The Shadow of the Minotaur by Wendy Leighton-Porter

The Shadow of the Minotaur

Shadows from the Past Book 2

by Wendy Leighton-Porter.

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Ten-year-old twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot continue the search for their missing parents who are trapped somewhere in the past. Together with best friend Charlie, and their talking cat Max, they are transported back in time to ancient Crete and the Palace of Knossos, where the fearsome Minotaur lurks in its labyrinth, feeding on human flesh.

Can they help Prince Theseus of Athens destroy the terrifying monster before it devours them all?
And will the children survive the storm that threatens to wreck their ship as they attempt to flee the island?

“Another wonderful book by master story-weaver, Wendy Leighton-Porter. The Shadow of The Minotaur is the second book in the Shadows from the Past series. This book is action packed and filled with adventure around every corner. The reader, young or old, won’t be able to put the book down to the last page.”READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK REVIEWS

“This is a fantastic way of getting young readers interested in ancient myths and legends, and realising that history is not dry as dust, but is vibrant and exciting.” FIONA INGRAM, author of the Chronicles of the Stones series.

A Word from the Author

Following hot on the heels of their first adventure in Atlantis, the second book of the Shadows from the Past series, transports the three young time-travellers and their talking Tonkinese cat, Max, to Ancient Crete and the Palace of Knossos where they must help Theseus to kill the Minotaur.

Finding themselves on Theseus’ ship, with its black sails of mourning, the time-travellers soon discover that it is bound for the island of Crete where Theseus, son of the king of Athens, and his 13 fellow young Athenians are being sent as an annual sacrifice, to be served up as a meal for the flesh-eating monster held captive in the labyrinth.

Thinking that they already know the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur from Greek mythology, the children are dismayed to find that the young prince is arrogant, vain and, quite frankly, in dire need of their help if he is to ensure this will be the last time Athens must send the flower of its youth to certain death. A terrifying face-to-face encounter with the Minotaur makes for a nail-biting episode, but it’s young Charlie, rather than Theseus, who saves the day with an inspired touch of ingenuity.

Desperate to avoid meeting the fearsome creature, Max, the feline hero of the series, manages to slip out of the labyrinth before the door is locked behind them, but it’s only thanks to his resourcefulness that everyone is able to escape after Theseus and the children have slain the Minotaur.

This story is based upon the original Greek myth, but contains many extra elements added by the author, not least of which is a touching reunion between the time-travellers and the family they rescued from the doomed city of Atlantis in the first book. Nevertheless, there is plenty for the modern-day young reader to learn about Ancient Greek history and mythology, including a section at the end which is packed with information for buddling historians.

(Wendy Leighton-Porter, 2021)