Garden of the Lost Souls by Erik Olsen

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Garden of the Lost Souls (Flin's Destiny Series #2) by Erik Olsen

Publisher:  Cedar Fort, Inc.

Publication Date:  July 10th 2012

ISBN:  146211010X

Genre:  YA/middle-grade adventure, fantasy

Book Synopsis:  Flin climbed to the top of the Cathedral and was now pinned against the anemone’s ceiling while dozens of enraged Snazzards scaled up after him.
I can’t climb any higher he thought, desperately looking around for any last options. There’s no place left to go! They’re going to get me! Panicked, he jumped and fell hundreds of feet through the air as the ground raced toward him.
“NOOooo…!” he screamed.


After all he’s been through, it seems Flin’s life is finally getting back to normal—well, as normal as you can get when you’re stuck hundreds of miles under the earth’s surface. But in Cobble Cavern, nothing stays normal for long. 


And when Flin and the rest of his classmates are sucked into another adventure, they’ll need more than a little magic to make it out alive. Especially since this time Flin will have to choose between saving an entire village from destruction or rescuing his own best friend!


Packed with action, humor, and tons of twists, this second installment in the Flin’s Destiny series will keep your kids up with a flashlight long past bedtime. Delve deeper into the mysterious underworld in this heart-pounding story that’s bound to become a family favorite.

My Thoughts:  I didn't know that it could get so much better - but it sure did!!!  I really enjoyed book one - Cobble Cavern - in the  Flin's Destiny Series, but this one takes it to a whole new level of awesome!!!


I found the action and pacing in Garden of the Lost Souls to be very fast and exciting!  When you start this book, be prepared, hold onto your seat, because you will be off on an amazing ride!!  The descriptions of the characters and this under-world are so much more vivid in this book - and like I said before, I thought they were great in the first one!!!


I don't want to sound so enthusiastic that it feels phony, but this is honestly the way I feel.  Erik Olsen has created a series that will attract a wide variety of readers.  I am very awe-inspired with this series.  If this book is any indication on what will continue in the next, I want to read that next book NOW!!!


All of the characters I loved from Cobble Cavern are back in Garden of the Lost Souls.  They are in for some thrilling adventures that sometimes make you feel you are on a roller-coaster ride.  Flin at one point is believed dead, and at other points is the champion or purveyor of strength in the given situation.  His friends, Pilt, Flowell, Fezzy, and others play larger rolls in this book - we get to learn so much more about them.  We even get to see what happens to Sump, Parcell, and Ruel - you'll not believe it!!!  And, there are even more creative characters to be had - Delly, Pepper, and Froggit - and more!  Don't you just love those names!!  Stepping out into other parts of the under-world - finding more caverns and spaces, Flin and crew continue to run into danger, but also find some beautiful worlds with some very friendly creatures.  


Something that I thought brought so much more to this story is the glimmer of a relationship beginning between Flin and Flowell.  I hope we see more of that in future installments!! This was not at all up in your face, but rather in the outskirts.  The intertwining relationships between all of the characters is so very creative - some things I were not at all what I had expected.  


Thank you Erik Olsen for writing this wonderful fantasy adventure.  Like I said about Cobble Cavern, this will definitely be shared with my students - and more than likely part of a read-aloud!!!!

***Aren't the covers on both books gorgeous.  Could you imagine what a picture book would be like!!!!