03/09/2020
Ross’s uneven Polish folklore-inspired debut opens 17 years after a seemingly invincible Golden Dragon kills Kamieńa’s royals and slaughters its military, facilitating invasion by assorted monsters. Lynx/human shapeshifter Ren, 17, endeavors to protect the forest animals who made her their queen but believes the Golden Dragon is causing evil to spread. Enter Lukasz Smoków, 21, who hails from a legendary clan of dragon slayers called the Wolf-Lords. Having nearly died while battling an Apofys dragon, Lukasz wants to return home to the mountains, like his brothers before him, but doesn’t know the way, as he left when he was four. Ren distrusts humans, who have been cruel to her and her friends, but out of desperation, she strikes a deal: if Lukasz will slay her dragon, she will guide him home. Formulaic plotting slows the narrative, and though Lukasz and the beings who accompany them lack complexity, robbing the tale of emotional heft, Ross delivers a fierce, fully fleshed heroine and a richly textured fantasy with a kind heart. Includes a pronunciation guide. Ages 13–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, TriadaUS. (Apr.)
Ross’ world is rich and meticulously developed. An immersive world rooted in Polish culture.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Ross delivers a fierce, fully fleshed heroine and a richly textured fantasy with a kind heart.” — Publishers Weekly
“High-fantasy storytelling in the style of His Dark Materials or Lord of the Rings. Truly thrilling.” — Booklist
“Immediately hooks the reader with its dark and twisted scenery. In a genre full of retellings, this book sets itself apart.” — School Library Journal
“Teeming with mystical creatures and lurking dangers…. A page-turner.” — Kirkus Reviews
Ross’ world is rich and meticulously developed. An immersive world rooted in Polish culture.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
High-fantasy storytelling in the style of His Dark Materials or Lord of the Rings. Truly thrilling.
Ross’ world is rich and meticulously developed. An immersive world rooted in Polish culture.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
High-fantasy storytelling in the style of His Dark Materials or Lord of the Rings. Truly thrilling.
02/01/2020
Gr 9 Up— This novel reimagines the classic Polish story "The Glass Mountain" in a lush new setting that still maintains classic fairy-tale elements. Ren, a young queen, reigns over a forest that is slowly dying and being eaten away by the evil Golden Dragon, who spreads flames and new monsters. Ren works with Lukasz, the last remaining Wolf-Lord, to hunt the dragon and restore peace to her kingdom, while promising to help find the brother Lukasz lost. As the two form an unlikely alliance, each must trust that the other will fulfill their promises, as well as work through their budding feelings toward each other. This book immediately hooks the reader with its dark and twisted scenery and Eastern European stylization. The traditionally inspired creatures seen throughout the story are given modern characteristics while remaining recognizable with their classic names and descriptions. While the world is highly immersive, there are still elements with fewer descriptions, which adds to the magic of the story, but can also cause confusion. VERDICT In a genre full of retellings, this book sets itself apart with its homage to traditional storytelling. Perfect for fans of S. Jae-Jones's "Wintersong" duology.—Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State University, Tallahassee
From her first words, narrator Eileen Stevens captures listeners with a story inspired by the Polish fairy tale “The Glass Mountain.” Stevens lends energy to the tale of a shape-shifting queen and the last dragon slayer as they team up to protect their forest for conflicting reasons. One of the many benefits of listening to this audiobook is getting to hear Stevens’s effortless-sounding pronunciations of monstrous creatures and Eastern European names. Stevens eases the transitions between the present and flashbacks while staying true to the personalities of Lukasz and of Ren in both her lynx and human forms. Stevens enhances the tension in this story, leaving listeners spellbound. J.O © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
From her first words, narrator Eileen Stevens captures listeners with a story inspired by the Polish fairy tale “The Glass Mountain.” Stevens lends energy to the tale of a shape-shifting queen and the last dragon slayer as they team up to protect their forest for conflicting reasons. One of the many benefits of listening to this audiobook is getting to hear Stevens’s effortless-sounding pronunciations of monstrous creatures and Eastern European names. Stevens eases the transitions between the present and flashbacks while staying true to the personalities of Lukasz and of Ren in both her lynx and human forms. Stevens enhances the tension in this story, leaving listeners spellbound. J.O © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2020-01-19
In a ravaged kingdom, a fierce golden dragon reigns supreme in the mountains after laying waste to the royal palace and devouring its occupants. Pestilence and darkness brought by its presence spread throughout the land, corrupting humans and drawing forth evil creatures. The kingdom’s only hope for survival lies in a shape-shifting queen of the forest and a wounded soldier from the mountains. Wolf-Lord Lukasz is the last survivor among his siblings; all nine of his brothers supposedly died trying to kill the Golden Dragon; Ren, the queen of the animals, distrusts humans for their past cruelties and prefers remaining in animal form. Alternating between chapters set in the past and present, the narrative introduces central characters who must overcome the pain of their personal histories before they can be heroes. In her debut novel, Ross pulls from various mythologies to create a world teeming with mystical creatures and lurking dangers. The novel is a page-turner that suffers from its own excesses; so many creatures are introduced in the story that it is difficult to keep them straight. Readers aren’t given sufficient time to bond with Ren and Lukasz as characters before they are swept into a grand adventure. Ren and Lukasz are pale skinned.
An earnest first novel from a promising author. (pronunciation guide) (Fantasy. 15-18)
