08/01/2020
Gr 4–7—With wicked Queen Imea's trackers in hot pursuit, Silver and her dragon companion Hiyyan flee the deserts of Jaspaton and find themselves in the frozen wastelands, accompanied by her friend Mele, her mentor Nebekker, and their water dragons. When Hiyyan is poisoned by a Screw-Claw dragon's attack, it becomes clear that the girl needs a dragon heartstone in order to heal him. Where to get such a heartstone is a mystery (Nebekker owns the only one ever heard of), so the companions begin a dangerous quest to find the Watchers, who supervise all the knowledge in the world. Of course, others, including Silver's former hero, Sagittaria Wonder, still want to capture the threesome's dragons, and it's up to Silver to keep her crew, and their dragons, safe from predators both human and animal. Although there's plenty of action, the second installment has a somewhat less frantic pace than the first one. While it lacks the excitement of the first book's culminating race, this sequel makes up for it with a little more character development: Silver must make difficult choices that will change her life forever. While not a standalone novel, readers who enjoyed its predecessor will like this one as well. VERDICT Purchase where the first book in the series is popular, or buy both if Tui T. Sutherland's "Wings of Fire" series circulates briskly.—Elizabeth Friend, Wester M.S., TX
2020-04-08
Silver and her bonded dragon, Hiyyan, are on the run in this sequel to Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races (2019), seeking safety from Queen Imea and her trackers.
With the help of Nebekker, “master of the curative arts,” Hiyyan is healed, healthy, and strong after their last adventure. A month later, Silver, Nebekker, and Mele, plus their dragons, are trekking through the frigid mountains. When a terrifying, cave-dwelling Screw-Claw attacks Hiyyan, poisoning him, and Nebekker’s heartstone cannot heal him, Silver must figure out a way to save him before it is too late—for both Hiyyan and herself. Their journey takes them to the Watchers—“the keepers of knowledge and history, charged with sharing that knowledge freely.” Readers join all of them on a freezing journey during which they must remain vigilant and stay ahead of trackers and other lurking creatures. Silver must also come to terms with who she is—she walked away from her family’s legacy to fulfill her dream of racing water dragons—and explore her bond with Hiyyan. Halbrook focuses on each character in relation to Silver and through Silver’s point of view. Because of this, Nebekker and Mele may not appear fully developed, yet each character undergoes a transformation. Halbrook continues to develop her Middle Eastern–esque fantasy world, fleshing out the historical relationship between dragons and humans.
A gripping sequel full of adventure, bravery, fear, and self-discovery. (Fantasy. 9-12)
