Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden

Scarlet Hopewell #2

by Brandon Charles West

Trapped in a ruined world, Scarlet offers hope to those who find their way to the Sanctuary, but her own faith is fading. She misses her family and, unable to learn the magic she needs to face Prince Thanerbos, is unsure of her place as the legendary For Tol Don. But when word reaches Scarlet and her companions that they might not be the only ones stranded in the nonmagical world, she's eager to set out on another quest.

Meanwhile, Charles and Xavier seek the help of the dragon Morelpis. If what the mountain dwarves tell them can be trusted, grief has turned the once peaceful dragon deadly. Yet if he's to save his daughter, Charles has no other choice . . .

With pirates, dragons, dwarves, strange natural phenomena, riddles, and plot twists that will keep you guessing, the sequel to Scarlet and the Keepers of the Light expands the world of Satorium in ways both surprising and poignant.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2012

About the author

Brandon was born in Virginia and as the son of an Army Officer spent much of his childhood living in Germany, Korea and several US states.
He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where he majored in Government and Psychology.
Brandon is a firefighter, former Army officer, father, husband, movie buff and avid reader.
Brandon is the author of several novels including the young adult Scarlet Hopewell series as well as Pillaging the Sun.

Reviews

[Beth ~Book Loving Is My Superpower~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I must admit that I am so enamored with this series that I would have gladly paid for it.
Book#2 of Scarlet and The Keepers Of Light series is a gifted second voyage back into the magical, and quasi non-magical, worlds of Mr. Brandon West. I say gifted because that's exactly how it felt. It felt like a beautifully written, expertly executed literary gem that was meticulously polished and wrapped with boundless love placed delicately in my (eReader) lap. This book is another magical adventure rollercoaster pitting good vs evil (and all the gray areas in between). There is political intrigue and betrayals so devastatingly vile that coming back from it seems too great to even dare hope. Who is the enemy exactly? Are our facts so skewed that we are actually rooting for the wrong people? The same awesome characters are joined this time with: a clan of feast loving fun seeking Dwarfs ready to go to war and kick some evil butt, a wise old (cynical) ruby scaled dragon with untold wells of ancient knowledge and some swashbuckling magic wielding pirates. This book has Scarlet learning new and amazing magic as well as gaining some unexpected allies and unwittingly building herself an army. This book is a bit darker than the first but still soundly in the Middle Grade reading zone.

[Bill Tillman]

Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden

Excellent writing and pace, the beginning of the melding of two. World's has begun. What a wonderful mix of fantasy world and apocalypse of the new world.

[Melissa Robitille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. West has, once again, delivered a superb book. My son and I both look forward to the next book with thinly veiled impatience. Thus far Scarlet and the Keepers of the Light (the first book in the series) and Scarlet and the Dragon's Burden have been *re-read* no less than four times each at my son's insistence. My son is 11, almost 12, and one would think that an 11-year-old boy would have no interest in a story with a girl protagonist, but this series has enthralled him utterly.

[Jeremy Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, If your into, 'The lion the witch and the wardrobe' or the 'Hobbit', you'll love this it's better than both of those.
Well worth a read.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hulpric the Great had split the world in two in order to protect the non-magicals from those who wielded magic and would use them as slaves. The non-magicals ended up in the human world whilst the Dorans remained in Sartorium. Scarlet is stranded back in her own world in the US and she has been separated from her father but is with Dakota, Brennan and Delfi, and 50 years have elapsed since she left and havoc has been wreaked on the human world, nothing was as she remembered. Now the US was flooded with Mortada, Tiranthropes and Incruetati, proving that somehow magical evil creatures where still managing to cross over. Scarlet sought refuge in the library of congress where her own teacher had given protection to children, and now Scarlet had turned this into a sanctuary by erecting a magical light dome over the whole place to stop the evil monsters from attacking. All humans who made it to the sanctuary were given refuge. In the meantime Charles had returned to Xavier and after much deliberation they decided to visit the last of the dragons, Moralpis, who was a Sartorian, in order to learn from his wisdom about how to bring Scarlet back to Iluminora to prepare for the war with the dark prince Thanerbos. Whilst in the US she heard that there were other travellers and she wanted to seek them out, turned out they were pirates who tried to make use of her powers and almost cost her and her friends their lives. So much is happening in every book and the story is so riveting I cannot put the series down. I love the courage and perseverance Scarlet and her allies show in the face of danger but hated that she was so far away from were she needed to be to fulfil her role as the For Tol Don. Now onwards to book 3!

[L.J. Capehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my! I loved it! I thought book one was good, and book two just got better. The excitement is growing, and if the next one carries through with the promise, it'll be great! Brandon Charles West has crafted a well written story here, full of characters to love (and some to truly hate!) and I look forward to the next one, hoping it won't be too long a wait. (I've since read book three, and loved it!)

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series!

This series is fantastic. I have read the first two books before and then lost track of the series. I'm thrilled to have found it again, and completed! This story is extremely well written. The world building is fantastic, the character's well developed, and the plot woven of many threads. I highly suggest it for fantasy fans of any age.

[Patricia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story gets better

If you read the book, I think that this one doesn't disappoint. I found this book more insightful and the story better expanded/explained. Though I would have liked more of the dragon. Great for the young at heart and highly imaginative.

[Lyssa F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book

A young heroine trying to find her way home in a magical world with many friends and horrible monsters. Worth reading.

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The transition between books in this great series is so smooth it's simply a continuation of this great adventure. After you meet Scarlet Hopewell in the first book you will want to binge the series!

[Lori Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlet and the Dragons Burden

Wow, once again I am itching to start the next edition in this series. I am thoroughly enjoying this series of stories.

[J.C. Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book through Goodreads giveaway.
What a great sequel! beautifully written, expertly executed anotherliterary gem. What I'd love about this book is that everything about it waswas that it took me on a magical Adventure. I exploded with happiness and joy as we see the same awesome characters from the first book.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enchanting

A bit overly descriptive at times, yet other times not descriptive enough. But so far a really good story. I would definitely recommend.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book almost as much as the first, and am very much looking forward to the 3rd in the series.

[Lisa Godina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Adventure for a young adult. I liked it so much book 2 is on my "I gotta read more of this list"

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good read. The most disappointing part of the story is waiting for the next book in the series.