THE SECRET CITY

The second installment in Boucher’s trilogy continues the fantastical misadventures of two teenage boys from Sheridan, Wyoming, as they embark on epic quests, solve arcane mysteries, and battle nightmarish creatures in a magical realm.

A mysterious Native American storyteller tells Geof “the Bear” Boucher and Jon Shaeffer, aka “Jonster the Monster,” that Geof’s mother—who’s been missing for years—may be alive and well in another dimension. So, the boys, along with their high school crushes,Debbie and Patricia, travel through a magic portal into a wondrous land known as Sergel-tuteron. However, the teens’ search for Geof’s mother is soon sidetracked when they discover that they might be part of an ancient prophecy called the Song for Tomorrow. Are they, in fact, the prophesized Searchers that will save the Secret City and bring peace to all of Sergel-tuteron? Or are they merely clueless kids who have no idea what they’re doing? After all, Jon comically calls a powerful magical staff in his possession a “stick.” The evil King Bu-usah—who wants the enchanted treasures of the Secret City all to himself—is preparing a massive attack on the city with a seemingly indestructible army of four-armed giants known as Unborns. Geof, Jon, and their small group of allies must find a way to stop the carnage before the magical sanctuary is destroyed, and before all the inhabitants of Sergel-tuteron are killed or enslaved.

To readers’ certain delight, there are many bombshell revelations along the way: Two characters turn out to be much more than they seem; Geof’s mother’s identity is unexpected; and the Secret City holds a mind-blowing surprise. Movie fanatic Jon’s use of classic film quotes adds notes of appealing levity to the story. In one scene, for example, he specifically quotes Spock from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): “there are always possibilities.” As in the first series entry, The Sceptre(2021), the relentless action keeps things lively. However, the focus on pedal-to-the-metal pacing comes at a price. The character development generally lacks depth, and few sequences slow things down long enough to allow for meaningful introspection. This creates a reading experience that feels as if one is riding downhill in a car with no brakes, which can be exhilarating, but eventually becomes exhausting. Also, the lack of scenes set in the boys’ Wyoming high school is slightly disappointing, if understandable; the dichotomy between the characters’ everyday life experiences and their exploits in a magical realm was highly entertaining the first time around. Still, this story’s message remains solid—“Whatever world you live in, enjoy your life. Every day we live is a gift”—and so is its encouragement to live a purpose-driven and meaningful life: “If we could help the people of Sergel-tuteron so much, what could we do in Sheridan, or Wyoming, or even the world?...Your future is no longer destined. It is now what YOU choose to make it…all of you.”

Nonstop action makes for a fun, if sometimes-tiring, read with an inspiring message.