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The City of the Golden Sun: Sequel to the Fisherman's Son

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The City of the Golden Sun
By Marilyn Peake
Author House
www.authorhouse.com
2004
ISBN # 1-4184-1057-8
Large Trade Paperback
159 pages
$ 12.25 US



Picking up right where "The Fisherman's Son" left off, this sequel proves to be just as enjoyable and well written with no let down at all in reading quality. This second installment of a planned trilogy finds Wiley O'Mara and the six children he rescued from the city at the bottom of the ocean back on dry land. Wiley is faced with the challenge of explaining their presence in his small village. He also is faced with explaining to the boys how things work now and with helping them to adjust to their new surroundings.

As Wiley makes plans to obtain food and clothing for the boys of various ages and temperaments, he begins to realize just how daunting his task of assimilating the kids will be. He soon realizes that a neighboring village some distance away but reachable, might be the best place for the boys. To get there they will have to pass through the magical forest that borders the area. The boys disbelief in such things is quickly vanquished when the meet the magical Lucinda who tells them to go back to the ocean and wait for Elden. The quest has begun.

What follows is a rich fantasy tale of exploration as the boys go back in time to "The City of the Golden Sun." As before, the writing is clear, the descriptions compelling, and the tale vivid as most of the action takes place in the distant past in a time that could have been. Like the first book, this sequel appeals to young and old.

Like "The Fisherman's Son" this fun read is perfect for the pre-teen reader. With a minimum of violence, plenty of action, and lots of history, as well as a continuing appreciation for nature, beauty and magic, the reader is swept away. Wiley's maturity as a character continues to grow and this sequel follows nicely the original novel with no gaps in the tale or changes in writing style.

In Marilyn Peake's THE FISHERMAN'S SON, we found her main character, Wiley O'Mara, harrowing over a difficult quest with the aid of a dolphin, Elden, and a magical cup that allowed him to communicate with the mammal. His quest was simple, to rescue six boys lost in an underworld city that lived many, many years ago.

Fulfilling this mission through various obstacles that ran in his path, Marilyn Peake's newest addition to this trilogy, THE CITY OF THE GOLDEN SUN, finds Wiley once more in another quest. However, this one is not of courage as much as it is in explanations. Wiley's task is to make the presence of these `lost boys' known to his villagers, to help the boys cope with their new surroundings, which proves to be a feat in itself. One boy in particular stands in Wiley's way by refusing to believe in the magical cup, and Lucinda's magical powers that guide Wiley in both books.

What ensues is a magical tale of rediscovering your homeland and coming to the realization that a catastrophe overpowered it.

Taking you alongside the boys, Marilyn weaves a tale full of descriptive details making you think you're swimming alongside Wiley and the boys as they approach the Golden Gates of a kingdom that blossomed in riches. The historical reenactment of what possibly took place within these gates, will mesmerize readers.

Although the book is written for the younger reader , anyone can enjoy this action-filled compelling tale written in narrative form.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends THE CITY OF THE GOLDEN SUN as another grand adventure from Marilyn Peake that will keep young readers glued to the pages. Often intensely lyrical, gigglingly funny & always magical -- with sea creatures galore, Humpback Whales, Porpoises & Turtles, oh my..!

One of the endearing aspects of THE CITY OF THE GOLDEN SUN is how the boys see Wiley's world & learn how to adjust to it. They haven't quite figured out how much time has elapsed since their lives under the sea & now on top of the Earth.

A fine sequel to THE FISHERMAN'S SON.