Redeeming the Lost
This is an archetypal tale given originality by excellent characterization. The Kantri, or true dragons, have returned to the human world from which they fled centuries ago after a devastating battle with a demon lord. One of the wisest Kantri, Varien has become so enamored of the human woman who sought them out that he has taken human form for her sake. But the lady has been captured by the demon-master Berys. Berys must be destroyed before he can call the demons to destroy both the Kantri and the Gedri (humans). A different character narrates each chapter, and the narrators include a selection of the villains. Kerner handles first-person narration quite skillfully, and she develops both characters and action smoothly. It helps to have read this book's predecessors,Song in the Silence(1998) andThe Lesser Kindred(2001), in Kern's dragon series, but that isn't strictly necessary to enjoying this consistently intelligent tale, which will captivate even readers who thought themselves thoroughly jaded about draconic studies.Frieda MurrayCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved