The Wormworld Saga Vol. 1: The Journey Begins - Softcover

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY -- Jonas would enjoy spending summer at his grandmother's country house if only his father would just quit harping on him about his summer school homework. While exploring a hidden part of the old home, Jonas stumbles upon a picture frame that transports him to a world of magical gems, strange beasts, and, apparently, someone who has prophesied his coming. Raya, the kind guide who saves him, helps him to escape the Great Forest unscathed and ready to enter the land of Ankal Aasha. Though the narrative unfolds invitingly and with clarity, a lengthy initial arc fails to build tension or suspense, but Lieske hints at much to be explored in subsequent books. At times overly polished in appearance, the digitally rendered artwork is often lush, particularly in scenes within the richly colored forest. This is a promising launch to a portal fantasy adventure series. Ages 9-12.

This gorgeous fantasy epic follows Jonas, a young boy from our human world, who stumbles into an alternate universe through a painting in his grandmother's attic. When the portal closes behind him, Jonas must find another way home and begins a journey through this strange and fascinating land. Along the way he meets Raya, who becomes his guardian in the new world. But there are many things Raya is not telling Jonas, and this world is not peaceful. Raya takes Jonas to the bucolic waterfall village of Ankal Aasha and brings him before a priest who tells him that his destiny is to heal the rift in their world. Raya and Jonas travel to the city of King's Peak, home of the Worm Mountain, under which, according to legend, the great fire god Unurtha is buried. Here they find that the city's people have turned a blind eye to the dangers of Unurtha and are using a crack in the mountain to harvest energy from the fire and create new kinds of energy crystals. It is Jonas's job to stop this. But in a world of mounting violence, monstrous creatures, and shifting allegiances, what can one small, scared, human boy do?