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MJ Raco, author of the fantasy/adventure series Realm Travellers, is an orthoptist by day, a novelist by night. Her debut novel, The Ancient Gateway, is the first in the series, followed by A Parallel Dimension and the sequels The Forbidden Passage, The Deep Tarn and A Queen’s Cradle. .
MJ lives in Sydney, Australia, has three adult children and three grandkids she adores. She has two exceptionally large ginger rescue tabbies she’s allergic to, but wouldn’t part with for anything.
The daughter of a great storyteller, songwriter and poet, she grew up surrounded by mythology and parables from the scriptures. Her love affair with fantasy began when she was gifted her first Enid Blyton book at the age of seven. Escaping into a world of endless imagination was her happy place, and she hasn’t stopped venturing there since.
When she isn’t saving sight, babysitting or tucked away tapping on her archaic laptop, MJ spends her time reading, cooking and making plans to see the world—especially ancient worlds!
Reviewed by Kamil Wróbel for Readers' Favorite
Realm Travellers: A Queen’s Cradle by M.J. Raco marks the final chapter for a group of companions thrust into a dangerous parallel dimension. The story begins on Maxine’s seventeenth birthday, driven by her consuming desire to use a magical portal to bring back her deceased mother, Grace. Ignoring her father’s intense opposition and a dark premonition that the realm is on the brink of civil war, Max leaps anyway. The journey goes sideways instantly when fortress guards ambush the travelers, leading to them being captured and separated, while a ruthless new ruler named Vyvian takes the throne. As the characters discover that this magical realm amplifies their natural human traits into unique supernatural abilities, they must band together to survive a brewing revolution. Will Max’s desperate quest to reunite her family ultimately cost the lives of everyone she loves?
Realm Travellers: A Queen’s Cradle by M.J. Raco is a fantasy adventure that draws its strength from raw family loyalty and deep maternal bonds. What makes the book so compelling is that the emotional tension between the adults and children gives real meaning to every magical crisis they encounter. The tight-knit chemistry among the travelers is obvious, anchoring the story with a level of trust that makes their protective streaks undeniably real. It creates great momentum as you watch the group learn to handle their newly amplified powers while navigating the cutthroat politics of the enemy fortress. By placing this chaos in a society built on the ruins of ancient civilizations, redemption grows naturally through the characters’ complicated choices. Seeing longtime rivals find common ground during a huge conflict transforms this dangerous journey into a beautiful story about empathy, forgiveness, and second chances. Fans of immersive coming-of-age fantasy will treasure this tale from beginning to end.
