Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam    by R. K. Mortenson Order:  USA  Can Barbour, 2006 (2006) Hardcover      Reviewed by Melissa Parcel Landon Snow's sister Holly does not believe that Landon visited another world last year during their visit to their grandparents' house. Holly orders her life logically, and puts her faith in knowledge and things that can be measured and proven scientifically. Landon's story about talking horses and strange people called Odds is a bit too far-fetched for her. But when Landon dares to take Holly with him to the Button-Up Library after everyone is asleep, he finds that evil forces are afoot. When the pair arrives in Wonderwood, Holly is immediately captivated by Ludo's spell and put to work doing her favorite thing - counting and measuring. It will take all of Landon's faith - along with the help of his friends Melech the horse, Vates the prophet, former-Odd Hardy, and the beautiful Ditty - to finally defeat Ludo and the evil forces that hold him and many of the others captive in Wonderwood. Is their faith strong enough? Or will evil ultimately prevail? Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam is the second book in the Landon Snow series. These stories take Biblical truths and portray them through a fantasy world of books and magical creatures. Landon is a strong character - although he's young, he knows what he believes and is able to put his beliefs into practice. The characters are not without their weaknesses, but that makes them more realistic and readers will relate to them better because of it. The plot is quite engaging, but one thing that would really enhance these stories would be a few illustrations. There are small illustrations at the beginning of every chapter, but some throughout the story could cause even more excitement. The Scripture quotes are all from the King James Version, which may make it difficult for some to comprehend exactly what the author is trying to convey. Otherwise, Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam is thrilling, entertaining, and a great addition to the series. It's wonderful to have a fantasy series written specifically for Christians, yet the books are non-threatening, not preachy and should appeal to all who love a good fantasy story. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews