In a world that lies between reality and imagination, a “fanciful, action-packed adventure” awaits (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Come and claim it in this first book of the Five Kingdoms series, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series.
Cole Randolph was just trying to have a fun time with his friends on Halloween (and maybe get to know Jenna Hunt a little better). But when a spooky haunted house turns out to be a portal to something much creepier, Cole finds himself on an adventure on a whole different level.
After Cole sees his friends whisked away to some mysterious place underneath the haunted house, he dives in after them—and ends up in The Outskirts.
The Outskirts are made up of five kingdoms that lie between wakefulness and dreaming, reality and imagination, life and death. It’s an in-between place. Some people are born there. Some find their way there from our world, or from other worlds.
And once you come to the Outskirts, it’s very hard to leave.
With the magic of the Outskirts starting to unravel, it’s up to Cole and an unusual girl named Mira to rescue his friends, set things right in the Outskirts, and hopefully find his way back home…before his existence is forgotten.
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“Keith Nobbs’ narrative style is a
perfect match for Mull’s latest fantasy adventure. When a group of unsuspecting
sixth graders, led by Cole, visits Spooky Lane on Halloween, they’re kidnapped
and taken to another dimension, where they’re sold into slavery. Nobbs captures
the essence of each character so thoroughly that listeners will feel like
they’re old friends, especially Cole, whose voice spans the emotional spectrum,
giving him a true heroic presence. Also notable is the chipper tone of the
talking Happy Face. Nobbs nimbly navigates the story’s roller-coaster pace. His
dynamic performance is amplified by expertly timed sound effects and booming
monster voices, all of which sets a high standard for future installments.”
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AudioFile