An Award-Winning YA Sci-Fi & Dark Fantasy Series. A clean, high-stakes coming-of-age adventure about resilience, self-discovery, faith, and the power of doing what's right. A throne that cost his mother's life. A prophecy buried through seven worlds. Magic, myth, and darkness. When Liam Hale receives a cryptic message on his 14th birthday, he is left with one choice: fulfill the mission his mother started. For that, he needs to embrace his demigod roots, learn his powers, and get initiated into the ...
Read More
An Award-Winning YA Sci-Fi & Dark Fantasy Series. A clean, high-stakes coming-of-age adventure about resilience, self-discovery, faith, and the power of doing what's right. A throne that cost his mother's life. A prophecy buried through seven worlds. Magic, myth, and darkness. When Liam Hale receives a cryptic message on his 14th birthday, he is left with one choice: fulfill the mission his mother started. For that, he needs to embrace his demigod roots, learn his powers, and get initiated into the magical community. As dark forces grow, shattering the balance between good and evil, Liam must find The Pandora's Box, hidden in the depths of the Eerie Forest, protected by the sinister Erlking. Accompanied by a fiercely loyal non-magical friend, a mage apprentice, and two bickering witch-twins, they embark on missions, decoding secrets, and stealing an ancient artifact under the protection of the great centaur Chiron. But the deeper they go, the harder it is to get out alive. "Packed with thrilling action sequences, engaging characters, fantastical beasts, and sky-high stakes." - Kirkus Reviews For readers who crave layered worldbuilding, intelligent dialogue, and emotionally complex characters. Told through multiple points of view and designed for older teens and crossover adult readers. Winner of the Literary Titan Award Five Stars - Readers' Favorite Eric Hoffer Book Award Honorable Mention
Read Less
Add this copy of The Pandora's Box: Collector's Edition (Conjurer's to cart. $67.79, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by L.S. Franco.
Add this copy of The Pandora's Box: Collector's Edition (Conjurer's to cart. $97.39, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Clarita, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by L.S. Franco.
Add this copy of The Pandora's Box: Collector's Edition (Conjurer's to cart. $116.07, new condition, Sold by Just one more Chapter rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Miramar, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by L.S. Franco.
L.S. Franco�s The Pandora�s Box is a coming-of-age fantasy that throws you into the chaotic, heart-wrenching, and ultimately magical life of 14-year-old Liam Hale. After the sudden loss of his mother, Liam stumbles upon a hidden world full of demigods, cosmic wonders, and parallel universes. What starts off as a rough summer in Florida quickly morphs into an urgent quest involving magical schools, mysterious holograms, ancient mythologies, and a ticking clock to save the world from spiraling evil. Franco balances it all with humor, emotion, and a relatable teen protagonist.
What really stood out to me was the emotional depth in the opening chapters. Liamâ��s grief over his momâ��s death felt raw and authentic. That moment where he holds the green hurricane-patterned mug she gave him was emotional. The mug becomes more than a memory. Itâ��s almost like a stand-in for his mom, a symbol of comfort and loss, and the way Franco uses it later (as a literal gateway to magic) was both clever and poetic. I felt like I was right there with himâ�"awkward, overwhelmed, and trying not to fall apart. Even when things got fantastical, the emotional throughline grounded the story.
The writing is fast-paced and dialogue-heavy, which made it really easy to get into, even during more expository moments. I especially liked the dynamic between Liam and his best friend Adaââ?¬"her personality bursts off the page. Sheââ?¬â?¢s loud, bold, slightly chaotic, and totally loyal. Their banter adds so much charm. When she gifts him the matching LA pendant and calls him ââ?¬Å"bestie,ââ?¬Â? you can practically see Liamââ?¬â?¢s heart crack just a little. Heââ?¬â?¢s totally smitten, and itââ?¬â?¢s adorably painful. Franco nailed that awkward, hopeful teen crush energy without being corny.
Then thereââ?¬â?¢s the twist: Liam is a second-generation demigod and heir to the ââ?¬Å"Keeper of the Seven Wondersââ?¬Â? throne. His motherââ?¬â?¢s hologram spills the beans in what might be the most emotionally charged info-dump Iââ?¬â?¢ve ever read. It was wild, but also kind of epic. The idea of seven parallel universes, a magical school hidden within a regular university, and secret codes inside mugs and journals gave it this mash-up vibeââ?¬"like Percy Jackson meets Spy Kids with a sprinkle of Inception. The dream sequence with the unicorn and the mermaid was unsettling and beautiful. I wasnââ?¬â?¢t always sure what was real, but I didnââ?¬â?¢t mind. Thatââ?¬â?¢s part of the charm.
The Pandoraâ��s Box is an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in magic and teenage angst. Itâ��s for anyone who ever felt like they didnâ��t belong or wanted to escape their reality just for a little while. Itâ��s especially great for young teens who love fantasy but want stories with heartâ�"and some very real-world grief. That said, even as an adult, I found it moving and imaginative.
