Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle

My son received this book as a birthday present last summer. I began reading it aloud to him but he jumped into it between times. I confess that I took it too my own room to finish the story after the first reading! I loved this book for it's great adventure and wonderful morals that are "magical" instead of "preachy". It sits right next to his Chronicles of Narnia. We now have the first three books in the series and are eagerly awaiting the fourth! :)

This was a wonderful book. My son was 11 when he read it and told me it was a quick read for him because he couldn't put it down. He love the fantasy & mystery of the book and said he would recommend it to all his friends (which he did!). Thanks for a great read, we're looking forward to the next adventures.

R. K. Mortenson fills these pages with the classic elements of this genre, but adds some Christian truths that cleverly connect the story to real life. Landon Snow is an eleven-year-old boy with a lot of questions. His pursuit of truth gives him a love of books. When his family takes a trip to visit his grandparents, Landon looks forward to two things: eating his Grandma's lemon bars and visiting their town's gigantic library. However, when his Grandpa gets injured, Landon starts to think about the nature of accidents. He wonders if life itself is nothing more than chance. The answer to this question comes in the form of a magical adventure. A door opens that leads him into the Book of Meanings. After being rescued by a chessboard knight, Landon finds himself riding a real horse that gallops into the next part of the journey. The fantasy world that he encounters is unique, refreshing, and a lot of fun! Every character contributes something to his quest, and every page takes him a little closer to the truth. It's abundantly clear that the author knows both this genre and his audience. Imagination is the vehicle that takes readers on an expedition of excitement. The dialogue is filled with humor, puns, and some thought-provoking ideas coming from curious characters. As with any adventure, there is danger, enemies, and some paths that should be followed. Yet, the most wonderful thing about this book is that Landon's fall into fantasy will help build up the faith of young readers. Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle is an excellent beginning to a new series that offers more than just entertainment. -- Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com

Could it be chance, mere circumstance that I ended up reading Book One of the Landon Snow series? No, certainly not.This book found its way into my hands, and I fell into it. Yep -- I got swallowed in, just like I'd been warned by the back cover of the book: "Don't Fall In: This Book May Swallow." I started it, and I couldn't stop...page after page of pure adventure. Why? The characters and the writing are absolutely delightful. Mortenson's prose dances across the page -- you hardly notice the words because they pull you into the story so completely. He's a master of metaphor -- and dialogue -- writing that makes the English teacher in me breathe a sigh of relief: "This is good." Who is Landon Snow? He's an ordinary kid from Minneapolis, Minnesota, heading to his grandparents' house to celebrate his 11th birthday. He can't wait to taste his Grandma's lemon bars and to visit the huge library there. I love the relationship Landon shares with his two sisters -- girl readers will definitely be charmed by Bridget and Holly. The action begins in a modern setting, with the three siblings jockeying for window seats to ride in his dad's sedan -- his mom's SUV is in the shop. How many parents can relate to that? Holly passes the time counting seventeen water towers and five Dairy Queens. Here's how we're introduced to Landon's inner thoughts: Mortenson writes, "Landon liked to have reasons for everything. But he tried not to ask too many questions. Instead, he came up with reasons on his own. It felt good to explain things...If he knew the reason for something, he was happy." Readers who enjoy mystery and suspense will love the plot centering around the Auctor's Riddle -- a rhyme that leads Landon on a journey into a brave new fantastic world. He receives a Dream-Stone as a gift for his birthday, which he grasps in his hand as he discovers a secret doorway behind a bookcase in his grandfather's study. Narnia fans won't be disappointed -- the world beyond the bookcase is enchanting indeed. This is a book I'm thrilled to have for my family to read. I love the packaging -- with the brown font and incredible, top-quality illustrations. It's a long-lasting hardback, like a Lemony Snicket -- that can withstand the wear and tear of backpacks and many readers. My family loves the fiction of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and now we're thrilled to find a modern-day storyteller as gifted as Mortenson. The vocabulary is rich and stimulating, not dumbed down to bore intelligent readers. And since I know a little about the author's background as a navy chaplain, I trust that his Landon Snow series will help build up my children's faith in God. We're swallowed in now...waiting for Book 2 to continue us on with the journey. Coming soon: LANDON SNOW AND THE SHADOWS OF MALUS QUIDAM! P.S. Now the question is: How can this book get into the Accelerated Reader program so kids can read it and earn AR points?

I am overjoyed that Christian publishers finally seem to be getting it. Christian children should have quality books to read. Quality in content and in packaging. Landon Snow is quality. The artwork on this paper-over-board cover is fantastic. The weathered leather look, the funny, colorful pictures--excellent work. Inside, the book's thick, creamy pages give a "substantial" feel to the reading experience, while the brown print and pictures hint that herein lies a story rare and wonderful. Congratulations to Barbour for realizing that reading is more than letters on a page. Just as paper is better than a monitor, so is thick, creamy paper preferable to pulp. Landon Snow looks and feels fantastic. This is a book you'll want to give as a gift and kids will want to get the whole set and display it proudly on their favorites' shelf. (There will be a whole set, won't there? Please tell me there are more of these delightful books coming.) And yet Barbour managed to keep the cost down. Perfect packaging decisions! What about the writing? Does it live up to the packaging? Mr. Mortenson is obviously an intelligent and witty guy. His characters are well rounded and interesting and the world that swallows Landon is well developed. I have only one criticism of the book and that is that there were a couple of slow chapters early on. Landon was by himself and it's hard to get to know a character well when he is not interacting with other characters. The book really took off when Landon hooked up with his faithful companion, Melech. In the interaction between these two, their personalities were fully displayed. From that point on the book never stumbled. The thought provoking riddle, the laughable odds, the color, the language, the rhythm and flow--all excellent. Mortenson proves to be a master at weaving wit and wisdom together with sympathetic characters and an exciting adventure to give us a truly satisfying read. Over all, a wonderful book. I eagerly await future volumes.