Aidan Lucid's The Lost Son was published in October 2019.
Born in July 1981 with a very rare syndrome known as Moebius Syndrome, Aidan has never let that stop him achieving his goals in life. Mr. Lucid began writing back in 2002 after a religious experience. In 2004 after plucking up the courage to send out his material, he was published seven times that year. Over the next decade, Aidan's works appeared in various local and international anthologies, magazines and e-zines. From March to December 2007, Aidan wrote film reviews for the award winning Irish newspaper, "The Kerryman".
Aidan's YA epic fantasy novel, "The Lost Son", was released in 2019. He hopes to release the sequel in 2020.
The Zargothian Saga #1
by Aidan Lucid
A Magic Coin. A Hidden World. An Incredible Adventure!
When Henry Simmons unearths a coin with mysterious powers, it’s clear that his life is soon to change... but not how he expects. After using the charm to woo Tracey Maxwell, Henry finds himself launched to another dimension”"a world in which the human race is mercilessly hunted down by creatures called Sadarkians. This hellish realm, Zargothia, could scarcely be less safe.
Transported together, Henry and Tracey meet two mysterious strangers and a garrulous cat. Pressing forward, they learn that they’ve been charged with saving the people of Zargothia, but freeing King Argoth along with his people means facing ruthless overlords and almost certain death.
REVIEW: THE LOST SON BY AIDAN LUCID
Aidan Lucid's The Lost Son is the first novel in The Zargothian Saga trilogy. It's a fast-paced coming of age fantasy novel that whisks readers off on a grand adventure into another world that is filled with danger, magic and wonder.
I think it's good to mention that The Lost Son is one of those young adult fantasy novels that have been written as light escapism with an emphasis on entertainment. This novel is a fun read that is aimed at younger readers - especially at teenage boys - who love adventure stories and fast-paced novels, but its themes of adventure, destiny, conflict and growing up will fascinate a wide range of readers.
I found this novel entertaining and enjoyed reading it, because it's a straightforward YA fantasy adventure that has plenty of magic and wonder. There's something old-fashioned yet distinctly modern about the story that appeals to me. I've always been fond of this kind of light fantasy entertainment, because it's fun to read what happens to the characters and how they cope with their problems in another world. Although completely different in terms of story, atmosphere, characters and setting, there's something about this novel that slightly reminds me of Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree series. This novel also slightly reminds me of Colm McElwain's James Clyde novels that have been aimed at middle-grade readership.
The Lost Son tells about a 17-year-old Henry Simmons who finds a coin that transports him and his friend, Tracey, via a portal to another world. When they arrive on the other side of the portal, they meet two RAF pilots who arrived there after fighting against dragons in Bermuda Triangle during the World War II. Soon, Henry is taken to a hidden village where he is being tested. Henry finds out that he and his companions have been charged with saving the people of Zargothia.
In this novel, the author combines various elements ranging from Bermuda Triangle and World War II to dragons and portals. He also writes about such familiar and well-known fantasy elements as a teenage boy growing up to become a hero and a person ending up in another world through a portal. I was positively surprised by the opening scene in which WWII pilots had to fight against dragons, because it was something unexpected and fresh.
Worldbuilding is interesting, because the author has created an original fantasy world, Zargothia, that is intriguingly different from our world. The world where Henry and the others find themselves is a dangerous and treacherous place, because humans are being hunted by creatures called Sadarkians and there are many dangers in store for those who are not careful. It's a place where magic is real and wonders abound.
During the story, Henry faces many challenges and has to deal with various problems. I think that readers - especially boys - will be able to identify themselves with Henry's problems, because the author touches upon such themes and issues as dating, infatuation, bullying, responsibility and being yourself. I also believe that teenage girls will find this novel intriguing, because the author doesn't merely explore Henry's life, but also concentrates on exploring Tracey's life.
The supporting characters - Karina, Jasper the Cat, King Argoth and various other characters - are interesting and satisfyingly versatile. The two RAF pilots are an excellent addition to the story, because they will appeal to mature readers who enjoy reading about older characters. I have to mention that Jasper is a brilliant addition to the cast of characters. I found his mischievous behaviour charming, because he's a clever and resourceful cat. I won't reveal what he does at the end of the story, but I can mention that it's very amusing.
This novel has many illustrations which fit the story well. I was pleased with these illustrations, because they highlighted characters, items and scenes in the story.
Although I liked this novel and found the author's ideas fascinating, I have to be honest and mention a few flaws that I spotted when I read the story. Some of the dialogues felt a bit clumsy and slightly disjointed, because they didn't work as well as they could have worked. I also noticed that the characterisation could have been deeper, because it would've made the characters stand out better and their deeds would've been more plausible (there were a couple of scenes during which the characters' decisions and deeds felt rushed and cumbersome). The characters would've greatly benefited from being given more room to grow and develop as individuals.
I give this novel three stars on the scale from one to five stars, because it's enjoyable and entertaining escapism with plenty of adventure and magic. I look forward to reading the forthcoming sequel, because I want to find out what happens next.
My final words are:
Despite a few flaws, Aidan Lucid's The Lost Son is entertaining fantasy escapism that is fun to read, because it combines various elements in an enjoyable way and the story has themes that many readers will find easy to relate to. This novel will especially appeal to young adult readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasy adventures with lots of magic and action, but it will also be of interest to older readers who want to read something light and entertaining.