FIREBRED

Two young adventurers and their dragons continue their search for a way to save their world.

Aboard the sky ship the Queen’s Blade, orphan Remy and his friend Gem, princess and heir to the kingdom, are in hiding. The magic crystals that power their airborne world are failing, and Remy’s connection to the depressed, often-intoxicated Sir Bartello Axtell seems to be their best shot at locating the True Dragon who holds the answers to what’s happening to their world. Gem, meanwhile, is working with the ship’s grumpy mage, Lysander, on honing her magical skills so that she can defend Remy and herself against Jhaeros, the bloodthirsty wizard who’s still hunting them and is intent on taking Remy’s dragon, Storm, for his own. Gem’s father has every knight in the kingdom looking for her, too—and even if the crew can evade everyone who’s hunting them, it will be a treacherous journey to the island where the only known True Dragon is believed to dwell. Well-timed flashbacks fill in gaps in the backstory without breaking the flow of the narrative, adding depth to Sir Bart’s current problems while also creating hopeful space for redemption and change. Variations among the dragons’ abilities give them dimensionality within the story, and the sky-dwelling kingdom of Gallecia remains an enchanting world, portrayed with a strong balance of heart and action. Gem is cued white; other characters aren’t physically described.

An adventurous and emotional sequel.