This irresistible first novel tells the story of four friends who find themselves caught up in the dangerous quest to save their town when the wicked creatures from their card game come to life.
Max Summer and his three best friends, Harley, Ernie, and Natalia - who form the secret club The Grey Griffins - seem to be the only people in their very normal Minnesota town to notice that strange things have started to happen. When creatures like goblins and fairies and unicorns, all characters from a card game the Grey Griffins play, begin to make appearances in Max's backyard, Max and his friends know something is terribly wrong. And it's up to them to stop the wicked creatures of the cards from destroying their town - indeed, their world.Download and start listening now!
"Not only is this a fun book, it may be the best fictionalization of the Templars I've read. Add in the Shakespeare/King Arthur references and this story has just about everything a chivarlous fantasy story should."
— Karolinde (4 out of 5 stars)
“The Revenge of the Shadow King has all the ingredients that make for great fantasy. I was hooked from the first page.”
— Jenny Nimmo, New York Times bestselling author“The authors borrow from both Arthurian legend and faerie lore to build their setting…The backdrop exudes its own childlike enchantment, much like the card game at the story’s center.”
— Publishers Weekly“Erik Steele entices his listeners into this adventurous story of four best friends who struggle to protect their sleepy Minnesota town from the threat of the Shadow King…He presents the four main characters and their personalities with equal flair and differentiation, and incorporates the secondary characters with verve.”
— AudioFile“A collectible card game introduces Max and his friends to the battle against ancient evil…Not a bad option for fans of the genre.”
— Kirkus Reviews" only read if your reeeeally reeeeeeally bored. it was ok but there are waaaay better books out there. i definatly wouldnt suggest this book, i wont even read it again and i reread like everything. if your looking for a book dont choose this one, choose something like The Host or Princess Academy. "
— Sarah, 2/19/2014" Sigh. I was disappointed with this book because I think it tried to be too many things for too many audiences. This is another ARC I picked up at work, set for publication in March 2006, and clearly trying to be the next Harry Potter, not just in sales but in plot and character as well. (Tragically the writing is nowhere near as good as JKR.) I did like some of the connections and stretches of imagination the authors came up with, but most of it was trite or it came flying in from left field. (No sense of pacing! So frustrating.) The most disappointing thing for me, though, was the fact that it was set in a small town in Minnesota, but it might as well have been set on moon for all the sense it made. There was a chapel in the gothic style that had "obviously been there for hundreds of years." I mean, that's fine and good in the UK, but Minnesota has only been a state since 1858. Reality kept snapping back my imagination over things like that. Maybe non-native-Minnesotans won't share my issues. Anyway, not a bad young reader (which is, of course, its genre) but it's no Harry Potter. Which is too bad. "
— Jenny, 1/16/2014" This is a fun, exciting story for anyone! "
— Valerie, 1/13/2014" Really Good, not to scary. I think my grandkids would like these also. I really like it when good overcomes evil. "
— Julia, 1/7/2014" its was very good and ill add more when i re read it. "
— Jared, 1/3/2014" Blech - a J.K. Rowling wanna be. "
— Shari, 1/1/2014" The book was good in all but could have had more action in it, while I read it I could hardly put it down because it had a lot of suspence throughout. Eventhough it had like fearies and stuff in it i still thought that I would read it again and again. So I would recomend this book to pretty much any person that would like a book about a suburd getting turned into a wacked out cartoon land. "
— Dallas, 12/29/2013" A little spooky for younger kids. My boys 11 and up really liked it. "
— Randi, 12/27/2013" a REALLY amazing book. to see two authors fuse thier writing styles so flawlessly amazes me. also, the whole idea behind the story is a unique and fresh change to all of the fantasy books out there. "
— Alex, 12/25/2013" It was slow, but there was a lot of character building in the first book. Verdicts out until I read the second book. "
— Jean, 12/10/2013" my brother in law lent me this book and i read it in a day.I love it. I cant wait to read the second one. Anybody who likes fantasy read it. "
— Mandy, 12/3/2013" I was a little bored with the dialect of this book. I also thought the plot was a little foggy. Otherwise it was full do adventure. "
— Nathen, 12/2/2013" Very good, a bit on the dull and predictable side though. But if you enjoy fantasy this is a must read. "
— The, 10/14/2013" it was a very interesting book i wished there was more action in the story. But other wise it was a great book, if you think otherwise you have a bad taste for fiction books. "
— Patrick, 10/9/2013" Fantastic book for kids aged 8-13 depending on their level of reading. Some parts are a little slow but for the most part, I think it will be a captivating read for juveniles. "
— Mo, 9/25/2013" I like books like these because they are very interesting, I extremely recommend it. "
— Darwin, 9/22/2013" this book is a little slow in the begging but gets ur attention toward the middle, but ur left with a hook at the end. good for young readers. "
— ♥lil', 3/14/2013" I thought this book was so cool it actully felt like I was there in the book. "
— Soumaya, 2/26/2013" I give this book 3.2. This book was okay but was very slow and boring at parts. The beggining wasnt written very well but the end of the book was great. I was going to give this book a rating between one or two but the ending brought it up to a three. "
— Austin, 12/9/2012" First book in a fantasy series about a group of friends who play a fantasy card game, and suddenly find that monsters from what they thought was the game's fictional realm are appearing in their town! "
— Christina, 5/12/2012" I thought it was great!!! loved how it was thrilling. "
— Anna, 5/7/2012" A bit scary to read at night but good. "
— Cam, 2/29/2012" Excellent children's book, but equally enjoyable for adults. My son and I both loved it. "
— Legolas, 1/31/2012" This was a pretty unique and captivating story. I am hooked enough to continue the series. "
— Kristy, 1/15/2012" An excellent fantasty book for kids and adults alike. Though the characters aren't particularly interesting, the story is engaging, and the book was magical. "
— Rebecca, 12/25/2011" a really good book for those who like fantacys "
— Kdgm, 11/26/2011" Written for an early-teen audience. Not very engaging. Book two is much better. "
— Clint, 11/5/2011" I Loved these books they were so fun, i look at all the fact(y) stuff and it was all true (in a fiction sort of way) if that made sense... congrats. Book2 is good too. "
— Remy, 6/18/2011" I thought this book was so cool it actully felt like I was there in the book. "
— Soumaya, 4/23/2011" <br/>Good but not as good as the last... "
— Max, 4/7/2011" Awesome start to a great series. Very edge-of-your-seat for kids! "
— Linzy, 3/31/2011" I love this book! It is about a boy dealing with his parent's divorce and him and his friends learning their game is part of something much bigger. I don't think it is traditional fairie material, which makes it even more special. I love how Max's parent's are the backbone for more books. Love it! "
— TikiPaws12, 3/18/2011" I thought that it was really good "
— Morgan, 2/24/2011" This was a GREAT book. I read the series a really long time ago, but I still think they are good. "
— Hayden, 1/4/2011" I like books like these because they are very interesting, I extremely recommend it. "
— Darwin, 11/18/2010" Nimmo was right. It "has all the ingredients that make for great fantasy". It's too bad the writing isn't up to it. It's almost an insult to the intelligence of children. I won't be going on to book 2. "
— Kathy, 11/16/2010" First book in a fantasy series about a group of friends who play a fantasy card game, and suddenly find that monsters from what they thought was the game's fictional realm are appearing in their town! "
— Christina, 10/30/2010" I loved this book. It is a little childish but I just love it no further comment. "
— Ivo, 10/4/2010" If you think you might want to read it don't it's terrible "
— Parker, 9/25/2010" An excellent fantasty book for kids and adults alike. Though the characters aren't particularly interesting, the story is engaging, and the book was magical. "
— Rebecca, 9/12/2010Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis have been best friends since diapers. They grew up sharing birthday parties, Saturday morning cartoons, comic books and baseball cards, and spent much of their childhood exploring the sprawling woodlands behind Derek’s family farm, which they secretly suspected was enchanted. They are the authors of three previous books featuring The Grey Griffins: The Revenge of the Shadow King, The Rise of the Black Wolf, and The Fall of the Templar.
Erik Steele is a professional actor living in New York City, where he has worked both on and off Broadway and in film. He has toured with the prestigious Acting Company, performing Shakespeare and Sheridan in theaters from Atlanta to Anchorage. He holds an MFA in acting from New York University and a BA from Vassar College.
Erik Steele is a professional actor living in New York City, where he has worked both on and off Broadway and in film. He has toured with the prestigious Acting Company, performing Shakespeare and Sheridan in theaters from Atlanta to Anchorage. He holds an MFA in acting from New York University and a BA from Vassar College.