Firestar

Chris d'Lacey (author)

Orchard Books, UK: 2005; 460pp

ISBN 1843625229

Genres: adventure, fantasy

This third book in Chris d'Lacey's series about the Pennykettle dragons sees the lodger, David Rain, adventuring in the Arctic, learning about ice and polar bears. Gwilanna, the sybil, or ancient witch, supposedly vanquished in the previous novel, is exerting her influence once more. David's writing seems to have become more powerful, his stories affecting events in the real world. Gwilanna is determined to awaken the ancient dragon, Gawain, something that would create an environmental disaster of enormous proportions, one that might even wipe out the human race. Can David stop her? What roles do Zanna and Lucy play in this titanic struggle?

d'Lacey's series about dragons is both entertaining and well written. He enjoys introducing characters that are a bit 'different' and challening reader assumptions. This is fantasy a little outside the square, so should appeal to gifted readers.