Landon Snow is my kind of kid. He wants to figure things out; to "know the reason why." He’s not content to let things be; no, he is uncomfortable with mystery.

"Landon liked to have reasons for everything. But he tried not to ask too many questions. Instead, he came up with reasons on his own. It felt good to explain things, at least to himself. If he knew the reason for something, he was happy. If not, he was uncomfortable. For instance, even though he would have preferred to sit by a window and even more than that would have liked to ride in his mom�s SUV, he understood the reasons for his current situation. These were that his mom�s car was in need of repair and he had been too slow in remembering to call for a window seat. The first reason wasn�t due to anyone�s fault, really. And he could only blame himself for the second."

I can identify with Landon. Things that don’t make sense bug me… a lot. So needless to say, when I read the above, I was hooked. I’ve never felt so much like I was the character I was reading about.

Landon Snow is a young man who is given two gifts for his eleventh birthday — two gifts which send him on a whirlwind adventure into the "Book of Meanings" much like Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole. As with Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, the places Landon discovers are strange (and sometimes frustrating). It’s a crazy trip, and by the time Landon had met his first Odd, my head was spinning.

That would be my main point of dislike with the Auctor’s Riddle: we spend chapters upon chapters on what seems, in the end, to have simply been the "rabbit hole." Hopefully there will be a return to these landmarks in future books, because there seems to be quite a universe waiting to be fleshed out there; but it felt more like weak editing.

My other "huh?" moment was at the end of the book: I was left unconvinced at how the "Grandpa got hurt" thread got "resolved"; it’s essentially, "I’m back now… and oh yeah, Grandpa was at the hospital. Oh, he’s here now, and we’re going to the library later. Okay, I’m happy."

Even with those gripes, though, I absolutely fell in love with this book! The characters are written well, the plot isn’t corny, and (surprise, surprise) the distinctive Christian elements came across cheese-free! As another blogger noted, it’s like Alice in Wonderland, but with a point. (Shoot! I knew I should have kept that window open. For the life of me, I don’t know who said that! Sorry!)

The theme of the book is coincidence… chance. We so often live as if the universe is guided by chance, but what if there is a God, and He is sovereign over the affairs of the universe (let alone man)? What does that mean when life gets crazy? What does it mean when loved ones are hurt?

As I said in my pre-review, I give Landon Snow and the Auctor’s Riddle 4½ stars. I recommend it for anyone between 10 and 30, and fans of Alice in Wonderland, too.

You can find out more at the official website, or by checking out the author’s profile on Barbour’s web site and the illustrator’s blog.

Read this book.

If you can afford to, buy it. If you can’t, root through every library in your state until you can get your hands on a copy.

Seriously, folks. If the sequels hold up, this series is like Harry Potter meets The Chronicles of Narnia. Or even just The Chronicles of Narnia set in 16th-century England. I dunno, it’s just good.

You can read all sorts of reviews, so I won’t repeat their efforts. The best I can do (without ruining the best parts) is to highly recommend it!

ITEM CODE: FEB058460
SC, 7×10, 96pgs, FC Price: $9.99

I’ve got issue #1 (sold out!), and #2 (also sold out!) is coming in this week… so far, I really like the story: it’s got a lot of potential, and from the tidbits I’ve picked up, I think the story’s going to flesh out nicely.

For those who "must know," here are the issue summaries for the stories comprising this volume (special thanks goes to Silver Bullet Comics for cataloging PREVIEWS in its entirity each month!):

Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker (Issue 1)

A strange force has been twisting the magical world and making its way toward Wonderland. Alice, who has become the right hand of the Queen of Hearts, sets out to find out what this dark magic is and perhaps find her way home in the process. We’re also introduced to Jim Hawkins, proud, independent, adventurous…and fired! A pirate without a ship, Jim’s never been one for taking orders, and that lands him on his own, but not for long. Pinocchio, once again a little wooden boy, tags along and invites Jim on a whole new adventure.

Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker (Issue 2)

Jim and Pinocchio continue their quest to Oz, when they are sidetracked by a band of religious zealots who kidnap Pinocchio! At the same time, Red and Piper confront Grandma’s kidnapper, who points the finger at Alice! An exciting, action-packed issue not to be missed!

Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker (Issue 3)

All roads lead to Oz, but no one ever said it would be easy getting there. Jim Hawkins fights to rescue his friend Pinocchio from the denizens of the World Tree, but he may not like what he finds. Meanwhile, while searching for Red Riding Hood’s grandmother Alice, Red and the Pied Pier find their way blocked by three hell-bent Billy goats. Granny’s secret is revealed, but will it matter by the time they find what’s left of her?

Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker (Issue 4)

LULLABY comes to a dramatic conclusion as Jim and Pinocchio finally come face to face with Alice, the Piper, Red Riding Hood and Cheshire Cat. A bond is formed quickly, not only because both groups are heading toward Oz, but also because they share a common menace. A menace that threatens everyone� Oz’s own Tin Man. But just as everything else has been twisted and bent in this fairy tale world so has the Tin Man. Can the newly formed fellowship stand against the lumbering, steam powered giant, or will this be the end of the journey for our heroes?

LULLABY: WISDOM SEEKER is © and ® Mike S. Miller & Hector Sevilla, 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Ah, what a tale. =)

I feel ashamed that I’m only now discovering G.K. Chesterton and George MacDonald. At the same time, though, I’m glad for it, because I wouldn’t have appreciated their work nearly as much when I was young.

Hmm… maybe that’s why I’m only coming across them now…