
While vacationing in a seaside cottage in Cornwall, siblings Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew discover a centuries-old parchment hidden within a dusty attic. This map provides cryptic clues to the location of a legendary grail sought by the forces of the Light and the Dark. Under the guidance of their mysterious Great-Uncle Merry, the children navigate coastal caves and tidal paths to recover the artifact before it falls into the hands of sinister local figures. The narrative centers on the specific mechanics of a scavenger hunt rooted in Arthurian myth, where the protagonists must decode physical landmarks to prevent an ancient evil from gaining power.
This story serves middle-grade readers interested in low-fantasy adventures that ground magical stakes in a realistic geographical setting. It appeals to those who enjoy solving puzzles alongside characters and investigating how folklore intersects with contemporary environments. Readers finish the book with a clear understanding of the dualities between order and chaos within the series’ framework. They gain a perspective on how mundane decisions contribute to a larger, invisible conflict between historical forces, learning to identify the subtle ways that ancient legends influence the present day.
Clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2023
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- ISBN
- 9781665932912
- Language
- EN