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The Library Between Worlds: Journey to Nirisia
Journey to Nirisia, by Mark K. McClain, is a middle-grade fantasy adventure about Emma, a quiet fourteen-year-old who would rather be with books and her cat than face a new town, new people, or a new life. After moving to Mistwick, she discovers a strange old library and meets Friden, its eccentric Archivist. What begins as a summer job quickly turns into a journey into Nirisia, a magical world threatened by Eraser, a being who feeds on stories, memories, and whole worlds. Emma’s task is to find the Wizard’s Crystal, help save the elves of Moonvale, and decide whether she is braver than she ever believed.
I enjoyed how the book builds Emma from the inside out. She does not arrive on the page ready to be a hero. She is anxious, sharp, awkward, funny, and often unsure of herself, which makes her feel real. I liked that McClain lets her fear stay visible instead of rushing past it. The fantasy elements are big and colorful, with portals, elves, memory trees, magical objects, and shadowy enemies, but the emotional engine is simple: a girl who wants to be safe is asked to care about something larger than herself. That worked for me. It gives the adventure a heart.
The writing has a classic portal-fantasy feel, especially in the way the library becomes both a refuge and a doorway. I could feel McClain’s affection for books in almost every scene set there. The idea that neglected stories can fade or be consumed is not subtle, but it is effective. It makes the genre’s love of imagination feel urgent. The dialogue can be direct at times, and some moments explain more than they need to, but the pace keeps moving, and the sincerity carries a lot of weight. Friden’s odd speech, Faylen’s calm strength, and Cedar’s lighter charm give Emma different kinds of energy to push against, and that helps the story avoid feeling like a solo quest.
By the end, I felt the book was less about defeating a villain than about learning to trust your own instincts. That is a good message for the age group. I would recommend Journey to Nirisia to younger readers who enjoy fantasy adventure, magical libraries, brave but imperfect heroines, and stories where books are treated like living things. Adult readers who like gentle, earnest portal fantasy may enjoy it too, especially if they are looking for something imaginative, accessible, and full of heart.
Pages: 238 | ASIN : B0GYLK6YXM
A Simple Idea
Deadworld follows an ordinary boy whose life takes a turn when a mysterious globe and mirror connect him to a dying realm. Where did the idea behind this series come from?
My ideas for all my books and writing come from various places. Sometimes dreams, watching television, or a simple idea where I start to write, and the characters I create take me on their journey. Deadworld started with a ‘What if’ idea. What if a boy believes he belongs on Earth but truly belongs elsewhere? I also wanted strange things to happen to him early in the story. Events he wasn’t sure were only happening to him, but because three or four happenings occurred then, it was something he couldn’t ignore.
Did you always imagine this as a portal fantasy, or did the “other world” element develop later as the story grew?
I never used the word portal for this story, even though that’s what it is. I tend to use the word journey and a journey of discovery. The other world element was always there from the beginning. It was just a question of how many other worlds there would be. I originally thought of five worlds, but then reduced it to three. I’m not sure I could maintain the excitement and originality for writing five books.
The Deadworld has a haunting, decaying atmosphere. What inspired its visual and emotional design?
I wanted to convey a world that was dying, and has been for over a century, though, because of the slow decaying process, the people of that world never realised it until forty years into its demise. The world had to be beautiful once and needs to be restored to its original state, but by someone special who has exceptional powers. The Deadworld needs to be saved because it is the lifeblood of the other worlds, too (explained in the book). If Deadworld dies, then all other worlds will, eventually, die too.
Can you give us a glimpse inside the next installment in The Child Guardian Series? Where will it take readers?
The second book is about the Oceanworld and the enemy, Zander, from the first book has resurfaced to threaten that world. Again, George and Arianwen play big parts in helping to save that world. I’m now 75% through the first draft of my second book and will be undertaking a big self-edit before it’s finished.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Website | Amazon
George Shilling longs to have a normal life. Struggling to adjust to his father’s new marriage, the clever middle schooler tries to focus on keeping his grades up and forget his strange dreams that feel like a warning. But when he passes the Old Curiosity Shop, he discovers an oddly familiar globe and mirror that suddenly transport him to another world.
Shocked to learn he has special powers George must now control them if he is to succeed in saving his home world from dying. But first the brave eleven-year-old must defeat a tyrant ruler determined to end the world for his own gains.
With new found abilities, can George survive a final confrontation and restore peace?
Deadworld is the gripping first book in The Child Guardian middle-grade fantasy series. If you like unassuming heroes who never give up, detailed world-building, and good vs evil, then you’ll love Jerzy Jones’ action-packed children’s novel.
Buy Deadworld to defeat evil today!
Deadworld
The Child Guardian: Deadworld follows George, an ordinary boy whose life tilts into the impossible when a mysterious globe and mirror connect him to a dying realm called the Deadworld. With his brave best friend Arianwen beside him, George discovers hidden family ties, strange powers, and a conflict much larger than himself, all while trying to hold on to the simple comforts of home, school, cricket, and his father.
I really liked how the book lets George be frightened, uncertain, and still courageous. As a parent, that mattered to me. He isn’t some glossy chosen-one hero who instantly knows what to do. He worries. He hesitates. He wants to be normal. That made his bravery feel more tender and believable. I also found Arianwen a wonderful counterbalance: sharp, loyal, stubborn in the best way, and never treated as just the sidekick. Their friendship has a lived-in warmth to it, the kind of bond children recognize because it’s built on teasing, trust, and showing up when things get scary.
The writing has an old-fashioned adventure feel, with lots of sensory detail: smells, cold air, glowing objects, strange creatures, and those eerie shifts between the familiar world and the Deadworld. The pace is quick, and there are moments where the mythology is thick, but I appreciated the ambition behind it. The ideas are heartfelt: courage isn’t the absence of fear, power needs kindness behind it, and children often understand loyalty more purely than adults do. I was especially moved by the family thread running underneath the fantasy. George’s longing for connection gives the story its emotional weight.
Deadworld is a rich and imaginative fantasy with a good heart and a darker edge than I expected from the opening chapters. It has danger, loss, wonder, humor, and a sincere belief in friendship as a saving force. I’d recommend it for confident middle-grade readers who enjoy portal fantasies, mysterious objects, hidden worlds, and stories where a sensitive child has to grow into courage without losing his softness.
Pages: 209 | ASIN : B0GGYR97RX
Real-World Challenges
Joshua Creed: Keeper of Worlds follows a troubled twelve-year-old who discovers he can travel between worlds, and must confront a prophecy, dangerous magic, and his own unraveling life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My youngest son’s life was tumultuous at best, as he struggled with his emotional health. He always could be found, “in another world,” and I wanted to connect with him, so he could be the hero in his story. I struggled to do this and found a way to connect through writing. I imagined the story where my son could be a hero and fight off the demons to find his internal strength. He was the inspiration.
Joshua’s experience with bipolar disorder shapes how he sees himself and the world. What guided your decision to include this element?
As a mother of a child with bipolar disorder and as a teacher who has witnessed similar struggles within the classroom, I have firsthand knowledge of how mental health impacts young lives. At the time, there were few stories where a child like mine could surely see themselves as a hero. I felt it was vital to bridge that gap by weaving his real-world challenges into the fantasy world I was creating for him.
How did you want to challenge or reshape the traditional “hero’s journey” for younger readers?
As both a mother and educator, I believe there should be books out there for every child. There are several challenges that young readers face today. I just wanted to connect to one little corner of the market, kids struggling with mental health and the realities of life. Another fact is that there are many reluctant readers out there, and if a kid can connect to the story on a personal level, they’re more liable to read and find a love of reading. That too is a challenge I take on in my work.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Oh, this is only the beginning. Joshua’s journey is just heating up, and the stakes are about to get much higher. I’m thrilled to announce that Book Two, Joshua Creed: Curse of the Faet, is set to arrive in Summer 2026! As Joshua grows, he must master a new trade to survive the ancient magic closing in on him. Fans should prepare for a deeper dive into the world of the Faet, unexpected alliances, and a hero who is finally discovering what he’s truly capable of.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
Drawn through a mysterious connection to his eye and a strange, sacred tree, Joshua stumbles into the Land of the Ice Plants, home of the Norkels, a secret people on the brink of disaster. The Norkels believe an ancient prophecy: a Keeper of Worlds will come from the human realm to save them. To Joshua’s horror, every sign points to him.
Terrified and uncertain, Joshua is forced into a role he doesn’t want and doesn’t feel ready for. As he learns the truth about the prophecy, the power hidden in his eye, and the secrets of the sacred tree, he must navigate betrayal, strange magic, and the pressure of two collapsing worlds. Meanwhile, back home, his family fractures further, and Joshua begins to realize that the courage he’s learning in the Norkel’s world might be the only thing that can help him face the pain in his own.
Book One sets Joshua on a path from self-doublt to reluctant braver, laying the foundation for a larger battle to come—where saving the Norkels and saving his family may turn out to be the same fight.
