 
|
Thirteen years ago, seven-year-old William wandered into the dark of the forest, and all that could be found of him was his old toy in front of a large oak tree. At 18 years old, Dan, William's younger brother, is determined to face the horrors of a parallel world—found through the portal of the oak tree—to rescue his brother, though he may not be there. The forest in the alternate dimension is filled with evil and death, a fact Dan and his co-travelers have been learning firsthand for many days, and with many nasty wounds to show for it.
Book two finds Dan Clay and his friends just gaining entrance to the fearsome castle that is home to the evil Reclaimers and possibly William's prison. The Reclaimers have many powers, and the travelers may fall victim to them without much resistance. Other strange creatures bring unexpected elements to the castle’s defenses that cannot be prepared for and are nearly impossible to avoid.
Whatever driving force is responsible for miraculously diverting the travelers into meeting a creature of good heart, no one would know for sure; but the new friendship allows for safer infiltration of the castle and opportunities to search for William.
The travelers meet many tests and challenges on their way to and from the castle. Dan’s faith never falters, and his devotion to following God’s word gives him the strength he needs to get through the hell that is the Reclaimers’ world. The group's physical, mental, and emotional upheavals are traumatic, but Dan’s example in his devotion has positive influences upon the travelers. Their hearts are true and their souls honest, which are strengths of indefinable proportions.
In this second volume of the Dan Clay saga, author T.J. Smith continues his unique genre-blended writings for young adults. This tale, following in the footsteps of volume one, is also meant to show the varying levels of religious followership, and how prayer, faith, and devotion are a person’s greatest strength in the challenges they will face. Smith’s continued creativity in the settings and characters are fascinating. However, the minor flaw of overly in-depth prose continues to cast spans of monotony on an otherwise richly entertaining novel.
This tale is sure to be enjoyable for those who love to be immersed in a good, action-packed series.
|
|
The Harrowing Escape (The Quest of Dan Clay, Book 2)