David Whitley’s The Midnight Charter introduced readers to Agora, an ancient city-state where everything is for sale – goods, thoughts, emotions, and memories – even children. In this insular environment where money does not exist and trading and contracts are the only way to survive, successful merchants wield ultimate power, plague spreads rapidly throughout the slums, and children are possessions until their twelfth birthdays. In the tower of the famous astrologer Count Stelli, two young children, both of whom have been sold as slaves, meet. Mark has been sold by his father to the Count’s grandson in return for medical treatment, while orphaned Lily is now owned by the Count. As Mark and Lily struggle to find their place in Agora, him within the power structure of the city and her without, the mysterious ruler of Agora, the Director of Receipts, tracks their progress.

With The Children of the Lost we return once more to Agora as Whitley continues the fantastical adventures of Mark and Lily. The Children of the Lost picks up right where The Midnight Charter leaves off (this is a series that you definitely need to read in order) with Mark and Lily having been banished from Agora. Lost, alone and, for the first time ever, with only themselves to think about, Mark and Lily venture away from Agora and eventually discover the land of Giseth and take refuge in the village of Aecer, a seemingly idyllic community where everyone is equal and the concept of ownership is unknown. For Lily, who had always hated the frantic pace and mercenary ways of Agora, Aecer seems perfect, but Mark is suspicious. Both children are soon to discover that paradise comes at a price and, after Mark is denounced and punished for opposing the Speaker of the village, are left with important questions to answer: What secret is the silent Father Wolfram concealing? Why are two of their new friends so reluctant to reveal their mutual attraction? And who is the mysterious woman who appears in Mark’s and Lily’s dreams, telling them that they must find the Children of the Lost?

The Children of the Lost is an excellent sequel to The Midnight Charter. The narrative switches back and forth between viewpoints so that the world outside of Agora is explored while the reader is still kept up-to-date with events inside the city-state. This is a useful tool for visiting some of the minor characters from The Midnight Charter in greater depth while also moving the storyline forward and introducing new people and places. It is interesting to see the characters of both Mark and Lily develop as they try to break free of their past and make sense of the new world they find themselves in. The sometimes antagonistic relationship between the two is nicely expanded upon too. The apparent contrasts between Agora and Giseth are well drawn and, while there is a fair amount of exposition involved, The Children of the Lost is pretty quick-paced and hugely engrossing.

The Agora books are highly original and are great works of fantasy and the ending of The Children of the Lost has left me anxious to get hold of the next book (no date available for that yet though). It will be interesting to see whether David Whitley limits the adventures of Lily and Mark to the fantasy staple trilogy or whether he expands the series. There certainly seems to be potential in the characters and setting for more than one further book.

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