R.K. Mortenson Reviews

Added October 5, 2006

Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum

Author: R.K. Mortenson
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: October 2006
Genre: Young Adult: Adventure/Christian/Fantasy
Format: Hardcover
Price: $9.97
ISBN: 1597893587
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

R.K. Mortenson has created a magical story line in the Landon Snow series, and with a Christian perspective, it offers readers more to think about than dark sorcery and broom-riding sports.

Though I have not read the first two in this series, the third book, Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum, can easily work as a stand-alone novel (meaning you do not need to read the first two in the series to understand what is happening in the third. However, after reading this book, I plan to go back and read the others, as I suspect after reading my favorable review, you may chose to do the same).

Before going with his family to visit his grandparents, 12 year old Landon is in the middle of a football game when he has a peculiar vision. The players around him become vicious animals. This troubles him. However, once at his grandparents, the vision is forgotten.

When Landon and his two younger sisters, Holly and Bridgette, enter the Button Up Library, one of the first things they notice is a bucket filling with water. Soon, Landon's old Bible opens and passages appear to be mysteriously underlined. The highlighted story is of Noah and the flood. Before they can react the library fills with water. To avoid drowning they climb into a rock boat. Luckily, it floats. Soon, a storm is let loose in the library...and before they know it, the three of them are out on the open sea floating to: only God knows where (literally).

Soon, they see a giant ark and wonder if they have gone back in time to the days of the Bible, and if Noah is the captain of the vessel coming up along side them.

(In previous adventures, Landon and Holly took similar Bible trips to a parallel world known as Wonderwood. In one of the previous books, evil creatures stole all of the animals). Joined by old friends (elf-like beings, a horse named Melech, and a bird named Pepos), Landon learns that all of the animals are being held captive on the Island of Arcanum. He also learns that relying on his visions and faith in the Auctor (God) may be the only way to save all of the animals.

Evil members of Malus Quidam's army run the island, and the island is crawling with swarms of living shadows. (Malus, of course, is the Prince of Darkness). Getting the animals off the island and onto the ark is not going to be easy. The animals aren't actually on the island. They are in it. Worse, they are under a curse, a spell, which forces them to follow only the voice and direction of the chief of the island. Landon must find a way to break the curse, free the animals, and get everyone off the island and back to Wonderwood.

Mortenson's book is both exciting and thoughtful. The action that takes place is vivid, as are the characters, and places visited. Plenty of dialogue keeps the story moving at a fast-pace. I can't wait to read the two prior books in this series, and look forward to forthcoming titles from this talented storyteller.

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