What a mish-mash. Hodge-Podge. Higgledy Piggledy. Whichever you prefer, this book was very… mixed. Now have I piqued your interest?
***
The strangers (Ever strange. Of that, there is no question.) are back: The Wizards, the Lizards, the Artist, and the women. Things have been quiet in Amara, but that quickly changes. The stones of the Gateway are shifted once more, and, once more, everything begins to fall apart- including Tipper’s father.
Graddapotmorhpit Bealomondore of Greeston in Dornum, with artistic talent befitting of such a name, is finding that though he longs to paint, he carries a sword far more often than a brush. Times of war are soon to come, and he cannot complete his training soon enough.
The Wizard Fenworth, his librarian Lebrettowit, and the kimen Hollee are charged with the task of protecting the stones (the physical equivalent of the balance of the world). Fenworth mumbles and sheds bugs, Librettowit mumbles and reads, and Hollee jumps around and enjoys the both of them. A strange trio, but altogether likable.
Tipper, along with her parents and guardian Beccaroon, prepare for the war that is to come. Lady Peg, the slightly nonsensical keeper of the home, argues the difference between “figurative” and “figure affecting”. They learn to cope with the throes of battle, all the while learning of a mysterious “Wulder” figure. Wulder supposedly created their earth, but what creator would allow such a massacre?
Friendships strengthened, trespasses forgiven, and a Ruler loved. And dragons. Just, dragons.
***
There are plenty of positives here, but a couple of prominent negatives. The things I liked? Dragons of the Valley, second book in the Chiril Chronicles, followed up well. Bealomondore’s development is evident as he battles a self-centered urge to just back away, hide, and draw pictures. Wulder, the book’s God figure, is portrayed very well, and his principles are clear and thought out.
The things I dislike. Well, first of all, the first book’s Tipper was not the same in the second. I felt like she was a weaker character, and that she never really resolved certain aspects. To be honest, I thought I had the story figured out at one point, and then, I was wrong. Aaand, it didn’t resolve as well as I thought it would. Bah.
—
3 of 5 stars
10+
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I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
The Embarrassed Zebra 