Book Review: Mother World in Peril (Northland Chronicles)

Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker

A unique adventure story that explores emotions, energies, and life lessons beyond superficial desires

Mother World in Peril follows an expedition of seven people who are guided by the Cosmic Being to save Mother World from utter destruction. Surges of energy wash over the Northland at random, causing chaos and fear, threatening to demolish every community. 

As the mission changes and new information is revealed, our main characters are forced to separate more than once, out of anger at first and then out of duty to each other and the rest of the world.

Arjan is the initial promoter of the expedition. He seeks out Radhana, a gifted female tracker, to assist him on his quest to discover the truth about the Northland. Their journey will be difficult considering the “formidable natural boundaries in every direction that frustrate the curious and protect it from invaders.” Unfortunately, they will end up traveling through all four areas before their trek is complete: the Purple Desert, the Florena Forest, the Himnet Mountain Range, and the Atlas Ocean.

Radhana is given an emerald medallion to wear and study, but it is no ordinary medallion. It responds to an earnest and motivated heart and can be used in many ways to influence the people around it. During their voyage, they will encounter six more medallions, each with a distinct ability.

Despite being told not to bring any sort of weapon, Arjun brings a revolver for protection. But this type of technology does not exist in the Northland; bringing it could lead to catastrophic outcomes. When he’s confronted about it, his hubris causes him to leave, forcing him to go it alone, only to end up in the Purple Desert where “the power of its hypnotic crystals and exotic vegetation causes madness to all who venture into its deadly embrace.” With the man responsible for the expedition losing his mind in the desert, our travelers’ journey proves to be anything but easy.

Mother World in Peril is a book of valuable lessons and values wrapped up in an engaging adventure story. The lessons are thoughtful and easily applied from an individual standpoint up to the societal level. Each of our explorers discover the importance of loyalty, humility, and resilience. On a grander scale, the entire Northland learns about the dangers that threaten Mother World’s existence: the collective negativity of their communities, mechanical dependency, and communal detachment from the natural world.

The book includes a map of Northland and a helpful glossary for the characters and the medallions at the back of the book. Visually, the best aspect is how the parts, chapters, and scenes are broken up by titles. This is a clean reading experience with plenty of reference to understand the world.

This beautifully crafted story is excellent for young and new adults for its invaluable lessons, strong story structure, and exciting moments experienced by various personalities. Those searching for an uplifting adventure novel will thoroughly enjoy Mother World in Peril.

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