Spellbinding sequels

In The Lost Legend (Story Warren, 208 pp.), author S.D. Smith continues to build out the characters and history of the magical Kingdom of Natalia. This latest release is divided into two plotlines. In the first plotline, Heather and Picket Longtreader protect young Posy Black in a dangerous wilderness. In the second plotline, Fiona Black investigates a conspiracy at Halfwind Citadel. The two plotlines eventually converge, but the ending leaves the heroes with an urgent new mission to undertake in Book 3.

The Lost Legend is not the best place to start for those new to the Green Ember series. Smith recommends reading the four main novels before starting the Lost Tales series because the books assume familiarity with the characters and larger story of the main novels. Also, the plot picks up directly where The Lost Key (Book 1 of the Lost Tales series) leaves off.

Smith keeps the suspense and action going nonstop in the story, teaching the importance of courage in the face of difficult challenges. Older readers will quickly see through the mystery that Fiona is investigating, and some of the violence and death may upset sensitive younger readers. But overall, The Lost Legend is a page-turner and an excellent addition to the Green Ember series. Readers will be left anxiously waiting for the next book to find out what happens to Fiona and her friends and family.

In Heart of Stone (Owl’s Nest Publishers, 298 pp.), author Emma C. Fox takes readers deep into Russia’s Ural Mountains during the Imperial era. But there’s a twist: This is a magical alternate reality where folktales come to life. As the story unfolds, the human characters encounter a variety of magical beings. The village of Polovka is haunted by the specter of the evil, magical Queen Malachinista and her even more wicked father, Polov, the Serpent King.

Teenage protagonists Lilia and Dmitri are not serfs, yet they are imprisoned by other factors, including magical secrets from the past. Lilia’s father died in mysterious circumstances several years before the book opens, and her family is now in dire financial straits. Then her Aunt Olga arrives at her house and offers the opportunity for relief. But is Olga truly who she claims to be? Her arrival triggers a series of events that lead Lilia and Dmitri to admit their love for each other.

Although this book is a sequel to The Carver and the Queen, it stands well on its own. Fox provides enough context for new readers to follow the story without difficulty. The black magic depicted in Heart of Stone is quite scary at times even for mature readers. Near the end, there’s a macabre subplot involving a corpse. Also, an important plotline centers around a child born from an adulterous relationship. Overall, though, the book’s central theme reflects sacrificial love as Lilia and Dmitri both make painful choices to put the good of others ahead of their own desires.