TALKING TO DRAGONS

According to the jacket, this is the ``conclusion to Wrede's Enchanted Forest Series''—but don't bet on it. Volume number four opens 16 years after Calling on Dragons (p. 382), with King Menenbar still imprisoned in his castle by wizard's spells, and Queen Cimorene living quietly at the Forest edge, raising their son Daystar (who narrates) until he's old enough to wield the magic sword and free his father. Does Daystar succeed, despite wizards, bad elves, witches, and a rock-crunching quozzel? You can bet on that. In the process, he acquires as companion—and likely future princess—the young fire-witch Shiara; so, as they say, the story continues. The series is getting a little formulaic, and—despite the title—the dragons are now distinctly minor players here; still, the characters and their effervescent dialogue continue to charm. (Fiction. 12+)