Review: interesting
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 8, 2014
4 StarsIn the second book in this series we are reunited with Peter Bentwhistle, who is doing his best to fall back into his normal routine with his friends who welcome him back after his near death experience. Whether he wants a normal life or not, things will never be the same and the king’s guards accompany him home. They stay only long enough to remind him that he is different, that there will always be a threat out there and he needs to keep vigilant.He is soon drawn into a deadly plot against dragon kind by an ancient foe, the Naga. To this end, we also follow Flash, a Crimson Guard investigating the recent troubles in Antarctica. There he discovers a bigger plot, worldwide danger and Peter and friends are soon pulled in.The book follows straight after the aftermath of the fight with Manson. We see Peter back at home with a few security additions. It splits it’s time between the two aspects of Peter and Flash, flicking between them in alternative chapters. It follows Peter’s return, his growing affection for a human and his attempts to put the past behind him. The author paints a clear picture of his life and the ordinary struggles he encounters. With Flash the writing is more urgent, as he is tortured, pursued and changed forever from the attack.This is a long book which at times feels like there are two totally separate stories, though they do come together near the end. For me it could be condensed with more emphasis on the action than the description of times and places. The similes and metaphors are also a little strange for me. I realise that the book is set in present day, human world but it feels odd when one states, ‘a stream of flame lit up the vent like a team of university students lighting their own farts,’ or ‘go paler than the lightest mayonnaise.’ Also particularly near the beginning, the author feels he needs to add lines, paragraphs to describe what he has just written. I am sure the reader can work it out without the need for the extra narrative. The writing style works with the story, the pace at times is a little slow but the concept of the dragons living and helping the humans is a good one.Copy supplied for review