About the Book:

Title: A Kingdome of Shadows

Author: Emily Bain Murphy

Publisher: Waterbrook Children’s

Release Date: March 3, 2026

Pages: 320

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Synopsis:

A band of misfits seek to fight the darkness that’s slowly overcoming their kingdom—the start of a grand adventure series in the tradition of The Chroni

cles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga.

The shadows have been overtaking the light, ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.

Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.

There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he’s brave enough to step into the light.

Review:

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley and the publisher for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

Emily Bain Murphy is among my favorite authors, so I had to pick this one up! It is pitched as being similar to the Chronicles of Narnia and The Wingfeather Saga. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my absolute favorite series, and I would say that the comparison checks. The story is so immersive, and the world building was beautifully detailed. There is also a marvelous adventure, and the characters show tremendous growth through the journey. I also really enjoyed the theme of light vs darkness.

Finn and Lydia are very likable protagonists, along with all of the friends that they meet on their journey.

I’m really excited to continue the series, and I definitely recommend this one!

About the Author:

Emily Bain Murphy is a critically acclaimed author of books for adults and young adults. She was born in Indiana and raised in Hong Kong and Japan. She graduated from Tufts University and has also called Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California home.

Murphy is the author of the YA fantasies The Disappearances, which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and Splinters of Scarlet, which received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Bookpage and was nominated for the MASL Truman Readers’ Award. Both are available now from HarperCollins.

Murphy’s adult historical mystery Enchanted Hill is available now from Union Square and Co./Hachette. The Ivory City, a standalone adult historical mystery set at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, will be published in November 2025 from Union Square and Co./Hachette.

Murphys’s debut middle grade fantasy trilogy Lightseekers will be published in March 2026 from WaterBrook Multnomah/Penguin Randomhouse.

Murphy is represented by Peter Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower Literary and Media. She currently lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, three children, and a rescue bunny. Find her online at Instagram @emilybainmurphy and Facebook @emilybainmurphy.