THE RIDDLE
The Pandora’s Box
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.
Can Liam and his friends reclaim the balance throughout seven universes, or will evil reign and bury the past in shadow?
A cinematic, fast-paced sci-fi & fantasy trilogy for readers who crave layered worldbuilding, intelligent dialogue, and emotionally complex characters.
Narrated through multiple points of view and designed for older teens and crossover adult readers.
Winner of the Literary Titan Award
Eric Hoffer Book Award Honorable Mention
The Wishing Shelf Book Award Finalist
This jam-packed, ... cross-genre tale proves consistently entertaining!" – Kirkus Reviews
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What’s The Pandora’s Box about?
Fourteen-year-old Liam Hale never asked to be a demigod—or to inherit a mission that cost his mother her life. But when a cryptic message reveals a buried prophecy spanning seven worlds, he must awaken his powers, navigate the magical community, and uncover The Pandora’s Box hidden deep in the Eerie Forest, guarded by the sinister Erlking.
With help from a loyal best friend, a gifted mage apprentice, and two quarrelsome witch-twins, Liam embarks on a dangerous quest to restore the balance between good and evil before darkness consumes everything.
Blending magic, myth, and emotional depth, The Pandora’s Box launches a fast-paced fantasy trilogy full of layered worldbuilding, clever dialogue, and high-stakes adventure—perfect for older teens and crossover adult readers.
What is your favorite thing about The Pandora’s Box?
My favorite thing about The Pandora’s Box is the emotional complexity of the characters. Every main character has a personal journey that evolves through the trilogy in the form of a complete meta arc, but each book opens and closes a plot and character arcs beautifully. From grief and self-doubt to faith, sacrifice, and redemption. The story isn’t just about magic and adventure—it’s about identity, courage, and the cost of doing the right thing.
What makes The Pandora’s Box unique and sets it apart from the competition?
The Pandora’s Box stands out through its cinematic worldbuilding, fast-paced, multi-POV narrative, and mythologically infused sci-fi-fantasy setting. not to forget the emotionally complex and highly relatable characters. Designed for older teens and crossover adult readers, it offers intelligent dialogue, morally complex villains, and spiritual undertones embedded in an epic, high-stakes adventure. The series has won multiple literary awards and received critical acclaim from Kirkus Reviews, The US Review of Books, Reedsy Discovery, and others—who all highlighted its layered themes, rich prose, and genre-bending style.
Editorial Reviews:
"Beautifully written with vivid descriptions that fully immerse readers in its universe.” - Reader’s Favorite
"Franco does deliver vivid and memorable set pieces." – Kirkus Reviews
"The cast shines." – Kirkus Reviews
"[A] smashing final-act turn makes checking them out a virtual necessity." – Kirkus Reviews
Comprehensive backstories and intricately described personalities make for a diverse cast of well-developed characters." – US Review of Books
"A new and exciting Greek mythology novel for young adults. I recommend [it]." – Reedsy Discovery
"A must read." – Reedsy Discovery