The Search for the Shadowsoul

by Callie C. Miller

Overview

A descendant of the great wizard Merlyn must atone for the harm he caused in this “thrilling magical romp with a heartfelt message” (Kirkus Reviews) that’s the second adventure in the A Quest of Great Importance middle grade series that riffs on Arthurian legend in the vein of Adam Gidwitz and Amanda Foody!

The wizard Percy used to be sure of three things: he’s a magical prodigy, he’s destined to do extraordinary things (as prophesied by his ancestor, the wizard Merlyn), and he would do anything for his twin, Merlynda. But that was before Merlynda was revealed to be the subject of the prophecy, and before Percy became the Hollower, stealing magic for the wicked Morgan le Fey.

Six months have passed since Percy and Merlynda defeated the sorceress, but Percy hasn’t been able to reconcile who he is with what he’s done. And he carries a dark secret: despite her banishment, Morgan le Fey can still speak to him.

When the mysterious Round Table discovers newly Hollowed objects, Percy is blamed. He escapes on a quest to clear his name but also to make sure whoever is responsible never Hollows anyone again. Joined by Merlynda and Neci (now a royally dubbed knight), an anxious warlock (who seeks to break a curse), and a nonmagical sugar glider (who longs to be a familiar), Percy must defeat this new foe not only to face his past, but to decide what kind of wizard he’ll be in the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665952323
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/17/2024
Series:	A Quest of Great Importance
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Callie C. Miller works in animation and has written for shows spanning the audience age from preschool to teen anime. Callie holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and has twice placed in the Katherine Paterson Prize competition for her middle grade speculative fiction. Her books include The Hunt for the Hollower, The Search for the Shadowsoul, and The Vanishing Orphans of Alvanor.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1: In Which Evil Whispers Echo and Magic Is Restored

1 In which evil whispers echo and magic is restored
Percival of Merlyn Manor stared longingly at the sunshine filtering in through the window. It was a glorious morning. The manor grounds burst with the colors and smells of freshly blooming flowers, and a slight breeze offered a delicious reprieve from the warm, glowing sun. It was the perfect day for sneaking off into the orchard to try a forbidden spell, or to romp around with his twin, Merlynda, or ride his pony-scorpion, Harriet.

Alas, he wasn’t allowed any of those things, for he was doomed to the library.

This was Percy’s least-favorite room in all of Merlyn Manor. He found it claustrophobic, with its towering shelves, overstuffed furniture, and, worst of all, books. Loads of them. Mountains of them. Tomes and scrolls and parchments. And he was tasked to read them all, on account of being grounded forever. Last year he and Merlynda had played a (mostly harmless) prank on their uncle William, then escaped to the orchard to attempt a potentially dangerous but definitely off-limits spell while their parents were away. Among other things.

A wooden gryphon shot out of the grandfather clock, startling Percy so badly, he scattered the pile of books and scrolls in front of him. “Back to work!” it growled. “Back to work!”

Mother had enchanted the clock to monitor Percy’s studies. She believed that if Percy were more traditionally educated, he might not again fall prey to, say, a banished sorceress bent on murdering their family and conquering the known world.

Percy tore his gaze from the window. Magicking the books into place would have been simple, but he was strictly forbidden from performing any unsupervised magic. He stacked them in place, lining them up just so.

He had other reasons for carefully arranging them. Percy didn’t disagree that laying a foundational understanding of magic was wise, given that his reliance on natural talent and raw power had gotten him into monumental trouble. But he was more concerned with topics beyond the basic magical elements that Mother had thus far curated for him, so he’d assigned himself some extracurricular reading that he preferred stayed secret.

He made sure he was still alone, then slipped out a small scroll.

Foresight is one of the most difficult branches of magic to study. The ability is rare, and common intuition is often mistaken for this magical skill. Countless spells and rituals have been developed to scry the future, but none have been successful. It is unknown why this ability manifests in some magic users and not others—

Percy resisted banging his head against the table. This was the fifth academic work he’d slogged through, and all it did was use too many words to explain common knowledge.

Maybe he ought to ask Merlynda for help. But then she’d want to know why he was asking about foresight, especially when she didn’t have that skill herself, and that wasn’t something he could bring himself to share. Not until he had answers.

You could let me help, you know, Morgan le Fey’s whisper crooned through his mind.

Shut up, Percy thought back.

This was met, as it always was, with a cruel, tinkling laugh.

Editorial Reviews

A thrilling magical romp with a heartfelt message.

8/15/24 - Kirkus Reviews

2024-07-19
Percy is attempting to rebuild his identity after perpetrating evil upon the magical community when a new threat forces him to examine himself anew.

Merlynda saved her twin, Percy, from the machinations of the evil Morgan le Fey in 2023’sThe Hunt for the Hollower. Now, both are recuperating—Merlynda from being Hollowed of her magic and Percy from his devastating role as the Hollower. He’s working to right past wrongs, and he’s afraid to tell anyone that he still hears Morgan’s voice in his head. Percy becomes more secretive when it’s discovered that a Shadowsoul is stealing magic. Percy wonders whether he created the Shadowsoul when he was the Hollower. Guilt-ridden, he charges off solo to conquer the Shadowsoul. Merlynda, ever faithful, follows. Knowledge of the first book is helpful for following the events in this one, although interspersed notes from the narrator provide background information. The white-presenting twins are soon joined in their quest by a colorful cast of somewhat diverse characters—familiar friends plus new allies. Plenty of clashes keep the excitement level high, and readers will be surprised when the villain is revealed. Even when things are tense, the twins’ loyal familiars add comic relief. Gradually, Percy takes to heart what those around him have been reassuring him: He’s more than his worst act and he’s loved.

A thrilling magical romp with a heartfelt message.(Adventure. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews