Book Reviews and More: The Lair of Illusion - Carissa Douglas

Tuesday, 8 June 2021

The Lair of Illusion - Carissa Douglas - Douglings Adventures Book 2

The Lair of Illusion
Douglings Adventures Book 2
Carissa Douglas
Scepter Publishers
ISBN 9781594174032

eISBN 9781594174049

ASIN B08XY9VH2M

This was the second book by Carissa Douglas that I have read. And I have really appreciated both of them. The Douglings Advents continue stories that started for younger readers in the Little Douglings books. I still think it is a pity that the earlier series is not available as eBooks. I still need to track down physical copies of that earlier series. This second book is geared for middle grade readers and it is an excellent book and continuation of the series. I really enjoyed both adventures, and look forward to the next offering in the series.

This series reminds me of The Relic of Perilous Falls by Raymond Arroyo Will Wilder Book 1 but geared for a younger audience. That one is for tweens and teens, and this series is great for middle grade and younger tweens. In the first book they encountered Saint Padre Pio, who served as their guide. And in this book they encounter Saint John Henry Newman. The description of this book is:

“The seven oldest of the Douglas siblings are sent to help their three eccentric great aunts settle into their new home. Their home ends up being a castle! The castle is filled with secret passageways and holds a mysterious past. Led by their new friend, beloved St. John Henry Newman, the children will unravel a mystery and equip themselves with spiritual gifts to face a cunning and manipulative villain who has been leading vulnerable souls into his lair of illusion.”

This story is well written and has some excellent illustrations. The writing is clean. The plot moves along at a great pace. The mystical elements, and history of the saint and his focus on faith and reason and excellent to encounter. In this story the saint comes to help the children encounter a gathering darkness. A darkness being used and used by someone who feels greatly wronged. Someone who weaves and twists darkness and loneliness to entrap and ensnare people, specifically at a retirement home. The story has a wonderful family dedicated to god and devoted to each other. And the older children are staying with their great aunts at a family home. The Saint John Henry helps lead and guide the children and even appears to other adults as a local priest.

This second book of the Douglings Adventure Series is a great read, and it is a great continuation of the series. I really enjoyed reading this and could not put it down. I read it in a single sitting. I plan on rereading it with my youngest two. Or maybe having the oldest read it to the other three of us. It is a great read, and fiction that will inspire faith.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Carissa Douglas:
Little Douglings Series:
I Go To Jesus
A Gift of myself
All Things new
…

Douglings Adventures Series:
Mystic Informant
The Lair of Illusion

…