Also by this author: The Promise, The Drummer Boy, Sinner, Green, The Dream Traveler's Quest, Into the Book of Light, The Curse of Shadownman, The Garden and the Serpent, The Final Judgment, Millie Maven and the Bronze Medallion, Nine, Millie Maven and the White Sword, Millie Maven, And They Found Dragons
Series: Millie Maven #2
Published by Outlaw Studios on October 2020
Genres: Children's, Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Speculative, Suspense
Goodreads
The quest continues as Millie must cross the Shadowlands to retrieve the Golden Vial. Faced with a dangerous fog that seems to change people, a ticking clock, and the voice of Millie's deepest fears calling to her, can she still manage to hear the voice of truth? Can she unite them all through love, or will she get lost in the fog and lose everything?
The second Millie Maven book opens with Millie yet to discover her gift, but in possession of something much greater: a bronze medallion from the Great Teacher himself. It’s caused some consternation among some of the staff (and unbridled glee in others), because the Great Teacher hasn’t been seen or heard from in a long time. Millie’s struggle is that while she has this token of the Great Teacher’s acceptance, she’s still missing the gifts and powers that the rest of the group is discovering in themselves.
Millie Maven and the Golden Vial establishes two cliques at FIGS: the talented, popular kids and…the rest. Millie, as a part of the latter, of course. The former still see their time at FIGS as a competition. Their next trial is meant to change that. The kids are tasked with the job of going to Shadow Mountain and finding the golden vial inside one of the caves. Only one who is pure of heart can collect the golden vial. Division and distrust will taint the purity you must protect.
The majority of the book deals with this quest, along with some twists and turns best kept silent for now. Soren makes another appearance, intent on pulling Millie away from her group, away from FIGS, and back to her room and her abusive aunt. Rachelle and Ted Dekker hit upon themes of peer-pressure, integrity, and loving one’s enemies. It all comes with imagery that’ll be rather familiar to the Circle and both terrified me and filled me with glee.
At the end of the book, the vial is gained but at a cost. Soren’s divisiveness has cut through just the games and reached the very heart of FIGS itself. Millie Maven and the Golden Vial expands the allegory, giving readers a bit more context for what FIGS is, who these children actually are, and how their story is actually our own. It’s a middle volume that stands in its own right, providing a satisfying conclusion even as it sets up the climax in Millie Maven and the White Sword.
