The Shamer's War (Shamer Chronicles)
Grade 6–10—In this final volume in the series, Prince Nicodemus must defeat his dragon-wielding cousin, Drakan, who is ruthlessly conquering the surrounding lands. He is joined by Dina, the Shamer's daughter possessed of multiple magical gifts, and Carmian, a new character and love interest. Again, the first-person narrative switches between Dina and her half brother, Davin, who is captured by Drakan and forced to drink transformative dragon's blood. It's hard not to root for these engaging characters as they face internal conflicts over independence, betrayal, and the meaning of honor. The drama is action-packed, as fans of the series will have come to expect by now, and unfolds in tantalizing chunks. Romantic relationships play an appropriately larger role in the plot, but excessive references to the young teens' frustrations and insecurities are trite. Still, with well-drawn forays into a new magical realm and a thought-provoking, surprise ending, this is a superb novel in its own right, and a fitting conclusion to the riveting "Shamer's Chronicles."—Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.