The Shadow of the Shifting Sands - Shadows of the Past 18

Readers' Favorite Book Reviews

Hop on for a thrilling time-travel adventure with Wendy Leighton-Porter's The Shadow of the Shifting Sands. Twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot are still searching for their parents, looking for them in places lost in time. Now, they are on their way to Arabia in the 1700s with their best friend Charlie and their large (talking!) Tonkinese cat, Max, who is a special agent for the Guardians of Time. Upon their arrival in the Arabian Desert, they meet Zayed, a young boy whose father, Khaled, has been kidnapped by pirates seeking the treasure of a lost city buried beneath the sands. With the help of the guardians of the desert, Max and his friends must find a magical lamp to stop the pirates from awakening a great evil. Along the way, they will have to navigate venomous vipers, sandshadows, and cursed treasure.

The Shadow of the Shifting Sands is a fantastic addition to Wendy Leighton-Porter's Shadows of the Past book series. It's the perfect book for middle-grade fantasy enthusiasts who love time-travel adventure tales. From talking animals to young heroes embarking on courageous quests seeking ancient cities, this book has it all. I loved the depiction of Max the cat. He plays an integral role in the story, and as a cat owner, I was rooting for him to prove himself. Jemima, Joe, Charlie, and Zayed also create an interesting dynamic, with their unique personalities adding much charm and heart to the narrative. I was impressed by the author's worldbuilding and the background lore about the Guardians of Time. Preteen readers will find a lot to love about this series as a whole, especially the characters and their wild adventures. The intricately crafted plot will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommended!