THE OBERON STONE

In Franco’s YA novel, a group of magical teenagers embark on a journey to correct the course of a disrupted prophecy of the end times.

When teenage demigod Liam Hale receives a letter from his deceased mother, Bree, he sets off to find her—encouraged by the fact that was it delivered by Titan, a bird that he also thought was dead. A hopeful Liam follows Titan into the night, much to the dismay of his friends Benji, a mage apprentice; and Ada, who’s able to practice magic, despite not having a magical family heritage. Ada confesses to Benji that she manipulated time in an initially successful but ultimately failed attempt to save their friend Chiara, whom the evil Rachael Winifred murdered. Ada’s interference caused the House of the Living and the House of the Dead to mix and disrupted an ancient prophecy. According to the prophecy, Leroy Winifred, the former Keeper of the Seven Wonders, would have two sons: “One would generate chaos and one salvation.” The chaotic son, Montgomery Winifred (Rachael’s father), is preparing to seize power after Armageddon. When Liam reunites with his semi-resurrected mother, she tells him that their friend, Andrew McCormick, is Leroy’s first (and secret) son, who’s foretold to save the Megaverse. Montgomery, Bree says, knows this, which puts McCormick in danger. Liam and Bree rejoin Ada, Benji, and Liam’s other friends, witches Zac and Zoe. They, along with another witch named Bruno Gonzales and a druid named Sarah Hart, embark on a perilous journey to save McCormick. This second installment of Franco’s fantasy trilogy is packed with thrilling action sequences, engaging characters, fantastical beasts, and sky-high stakes. The author’s passion for fantasy is palpable, particularly in her highly detailed worldbuilding, which blends classic genre conventions with modern technology, including arcade games and online chatrooms. The prose can be redundant at times: “Benji’s face contorted into a perplexed expression, a question mark forming in his mind. He tried to make sense of Ada’s words, searching for clarity.” Also, extended exposition sometimes slows the pace. Still, the novel remains entertaining throughout.

An exciting fantasy tale, full of whimsy and pathos.