The color of rain Cori McCarthy

351 pgs.

Target audience: Ages 13-17

Rating: Wizard

Rain has lost all members of her family, taken by the authorities, except her little brother, Walker, who desperately needs a cure for the Alzheimer-like disease that’s been decimating the population of Earth City. The sick, the Touched, are treated with contempt and disgust. Rain needs to get to the Edge where the Mecs could help him. To pay for this she’d do anything, even prostitution like her friend Lo. After Walker has an accident her plea for help is answered by a charming pilot, Johnny, and Ben, his Mec assistant. Johnny offers her safe passage in return for her complete willingness. Despite Ben’s whispered warnings she agrees. Once on board, Walker is frozen in a capsule for the duration. She awakens to find dozens of girls like herself including Lo classified by color and pimped out to crew and passengers. Rain is made a red which means she’s exclusively Johnny’s girl. Fierce competition and fear keep the girls alive. Johnny’s methods are cruel and sadistic and he’s intensely possessive of his redhead. Rain is determined to visit her brother and with Ben’s reluctant help she discovers the true mission of this strange ship and what it means to the missing Touched from Earth City. This well written story is fast paced, nerve-wracking, and disturbing all at the same time. Rain is a likeable character and her plight is so horrific that the reader can’t help but root for her. The sex is mercifully not romanticized and details glossed over but the violent punishment and retribution dealt by Johnny are graphic and not for the faint at heart. Rain’s terror of what Johnny might do to her brother and her confusion about Ben's motives for helping her ring true. Recommended for older teens. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

 

 

Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

369 pgs.

Target audience: Young Adult

Rating: Wizard

 

Despite the family tradition, Vanessa applies to the New York Ballet Academy because she needs to discover what happened to her sister, Margaret. She disappeared in her freshman year from the same institution after being cast in the lead role in the school production, The Firebird. It will come as no surprise that Vanessa is also chosen for the lead role by the perfectionist and overbearing choreographer, Josef. The male role is given to the gorgeous and charming Zeppelin who takes a keen interest in Vanessa despite his relationship with the senior queen bee, Anna. Another student, Justin, who’s secretive and standoffish manner keeps her from heeding his advice to avoid Zep. Along with the usual struggles against initiation rites, grueling schedules and senior cliques, she and her friends try to solve the mystery of Margaret’s disappearance. When one of her friends drops out without any obvious reason and the school seems oddly unconcerned, the girls’ research leads them to some frightening facts about the school’s bizarre reputation for student disappearances – each one cast in the lead role to perform Josef’s tailor made “Danse du Feu.” The rehearsal room with its eerie blackened wall with white dancing silhouettes, demonic summoning and ritualistic dancing take this teen romance to the next level. The story starts slow but picks up pace with the added supernatural element and becomes hard to put down. The descriptions of the ballet steps and routines are realistic and add to the believability of the plot. This debut balances teen romance, mystery and the occult well and leaves the reader anxious for more after the cliffhanger ending. (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

 

Finding Angel by Kat Heckenbach

291 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Wizard

Angel’s past is a blank slate, her memories buried deep within her. She longs for her real parents and to find out what happened to take them away. Her foster family is very kind and caring but Angel knows she belongs elsewhere, she’s different. Immersed in her drawings of fantasy creatures, Angel lives the life of any ordinary teenager while looking after her younger foster brother, Zack. That is, until she meets an odd boy, Gregor, with a foreign accent in the library. She and Gregor have an intense and unexplainable connection similar to the tingly feelings she occasionally gets when near trees. One night Gregor saves her life with his Gatemaking magical talent and takes her to his world, the Island of Toch, which is incidentally Angel’s homeland as well. Soon Gregor helps her to learn magic and access her Finding talent. Even with the island’s protective magic, evil lurks in the woods, an evil that desperately wants Angel’s power. Kat has created a wonderfully imaginative one of a kind world in which fantasy fans will revel. The descriptions of the forest and its flora are delightfully rich and detailed. There are trees, such as the Silver Spruce and the Bronze Oak which are named after the metals or alloys they contain that serve as conduits for their magical power and protection – how cool is that? There’s also tamed and wild dragons of all sizes, an Elven musical rock band and an ancient prophecy not to mention the man using science to regain his own lost power by stealing Angel’s. There’s lots of suspense and a nice blend of magic and science. Readers will be anxious for the next installment in this new fantasy series. (This book provided for review by the author, Kat Heckenbach).

 

Domino 29 by Axel Avian

368 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Wizard

Colt Shore attends a training academy for the organization F.A.L.C.O.N., Free Alliance for the Lasting Cooperation of Nations, which is not affiliated with any specific government. As exotic as that might seem for a fifteen year old boy, Colt feels ordinary when compared to his perfect-in-every-way older brother, Dixon, who died at the age of twenty-two before Colt was born. But in one singular moment his life is catapulted from the mundane to downright adventurous and life threatening when the first of twenty-nine dominoes falls. Lucy and Victor aren’t his real parents and his older brother, Dixon, is in fact his dad who was killed on assignment. As an active agent, Colt’s mother turned him over to the care of Dixon’s parents and away from all the danger typical of active agent work. Reeling from the shock of it all, Colt discovers that one of the most admired field agents at his academy is his mother, Amber Coltrane. He’s given no time to process this new information as he is rushed into active duty by Mr. Waverly, head of F.A.L.C.O.N. His mission is to protect a brother and sister pop singing group on a USO tour after receiving a kidnapping threat. Active agent Colt Shore is equipped with all sorts of Bond worthy gadgets including a poison injecting ring, and a watch complete with GPS, call scrambling, panic button, flashlight, laser cutter, sonar plus the ability to run a car by voice command. This alone is any boy’s dream. Add to that a mind blowing car chase ending with an escape through a holographic wall to HQ, subbing for the drummer in a rock concert, being chased from Afghanistan to Germany where a daring rescue takes place. A nice nod to "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." in naming the big boss Mr. Waverly. Count this as a definite winner in the boy-turned-spy genre and let’s hope there will be more Agent Colt adventures. This is an ideal choice for fans of the “Alex Rider” series by Anthony Horowitz.

 

 

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

325 pgs.

Target audience: Young Adult

Rating: Wizard

 

Outside the boundaries of the United Commonwealth Colonies the earth is a corrupted wasteland after the Seven Stages War. Cia lives with her family on the outskirts of the Fire Lakes Colony where they work in a nursery growing genetically enhanced plants that can survive outside in the wild. Cia’s graduation day approaches and the chance to be chosen. Only those selected for the Testing are allowed to study at the university in the capitol of Tosu City. For the first time in ten years four students from Fire Lakes including Cia are chosen. Cia’s own father had been chosen at his graduation and she hopes to follow in his footsteps. On the eve of her departure, her father confides to her about his experience and his suspicions about the true purpose of the Testing. His last warning to trust no one lingers at the back of her mind as she and the others arrive at the Testing Center. The living quarters are monitored by secret cameras, students who fail a test either mysteriously vanish or take their own lives. The tests are arduous, timed and dangerous and students who perish under these conditions are unceremoniously removed. Cia is among a small group of candidates who reach the final phase where they are deposited into the wild hundreds of miles outside the protection of the Commonwealth. Their task is to find their way back to Tosu City. The tests are tame compared to this cruel, suicidal mission. Loyalties are tested and friendships formed and pulled apart. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep readers interested, enough romance to offset the horror of their world and enough suspense to bring them back for the next volume.  (This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

 

Viva Jacquelina! by L. A. Meyer

360 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

In this tenth volume of the “Bloody Jack” series, Jacky Faber is on assignment for British Intelligence. Her mission is simple: proceed to Spain and spy on Napoleon and the French for the crown. However nothing is ever simple when it comes to Jacky, adventurer and mischief maker extraordinaire. After she becomes separated from her travel companions and arrives in Spain alone, she makes her way to the Iberian Peninsula where she is to translate for the commander of the British Forces. The Peninsular War against Napoleon leaves Jacky alone again and far from Madrid. Armed with her trusty shiv, fiddle, seabag and her wits, Jacky finally comes to Madrid and secures a job as an assistant and model for the famous painter, Fransisco Goya. Jacky’s usual spunky charm and jaunty flair places all the male students at studio Goya under her spell. The one female student, Carmelita is not convinced and in a jealous rage betrays Jacky to the now underground Spanish Inquisition. The non stop adventure and hijinks don’t let up even at the end. Will Jacky ever make it to China to reunite with her true love, Jaimy? In the immortal words of the famous Jacky Faber, “…I didn’t have much money left, but, hey, I had my fiddle and my wits. What more did I need?” Readers will delight in this fantastic, historical romp filled with songs, love, battles, disguises, betrayal and will greatly anticipate the subsequent volume. (Book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Crewel by Gennifer Albin

357 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Griffin

Imagine living in a world where every aspect of your life from where you live, what you eat, where you work and when you die is controlled. Then imagine being chosen to join the Spinsterhood, an elite group of women who have the power to manipulate the weave of time and control the world of Arras. The Spinsterhood brings one brings power, eternal beauty and privilege. One night Adelice is torn from her home and family to train at the Guild as a Spinster. She soon discovers that the Guild is full of secrets and the real power belongs to the men who run it. Adelice has the  ability to weave time without a loom attracting both positive and negative attention. Her constant questions and need to uncover the truth behind all the secrets put her life at risk. However she does gain the help of two handsome guards with questionable motives. Her special skill singles her out as the best replacement for the current Creweler, the most powerful Spinster who extracts the raw materials from the ruined Earth to form reality keeping the world of Arras running smoothly.The Guild cannot function without the Creweler, but fear giving this power to a girl with such a rebellious nature. Adelice’s character is bold and naturally curious. Her snarky comments add humor to the serious storyline. The plot clips along at a nice pace, but the concept of weaving becomes a bit muddled as the romantic element takes over. Although the author deals deftly with the theme of gender roles, the discrimination against same sex relationships is barely touched on. This is an intriguing new take on dystopian romance and will do well where this genre is popular. The cliffhanger ending will have readers hungry for the next installment.

(This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com).

 

The throne of glass  by Sarah J. Maas

406 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most notorious assassin. Why has she been retrieved from the slave mines of Endovier and brought to the king’s castle? She has been chosen to compete against other worthy opponents in a series of tests to become the king’s own champion. Victory ensures her freedom after serving four years as champion. The task seems simple enough to someone whose skills are that of legend. For this reason she is made to enter the competition under an assumed name so her opponents will only see a common female thief. The Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall, oversees her training while Prince Dorian has his own motives for supporting her. As the tests begin, an evil magic stirs in the castle and one by one the competitors are found brutally killed. What once started as a means to secure her freedom, now has become a race to find the culprit behind the attacks and avoid becoming it’s next victim. Celaena struggles with her growing feelings for her handsome trainer and Prince Dorian’s romantic overtures. This is a fabulous first entry in a compelling new fantasy series. It has mystery, suspense, adventure, magic and romance. What more could you ask for?

 

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

410 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

Elisa, the newly appointed queen of Joya D’Arena, struggles to maintain her power. Despite her recent victory over an army of the Invierne sorcerers, her authority is met with resistance from Lord Conde Eduardo and Lord General Luz-Manuel who have been the ruling power for decades and who are not willing to give it up. They view her as too young and inexperienced and thwart her decisions at every turn. Her only recourse is to marry and the Quorum members eagerly put forth their favorite candidates. But Elisa, whose heart still belongs to Lord Hector, balks at taking any of them as a prince consort. Multiple assassination attempts by the Animagi force Elisa to harness the power of her Godstone and fulfill her destiny. In order to  accomplish this, the young queen, Lord Hector and her nurse Ximena  lead a small party south on a secret quest to find the mythical source of her power. They travel through tunnels, catacombs, over a dangerous sea, up treacherous mountains following cryptic clues and paths. Faith, love, loyalty, betrayal and a healthy dose of adventure complete this stunning sequel to The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The dramatic ending leaves the future of Elisa and Hector’s love and the fate of Joya D’Arena hanging in the balance. There is enough detail for  first time readers to enjoy it, but be assured they will then rush back to read the first one.

Adaptation by Malinda Lo

386 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

The sky is falling! – well not really, but flocks of birds are falling to earth after causing planes all over the world to crash and burn. The airports are locked down, curfew is imposed and Reese and David on their way back to San Francisco after a debate tournament are trapped in the Phoenix airport. Their debate coach secures a rental car, but the exit routes are clogged with other travelers desperate to reach home. They finally end up making it as far as rural Nevada where their coach is killed in a carjacking at a gas station. Terrified, Reese and David flee north, but a bird flies into the windshield sending the car tumbling into a ditch. Reese and David wake up in a strange military hospital right in the middle of Area 51. They’ve both been operated on and appear completely healed. They sign non-disclosure statements and are escorted back home. Things get even weirder when Reese notices that her scars aren’t just healed, they’ve disappeared as if the accident never even happened. Her memories are sketchy except for a bizarre reoccurring dream. David is experiencing similar anomalies. Reese meets and falls for the beautiful and alluring Amber Gray, while harboring feelings for  David. This brief romantic  interlude seems random,  but Amber is later revealed to be at the center of the government’s web of secrecy. Disaster, government conspiracies, miraculous medical procedures, create a heart pounding science fiction thriller.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris.

445 pgs.
Target audience: Young Adult
Rating: Dragon

They say that when you die, your life flashes before your eyes. But for seventeen-yr.-old Tenner, that slideshow is cut short when her heart starts beating again and she opens her eyes to see the face of a boy she hardly knows from high school looming over her. Even as she tries to return to her regular routine, the knowledge that Ben brought her back to life gnaws at her to the point that she goes snooping in her FBI father’s files about the accident that should have claimed her life. She discovers that the driver of the truck suffered horrible burns not consistent with a head on crash and evidence of a mysterious countdown. Somehow she knows that all this is connected with Ben’s healing powers. After someone she loves is killed, Tenner stops at nothing to get to the truth. Who is Ben and why did he revive her? Where are all the burned bodies coming from? As she slowly uncovers Ben’s secrets, she unravels the mystery, but will it be in time to save her world and the boy she’s falling for? This is a great page turner, I couldn’t put it down.

 

 

Intentions by Deborah Heiligman

263 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

Rachel idolizes Rabbi Cohn, a man she trusts, a man who is always willing to listen when she’s troubled and impart sage advice. However one day in the temple she overhears the Rabbi having sex with a woman who is not Mrs. Cohn. Rachel’s well ordered world begins to crumble as the knowledge of this secret weighs upon her. The lessons, the advice, all she has learned from the Rabbi come into question. Her parents are fighting and her grandmother has been deteriorating ever since her husband died. Rachel’s anger and disgust peak when she spies the Rabbi kissing her own mother. Her best friend, Alexis, acts like she’s outgrown her and does what she can to make Rachel feel like an outsider. Her boyfriend, Jake, is handsome and kind and their relationship seems perfect until an unfortunate incident with the Rabbi’s son jeopardizes it. The last remaining threads of her life shatter after a shoplifting episode with Alexis and the hospitalization of her grandmother. The story is told from the perspective of Rachel as an adult looking back. This is a contemporary, honest story about a young girl’s struggle with fallen heroes, faith, betrayal, love and most of all kavanah, the concept of acting with intention. Rachel’s inner monologues are authentic and will speak well to a teen audience.

(This book provided for review by Children's Lit - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Shadowfell  by Juliet Marillier

410 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon

 Neryn’s only hope is Shadowfell, the famed but never spoken of training ground for rebels intent on freeing the Kingdom of Alban from the twisted and tyrannical rule of King Keldec. Neryn has the ability to see the Good Folk, a power she must keep secret or risk capture by the king’s Enforcers. She travels with her father from town to town and watches helplessly as he gambles away what little money they have left. One night her father goes too far and leaves her an orphan only to be rescued by a handsome hooded stranger, Flint, whose motives remain hidden. When Flint is not around, the voices of the Fey creatures whispering about prophecies and tests become impossible to ignore and Neryn allies herself with them. Her journey to Shadowfell is treacherous and brings her close to death and rescued again and nursed back to health by the mysterious Flint. She longs to confide in him, but he won’t tell her why he’s helping her or where he goes when he disappears. This is the first in a promising new series by a master of the fantasy genre in which strong characters and splendid plotting prevail.

The Call of Eirian by C. Aubrey Hall

311 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Fairy

 In the second installment of “The Faelin Chronicles,” Cynthe and Diello make their way to their mother’s homeland, the realm of the Embarthi. Here they will seek refuge with their uncle, deliver the dangerous and powerful sword, Eirian, and rescue their kidnapped sister, Amalina. Dogged at every step by goblin attacks, the small group finally arrives in Embarthi to an unenthusiastic welcome. This is in part due to their mother’s betrayal to the royal crown and birthright. Could their journey have led them to a place no safer than the Antrasian realm of their childhood? Their family reunion takes a back seat to the intrigues of the royal court. More than half of the book recounts their journey to Embarthi which is cluttered with chatty and superfluous dialogue drowning the author’s attempt at character development. By the time the pace picks up, many readers will have lost interest. The cast of characters and map do serve as helpful storyline tools. For a more suitable choice in a quest  fantasy, recommend “The Great Tree of Avalon” series by T. A. Barron.
(Book provided for review by Children's Lit  - www.childrenslit.com)
 

Last Song by Eva Wiseman

225 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

It is the late 1400’s in Toledo, Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, is intent on ridding the city of all but devout Christians, his main target are those practicing the Jewish faith. Isobel, whose father is a respected physician in the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isobella, thinks her family immune to the persecution afflicting the city. When she becomes betrothed to an arrogant and abusive man, she fears for her future. She befriends Yonah, the son of a Jewish silversmith, and learns the terrifying truth behind the Torquemada’s agenda. When her parents reveal to her their secret Jewish roots, the family becomes a target and her father is arrested and tortured. Desperate to save her father and family, Isobel seeks help from  Yonah and the underground Jewish community. This story is well told with a strong, believable heroine. The plot is gripping and builds toward the end as Isobel learns whom to trust and about her heritage. The main theme of solidarity against adversity is expressed primarily through Isobel and Yonah’s growing friendship. It is a refreshing take on Jewish persecution setting it during the Spanish Inquisition rather than the more familiar Hitler’s Third Reich landscape. (This book provided for review by Children's lit  - www.childrenslit.com)

 

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel (The apprenticeship of Viktor Frankenstein, book two)

310 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon

After the death of his son, Konrad, Viktor’s grieving father burns down the dark library. It was there that Viktor, Henry and Elizabeth used the ancient tomes to produce the elixir of life which in the end failed to save Konrad’s life. One mysterious book survives the flames and gives Viktor hope of getting his twin brother back. He and Elizabeth discover a portal to the spirit world in which the Chateaux Frankenstein exists with the dark library intact and where Konrad is trapped. They decide to use an ancient spell to grow Konrad a new body out of mud and a bit of hair. The new Konrad grows at an alarming rate and forms a special bond with Elizabeth. The spirit world is seductive and returning there becomes impossible to resist – for Elizabeth because she’s reunited with Konrad whom she misses and desperately loves and for Viktor because of the power and vast knowledge it gives him. What they do not know is that with each visit a monstrous evil trapped in the caves below feeds on their power and life force while growing ever stronger. This deliciously gothic series which began with Dark Endeavour gets even better with this latest installment. Viktor’s desire to bring back his brother builds into a deeper, much darker obsession, which will eventually consume him. His need to play God over life and death puts a strain on his relationship with Henry and Elizabeth. His original plan to save his brother’s life becomes less an less about family and more about the power he obtains. It is a fascinating look at power, obsession, family and life over death.

Transcendence by C. J. Omololu

325 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

On a visit to London with her dad and sister, Cole, a gifted cellist, gets a very up close and personal view of Britain’s history. Objects and places keep triggering intense visions of places and times from the past she doesn’t know. She thinks she’s going mad. When she passes out after a particularly gruesome vision of her own execution on a visit to the Tower of London, a handsome young stranger named Griffon Hall helps her. She feels a strong connection to this boy and upon returning home to San Francisco discovers he lives nearby. Her disturbing visions become more frequent the more time she spends with Griffon. He tells her that like him she is an “Akhet,” a person who can remember past lives and use this knowledge for good. Of course not all “Akhet” uphold this philosophy. Her visions now seem to focus on a Italian cello player involved in a murder. The book builds slowly centering around Cole’s thoughts about her visions which are depicted in italics. Once she and Griffon discover that a rogue “Akhet” is after her, the pace picks up dramatically as they race to find out what exactly happened all those years ago and how to fix it. The closer she grows to Griffon, the more she withdraws from friends and family. Her love for classical music is a constant underlying theme. Cole is a realistically drawn character with whom teens can easily identify. This romantic mystery hints at a sequel and will be sure to appeal to teens who enjoy paranormal romance. Recommend to fans of Die for me by Amy Plum.

Crystal Bones by c. Aubrey Hall

313 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Griffin

Half Fae twins Dielho and Cynthe, born of a Fae mother and human father, are painfully aware of the prejudice against half breeds and know it’s better just to blend in. They eagerly await their thirteenth birthday when their mother will bestow upon them their magical gifts. But when the day arrives, nothing goes as they planned. Instead of celebrating at the village fair, they’re given chores and sent on a boring errand. After delivering cloth to the castle, the temptation is too great to check out the fair, but this detour proves deadly. They are spotted and pursued by a goblin. They escape and return home only to find it burned to the ground, their mother dead. Their father’s last words plunge them into a world of family secrets, enemy goblin hordes, powerful swords and magic. Along with a talking wolf pup, and a half goblin creature named Scree, they set off to find their only relative, a Fae uncle they’ve never met. This fantasy has many traditional elements – magic, mysterious swords, sorcery, quest. Although the plot moves along at a good pace, the characters develop slowly at first giving the book a sluggish appeal at the beginning. The magical gifts of both children seem to be injected into the storyline making it seem like they just knew stuff without learning it. The author cleverly uses language to alter words for this world like “walner” for walnut tree, giving the descriptions a multi-textured, magical feel. The heavy issues of grief and prejudice are addressed realistically keeping the story from becoming too depressing. The end is left open for the next in the “Faelin Chronicles” series.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl

201 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Dragon

Crawley castle, a fool designed structure perched on a cliff edge, is in desperate need of maintenance. In addition to keeping the home repairs at bay, seventeen-yr.-old Althea must support her widowed mother and two stepsisters who claim to have no money. Her only solution is to marry rich and to do it quickly. She sets her sights on Lord Boring who has newly arrived to stay with relatives. Unfortunately Lord Boring never seems to be without the company of his cousin and business manager, Frederics, who derails Althea’s well-laid plans at every turn. Her stepsister, Charity, also aspires to become Lady Boring and unlike the impoverished Althea, she has a healthy dowry. This is a delightful read perfect for fans of Jane Austen. Althea is strong, clever, courageous and brazenly bold. Her fierce devotion and love for her family and ancestral home captures the heart and doesn’t let go. The author effortlessly transforms the relationship between Althea and Fredericks from annoyed acceptance to respectful alliance and finally to love. The humor is witty and light, especially Althea’s constant inner monologues. Although this book is targeted for a young adult audience, adult readers will find much to like, particularly those familiar with Georgette Heyer’s regency romances.

Slayers by C. J. Hill

373 pgs.
Target audience: Young adult
Rating: Wizard

The dragon invasion is coming and mankind’s only protection are the slayers, kids who are descendants of dragon lords and have special dragon fighting powers. The daughter of a state senator, Tori, is spoiled, smart and determined to attend a dragon camp. Ever since she could remember she’s had a sense that dragons are real and can’t wait to be with other kids who feel the same way. However St. George’s Dragon Camp is not the modern camp she was expecting, instead she’ll be living it rough and working hard. The camp is divided into two teams led by their captains – the sullen, moody and darkly handsome Dirk and the charming, popular, and gorgeous Jess. While there are classes on dragon lore, lessons in archery and horse riding, other activities are shrouded in mystery. As it turns out Dr. B., the camp director, runs the camp as a training ground for future dragon slayers. Tori’s special power is slow to manifest but when it does it reveals the secret location of the dragon eggs. Their task is to destroy the eggs before the evil dragonlord, Overdrake, uses them to destroy the world. The majority of the story revolves around the slayer training and picks up with a bang toward the end where all their battle training is put to the test. The fight scenes are thrilling and believable. The romance is sweet and not overpowering as Tori gets caught up in a love triangle between Dirk and Jess. The dragons are vicious and cunning and sure to appeal to a wide teen audience.

(This book provided for review by children's lit - www.childrenslit.com)