A magical treehouse. A secret city. Two brave kids. One unforgettable adventure.
Welcome to Max and the Journey to the Lost City—a thrilling tale of wonder, discovery, and the courage to believe in the impossible.

Eight-year-old Max lives in the quiet town of Oakhaven, where life is predictable, peaceful, and—if you ask Max—just a little bit boring. While his classmates are busy with video games and chores, Max spends hours buried in books filled with pirates, hidden civilizations, and ancient secrets. He dreams of exploring far-off places and solving mysteries bigger than his backyard. He just never expected those dreams to actually come true.

But everything changes on one sunny afternoon when Max spots something in the oldest oak tree behind his house—a shimmering, rune-covered treehouse that definitely wasn't there the day before. It's glowing faintly, humming softly, and seems to pulse with possibility. The moment Max steps inside, he realizes this isn't just any treehouse. It's an interdimensional portal filled with swirling symbols, magical maps, humming crystals, and a mysterious leather-bound book that reacts to his voice.

Then he meets Lila.

Lila is smart, resourceful, and unafraid to speak her mind. She, too, stumbled upon the treehouse by chance—or fate. When Max and Lila accidentally activate the book by speaking the name "Aethelgard," their world flips upside down—literally. In a flurry of light and motion, the treehouse lifts from the backyard and lands them in an ancient, forgotten city swallowed by jungle and time.

Welcome to Aethelgard—the Lost City.

What begins as an incredible journey of exploration quickly becomes a mission. Aethelgard isn't just abandoned—it's fading. The city's source of power, a radiant Sunstone, is missing. Without it, the once-great city is sinking into silence and shadow. Guided by Kael, a gentle, sorrowful robot guardian who communicates through musical tones and colored light, Max and Lila embark on an urgent quest to uncover the Sunstone's location and restore life to Aethelgard.

Along the way, they decode glowing murals, traverse misty chasms on color-sequenced stepping stones, and face peculiar challenges like herds of mossy, floating puff-creatures terrified of light. They brave ancient puzzles, strange mechanisms, and traps designed to test courage and cleverness. But with each challenge, Max and Lila learn more—about the city, about each other, and about the kind of adventurers they are becoming.

But Aethelgard holds more than puzzles—it holds truths.
As the children unlock hidden chambers and discover the city's history, they realize the Sunstone is more than a power source—it's the heart of a civilization, a beacon of memory, and a test of intention. To save it, Max and Lila must learn to trust their instincts, work as a team, and believe in their growing abilities.

With the fate of a world in their hands, can two ordinary kids find the light that will lead them home?

Max and the Journey to the Lost City is the enchanting first book in a new middle-grade fantasy series for ages 7–10. It blends rich world-building, high-stakes puzzles, humorous dialogue, and timeless themes of friendship, courage, empathy, and the joy of discovery. Perfect for fans of The Magic Tree House, The Secrets of Droon, and A Wrinkle in Time, it's both a page-turning adventure and a celebration of imagination.

Parents will love the book's emphasis on problem-solving, emotional intelligence,...