Talisman

Dragonkin #2

by Robin Wayne Bailey

The peace of Wyvernwood has been shattered. The war between Angmar and Degarm has begun, and their conflict has already spread deep into the southern and northern parts of the Great Refuge. But the war isn't confined just to the race of Men. The Griffinkin, long jealous of the powerful Dragons, have allied themselves with Angmar and established themselves in the fortress called Redclaw.

The first victim of all this mounting conflict was the great Dragon-leader, Stormfire. Yet, a series of books he left behind, collectively known as The Book of Stormfire,suggests that he foresaw many of these events, that he knew a time would come when the Dragons and all their mythological kindred and friends would have to abandon Wyvernwood and move on to a possible new Refuge. The books indicate that Stormfire created and hid three objects in various corners of the world: the Diamond Dragon, the Glass Dragon, and the Heart of All Dragons. Once found and united, they will show the way to a new homeland for the Dragonkin.

The quest falls to Stormfire's triplet children. Only two can go, however. While two seek the treasures, one must stay behind to protect Wyvernwood, to rebuild Stronghold, and to stand against the forces martialling against them. Gathering a team that includes the last unicorn in the world, a wacky hummingbird, a group of human children, an outcast Griffin, and a cat-like Fomorian female, Chan and Luna set out to retrace the route by which Stormfire gathered and led the Dragonkin to Wyvernwood, while still searching for the legendary objects. Along the way, they will find adventure and danger and discover, to their surprise and alarm, that not all of the surviving Creatures of Myth followed Stormfire to the Great Refuge. . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2003

About the author

Robin Wayne Bailey is an American fantasy and science fiction author and is a past president (2005-2007) of SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Robin also served as SFWA's South-Central Regional Director for nine years and has hosted three of SFWA's annual Nebula Awards weekends; two of those Nebula events were held in his home town of Kansas City, Missouri.

Bailey was one of the founders of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Hall of Fame in 1996, which merged with Paul G. Allen's Vulcan Enterprises in Seattle in 2004 to become part of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Robin continues to serve on its annual induction committee.

Bailey graduated from North Kansas City High School, and received a B.A. in English and Anthropology and an M.A. in English Literature from Northwest Missouri State University.

Reviews

[Xerion567 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some well written and very touching stories throughout its pages. It is unfortunate, then, that there is not one, but three stories that split into further sub-stories for each chapter; occasionally the context even changes mid-chapter. As a result, none of the story arcs get the attention they deserve and the book feels like a collection of loosely connected short stories. I would have much rather read a more detailed account of just one story, and so although it was an enjoyable read, and I will probably read it again sometime, I think it could have been so much better.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book that does not rely on the humans are evil cliche that many fantasy books use. Great lore and world building