Race for Midgard: The Marleau Twins 1

81RM74-WjkL
Publisher Name
Ember & Ink
Age Range
8+
Release Date
September 01, 2026
ISBN13
978-1997554196
ISBN10 or ASIN
   
Jack and Stefan Marleau never meant to leave their world behind.

When a mysterious portal opens deep in the Louisiana woods, the twin brothers-and their fiercely loyal friend Kate-are pulled into Salacia, a realm bound by ancient magic, forgotten prophecies, and creatures drawn from myth and legend. What begins as a reckless adventure quickly becomes something far more dangerous when they learn their arrival was foretold long ago.

In Salacia, time bends, kingdoms rise and fall, and a powerful king believes the three teenagers are the long-awaited saviors destined to rescue his kidnapped daughter and prevent the collapse of the realm itself. Armed with nothing but stubborn courage and each other, Jack, Stefan, and Kate are forced into a world of centaurs, monstrous beasts, rival empires, and royal secrets that threaten both Salacia-and their home on Earth.

As they train for a destiny they never asked for, the trio must confront fear, loyalty, and the cost of heroism, learning that prophecy does not guarantee survival-and that courage often comes before belief.

Blending epic fantasy, mythological world-building, and emotionally grounded coming-of-age storytelling, this is the beginning of a high-stakes adventure about family, friendship, and what it means to step forward when the fate of multiple worlds hangs in the balance.

Editor review

1 review
Brotherly love
(Updated: June 04, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.7
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
What worked:
The book opens with a quest adventure for Kate, Jack, and Stefan. These three characters have grown up together, and they pass through a portal into another world. The king gives them the option of rescuing his daughter or spending time in the dungeons, so the friends opt to rescue the princess. Stephen, Jack, and Kate are taught battle skills before they are ready to embark on their quest. The journey takes them through forests and over a mountain before arriving at the castle that’s holding the princess. Readers will enjoy the fight scenes with guards and mythical creatures, but they’ll be surprised by what the characters discover when they reach the princess. It turns out that her rescue is merely the introduction to the actual conflict.
The book is divided into three parts, each with a complete plot. The first part is summarized above, and its resolution leads into the next story. The Marleau twins and Kate must find a way to unseat a mysterious, cloaked man who’s claimed the title of king. This conflict will lead the kids across the world and into other moments in time. Stefan and Jack also learn that one of them will become the next guardian of Migard. The Norse gods will force them into a contest against each other, the winner becoming the guardian and the loser being forgotten. This story is part of the book’s third part, along with their efforts to return Princess Annabeth to the throne.
Kate is a very interesting character, and it sometimes seems she should be highlighted equally with the Marleau twins. She becomes accomplished with the bow and arrows, and she’s the first to act when the king is poisoned. Kate is separated from the others in the book’s second section, and she’s featured in this critical part of the group’s plans. Readers learn that common folk can’t see portals leading to other realms, and they’re only visible “in the presence of people with significant ties to the nine worlds.” The twins are connected through their father’s bloodline, but why is Kate able to activate the first portal? What is her connection to the realms?
What didn’t work as well:
The story skips the yearlong training to become warriors, which leaves readers feeling like they’ve missed quite a bit. In one chapter, the characters are normal teens with no fighting talents, and in the next chapter, they’re experts with the sword, spear, and bow. Some parts of the story abruptly change settings, while other parts are double-spaced or are formally separated.
The final verdict:
All upper middle-grade readers can enjoy the plot, although the main characters are 15-16 years old. There’s a good deal of adventure and action, and the epilogue introduces an interesting twist for the sequel. I recommend young readers give this book a shot!
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