News, Press & Reviews

Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam
by R.K. Mortenson
Friday, June 09, 2006

Reviewed by Lori and Michael Scott

Lori's Review:
Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam, the second book in the Landon Snow series by R.K. Mortenson, brings the reader back to Button Up Library.

In the beginning of the tale, eleven year old Landon keeps thinking about the special world he traveled to in book one. An old Bible holds the key to traveling to this strange place filled with “odd” people.

In his desire to return, he shares his last adventure with his number-loving sister Holly. When Holly scoffs at him, Landon feels determined to prove the truth of what happened. He convinces Holly to travel the secret passageway from Grandpa’s house to the library.

Much to Landon’s delight, talking books convince Holly that Landon was right. But then shadow creatures trick Holly. She falls under the spell of the coin and Ludo, the villainous Odd from the first book.

Landon learns more bad news. Dark shadows bent on destruction have invaded the land. It’s up to Landon not only to defeat the shadows, but to save Holly from Ludo’s clutches. He is aided by his best friend (who happens to be a horse), his love interest, and a recluse poet named Vates.

I enjoyed this book. It had likeable characters, strong moral values, and a nice touch of humor. It seemed like a quick read. The storyline drew me in. (Although I didn’t feel compelled to stay up all night turning pages.) Youth with active imaginations and love for the fantasy genre will eat this book up.

Michael's Review:
I enjoyed reading the exciting book Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam by R. K. Mortenson. It is about the adventures of a eleven-year-old boy in an magical land. In the book, Landon Snow and his sisters, Holly and Bridget, go to their grandparents' house in Button Up, Minnesota. Holly is a smart young girl about the same age as Landon. She loves math and can’t stop counting things. Bridget is a younger girl about the age of four who sleeps in the car a lot.

The story starts with Holly coming with Landon in a secret passageway in their grandpa’s study. The secret passage leads to the Button Up Library, or the BUL. There they meet talking books and strange shadowy creatures that force the books into saying things that they don’t want to say. One of these “Bookwyrmin” (as the books call them) forces a book to say untrue stuff and tricks Holly into going into an air duct that leads to a mysterious land. Landon quickly follows after her. But he is too late. An evil man named Ludo turns his sister to the dark side. Will Landon be able to save his sister? And who is the mysterious Malus Quidam? Find out by reading the book!

Related Authors

• R. K. Mortenson

Related Books

• Landon Snow & Shadows Of Malus Quidam #2 (Hard Cover)

• Landon Snow & The Auctor's Riddle # 1 (Hard Cover)

• Landon Snow & The Island Of Arcanum # 3 (Hard Cover)