Secret of the Dragon's Scales
Derek Hart
iUniverse, Jun 10 2011, $16.95
ISBN: 9781462026654
By the Fall of 1943, the Allies are winning the war against the Nazis. Still the Germans are clever and devious with paranormal abilities as the three fifteen years old friends Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby know first hand. Guided by their mentor Sir Thaddeus Osbert the wise ancient dragon, the trio has prevented some insidious schemes in their hometown of Crackeston Haven in North Cornwall (see Secrets of the Dragon’s Claw, Secrets of the Dragon’s Breath and Secrets of the Dragon’s Eye). When he is not pretending to be a fireplace, Sir Thaddeus assists Churchill in exchange for his first love sweets.
Meanwhile Himmler has become desperate as he recognizes the war has turned against the Axis to the point that renovation at critical Welwelsburg Castle stopped. He must send the monsters gathered from the rift in space his wizard Adicus Shinagle made though Himmler recognizes they may not have full binding control of the beasts from beyond. Shinagle understands he must eliminate the meddling Cornwall teens to win the latest Battle of Britain.
What makes this entry and the historical fantasy series superb is the sense that young adult readers (and other fans) are in coastal England (and part of Germany) during WWII as the audience obtains a taste of life in Cornwall and the impact of the Russian front on the Germans. With several twists involving the lead trio enhancing the fast-paced story line. the audience anticipates the confrontation between the three teens and their dragon vs. the evil that the dark wizard and his Nazi superior will deploy against England. This exhilarating historical military urban fantasy is the teens’ finest hour.
Harriet Klausner
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