LOST KINGDOM

The sorcerer’s apprentice must become the master.

In the wake of his master’s death in series opener Order of the Majestic (2019), Joey Kopecky and his friends Shazad and Leanora have become the new Order: a circle of magic users who protect what little magic remains in the world by fighting the dark forces of the Invisible Hand. This sinister group acquires and corrupts magical objects, and they’ve been searching for several magical items scattered around the world. Thanks to an old witch and the Secret Map of the World, Joey and his pals are one step ahead. The race is on in this globe-trotting sequel that does its best to expand the series’ world but comes up short where it really counts. Joey, Shazad, and Leanora are a trio of bland protagonists, with little characterization differentiating one from the other. The action sequences and magical moments are presented with little flair, and at over 400 pages, the book quickly becomes a slog, even for readers who found a bit to enjoy in the previous oversized installment. The author attempts to shade the trio’s friendship with a quarrel over Joey’s loss of Houdini’s wand in the previous book, but the conflict is entirely circular and doesn’t add much dimension. Joey and Leanora are white; Shazad is depicted on the cover with pale skin and hails from the fictional country of Jorako.

A disappointing sequel.