Weekend Reads: Rogue Spotter series by Kimberly A. Rogers (Rachel)

I am a chronic re-reader of books and re-watcher of movies. So, when I felt in the mood for something familiar a few weeks ago, I reached for a favorite UF series and realized that I should share it with you.

Rogue Spotter Series

Lauren Hope is a Spotter, a paranormal who sees numbers over everyone’s heads that indicate their dangerousness. Because of this skill, there are those who would wish to kill her or force her to use her skill for their purposes. She has spent her life on the run and alone. That is until the day she looks up to see a man with the highest number ever right there in her workplace. He had a 10 glowing in the air over his head.

A dangerous hero with a delicious accent, a heroine with an amazing character arc, and phenomenal world-building that weaves ancient mythology and pre-Covid modern times, the series is the perfect escape. The romance is sweet and realistic against the background of action, adventure, self-discovery, quests, and a battle to save the world. The high-paced adventure unfolds over a six-book series that barely stops for breath. What more can one want?

Do you reread your favorite series too?
What are your favorites?

Writing Lessons from Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Lizzie)

Probably like many of you, I went to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi over Christmas break. Don't hate me, but I must admit being disappointed with it--I wasn't expecting to ask myself "when will this movie be over?" while watching Star Wars! Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike it--I actually did like it, but was still somewhat disappointed.

As a writer should, I considered what I did and didn't like about the story and how I could apply those lessons to my writing. Here are some takeaways. Note: There are some spoilers. Many references are to the original three films, however.

Lessons from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

1) Humor is huge

I loved the opening scene where Poe tricks a First Order leader during the radio call, pretending not to hear the officer's replies in order to buy time. It was bold, impudent, and perfectly fit Poe's character.

Humor of various types was scattered throughout the movie. Star Wars is known for what I think of as "creature humor" (the mechanical mice and R2D2's reactions and so on) as well as the arrogance and sarcasm of some characters (Han Solo's arrogance, Leia's calling Chewy a walking carpet), and situational humor (Han, Luke, and the rest "escaping" into a garbage compactor in A New Hope). This movie also employed humor that was less subtle, obvious ploys for laughs like the standard "I don't think they like me very much." "I can't imagine why." routine. This begs the question, what type of humor fits my voice or my genre?

Cute critters like these from The Last Jedi add humor to the story.

Take away: Humor is usually a plus. The caveat is that the humor should match the expected tone of the story. Should the humor be subtle, clever, slapstick? And what is the balance of humor to seriousness? Is the story meant to be humorous overall or does the humor help keep the violence or sadness from overwhelming? (For more on humor, read K.M. Weiland's post How to Write Funny, which is based on Thor: Ragonk.)

2) Have a Hero; it's expected

It took a loooong time, but Luke finally showed up to save the day. We were expecting it; we would have been very, very angry if he hadn't. Also, Rey didn't turn to the dark side, and Poe managed some pretty good tricks too. This is good.

Luke Skywalker

Takeaway: If a hero and heroic actions are expected in your story, you'd better have them. If your genre calls for something, like a happy ending or a dramatic sacrifice or romance, be sure to give it to your readers. Don't be too stingy with small payoffs along the way or make your readers wait too long. The longer you make them wait, the bigger the pay off had better be.

3) Inside or Out: Action or change of heart

For a movie titled The Last Jedi, Rey and Luke (a possible new Jedi and an old Jedi) add little to the overall storyline of saving the rebel forces. Rey was supposed to find Luke, get some training, and bring him back. Instead, they are hidden away on a remote island arguing most of the movie, with Luke being difficult about returning to the rebels because of an issue in his past. This is all tied to Kylo Ren and his internal conflicts. So the jedi characters are all stuck doing "inside stuff" for a good portion of the movie. Drama instead of the action/adventure I expect from a Star Wars movie. Rey does go off on a separate quest with some action, but even though this results in the death of a major bad guy, don't make any difference in the goal of saving the rapidly dwindling rebel forces. Leia, Poe, Finn, and new character Rose, are responsible for that plot line, which does have the expected action/adventure.

The conflicted, highly troubled Kylo Ren, subject of much of Rey and Luke's time together.

Takeaway: Know your reader's expectations about the balance of action and introspection/convince-the-bad-guy-to-change. Are your characters doing what they are expected to do? 

4) Streamline your plot line: hanging around too long could be fatal

The Last Jedi was two hours and thirty minutes long. I think they could have chopped off thirty minutes easy. This movie, as some stories do, felt like beads on a string--one small goal/fight after another after another, getting bigger, but when you think you it should be time to wrap it up, it just keeps going. Yes, the overall goal was to save the rebel forces, but there were so many side jaunts it didn't feel like a true goal. Finn and Rose and the droid go on a quest, but they didn't actually succeed, so what was the point? (This is Star Wars; I expect the main characters to succeed. Or was the quest simply "fun enough" to justify it? But that's a subject for another day.) There's Rey/Luke/Kylo Ren's plot line that didn't really affect the rest of the story until the end and was mostly about internal conflict. There was a mutiny of sorts among the rebels that could have be avoided if purple-haired lady had answered Poe's question with "Yes, I have a plan to protect us and this is it..." In my opinion, Poe's mutiny was adding unnecessary drama and length.

Visiting a jazz club-type setting is practically a given in a Star Wars 
movie, but like any setting or plot point, it must fit organically into the overall
storyline. 

Takeaway: Before adding a plot point, subplot, battle, trouble between hero and heroine, etc., ask if it is really necessary. Are you simply adding drama or length? Are you adding subplots merely to utilize characters that don't fit into the main storyline? Is a subplot entertaining enough to justify adding the length to an already long story? Could a very simple communication (which any rational person would make) have prevented the episode (like Poe's mutiny)? Readers hate this type of drama, or at least I do; figure out a better way to up the tension or move the story along.

5) Death and Destruction

An epic fantasy is expected to have a lot more death and destruction than say a fairy tale or a romance. Even though Star Wars is an epic fantasy, I wasn't expecting quite so much loss. When Catniss's sister dies in The Hunger Games, the reaction is "wasn't the point keeping her alive?". You have to consider whether the losses will make readers wonder if the characters failed. It's okay to have national or cosmic success in defeating the bad guys but still have characters suffer great personal loss, just consider whether you would accept it if you were the reader. 

Likable droids add to the humor and help us
tolerate the death and destruction of action movies.

Take away: Consider the level of death, destruction, or cruelty your readers expect and care to deal with. Near total destruction, rape, death of certain characters (beloved ones or children) are deal- killers to some readers, so just know your audience and be okay with some readers disliking your stories.

6) So many characters, so little time together

Maybe those who've read all the Star Wars books and watched the movies multiple times knew who all the characters in this movie were, but it seemed to me there were way more characters than I cared to keep up with. Was I really supposed to remember that Storm Trooper Finn has a showdown with? Enough to care for a showdown?

More importantly to me, we didn't get a building of the relationship between Poe, Rey, and Finn, which I was hoping for based on the tight connection between Leia, Luke, and Han. I was hoping for friends adventuring together; that's not what I got.

Poe off to blast something. Alone.

Take away: Do your readers want action or character interaction? How can you balance them? How many characters does your story really need? Which ones will your readers remember for later interactions?

7) Replay: we've seen this before

If you're doing a series, be conscious and careful of reusing themes, settings, or events. A trip to a jazz club-type place, a soul-seeking jaunt to a creepy cave, a foolish mission to turn Dark Vader or Kylo Ren away from the dark side. Been there, done that in the original three and again in The Last Jedi. Good or bad? Die-hard fans or new watchers may love the hat-tip to the old, or just be ignorant of the reuse of material. The in-betweens may not be enamored enough to enjoy the repetition.

Take away: Be wise in your reuse of settings, events, and character-types. It can enhance the story or appear like a lack of creativity.

Have you seen The Last Jedi? What did you think of it? Or what were some writing tips you picked up from a recent book or movie?

Dragons of Starlight (Hannah)

It's my turn for What We're Reading again, and I believe I am falling into a rut.  This is my third series review in a row that deals with dragons.  But who doesn't like dragons?  This week's series, the Dragons of Starlight series, is for those of you who love action, adventure, and high fantasy, but don't prioritize romance.

For years, tales of dragons

from another world kidnapping and enslaving humans

have been circulating in Jason Master's world, while for a slave girl

named Koren, the stories of a human world seem pure myth.  Together,

these two teens will need to bridge two planets in order to overthrow

the draconian threat and bring the lost slaves home.

When Jason finds a cryptic message from his missing brother, he must uncover the web of lies surrounding the governor of Major Four, the human world, and the draconic masters of the distant planet Starlight.  Framed for a crime he didn't commit, he is forced to escape through the dungeons in search of the portal.  Along the way, he gains some important allies: and old man whose seemingly-crazy ranting turns out to be very wise, a childhood friend with magical powers, and even one of his greatest rivals.  But he has no idea what he will be facing once he reaches Starlight...

Koren, a slave girl on Starlight, serves the great dragon Arxad and his family with three other slaves.  Working from dawn until dusk, sweltering in the torturous heat and falling asleep every night exhausted, she dreams of a coveted Promotion.  Nevertheless, she does her best to live according to the Code, and often puts herself in danger to help those less fortunate than she is.  She soon discovers she is a Starlighter, a rare woman with great powers which can help or doom her and the other humans on Starlight.  Meanwhile, a mysterious prophecy regarding the black dragon egg begins to be fulfilled.  A new threat arises, one that could shake the foundations of Major Four and Starlight alike, and spell disaster for both dragons and humans... and it chooses Koren as its personal representative.

This is a Christian, young adult, high and portal fantasy series.  Its author, Bryan Davis, is one of my favorites, and I have already reviewed another one of his sets.  Unlike most other dragon books I have read, this series portrays most of them as evil, a welcome change, actually.  

The setting is highly unique and memorable.  It is an interesting blend of modern and medieval elements.  The main characters mainly fight with swords, wear armor and tunics, and engage in other common medieval-style activities, but the main city of Mesolantrum is ruled by a governor, there are complex genetic locks, and wealthy and upper class citizens have access to advanced technology such as photo guns and video recordings.  

In typical Bryan Davis style, he masterfully weaves a large cast of well-rounded and lovable characters into a complex and satisfying narrative.  Jason, the chivalrous warrior, Elyssa, the highly perceptive Diviner, and the conflicted Starlighter Koren, torn between her friends' safety and her goal to rescue the humans of Starlight, drive the story down its many unexpected twists and turns.  They receive help from Tibalt, a "crazy old man" that only seemed crazy to hide his great wisdom, experience, and adventurousness, Jason's older brother Adrian, the master swordfighter and spunky noblewoman Marcelle, and even some sympathetic dragons torn between family, country, and what they know is right.  Other characters, such as Governor Prescott, his son Randall, the mysterious Drexel, the dragon tyrant Magnar, and the dragon in the black egg and his servant, Zena, add danger, mystery, and conflict.  If the long character list is intimidating, have no fear - Mr. Davis introduces each one uniquely and memorably, and they all fit organically into the story over the course of four books.

This series is complete, and is fantastic as a standalone story, but Mr. Davis also wrote another series that takes place alongside this one.  It is called Tales of Starlight.  I will review that one next time I do a What We're Reading post, but I couldn't not mention it in this post.  It follows Jason's older brother Adrian and his rival-turned-ally Marcelle, and is labeled as an adult book.  This is only because the characters are adults.  It also deals with slightly more mature topics, but it is completely appropriate and understandable for anyone who enjoyed the Dragons of Starlight series.  Tales of Starlight is also completely standalone.  Either series could be fully read, enjoyed, and understood without any knowledge of the other.

The books in the Dragons of Starlight series are:

#1: Starlighter

#2: Warrior

#3: Diviner

#4: Liberator

If you are also interested in reading the Tales of Starlight series alongside the Dragons of Starlight, I would suggest completing Dragons of Starlight and then reading Tales of Starlight, just because it is easier to follow each series on its own without trying to juggle everything that is happening.  Alternatively, if you are willing to read both series at once in order to gain a more thorough understanding of all facets of the story, this is the author's recommended reading order.

Starlighter (Dragons of Starlight book #1)

Masters & Slayers (Tales of Starlight book #1)

Warrior (Dragons of Starlight book #2)

The Third Starlighter (Tales of Starlight book #2)

Diviner (Dragons of Starlight book #3)

Liberator (Dragons of Starlight book #4)

Exodus Rising (Tales of Starlight book #3)

Do complex series like this one intrigue you and draw you into the story world, or get too confusing to follow?  Do you like the variety of books we review?  We tend to hover around the young adult and fantasy genres, but within those areas, our choices are quite different.  Are there any particular areas you would like us to review more?  Is there any particular information you would like us to include in the books we review?  (For example, the levels of romance, violence, or spirituality; the specific type of fantasy; etc.)  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah

If you would like to see more dragons, or books with dragons, check out the posts below:

The "Dragon" Books by Bryan Davis, reviewed by me

Laura's Top 3 Mythical Creatures, which includes dragons

My Top 3 Fantasy Creatures post, which includes a particular dragon: the leviathan

The Wings of Fire series I reviewed, which features dragons

My post on what makes a great fantasy world, using the Wings of Fire series as an example

A great Beauty and the Beast retelling Elizabeth suggested, which includes the Dragon Lord as the "beast" character

Attributions:

Starlighter: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VQmoUjOXL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Warrior: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EjmNFVhdL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Diviner: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cEZZZ%2BLHL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Liberator: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519WTkVNvoL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Top 3 Marvel Movies (Hannah)

Recently, I have been watching several of the Marvel movies.  Now, I realize there are several series of movies that are technically "Marvel superheroes," but I am referring specifically to the Avengers series, which, for those of you that don't know, includes Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, and others.  The movies are so different in tone, nearly everyone can find at least one movie he or she likes.  This list is highly subjective, but here is my personal opinion.  Beware of spoilers!  I will try to be as vague as possible, but there might be a few.

Note: I have not seen Ant-Man or Captain America: Civil War, but I have seen all of the others in this series.

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Featuring Captain America, Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff), and Nick Fury, this episode feels like a spy movie. Neither Cap nor Romanoff have the flashy powers of Iron Man, Thor, or Hulk.  Instead, they are simply highly trained and, in Cap's case, physically enhanced.  When the mysterious Winter Soldier showed up to threaten S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury, Captain America, and Black Widow were forced to go on the run as everything they believed in came crashing down around them.  Even the deadly Winter Soldier himself was not who everyone believed...  I love this movie for several reasons: 1) I love Captain America, 2) the whole movie felt like a high-intensity spy adventure, and 3) it followed up on some of the foreshadowing from The Avengers, and the mighty, ubiquitous S.H.I.E.L.D. itself was shaken to its core.  Overall, this was a fantastic movie.


2. Captain America: The First Avenger

As much as I loved Cap's second movie, I liked the first one better.  In this installment, Steve Rogers started out as a scrawny, sickly guy with a determination to fight in World War II.  He constantly got beaten up by bullies, and he viewed the Nazis as even bigger bullies.  Finally, a scientist noticed his determination and general goodness and chose Rogers as a subject for an experimental procedure that would give him great strength, stamina, and metabolism.  Even after that, not everything was easy.  Cap continued his uphill battle to make a difference in the war.  Meanwhile, Hydra, the Nazi science division, tapped into an ancient power to develop deadly new weapons.  I loved how Cap's absolute goodness shined through.  He is a classic example of a true hero.  In addition, the World War II setting is probably my favorite real-world time period that occurred after the Renaissance.  In fact, only one movie had a setting I liked even better...

1. Thor: The Dark World

As a huge fan of both fantasy and Norse mythology (which first introduced many common fantasy tropes), Thor: The Dark World was my favorite movie mainly because of the setting.  The whole movie was just beautiful... Asgard was stunning, Svartalfheim was lovely in a dismal sort of way, and the costumes were fantastic.  Of course, there were other factors that make this movie the best.  Loki is one of my favorite characters (and my #2 all time favorite villain), and his actions in this movie only cemented this status.  His skills of manipulation and deception are legendary.  But Loki isn't the only great villain in this movie.  The dark elves, which capture the top spot in my "Top 3 Mythical Creatures" post, also make an appearance as the "true" villains.  This movie was everything a fantasy-lover could want, and I haven't even mentioned the plot!  All in all, this movie certainly deserves its number one spot.

What about you?  Have you seen the Avengers series of movies?  If so, which was your favorite, and why?  Let me know in the comments!

~ Hannah

Attributions
Captain America: Winter Soldier: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/2/26/Cap_2_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140131142227
Captain America: The First Avenger: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/8/81/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvengerComicConPoster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120122235032
Thor: The Dark World: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/f/fc/Thor-_The_Dark_World_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131115001851

Wings of Fire (Hannah)

"What We're Reading" time again!  Although technically Erin was the first to complete a full cycle of topics, this is my first time repeating a category I have already written in.  I hope it is the first of many!

Now, for the real topic.  A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on great fantasy worlds, and used the Wings of Fire series as an example.  In that post, I got to gush about my favorite part of reading fantasy: experiencing amazing new worlds.  Here, I am going to go into greater detail on the Wings of Fire series, by Tui T. Sutherland.  This series is a work in progress, and it can effectively be divided into two distinct parts. The first five books, or half of the series, is the part I am reviewing.  These books are great for those who love action/adventure and in-depth fantasy worlds.  There is virtually no romance, except for the occasional crush.  It focuses more on the relationships between the main characters, who have grown up together and see each other as siblings.

"When the war has lasted twenty years...

the dragonets will come.

When the land is soaked in blood and tears...

the dragonets will come.

Find SeaWing egg of deepest blue.

Wings of night shall come to you.

The largest egg on mountain high

will give to you the wings of sky.

For wings of earth, search through the mud

for an egg the color of dragon blood.

And hidden alone from rival queens

the SandWing egg awaits unseen.

Of three queens who blister, blaze, and burn,

two shall die and one shall learn

if she bows to a fate that is stronger and higher,

she'll have the power of wings of fire.

Five eggs to hatch on brightest night,

five dragons born to end the fight.

Darkness will rise to bring the light.

The dragonets are coming..."

So begins the first book, The Dragonet Prophecy.  In the land of Pyrrhia, three Sand dragon (or SandWing) queens have been fighting for the throne for eighteen years.  The other tribes have taken sides, and the world is torn apart by war.  Everyone looks for the dragonets to come and end the destruction.  Hidden away from the rest of the world, five dragonets - the Dragonets of Destiny, as they are known - anxiously await their chance to save the world.  Unfortunately, there is a catch: the prophecy was broken almost as soon as it was spoken.  The SkyWing dragonet was murdered before he was even born.  Instead, one of the dragonets' handlers stole a RainWing egg to replace the missing SkyWing egg.

The book begins eighteen years into the war when the dragon who spoke the prophesy, Morrowseer, comes to check on the dragonets.  Infuriated by the absence of the SkyWing and the presence of a RainWing, Morrowseer declares that the RainWing, Glory, must be killed.  Clay, the MudWing Dragonet of Destiny, and the self-proclaimed protector of the group, finally becomes fed up with hiding under a mountain at the mercy of their cruel guardians, waiting for destiny to come to him.  He leads the other four dragonets out into the world... where they promptly encounter more danger than they ever expected.

Over the next few books, the dragonets encounter the horror of the war firsthand and do all they can to end it. They get swept up into the political machinations of the warring queens, get kidnapped by their own tribes, and are both adored and hunted from one corner of Pyrrhia to the other.  Ultimately, they fulfill the prophecy and bring the war to a close, but it comes at a high price.

Each of the Dragonets of Destiny gets his or her own book.  Every book is well written and distinct from the others, and I love how each character's viewpoint adds another facet to the story.  Like everyone else, I had a few characters that I liked more than I liked others.  So, when it came time to read the books that focused on the characters I didn't like as much, I groaned inside.  I couldn't leave the series unfinished, though, so I decided to read them, even if I didn't like them.  Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the books focusing on characters I liked, but it was the books focusing on characters I didn't like that really caused me to have a lot of admiration for the writer.  She managed to take characters I didn't like very much and create the perfect story to show off their strengths and weaknesses, who they are, and why I should care about them.  I enjoyed those books just as much as I did the others.

By Mike Schley

I don't want to repeat what I said in my other post, but for those of you who missed it, Wings of Fire is set in one of my absolute favorite fantasy worlds.  It is populated entirely by dragons, and there are seven different types.  The dragons of a same type live together in tribes, and each tribe is organically different.  For example, SeaWings can see in the dark and have glow-in-the-dark scales.  Why?  Because it is dark underwater, and they have to be able to see.  Also, it is impossible to speak underwater.  They flash their glowing scales, much like Morse Code, to speak to each other in their own language.  Each book explores a different region of Pyrrhia, and the depth and nuance of every area is magnificent.

The main characters, the Dragonets of Destiny, are each so different and yet complimentary.  Glory, the plan-oriented and dry-witted RainWing, clashes with Tsunami, the headstrong, impulsive SeaWing warrior.  The NightWing Starflight loves books and scrolls, and remembers just about everything he reads.  His knowledge is invaluable, but he often comes off as a know-it-all, and whenever danger hits, he freezes.  Sunny is a perky, happy, naive SandWing that truly cares about others.  Holding the group together is Clay, the strong, protective, and easy-going MudWing.  The group dynamic is very organic and often humorous, but there is a lot of conflict when their personalities clash.

These are considered tween books, but I have been reading them as a teenager, and I think they have the perfect balance of simplicity and complexity.  Since many of the other books I read are thick and complex, and require a lot of investment to fully understand and enjoy, I love having these to relax with.  They are fast reads, but the author doesn't sacrifice quality for simplicity.  It's nice to be able to breeze through a well-written, engaging story once in a while, and these are perfect for that function.  All in all, these are some of my favorite books and they are well worth reading.

Do you ever find children's books to be interesting?  Do you prefer lighter, faster reads, in-depth and complex stories, or do you like a good mix?

Thanks for reading!
~ Hannah

Attributions
The Dragonet Prophesy: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/wingsoffire/images/0/0f/A2a.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141006235308
The Lost Heir: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51bAAxOB-pL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
The Hidden Kingdom: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m733zVbpL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
Map of Pyrrhia: http://tuibooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Wings-of-Fire-map-final-compressed-e1340913451579.jpg
The Dark Secret: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AoIP0VPoL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
The Brightest Night: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ov-HBgV-L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

The "Dragon" Books (Hannah)

Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, and Children of the Bard series 

By Bryan Davis

  

Of course, these are not the only books with dragons, nor are they the only books I have read that contain dragons.  However, since it is a set of twelve books in three separate but connected series, I just call them the "Dragon Books" for convenience.  If you are a fan of Christian low, urban, or portal fantasy, or if you just love dragons in general, I would wholeheartedly suggest these books.  I would mostly put them in the fantasy adventure/action genre, but there is a just a slight bit of romance, as well as mystery and the supernatural, presented in a Biblically consistent way.  On top of all of that, they are filled with the Christian message of salvation, and some of the most prominent themes are faith, redemption, sacrifice, and how God uses the weak to accomplish mighty things in His Name. They run 400-600 pages a piece, and there are twelve books total, so you will be reading them for a while.  I absolutely devoured them, and they are still to this day my very favorite books.  They were written for young adult/new adult age groups, but my dad thoroughly enjoyed them as well. 

As you can probably guess from the title, dragons feature heavily in these books.  Dragons in our Midst, the first series written, introduces Billy Bannister, a high school student with great instincts and bad breath.  He meets a girl named Bonnie, who always seems to wear a backpack.  Over the course of the first book, he comes to discover that they are both descended from dragons, which were transformed into humans many years ago.  Billy, with his fire breath and sense of danger, and Bonnie, a girl with dragon wings, are aided by the hilarious Walter and wise Professor Hamilton as they try to stay one step ahead of the Dragon Slayers, protect their friends and family, and ultimately rescue all of dragonkind.

Oracles of Fire is a prequel/sequel series that straddles the events of Dragons in our Midst.  The first book, Eye of the Oracle, gives the history of the dragons from Noah’s Ark to King Arthur, how they came to be in human form, and introduces two new main characters: Elam, the son of Shem, and Mara, an oracle of fire, who has the power to create and control fire.  The second, third, and fourth books are sequels to Dragons in our Midst, and follow Billy, Bonnie, Walter, the brilliant Ashley, Elam, Mara (under a new name), and several of the dragons as they journey across many different dimensions, from Earth to the seven circles of Hades to the doorstep of Heaven itself in a desperate battle to ward off the dark forces that are trying to overthrow God’s sovereign rule.

Children of the Bard takes place 15 years after the end of Oracles of Fire, following Matt and Lauren, twin children of Billy and Bonnie.  In a world now hostile to the newly revealed dragons, they struggle to avoid detection by the evil powers that seek to use them for their own nefarious purposes.  They team up with old friends and family, as well as new allies to fight some of the most formidable opponents they have ever faced.

The three series are finally complete, with the release of Children of the Bard #4, Omega Dragon, just recently.  I have to admit, I have not quite finished the Children of the Bard series, but, judging by how much I have loved all of the books so far, I would not hesitate to recommend these to anyone who is willing to give them a try. 

The only thing I would warn you about is the complexity.  Davis is a brilliant author, and he writes very well, but the story does get very complex and juggles many, many characters.  I did not have a problem following them, and most people I know who have read them have also not had too much trouble, but they are certainly not good for reading a little at a time or over a long period of time.  There is too much going on and you will lose track if you are not paying attention. I created a family tree while I was reading, which helped tremendously. (I would suggest you make one, and also make a chart of all of the various names of the characters.  Most change their name at least once, and it can be a little difficult to follow.)  Also, read them in written order.  I started with the prequel, and it killed a lot of the mystery of Dragons in our Midst for me. That said, I have reread this series at least twice, and it becomes almost better in hindsight. 

Here is the list of all of the books in written order:

Dragons in our Midst #1: Raising Dragons

Dragons in our Midst #2: The Candlestone

Dragons in our Midst #3: Circles of Seven

Dragons in our Midst #4: Tears of a Dragon

Oracles of Fire #1: Eye of the Oracle

Oracles of Fire #2: Enoch’s Ghost

Oracles of Fire #3: Last of the Nephilim

Oracles of Fire #4: The Bones of Makaidos

Children of the Bard #1: Song of the Ovulum

Children of the Bard #2: From the Mouth of Elijah

Children of the Bard #3: The Seventh Door

Children of the Bard #4: Omega Dragon

You can find all of the author's books here.

Thanks so much for reading!  I love this series and I hope you enjoy it as well.  If you do decide to read it, and you have questions or would like something explained, I would love to help answer any questions you may have!

~ Hannah

Attributions:

Raising Dragons: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51beBHlsTcL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Eye of the Oracle: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514pzU828EL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Song of the Ovulum: http://s.cdon.com/media-dynamic/images/product/book/book/image1/song_of_the_ovulum-davis_bryan-13674248-frntl.jpg