The Florida wetlands are hardly an ideal vacation spot for anyone. Especially the young Synergist Knight, Camela Rider, and her Master Dragon, Krysta Valanche. Stuck on Nocturn babysitting duty and being cramped into a less-than-favorable camper with below-average amenities is not how the battle-starved Camela wants to spend her time. She needs adventure and action, and she'll do her very best to drag Krysta along with her to find it. But the area they patrol is a far cry from suburbia, and it sure as heck isn't Camelot either. Everyone's favorite ice duo might be in for more than they bargained for when they trudge deep into the marshes to find ancient artifacts, violent histories, and plenty of Darkbrand fire. Will they succumb to the savagery of the swamps? Or will they rise above the mire and extinguish the flames of the wildfire?
Hey there! I write dragon novels!!! @talismanbrett - My background in writing stems mostly from the inspiration I found as a kid when I read Fantasy and Sci-Fi books. These include The Chronicles of Narnia, The Xanth Novels, The Time Quintet, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and everything from Shakespeare to Dr. Seuss. In my formative years, I joined several punk rock bands and wrote songs, poetry, and short stories aplenty. As an adult (?) I took on a dare and wrote the first book in my Talisman Series. I loved the feeling it gave me and the idea of inspiring others so much that I kept writing until I had an entire series. @Talismanbrett
And now, a massive head's up! I am NOT a professional writer. That's why I write MG/YA instead of High, Epic Fantasy. I do all my own writing, my own editing, my own promoting, and my own stunts with my extremely limited free time. If you are okay overlooking a few typos and comma splices, then we can be friends. If you are expecting the next George R.R. Martin, then my apologies. I write for kids like my own and tell stories meant to entertain. Check out my books if you like action, dragons, and zany characters. Just remember everybody, it's Middle Grade fiction, not Applied Mathematics or Epistemology, so just have fun with it and try not to be too serious.
These books are always light, fun, and quick reads.
I love the light banter that the knights have with their dragons. Obviously Rome and Julian’s banter is always the best. But Krysta and Camela’s banter was fun to read too. I always enjoy reading the action scenes in the Talisman series and this one did not disappoint. And it was nice finding out how Krysta and Camela met and went through the Great Synergy.
Thank you Brett Salter for reaching out to me and sending me the copy of this book. I’m not sure if there are more books to be released. But if there are I would love to read them an write more reviews 😊
As Rome, Julian, and their companions venture deep into Dragon territory to continue their epic quest, Camela Rider and her ice dragon, Krysta, find themselves stuck in place alongside librarian Mr. Jones. Forced to babysit a now-captive Nocturn, Camela is soon disgusted by the humidity of the swamp and their less-than-ideal living conditions. Bored out of her skull, tiny Camela pulls Krysta deeper into the wilds in pursuit of Darkbrand enemies. But in the depths of the mazelike expanse, the two girls soon find far more than they bargained for as an all-new mystery unfolds. Wildfire: A Talisman Series Novella by Brett Salter takes place at the same time as Rome and Julian’s adventure in Verdana in book four of the core series. I have been eagerly anticipating this adventure for some time, hoping for an adventure starring Camela and Krista since the first novella released. I loved getting to see Camela just be Camela, and there are shenanigans galore as the smallest-ever knight explores the unforeseeably deadly swamplands. Krysta reminds me of an older sister, trying her best to keep an eye on Camela, complete their mission, and make sure nothing goes sideways – at least, to the best of her ability. All of these were great aspects of the story, but the best part of all was getting to see more of the girls’ backstories, which are both touching and meaningful. With the end of the world breathing down the heroes’ necks, moments to showcase the past can be few and far between, and I am beyond happy to see the friendship and sisterhood of Camela and Krysta explored in more detail. I also loved the Native American history and culture included in the story. Though the book is fast-paced and the action moves at a steady clip, this is far from being a one-note adventure. Instead, deep nuance and interesting legends are woven into the very fabric of the tale, which comes to a satisfying conclusion as Camela and Krysta do their best to survive the swamps. The only complaints I had were that some of Camela’s High English is a little unpolished, and a tiny bit of the final battle is a tad unclear. However, these are miniscule complaints in a story I have longed for since last year. This marvelous addition to The Talisman Series was well worth the wait, earning five out of five stars for its inclusivity, character depth, and well-paced action. Containing fantasy violence and fires, and a final confrontation that’s conclusion was a bit grim, this story is suitable for ages 10 and up. However, for all who love dragons, knights, and the epic splendor of The Talisman Series, this newest novella is the perfect choice for adding to your home library.
This book takes pace between books 3 and 4 and follows Camela and Krysta as they babysit the captured Nocturn nicknamed 'The Juggernaut'. I must admit I did enjoy this characters dialogue!
The lovely humid swamp they are camping out at is not up to Camela's standards as our small knight has to deal with these amenitie🤣. At least Mr. Jones is making the most out of it!
After longing for the battlefield, the pair sense Darkbrands poking about to rescue our captive friend, and they head off into the wild to take them down... with Camela deciding Mr. Jones doesn't need to know they definitely bit off more than they could chew!
In this volume, we learn more about how Camela and Krysta came to be together, and I just adore this pair. Finding out their past was very interesting, and I think their partnership works very well! I do find myself feeling sorry for Krysta, trying to keep Camela out of trouble 🤣.
The battles in this book were very well done. Fast pace, detailed combat from our ice duo, and the darkbrands they encourted make this such an easy quick read!
This book is another 5 ⭐️'s from me, I truly do adore this series. It gives me so much joy to read and really reminds me of the dragon filled childhood adventures I wanted to go on 🤩.
This was a very good spin-off, and it's always nice to learn more lore. Hearing Krysta and Camilla's backstory together was also very nice, how they met. Fair warning, though, there's a veritable blizzard of ice and snow puns.
This novella was a fun adventure about everyone's favourite ice duo. Plenty of action, great storytelling. I especially loved getting a peek into the backstory of Camela and Krysta, and that description of the ice dragon was just beautiful. Overall an entertaining spinoff in the Talisman world!
What worked: This novella features Camela, a Synergist Knight, who’s bonded for life with Krysta, an ice dragon. Camela has taken the concept of brave warrior to heart and her brash, confident demeanor and need for adventure often control her decisions. She speaks with overly formal words and incorrectly tries to use figurative language, adding humor to the story and showing that she’s still a young girl. Krysta is able to conceal her identity and usually appears as Camela’s human friend. The two girls can communicate mentally and Camela’s ice talisman transforms them into a formidable team. Krysta is often the voice of reason for readers although she usually defers to Camela’s judgments. That is not always a good thing. The book offers plenty of action to keep readers engrossed and wondering what Camela will do next. She’s keeping guard over an extremely dangerous Nocturn so she jumps at the chance to find something more exciting to do. Carmela and Krysta encounter a Minotaur but the author adds a twist by having this monster behave differently than other Darkbrands. It’s like the Energizer Rabbit and just keeps going. Carmela impulsively explores an eerie village and discovers an old, powerful relic that can either help her or lead to the end of all mankind. Readers will question her choices and wonder if she’s gotten herself and Krysta into a situation they won’t be able to escape. What didn’t work as well: There are moments in the story when the author describes background information that breaks the momentum of the events. For example, explaining the abilities of a Minotaur/Pyrotaur as it prepares to attack is useful but perhaps the information could have been worked into the action. There’s also a brief switch to a story involving Moon Orchid that may not make sense to readers new to the series. The final verdict: This novella can be read as an introduction to the other Talisman books or it can be appreciated as a reminder of characters readers have liked in the past. The book will appeal to dragon lovers and those who enjoy adventure and action. I recommend you give it a shot along with the rest of the series.
While I await the next book's release in Brett Salter's Talisman series, the novella 'Wildfire' is refreshing and soul-entangling. This captivating narrative, set in Florida, follows the enchanting journey of my favourite ice duo: the young Synergist Knight, Camela Rider, and her Master Dragon, Krysta Valanche. Ancient artefacts, histories, and Darkbrands await in the deep marshes. The book cover is visually stunning. The author skillfully intertwines scene-setting to create an enthralling new world filled with compelling characters that readers will find memorable. Salter's delightful wit never fails to bring genuine laughter to readers, leaving them utterly charmed.
The exceptional bond between Krysta and Camela, their encounter with Pyrotaur, and the seamless transformation were impressive. This book provides insights into the Core-ruption ability and the Great Horned Owl Totem Talisman.
The novella can also be read as a standalone, as the author provides the backstory, making it easy for readers to understand. A quick read with a fantastic mix of action and mystery.
Don’t expect me to give you all the scoop on the story. No, sir. I’ll just give you my rundown on why you should read it. why spoil the fun right?
Most importantly, there are Dragons—ice Dragons, in this case. We are dealing with a favorite Ice Duo in the series: Krysta and Camela. And we get a bit of their backstory.
The humour, action, hints of mystery, and the overall world we experience don’t disappoint. It gets better with each book, and we become more engrossed in it.
Even if this is a Novella there’s no trouble at all getting the grasp of the story, there’s enough information so that you won’t feel lost at all and that helps a lot to enjoy the flow of the adventure.
This series is always a treat to read and it’s perfect for any age.. Easy to get sucked and just forget about the world for a bit.