The Dark City — Thom Jones

The Dark City is the first book in the Guardians of Elestra series. After seeing their grandfather sucked into a ball of light that disappears into an old lantern in their back yard, twins Derek and Deanna Hughes travel to the bizarre magical world of Elestra where they discover a shocking family secret. They find themselves in a race against the dark wizard Eldrack to find the magical moonstones that can grant a wizard new powers. They are helped along the way by the ancient wizard and fry cook Iszarre, whose wooden spoon wand is as powerful in the kitchen as it is on the magical battlefield, Tobungus, the tap dancing mushroom man who has a severe problem remembering the twins' names, Glabber, the butter-obsessed snake wizard, and many others. In the Dark City, the twins must figure out why Magia's capital city, Amemnop, once known as the City of Light, is covered in a shield of darkness that has sucked the life and magic out of the residents. Their journey includes a trip to a library where the books talk, and sometimes argue with each other, a battle with flying beasts who show an extreme aversion to Derek's flashlight, and a final battle in the icy waters of a huge fountain, where a lemon may just be the key to victory. The Guardians of Elestra books are filled with incredible creatures, magical locations, altered realities, and a constant dose of humor. So, open the book, travel through the lantern post, and explore Elestra with its newest Mystical Guardians.