Home of the Brandon Sparks Young Adult novels.
Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow
The follow-up to Brandon Sparks and the Hidden Sun, Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow is the continuation of the adventures of Brandon Sparks, the unlikely thirteen-year-old captain of one of the most powerful starships in the galaxy. Chock full of the daring action and adventure that set the first novel apart, Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow brings plot twists, deep character development, and a whole new cast of supporting characters, including the mysterious stowaway Cofer Gendrew, the outlaw Ptevos brothers — Wick and Mation — and their twisted king, Rex Saasha.
In Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow, Brandon Sparks is pushed to his physical, emotional and intellectual limits as he and his crewmates embark on a desperate voyage to save their families. Brandon and the adolescent crew of the Hidden Sun race through the galaxy towards the Ptevos homeworld, Draculous, and the ruthless General Zarafat, in an effort to unlock the secret to waking their parents and crewmates from an unnatural slumber. However, when a detour forces them to land in Praggun City, Brandon is suddenly attacked by a strange beggar who violently cuffs a mysterious orb around his wrist; the Star Shadow.
Upon reaching Draculous, the children are shocked as General Zarafat is savagely beaten by his own king, and given a life sentence in the Ghoulg, an inescapable prison. If the evil Zarafat dies, so does the secret of how to wake their families.
Brandon must find a way to rescue his hated nemesis before time runs out! Standing in his way is an impenetrable Ptevos planetary defense shield, a Skelk armada, and those who would stop at nothing to possess the Star Shadow.
Author’s Note:
I was working a temp job as an assistant to the Archivist at the Episcopal Church Center on 2nd Avenue, a block away from the United Nations. My apartment was only eight blocks away so I would walk home for lunch. As I was walking down the street, a majority of the plot for Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow came to me. How it happened I don’t know, but I was able to start the second novel.
Looking back on it now, Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow changed everything. Having established Brandon and his quest in the first novel, I was able to expand the Brandon Sparks Universe in the second. Now there were more villains, more worlds to explore, and even more characters to interact with. These additions established a feeling that there were several events happening outside of the main narrative and that they would eventually tie in with Brandon’s story.
On a personal note, Brandon Sparks and the Star Shadow really helped me grow both as a writer, and a storyteller. Creating it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
