Slumber of Silence (The Talisman #4.5) by Brett Salter

What worked:

This novella fits right into the Talisman world and focuses on the leading dragon/knight pair of Rome and Julian. Young readers will like that the book can be completed in just a couple of days and the short chapters keep the action moving. The whole novella is comparable to one mission from the regular series as the boys are tasked with finding and closing a possible portal to The Void. The potential for an invasion of Darkbrands creates additional tension as readers ponder the chances of another war breaking out.

Rome’s growth as a dragon has gifted him with supernatural senses. This ability comes in quite handy while the boys travel deep within the cave’s passages. Rome’s senses tell him there’s another presence in the tunnels but he can’t figure out what it means. There’s no evidence any other human has ever ventured into this space so readers are left to wonder what Rome is sensing. It’s unclear if something might be shadowing Rome and Julian as they plunge into the dark depths or maybe an enemy surprise is lurking as they near the portal. It’s humorous that Julian is afraid of bats after all of the Darkbrand monsters he’s faced in the Talisman series. His incessant chatter and funny comments add levity to the story.

What didn’t work as well:

Previously, the boys fought and defeated the most powerful creatures from The Void. The Garms are the lowest of the Darkbrand and primarily act as scouts. So, given the superior weapons and strength of Julian and Rome, why do they struggle so much to eliminate two Garms in this book?

The final verdict:

This book offers a brief spin-off to give readers a taste of the Talisman series. Loyal fans will enjoy one more adventure with Rome and Julian and I recommend you give it a shot.