoyed the whole series so far, and love how this book finds good continuing its clash with evil, as Burleigh and his men seek to obtain the map for themselves and end Kit and Mina's own quest. However, I felt that this book advanced the entire series more than any prior book, as a secret is uncovered that really serves to tie everything together that has occurred thus far, and gives a new focus to the next title in the series. Although there are many characters to keep track of, I found that the brief list of characters at the beginning, along with the first section entitled "previously" did an excellent job at reminding me of what was covered in prior books in the series. After that, I plunged head first into the fantastic world that Lawhead has created, where people can travel through time and space, and the mysteries of the universe are explored in a fascinating manner. I always appreciate reading books by Lawhead, for his grasp of the English language is unparalleled, and he manages to combine wonderful descriptions, unique concepts, interesting characters, and elements of faith into a wonderful read.

Those readers who have joined in on Kit and Mina's quest from the beginning will be thrilled at this latest addition to the series. I strongly recommend this book and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

 about the author....

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium, Patrick, and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion.

http://www.stephenlawhead.com





Find out more about the book on the publisher website:   http://www.thomasnelson.com/the-shadow-lamp.html

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