The story opens with a prologue that presents an enticing
hook. It’s a journal entry by a homeless girl named Bianca on the day she meets
the Dragon Mage. Bianca is recruited along with five other children to become
apprentices to six dragons. The Dragon Mage’s hope is for all humans to
eventually have magic and Bianca assumes readers must have the ability years
later. However, Ciara, the main character, finds only one journal entry, and
only royals are allowed to practice magic today. This will lead readers to
wonder what happened to Bianca and the other apprentices and why the royals
forbid anyone from ever speaking Bianca’s name. Each chapter begins with a
short sentence or two from Bianca that adds anticipation or a touch of humor.
Ciara finds the journal in the Dragon Mage’s rundown,
neglected tower but chooses not to hand it over to the new Warden. She summons
a dragon called Scorch and readers will enjoy their unusual relationship. Scorch
doesn’t think much of human intelligence and doesn’t miss many opportunities to
point that out to Ciara. He explains the importance of tracing draconic symbols
precisely and laughs hysterically when Ciara’s spell results in a horde of rats
instead of a sumptuous meal. Scorch becomes cranky when Ciara wants to use the
term spell instead of dragon magic. He refuses to call Bianca’s journal a spell
book! Maybe he’s still testy since Ciara changed him into a horse.
Ciara’s sole motive is to cure her mother of the deadly
Skael Cough that’s already taken her father. The Warden says he has enough
medicine to save the whole village but people must pay everything they own to
receive it. The Warden isn’t an honorable man as he often fails to follow through
with his promises and deals. This makes him a ruthless antagonist who’s easy to
hate. Scorch agrees to help Ciara save her mother but his motivation is to discover
what happened to his original apprentice, Bianca, and the Dragon Mage. Ciara
and Scorch make an unlikely pair and their sarcastic, playful relationship still
makes a formidable team against a clear-defined bully.
What didn’t work as well:
The book leaves unanswered questions that readers must assume will
be dealt with as the series progresses. What happened to the Dragon Mage and is
her dream of universal magic a mistake? What kind of person is the emperor?
Most of what readers know comes from the Warden who is a dishonest man. The characters
of Ciara and Scorch could have been more developed.
The final verdict:
The amusing interactions between Ciara and Scorch make the book an
entertaining adventure. The story has minimal violence and has a wholesomeness
to it. I recommend you give it a shot!
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