He was your average kid looking for ways to have fun rather than to improve his class grades. Now, he can’t seem to get away from the vile oppressors, traitors in sheep’s clothing, vivid nightmares, and an odd librarian named “Aviad.”

After pulling off the best prank of Destiny Hills High School’s history, Hunter Brown expected to be reveling in his glory. Instead, he finds himself opening a mysterious book that sends him running from shadows in the streets and makes him afraid to look at his own reflection, lest the haunting image that stared back at him last time makes a disturbing reappearance.

Then, through the book, Hunter enters the supernatural realm of Solandria and quite literally plunges into the peril and intrigue that consumes the land. He joins the Codebearers, a group of highly trained warriors, to combat the Shadow who oppressively rule the realm and desire Hunter’s allegiance. He encounters trolls and leeches, dispirits and dragons, enormous lizards and birds, and a fatally important gem called “the Bloodstone.”

It was impossible to predict the startling revelations that awaited Hunter Brown beyond the Veil. But will his knowledge of the Code be enough to reveal the Shadow’s greatest secret?

Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow is an epic fantasy for teens! It’s one of the first fantasies I enjoyed as a younger reader. It inspired my story-telling a lot!

Hunter’s not your morally upright hero; he makes a lot of mistakes. Yet, he has an earnest desire to learn from these mistakes and pursue truth and righteousness – as long as it doesn’t involve death…

Hunter has a heart for the humorous things in life, but he knows how to cut it when things get serious. He’s also the king of bad first impressions. You know the kind of boy who does disgusting things just to get his sister’s reaction? That’s Hunter. Or what about the boy who somehow falls asleep while he’s supposed to be cleaning his room? Also Hunter.

Yet, he’s relatable because we all make mistakes, get ourselves into embarrassing situations, or accidently take on more than it seems we can handle. So, how does he overcome his mistakes and get back on the right path? The answer may not be what you’re expecting.  

One element that makes this book so engaging is the tone of Hunter’s narration. He’s conversational. He is telling you the story, describing friends, objects, scenery, and villains in an ordinary – and yes, sometimes humorous – way. My favorite illustration of this is the beginning of chapter 6, but I’ll let you read the book and find out why.

This book engages readers in the awesome adventures as Hunter learns to wield an invisible sword and searches for a lost friend in the midst of a raging battle, while challenging readers to acknowledge the Author’s hand, commit His Code to memory, and believe that they are “never alone.”

Praise be to God, the Author of life, and Jesus, the Author of our faith, who created for Himself a people, has redeemed them, and has given us this promise: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b and Deuteronomy 31:6). I praise the Author, “for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people of His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14). Hallelu Yah!

The Miller Brothers have given the world of fantasy a jewel to be treasured. As Hunter Brown, himself, said, “If you have found this book, please read it with the utmost urgency. But I must warn you, there are forces at work that do not want you to read it. Beware.”