The Lost and the Departed: The Cracklock Saga by C A Deegan

Book Blurb

There are other places, other realms, and they are wonderful. But not for much longer if the Cracklocks have their way.

Jack’s world has changed beyond all comprehension. He has Faery friends, his dad’s whereabouts are a mystery, and his estranged family want him in their custody. And then there’s the mysterious tube, the one with the blue eyes that talks in your head.

The Cracklocks need Jack for their wicked plans, and nothing and nobody is going to stand in their way of Faery’s destruction. Nothing except Jack and his friends. And that is going to be more difficult than they would ever believe…

An adventure like no other, where the monsters aren’t just from Fairy Tales. What happened to David Cracklock? And why is the family ageing children prematurely? When fanatics wants to exterminate you, the catacombs under Cracklock Manor are certainly no place for a Fae…

Book 2 picks up directly from Book 1. Things are going to get complicated…

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Best Book Editors Review

Book 2: The Lost and the Departed: The Cracklock Saga takes readers to a very different world, and we’re privy to the fantastical struggles the brilliant characters come up against. Like the first book in the series, this one had me captivated and engrossed in its well-designed plot.

The story picks up from the first book, and takes us into a world that has changed for Jack. The author weaves elements of fantasy, and suspense, creating an adventure that keeps you reading, even when you need sleep. We have a mystery to solve, and wicked plans cast a shadow over the world Jack comes to love. He misses his dad and life is tough with him gone.

One of the highlights is the depth of the characters. Dorcas is my favourite. Her role is to keep her loved ones safe at any cost. I love her loyalty and humour, and her interactions with Jack and the family are endearing. We all need a Dorcas the Brownie in our lives.

The catacombs beneath Cracklock Manor make a chilling backdrop, adding tension to the high-stakes storyline. This is a must-read for fans of fantasy, adventure, and intricate world-building.

C.A. Deegan has crafted a spellbinding tale that will leave readers wanted the next instalment—and they don’t have to wait, because it’s already available. With its engaging plot, and the charm of his people, this book earns a well-deserved five-star rating.

Dive into the The Cracklock Saga and set off on an adventure like no other! A great read.

About C A Deegan

C A Deegan lives in the East Midlands, right in the centre of the UK, and when he’s not writing or working, he’s with the family or walking the dog in the local woodlands with half an eye out for those ever-elusive Fae. The “Cracklock Saga” series of books came about from reading some pretty awful fairy books to his children over the years . But as he ground his way through these with gritted teeth, he always wondered what would happen if someone didn’t like fairies, what they would do about it, and could anybody stop them? This idea grew, and the Cracklocks were born. And boy, were they scary! Check out all things Cracklock at www.thecracklocksaga.com .

Tracey Gerrard

Engrossing read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 14 January 2023

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The Lost and The Departed is the 2nd book in The Cracklock Saga and starts where book 1 finishes.

Elsie is in hospital and Sammy now knows the whole story behind the Cracklock family after Elsie gets a visit from her cousin Malchiah. In the meantime, Jack and his friends are shocked when they come across a talking tube named Roly.

This story really takes you on one epic journey as Jack and his friends travel to different realms as they try to combat the evil doings of the other half of the Cracklock family.

The author does an amazing job at keeping you engrossed throughout the story as the plot thickens and new characters are introduced. I loved how we got a little back story from Sammy, which helped to understand what had happened to her husband David and why she had no memory of it. The characters are absolutely brilliant— I do have my favourites.

A little darker than the last story, The Lost and The Departed is very well written, full of excitement, adventure and suspense, which will have you gripped all the way through. Looking forward to book 3.

Highly recommended!

ADG

More of a fascinating world

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 8 June 2022

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I really enjoyed the first in the Cracklock Saga and was excited to pick up the second. Lucky for me, C.A. Deegan does not disappoint and has created a sequel that keeps the tone and spirit of the original but delves deeper into its mystery.

I really enjoyed reading the adventures of Jack and Fae continuing. Their relationship was strong in Book one, yet still growing, and the author really drives home just how codependent they are on one another (or not on occasion). There are some returning characters that I enjoyed seeing, and the introduction of some new people and monsters that are both strange and intriguing (Tobias, for example). There are some scenes later on that are darker than I expected, which is great because I think this is the sort of series that grows with its audience. It may be for teens/YA but as an adult I appreciated the world and the drama within.

The writing is crisp and clean and the dialogue is great. I really cannot fault this series. I hope that the third book is not too far away as I will be picking it up then. This is one to keep for when my own kids are a little bit older.

Lucas W Mayberry

An outstanding sequel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 12 October 2022

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This picks up straight after the events of the first book. Elsie is in hospital and Jack and his friends have met a strange creature called Roly after the monster attack at his school.

After Elsie receives an unwelcome visit from the evil Malchiah Cracklock it sets off a thrilling chain of events where they have to stop the evil Cracklocks audacious and barbaric plan to destroy all the magical realms in order to kill all fairy kind.

When Jack and mum Sarah learn that Jack’s dad may not be dead, Jack must travel across various realms to save every thing and to find answers. It all ends in an explosive (the pun is intended) finale at the Cracklocks mansion but the last few pages sets up an intriguing 3rd book which I cannot wait to read.

The writing is once again fantastic. It has a touch of Terry Prattchet to it. If you like his Discworld series then you will love this.

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