The Enigma Trilogy by Kim Idynne ~ a Review

by MK French

Do you like binge-reading a finished series? The holidays can be a good time to lose yourself in a new series, so if this series hasn't made it on your radar, now is the time to pick up all three books.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

Enigma 

May 2020; Indie; 978-1735079813
ebook, print (259 pages); YA fantasy

Dominic rescues Hannah from the underground tunnels of Wupatki, and the two find themselves lost in a strange realm. Dominic thinks he's hallucinating from a scorpion sting, but soon is convinced he’s in purgatory. He can only go home as someone else and must leave parts of himself on the underworld road. Hannah is thrilled to be on a quest and solving the riddles along the way. The realm is dangerous, and a ghoulish man will grant her freedom if she solves a puzzle that unlocks an inter-dimensional gate. Hannah is eager to prove herself, but failure will lead to self-destruction, and unlocking the gate may unleash a powerful demon on her own world. Read my review from 2020. 

Buy Enigma at Amazon

Eridanus

February 2022; Indie; ebook (238 pages); YA fantasy

Dominic and Surina attempt to enter the celestial realm in Peru, but Surina gets trapped in the stars alone. Surina and Hannah team up to solve the puzzle of Orion. In order to do so, they must travel the Eridanus, the longest and most enigma-ridden river of the underworld.

Following the events of the first book, Hannah is missing, and Dominic is left behind in our world. He and Surina meet, and both had been dreaming of Hannah. Both travel to Peru, where a labyrinth is riddled with symbols from the dreams and enigmas Hannah and Dominic had tried to solve. Surina passes through into the celestial realm and must solve riddles to not only find Hannah, but to find the way back home again.

Surina is proactive and knows facts that Hannah doesn't. This means the two of them together solve riddles and puzzles thrown at them as they travel through the celestial realm toward home. With more life experience and a calmer outlook, Surina takes the lead on the poems, and many of the puzzles or characters reference Greco-Roman mythology. Along the way, they're chased by one of Aquarius' servants, and there's continual reference to Tagua, who had previously come after the children in the last book. 

As the adult here, Surina has more perspective and is easier to understand. Hannah's motives seem to change and shift because of the time she had spent in Eridanus. I like her much more than Dominic, and I absolutely understand the frustration she has when everything is a riddle or has a hidden meaning. The continual double meaning continued even after Surina returned to Peru and met with Dominic again, though he's much less annoying in this book. As the middle book in the trilogy, there's a bit of a cliffhanger ending as they prepare for more searching in book three.

Buy Eridanus at Amazon

The Secret of Ophiuchus

November 2025; Indie; 9781735079875
ebook, print (256 pages); YA fantasy

Surina and Dominic descend into the tunnels at Wpatki to find Hannah Hale and bring her home. They're joined by graduate student Greg, and Surina doesn't like Hannah's continued sympathy for Tagua. Hannah tells the others that if the problems in the zodiac are solved and the secret of Ophiuchus is found, they can all go home. Is she being honest, or does she want to release the demon sorcerer Tagua into their world?

Dominic continues to be a pleasant surprise here, with some maturity and appropriate worry for what the team is doing. He's concerned about getting in trouble and fears Greg will turn them in, but he's a great help in crossing over into the celestial realm. Tagua was the ultimate bad guy in the first book, but Hannah had started feeling sorry for him in the last novel. That continued sympathy is here as well, as well as her jealousy for not being the only one able to solve the riddles. There is a specific order that the puzzles must be solved in, and the sequence to open the gate home. Now there's a ticking clock for getting out of the realm, this time before Hannah's body fails. 

Mythology fans will enjoy the fact that the team must do quests that mirror Hercules' Twelve Labors, each corresponding with one of the zodiac signs. Tagua is a bigger presence in this novel, with more direct influence on action and more menace. There are many Greek and Sumerian mythology references, as well as moments that have special meaning for the characters. I enjoyed the mythological references, as well as the fact that the characters got a chance to grow and learn from their mistakes in earlier books. The celestial journey is one to help their souls expand and become better versions of themselves, and hopefully, it's a lesson that readers can absorb as well.

Buy The Secret of Ophiuchus at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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