Samurai
by Jason Hightman

In this sequel to The Saint of Dragons, Simon St. George and his father Aldric continue their crusade against the dragons that disguise themselves as people and feed off the misery of human beings. When a dragon attacks their home, Alaythia - their magician, a vital part of their team - realizes her personal feelings for Aldric put them all in danger. She runs away, but Aldric and Simon set off after her.

The trail leads the St. Georges to Japan, where they are shocked to find out they are not the only dragon hunters in the world. In fact, a certain small, Japanese schoolboy turns out to be Simon's long-lost cousin, a true St. George with the gift of seeing through dragon magic. Protected by a handful of modern-day samurai warriors and his own mother, who is a powerful magician herself, Kyoshi (a.k.a. "Key") immediately starts following Simon into trouble. Meanwhile, Aldric and the samurai - particularly Taro, the boy's stepfather - clash as only powerful personalities, huge egos, and vastly different cultures can.

But even greater conflict is near at hand. Japan's dragon is a doctor of death with a newfound power to breathe flames of colossal, city-destroying power. The St. Georges and the samurai follow him to India, where a female serpent known as the Tiger Dragon waits, either to mate or to do battle with her opposite number from Japan. A fiendish ice dragon from the Swiss Alps lurks behind the scenes, scribbling and plotting the downfall of mankind. And in the end all hope depends on two diametrically opposite groups of dragon hunters working together, and on a couple of hot-headed kids doing the right thing.

So, it's basically the end of the world.

Or is it? That's what you'll find out by reading this exciting adventure. I think you'll enjoy the clash of cultures, the scintillating imagery of endless varieties of dragons, and the fathers and sons who talk exactly the way they do in real life -- namely, right past each other. In this book two sons are astonished to discover people their fathers have an even harder time communicating with than themselves!

Hopefully it isn't giving up too much to say that this series looks like it could go on, and could continue to entertain us in grand style, as Simon grows up and grapples with loneliness and asks too many questions (or, in the case of this book, not enough questions) and tries to earn his father's respect without becoming his father, and as the hunt for evil serpents takes a colorful cast of characters to every strange and far-flung corner of the world.

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 13+

If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.