Marco’s life lost all meaning when his father died from a mysterious illness. Now that they have arrived at their ancestral home, Marco cannot help feeling out of place. His brain has blocked all the painful memories surrounding his father’s death. Not knowing what happened haunts him, but at the same time, he is afraid to find out the truth. When the same illness threatens to engulf his mother, an enigmatic woman appearing in his dreams offers Marco a solution. The key to this baffling puzzle lies in the ancient castle belonging to his family. To help his mother, Marco must undertake a quest to retrieve a magical weapon. Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls, a young adult fantasy novel by D. E. Cunningham, narrates his adventure into the world of souls.

Cunningham has built a whole new world full of stunning details and vivid imagery. The vibrant, multi-colored gemstones scattered around the world of souls help readers to conjure up a magnificent visual. In contrast, the accompanying illustrations, painted in various shades of black and grey, add a sense of mystery and menace. Marco’s quest is full of unimaginable perils involving gigantic serpents and shadowy creatures. The storyline provided an almost unending stream of action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. Plot twists and shocking betrayals demand unwavering attention from readers. All the drama and suspense made this book perfectly suitable for a movie adaptation. I would wholeheartedly recommend Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls to anyone loving a fantasy book full of wondrous adventures.

Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls by D. E. Cunningham is a Middle-Grade Fantasy Adventure. Marco is only 11 but has already lost his father and his mother is on a downward spiral. Long-forgotten memories are starting to come back to him but when an enchantress tells him she can cure his mother, how can he resist? But there’s always a price to pay and Marco must find a powerful weapon buried deep in the World of Souls. Along the way, he learns the secrets of his father’s past and his own, as he fights monsters trying to stop him. Marco needs to keep his wits about him if he is to cure his mother and save the World of Souls and the consequences of failure are too terrible to consider.

Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls by D. E. Cunningham is a fantastic adventure story with plenty of heart-thumping action. It draws you in right from the start, holding your attention all the way through, with supernatural elements and the real struggles of a teen learning to live with things no kid should ever have to experience. The characters are wonderfully well developed, likable, and some of them are relatable. The story is written in clear, easy language and is highly enjoyable and easy to follow. It’s also a story about learning to live with who you are, how to become stronger as you face challenges in life. With plenty of twists and turns, this fast-paced story will keep you guessing all the way. This is the perfect story for fans of the Percy Jackson and C S Lewis novels.

Marco Swift was a captivating story that hosted deep emotions and thrilling adventure. Both myself, age 35, and my daughter, age 9, enjoyed this book. The portrayal of light and darkness was powerful. The creative representation of the human soul was very interesting, and gave a good conversation starter with my daughter to discuss the difference between the human soul in contrast with our body. This was definitely a worthwhile purchase.