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It’s been raining for weeks. Bryncastell is so flooded that everything is at a standstill and people are stuck in their houses. That’s not easy with an energetic fire fox. Charlie is doing his best to keep Cadno busy when something shocking happens: Cadno suddenly turns from a fire fox into an electric fox! Charlie isn’t sure what caused this sudden change in Cadno’s powers, but he bets it’s related to all the rain. And he’s sure the answers can be found in Fargone. So he gathers his best friends Lippy and Roo and heads to Fargone. When they get there, they find that Cadno isn’t the only one with messed up powers. All of Fargone is in trouble, so the Adventure Squad teams up with the Queen of Fargone for another huge adventure in Lee Newbery’s latest novel, The Lost Sun Lion.
( Warning: My review of The Lost Sun Lion contains some Spoiler!)
Things are getting strange again in The Lost Sun Lion
In the third part of Lee Newbery’s The last Firefox Series, The Lost Sun Lion, Things are getting strange in Wales again. It’s been raining for weeks. And yes, it’s Wales, rain is kind of the thing there. But this is getting ridiculous. And actually dangerous, the dam is holding back so much water that the retaining wall is starting to show its strain. Charlie’s house is in real danger.
Not to mention the danger posed by Cadno. The poor little guy can’t stand being locked up for so long, but Firefox and rain are a bad combination. That’s when things get really weird. Cadno suddenly no longer has fire powers, but lightning powers! As exciting as that is, Charlie is worried about what exactly that means. And he’s sure it’s somehow related to the insane rain they’re getting. So he convinces his dads to let him take Cadno to Fargone to see if Teg has any idea what’s going on. Charlie calls his buddies Lippy and Roo, and the three of them (plus Cadno) head off to Fargone.
When they get there, they find that Fargone is also having problems. All the magical creatures are changing their powers, just like Cadno. And it’s not raining like crazy, but something is falling from the sky, a floating village! It turns out that an evil giant has escaped from his prison and attacked Llew, the sun lion who guards the heart of Fargone’s magic. If the giant is not defeated and the heart restored, this will be the end of Fargone! And the chaos with the magical creatures will never be ended.
Now it’s up to Charlie and his friends to save the day. They’ve faced dangerous enemies before, but this time they’re up against a real giant! Can they defeat him and save Fargone, the magical creatures, and Wales? That’s a lot to ask of three little kids, but they’re not alone, true heroes never are.
Another great story from Lee Newbery
Lee Newbery is a busy man. In 2022 he published his first book, The last Firefoxwith great acclaim from critics and fans. Since then he has given us two more adventures with Charlie, Cadno and their friends. Three novels in two years is quite a lot for any author. The fact that Newberry manages to make each story exciting and engaging while also promoting character development for all of its characters (not just the main hero). It’s truly amazing.
Young adult writers are often overlooked by society. Of course, every now and then there are authors who break through and are noticed by adults, but to be honest, their achievements are often seen as less valuable than those of authors of novels for adults. This is a completely unfair view. Young adult writers are the true heroes of the literary world.
We all had books that we enjoyed reading as children. These stories shaped us. They introduced us to new ideas and ways of thinking that we might not have come across in our everyday lives, and they instilled in us a love of reading. Think about how many adults who read not read as children? Without these children’s authors who captivate our young minds, adult authors would have no audience.
Not to mention that young adult authors write great stories! Are there any books I’ve read to my children that I found a little, shall we say… immature (I’m looking at you) Captain Underpants)? Sure. But they were written to captivate young children, and they succeed brilliantly. On the other hand, there are young adult books that I find entertaining and thought-provoking even as an adult. I can honestly say that I enjoy reading them. Newbery’s The last Firefox The series definitely falls into the second category.
The Lost Sun Lion is not just for children
I strongly recommend Newbery’s work for children ages 6 to 12 (the age group I think will enjoy them the most). I think everyone will find the story of Charlie and Cadno heartwarming and uplifting. I would just like cwtch Cadno, and I am eagerly awaiting an animated version that I will fall in love with. So grab The Lost Sun Lion and take a summer trip to Fargone with Charlie, Cadno and the whole gang!
Rating: 9/10
The Lost Sun Lion by Lee Newbery is now available on Amazon and other bookstores! Will you be buying this series for your child? Let us know what you think on social media at @mycosmiccircus. Check out my reviews of the other books in the series at the links below!
Book review: The last Firefox by Lee Newbery
Book review: The first shadow dragon by Lee Newbery
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