Island of Fog Series by Keith Robinson

A fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. Atmospheric and mysterious, ISLAND OF FOG is the story of eight children living in a dismal, perpetually foggy community on an island just off the north east coast of America.Increasing curiosity leads these 12-year-olds to question what lies "Out There" beyond the fog... moreA fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. Atmospheric and mysterious, ISLAND OF FOG is the story of eight children living in a dismal, perpetually foggy community on an island just off the north east coast of America.Increasing curiosity leads these 12-year-olds to question what lies "Out There" beyond the fog. Is the world really as dead as their parents insist? Are they truly the last surviving humans on the planet? Or are the children the subject of a dark scientific experiment?When the friends begin to experience frightening physical changes, they realize that their parents are keeping secrets. And when a stranger arrives on the island, it seems clear that the world beyond the fog can't be as dead as they've been led to believe. Convinced of a conspiracy, the children resolve to find out the truth once and for all... and discover a secret far greater than they could have imagined. less

A fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. Atmospheric and mysterious, ISLAND OF FOG is the story of eight children living in a dismal, perpetually foggy community on an island just off the north east coast of America.Increasing curiosity leads these 12-year-olds to question what lies "Out There" beyond the fog... moreA fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. Atmospheric and mysterious, ISLAND OF FOG is the story of eight children living in a dismal, perpetually foggy community on an island just off the north east coast of America.Increasing curiosity leads these 12-year-olds to question what lies "Out There" beyond the fog. Is the world really as dead as their parents insist? Are they truly the last surviving humans on the planet? Or are the children the subject of a dark scientific experiment?When the friends begin to experience frightening physical changes, they realize that their parents are keeping secrets. And when a stranger arrives on the island, it seems clear that the world beyond the fog can't be as dead as they've been led to believe. Convinced of a conspiracy, the children resolve to find out the truth once and for all... and discover a secret far greater than they could have imagined. less

In the sequel to ISLAND OF FOG, the young shapeshifters have made it safely into Miss Simone's world. Some of them are looking forward to meeting their alternate kinds. Others dread the prospect.Dewey, for instance, quickly feels the pressure of being a centaur. Miss Simone and the villagers make use of special energy rocks to power homes and advance technology... moreIn the sequel to ISLAND OF FOG, the young shapeshifters have made it safely into Miss Simone's world. Some of them are looking forward to meeting their alternate kinds. Others dread the prospect.Dewey, for instance, quickly feels the pressure of being a centaur. Miss Simone and the villagers make use of special energy rocks to power homes and advance technology. But the superstitious centaurs are convinced that the mining of these rocks incurs the wrath of Mother Nature, and demand a return to an older, simpler lifestyle. Meanwhile, the village in the north is under constant attack from harpies and dragons, and the villagers desperately need help.Hal and his friends join forces to deal with these serious issues. Together, with their individual talents, they can conquer any problem... or so they've been told.They end up in the heart of dragon country, down in the Labyrinth of Fire beneath an oozing volcano. Their quest forces them to question the extent of their shapeshifting abilities, and this leads to a shocking discovery that is likely to start a war. less

"Whisper Mountain is the lair of the beast," say the frightened mountain elves. "Beware the Shadow Demon, for it will hunt you down and eat you alive."Hal and his friends weren't looking for another adventure, but this was a mission they couldn't ignore.Whisper Mountain gets its name from the frequent cries of ghosts echoing down its slopes, the souls of victims who have run afoul of the demon... more"Whisper Mountain is the lair of the beast," say the frightened mountain elves. "Beware the Shadow Demon, for it will hunt you down and eat you alive."Hal and his friends weren't looking for another adventure, but this was a mission they couldn't ignore.Whisper Mountain gets its name from the frequent cries of ghosts echoing down its slopes, the souls of victims who have run afoul of the demon. Who in their right mind would venture into the deserted elfin temple? But, according to a crazy old soothsayer, the mountain is the "key to everything."Miss Simone agrees that the mountain is worth investigating, but has more immediate problems to deal with: a squad of soldiers from Hal's old world has been spotted coming through the 'hole' in the labyrinth. Will this lead to a friendly integration of virus survivors, or an industrialized, technologically advanced human invasion that threatens the land forever?The shapeshifters set off to the mountain, hoping all this talk of demons and ghosts is just superstitious nonsense. What they find there surprises everybody...The ISLAND OF FOG series#1 Island of Fog#2 Labyrinth of Fire#3 Mountain of Whispers#4 Lake of Spirits#5 Roads of Madness#6 Chamber of Ghosts#7 Valley of Monsters#8 and #9 - coming in 2014 less

"So that's it for her?" Simone said, unable to contain the wave of bitterness. "She's one of the lost?"Jolie was just a one-year-old baby, part of an experimental shapeshifter program in Simone's world, when she turned into a jengu (one of the miengu water spirits) and stuck in that form. Faced with raising a creature they knew little about, the scientists had no choice but to hand Jolie over to others of her kind, the mysterious people of the lake... more"So that's it for her?" Simone said, unable to contain the wave of bitterness. "She's one of the lost?"Jolie was just a one-year-old baby, part of an experimental shapeshifter program in Simone's world, when she turned into a jengu (one of the miengu water spirits) and stuck in that form. Faced with raising a creature they knew little about, the scientists had no choice but to hand Jolie over to others of her kind, the mysterious people of the lake.Sixteen years later, Simone is busy introducing the next generation of shapeshifters to their new home. Hal and his friends are settling in at school when it occurs to Simone that, with the help of Abigail's little glass faerie ball and its ability to unlock deep-seated memories and abilities, she might be able to bring Jolie back into the human world. It's said that the miengu can heal the sick, and Jolie would be an invaluable asset to have around - that is, if her enchanting beauty and mischievous ways don't escalate into disaster. This is a tale of paranoia, betrayal, and impending doom. Like sirens luring ships onto rocks, Jolie seems sweet-natured at first... but Hal and his friends slowly discover that there's more to her than meets the eye. Can they figure her out before the proverbial ship smashes itself to bits?The first three books of the series formed a trilogy. Lake of Spirits continues the story but also starts a new chain of events for the young shapeshifters. less

Emily Stanton was sick. They all knew it was a matter of time before she became too sick to walk. They had to make it to safety soon. But where was it safe? The city? Their old island?Hal, Robbie, Abigail, and a very sick Emily know their island is just along the coast beyond the city. There they hope to find a way back to Miss Simone's world. But the bleak, deserted roads ahead are home to survivors of a terrible virus... moreEmily Stanton was sick. They all knew it was a matter of time before she became too sick to walk. They had to make it to safety soon. But where was it safe? The city? Their old island?Hal, Robbie, Abigail, and a very sick Emily know their island is just along the coast beyond the city. There they hope to find a way back to Miss Simone's world. But the bleak, deserted roads ahead are home to survivors of a terrible virus. Their skin still burns and itches after all these years, a suffering that just won't end. The biosuited military calls them scrags. Marked by lesions and scars, they're easy to recognize... and best avoided.Under normal circumstances, the journey would be fairly simple. Even the crazy scrags are no match for a fire-breathing dragon, an ogre, and a naga. And there's no way they could catch a nimble faerie! But after the recent phoenix rebirth that dried up all the magic, the shapeshifters find they can no longer transform.ROADS OF MADNESS pits Hal and his friends against an enemy worse than dragons -- people! A fantasy novel for readers 9 years and up, but suitable for all ages. less

All the magic in the region has been nullified by the phoenix rebirth, and without magic, shapeshifters are as ordinary as the village folk. But to the east, outside the blast zone, lies Bad Rock Gulch where goblins mine for geo-rocks. This place has a cavern deep underground known as the Chamber of Ghosts where the shapeshifters might be able to replenish their magic -- to recharge.The chamber is said to be haunted, and it's here that Hal Franklin receives a warning that his life is in danger... moreAll the magic in the region has been nullified by the phoenix rebirth, and without magic, shapeshifters are as ordinary as the village folk. But to the east, outside the blast zone, lies Bad Rock Gulch where goblins mine for geo-rocks. This place has a cavern deep underground known as the Chamber of Ghosts where the shapeshifters might be able to replenish their magic -- to recharge.The chamber is said to be haunted, and it's here that Hal Franklin receives a warning that his life is in danger. What unfolds changes Hal's perspective on everything he knows, and he soon finds himself alone, trying his best to persuade Miss Simone and even his friends to see things his way. Set on a course of action that the others think is foolhardy and dangerous, he's plagued by doubt but resolves to see it through no matter what.With mountain trolls, a village of werewolves, underground ghosts, a boy from Miss Simone's past, and a trio of thundering helicopters carrying a cargo that will change the world, the sixth book in the series literally goes out with a bang. less

Hal Franklin feels a need to get away from the village of Carter. He sets off with a few friends on a mission to find Chase and bring back the missing shapeshifter twins, Bo and Astrid Hammacher, who should have turned into sphinxes long ago and instead vanished without a trace. But Hal has an even stronger reason to get away, for werewolf blood courses through his veins... moreHal Franklin feels a need to get away from the village of Carter. He sets off with a few friends on a mission to find Chase and bring back the missing shapeshifter twins, Bo and Astrid Hammacher, who should have turned into sphinxes long ago and instead vanished without a trace. But Hal has an even stronger reason to get away, for werewolf blood courses through his veins. The seventh book in the ISLAND OF FOG series visits Miss Simone's childhood and brings home an important scientific breakthrough. The ISLAND OF FOG series #1 Island of Fog #2 Labyrinth of Fire #3 Mountain of Whispers #4 Lake of Spirits #5 Roads of Madness #6 Chamber of Ghosts #7 Valley of Monsters #8 and #9 - coming in 2014 less

Three months have passed. Spring is around the corner, and so is Hal Franklin's thirteenth birthday. Everything is quiet in the village of Carter. Too quiet.When nighttime intruders take dozens of villagers hostage, the shapeshifters find themselves up against a familiar enemy: the scrags of Old Earth. And the constant threat of executions renders them powerless to do anything to stop them... moreThree months have passed. Spring is around the corner, and so is Hal Franklin's thirteenth birthday. Everything is quiet in the village of Carter. Too quiet.When nighttime intruders take dozens of villagers hostage, the shapeshifters find themselves up against a familiar enemy: the scrags of Old Earth. And the constant threat of executions renders them powerless to do anything to stop them. Instead, they're forced to cooperate and spend time in the dreaded Prison of Despair, a dismal place in the woods with an insidious curse.Hal and his resourceful friends find ways to escape the prison undetected. In doing so, they discover the true reason the scrags have walked into the village...PRISON OF DESPAIR is the eighth book in the ISLAND OF FOG series and the first of a two-part story that concludes in the ninth book, CASTLE OF SPELLS, due for release on August 20th, 2014. less

The hostage crisis is over, but Molly and Blair remain in the clutches of Queen Bee and her Swarm. Not only that, but the scrags now have the power to create shapeshifters!Hal and his friends set out to infiltrate the Swarm's hideout, a castle perched on the cliff over the coastal town of Brodon. But the confined spaces make it difficult to transform, and Hal resorts to secrecy and sabotage rather than outright dragon mayhem... moreThe hostage crisis is over, but Molly and Blair remain in the clutches of Queen Bee and her Swarm. Not only that, but the scrags now have the power to create shapeshifters!Hal and his friends set out to infiltrate the Swarm's hideout, a castle perched on the cliff over the coastal town of Brodon. But the confined spaces make it difficult to transform, and Hal resorts to secrecy and sabotage rather than outright dragon mayhem.A battle is inevitable, though, and the shapeshifters of Carter join forces on the beach to confront the newly transformed scrag monsters of Brodon.Book 9, CASTLE OF SPELLS, is the last in the ISLAND OF FOG series, paving the way for future one-off tales about other characters and creatures in this rich, magical world. less