DragonÂ’s Bait
by Vivian Vande Velde

Alys is the daughter of a village tinsmith, who is too poor to afford an apprentice, and too ill to do his work alone. So Alys violates the social norms of her society by learning to make tin buttons for her father. She is guilty of no more than that. But one day a covetous neighbor levels a wicked accusation against Alys, and a sleazy inquisitor condemns her as a witch. Abandoned by her friends, having watched her father die of heartbreak, Alys suddenly finds herself lashed to a pole waiting for a dragon to claim her as a sacrifice.

So, itÂ’s not a very good day for Alys.

But then the dragon comes, and he turns out to be young by dragon standards. In his human form, he appears as a gorgeous, seventeen-year-old boy. And instead of eating Alys right off, Selendrile offers her a chance to take revenge on the people who destroyed her life.

And so, paired with an ally she neither understands nor trusts, Alys seeks out the inquisitor and the witnesses who lied about her. What comes next is a suspenseful tale of danger – the danger not only of losing her life, but of losing her soul – as well as friendship, redemption, and forgiveness. It is one of those interesting, new-fashioned fairy tales in which you are gripped by concern for the heroine; and in which you are more concerned whether she will turn out to be a good person, than whether she will survive the tale. Prepare for some surprises!

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 14+

1/29/06

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