Ever since Nicholas convinced his great-uncle to visit, he had been waiting for the day. Summer was already in full swing, but with no friends keen on spending time with him, all he had left was keeping an eye on his little sister Kat and her baffling nightmares. Tragedy strikes on the eve of the visit when his great-uncle dies in an accident. Days later, when he receives a cryptic note from his great-uncle sent before his accident, Nick starts to suspect there may be more to this situation than meets the eye. He does not know that he is about to walk into a titanic battle between good and evil. Prague is where the answers lie, and that is where he will go. Only time will tell how well he fares in Sword of the Golden City by Jane Alvey Harris and Ruston Jones.

Jane Alvey Harris and Ruston Jones weave folklore into a riveting mystery in Sword of the Golden City. Nicholas’s origin story unfolds in short bursts, with the authors taking care to emphasize why he has so few friends and why he is close to his great-uncle despite the physical distance between them. A blend of descriptive storytelling and a graduated pace complements the dialogue that oscillates from emotional whenever Nicholas has to reason with his little sister or mother, to investigative as he puts the strategically placed clues together. The suspense builds to a climax. What stands out is the fluid way Harris and Jones weave complex puzzles into folklore, encouraging readers to think outside the box to solve the mystery. I enjoyed reading this fascinating novel.

Thirteen-year-old Nicholas “Nick” Damek Gordon was excited about the arrival of his great-uncle Damek Maracek, an expert in ancient languages, mythology, and archaeology based in Prague, Czech Republic. However, Nick and his family are devastated by the news of Damek’s sudden demise before his visit. They fly to Prague from Chicago for his burial. Unknown to Nick, he is about to be thrust into the midst of a centuries-old battle. It turns out Damek hails from a bloodline entrusted with the stewardship of ancient artifacts and the protection of the Golden City against the return of an ancient evil sorcerer, Horymir. As the current steward, Damek had mistakenly awakened the sorcerer while attempting to destroy him for good. Now, Nick must rely on clues from Damek’s diary, his dreams, and the help of unexpected allies to secure the only weapon that can stop Horimyr and save the world. Find out more in Sword of the Golden City by Jane Alvey Harris and Ruston Jones.

If you are looking for a young adult urban fantasy blended with action, thrills, mythical lore, and suspense, Sword of the Golden City by Jane Alvey Harris and Ruston Jones is a worthy pick. The introduction sets the stage for an enthralling plot promising adventure, high stakes, and mystery. The cinematic depictions captured the setting in great detail. As I got lost in the conflicts, riddles, and uncertainty of Nick’s quest to protect his family’s legacy and the world, I could not stop marvelling at the beauty of Prague’s quaint streets and architecture. The character-driven conversations and the introspective commentary revealed the cast’s personalities and emotions, giving me insight into their decisions. Teenagers will find Nick a relatable and interesting character. He sees himself as uncool and struggles with low self-esteem, largely because of his physical flaw. But he rises to the challenge to face a force so powerful that it can manipulate the human mind and the environment. Through Nick, we learn that we don’t have to be perfect to achieve great accomplishments; we only need to believe in ourselves.