The popular reality TV show the world is watching! Six parent-kid teams compete in a mythic world of fantasy and virtual-reality magic—conquering quests, solving riddles, and overcoming challenges to earn life-changing riches.  

Thirteen-year-old Lance Lotterman has always been more comfortable with puzzles and escape rooms than with people, especially after the death of his older brother sent his family spiraling. But then Lance and his emotionally distant father are recruited as contestants for the world’s most elaborate parent-kid reality TV show, A Place Among Heroes. As amazing as it would be to walk home with the $5 million grand prize money, Lance sees the show as a chance to reclaim purpose for his life and maybe even help his family heal.

When Lance and his father arrive at Stoneshire, they quickly learn that the wildly popular show is far more immersive—and demanding—than anyone watching at home could guess. Filmed in a fully reconstructed medieval town deep in the countryside, the competition uses augmented reality so the contestants feel like they are in a living myth, complete with villagers, guilds, taverns, a wizard host, and a complex chain of quests, riddles, traps, and evolving alliances. 

Lance quickly makes friends with fellow contestant Zofia, a spunky girl who complements his sense of humor and skill for solving puzzles. But as the quests grow more treacherous, and the stakes—both emotional and physical—increase, the cinematic magic of the show blurs and the alliances begin to show the strain. Lance must decide what kind of hero he wants to become . . . and whether he and his father can win not only the competition’s grand prize but also their way back to each other.