The Dragon Guard
by Emily Drake

This third book in the series that started with The Magickers continues as the most obvious “American answer to Harry Potter” — one that even makes references to Harry Potter, as well as Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings. Set in Southern California, the series follows the adventures of a group of “talented” children who first found out that they were Magickers while attending Camp Ravenwyng for the summer.

Now, they are back at home, going to school, playing sports, and living their various lives. But Jason Adrian and his group of friends continue to stick together as Magickers. They need more support than ever, as the Dark Hand of Brennard continues to reach its evil tentacles toward them.

In The Dragon Guard, you will find not only a dragon, but also a martial arts master, a soccer championship, an Indian shaman who goes to live among the wolfjackals, a mysterious illness that threatens the life of one of the elder Magickers, a deliberate traitor and an unintentional one, a creepy stalker, a huge breach of the Magicker equivalent of the “statute of secrecy,” and a race of horrible creatures who are mirror images of a Magicker, created to hunt them down and devour them.

The Young Magickers are pushed to take the most desperate steps they have ever taken. It’s now or never—they need a haven, a safe place to study magic—or they will perish—NOW. And everyone depends on Jason to make it happen, from his friend Bailey who talks to animals, to Stefan who keeps turning into one; from Trent who does not seem to have any powers, to Henry Squibb whose wild, uncontrolled powers pose a danger to one and all. And while they are hunted by Brennard and his even nastier son Jonnard, there is no one to help them—because the adult Magickers have even bigger problems of their own!

The climax of this novel is one of the most exciting magical battles you could hope to read. It’s an engaging story, built on an intesting concept – to say that it is “what Harry Potter would be like in America” really doesn’t do justice to the originality of the world Emily Drake has created here. While I still find myself stumbling over occasional bits of awkward writing, I grow more and more interested in seeing how this series plays out. And when the ending of this book socks you with the “hook to end all hooks,” you will surely want to pick up Book 4, titled The Gate of Bones.

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 13+

11/12/05

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