The Realms Thereunder, by Ross Lawhead

The Realms Thereunder, by Ross Lawhead (Thomas Nelson, 2011)The Realms Thereunder is a fun ride but one filled with ups and downs as far as plot progression goes. I am a huge Stephen Lawhead lover and have read every one of his books, so when I saw his son had written a book I was very excited to read it. The premise is that two students in England find their way beneath the streets of Oxford into a hidden city filled with Old English mythology and folklore. On a visit to an old church, Daniel Tully and Freya Reynolds awaken two ancient knights from a centuries-old slumber. They are kidnapped and taken to an underground city that stands in peril.

Fast forward eight years. Daniel, now homeless, still wages what he believes to be a righteous war against those he judges to be evil. Freya has tried to put the past behind her and concentrate on getting an education, a job, and a life. When they reconnect in Oxford, unseen forces begin to ally against them. Daniel is pulled through a portal and into another world. Overall the book is pretty good for a first time novelist. I found that the booked ebbed and flowed between being very good to being mediocre. However, I do expect Ross Lawhead to become a very good author of many other tales, and I look forward to watching him grow.

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