DRAGON THIEF

A young man on a quest for vengeance gets more than he bargained for in this fantasy novel by Blake Penn and Raven Penn.

Three years ago, in the fantastical realm of Evgard, a 17-year-old magic-using “magi” called Asher lost his mother, Zerana, also a magi, when she was killed by the Mage Hunter called the Black Valkyrie. Asher’s father, Akayto, takes in teenage brother and sister Kai and Kari after their parents, who had been assisting an elite group of dangerous magi called the Knights of the Torch, disappear. Asher and Kai spend their days adventuring and thieving to accumulate enough money to move Akayto to a safer place. Their situation worsens when Mage Hunters show up at their front door looking for Asher after he and Kai get caught up in a heist gone wrong. Just as Asher fears he’s been found out, the Drekai—winged, horned, dragonlike people—invade. These strong and fearsome beings are seeking their precious dragon egg, which King Rodan of Drakfell (a “keepdom” within Evgard) has stolen. The Knights of the Torch assemble to find the dragon egg, which is incredibly rare and contains potent magic, before it falls into the hands of the Black Valkyrie, who is also pursuing the object. Asher chooses to join them on their quest, to stop the Black Valkyrie and exact his vengeance. Blake Penn and Raven Penn have crafted a complex world with an engaging cast of characters led by the dynamic and entertaining Asher (“I screamed in terror as I watched Whitestone Hall fade away. Once I was out of earshot and certain that no one would hear me, I cried out. ‘No! I’m too handsome to die!’ ”). His quest to avenge his mother is heartfelt, and he demonstrates great compassion and love for his friends and family. Side characters such as Kai, Kari, the Knights of the Torch, and others are equally fleshed out and support the story. The narrative is fast paced and skillfully interweaves the exposition with the plot and character development.

An exciting fantasy adventure and a great start to a promising new series.