While his mother and older brother are on a trip to Peru, Chris is on his first hunting trip with his dad. However, this trip takes a turn when Chris spots a tall, angelic creature. He is shaken by the sighting and worried his dad will think he is daydreaming again if he tells him. However, he finally decides to tell his father what he saw. Surprisingly, his dad had seen a similar figure when he was young. It won’t be long before the Cochrane family, like their ancestors, will be fighting shadow demons called Tourlt. They will learn that the Tourlt have their hand in countless devious acts occurring in the world over the centuries. One of the things that has kept the Tourlt at bay is a legendary sword that can only be wielded by a member of the Cochrane family.

Cochrane’s fantasy is heavily influenced by works like The Chronicles of Narnia. It avoids the gritty details of some fantasy series and has a Christian backdrop. The author's writing is clean and clear of mistakes, and the pace is well-maintained. The battle scenes are not too intense or graphic, as the book feels targeted at a middle-grade audience. Cochrane includes classic quest lines and fantastical creatures, along with magic and legendary items. The book is a self-contained story, but it leaves room at its conclusion for more tales to take place in this setting. Although the novel doesn’t break new ground in the genre, readers who are rabid about devouring fantasy books with likely revel in the familiar themes. Parents and teachers looking for a clean read for their more conservative youth will be able to recommend this book without reservation.

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