Minecraft: The Lost Journals: An Official Minecraft Novel

Minecraft: The Lost Journals: An Official Minecraft Novel

This official Minecraft novel is a journey into the unknown!  Max and Alison are proof that differences don’t stand in the way of friendship. Max is always on the lookout for a new adventure—even if it means getting into trouble—while Alison prefers to follow the rules. But both of them are fascinated by the beat-up old journal Max finds and the strange gate its secretive author, the Enchanter, describes: a portal to an otherworldly realm of danger called the Nether. After they use the journal’s instructions to craft the portal, Max and Alison squabble over whether to remain safe in the Overworld or to journey into the Nether to find the Enchanter . . . until a fateful accident makes the decision for them. Trapped in a scary new world, Max and Alison find an ally in Freya, a fierce warrior who has been living in the Nether with her beloved wolf, Bunny Biter. With Freya’s help, and with the clues that lie in the pages of the mysterious journal, Max and Alison embark on a quest to find the Enchanter, even as the Nether pushes their skills—and their friendship—to the limit. Collect all of the official Minecraft books: Minecraft: The Island Minecraft: The Crash Minecraft: The Lost Journals Minecraft: The Survivors’ Book of Secrets Minecraft: Exploded Builds: Medieval Fortress Minecraft: Guide to Exploration Minecraft: Guide to Creative Minecraft: Guide to the Nether & the End Minecraft: Guide to Redstone Minecraft: Mobestiary Minecraft: Guide to Enchantments & Potions Minecraft: Guide to PVP Minigames Minecraft: Guide to Farming Minecraft: Let’s Build! Theme Park Adventure Minecraft for Beginners Mur Lafferty is an award-winning author and Hall of Fame podcaster. She’s the author of the Nebula- and Hugo-nominated Best Novel finalist Six Wakes, the Shambling Guides series, and Solo: A Star Wars Story, and host of the popular Ditch Diggers and I Should Be Writing podcasts. She also co-edits the Hugo-nominated podcast magazine Escape Pod . Lafferty lives with her husband, daughter, and two dogs in Durham, North Carolina, where she runs, plays computer and board games, and bakes bread. Part One Chapter 1 Might as Well Raise Mooshrooms Orange and red heads bobbed up and down in the local cove, bleating as they surfaced and gurgling when they sank. Alison shook her head. The sheep had gotten loose and gone straight for the water. Again. She crossed her arms and watched their fuzzy square heads appearing and disappearing in the water, showing no sign that they were considering coming to dry land anytime soon. What was with these sheep? They wanted to be in the water more than any sheep she’d ever known. Her parents had bred the animals for their coloring, but as far as she knew, they hadn’t tried to crossbreed with squid. Speaking of squid: from the dark smudges in the water, the sheep had attracted some friends. The sun hung high in the sky, so Alison had time to wade in and get them, but she hated swimming after the little monsters. Wet wool was the worst smell. “Fantastic,” she muttered, pushing her sleeves up. She pulled some wheat from her pack and walked to the edge of the cove. “What’s up?” came a voice over her shoulder. She jumped and whirled. Her best friend stood behind her, head cocked. “Max!” she shouted. “Don’t do that. I thought you were a creeper!” He shrugged. “Was I hissing? I just wanted to know what you were up to.” He leaned to look around her. “Oh . . . ​sheep swimming again?” She was torn between pointing out the stupidly obvious and telling him to get away from the water. She decided on both. “Apple and Lil’ Prince got out again. I’m getting them back”—Max opened his mouth, but she continued, hurriedly—“alone, Max. Your mom will kill you if you go near the water again. And then she’ll kill me twice.” He looked around with exaggerated focus, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. “Hm. I don’t see her anywhere. And I’m already near the water.” He edged closer and dipped his toes in, eyes squeezed shut. Then he opened them. “Did I die?” “Not yet,” Alison said through gritted teeth. “Just let me get them out of there. If you want to help, go check their pen or something. Figure out why they got out again.” Max took another step into the water, watching the animals splash around. Alison had to admit, the sheep did look like they were having the time of their lives in the cove. A squid had definitely joined them, its tentacles waving in and out of the water alongside the sheep’s brightly colored heads. “You know they like me better than you,” he said. “You need my help.” “That makes no difference, they’ll come if I’ve got food,” Alison said, exasperated. “And no, they don’t like you better.” But they did. It really annoyed her that the red and orange line of her family’s flock liked her best friend and ignored her. Today was no different; they must’ve thought Max was coming to play with them, because the moment he w