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Fire & Ice
Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold,
Although Some Like it HotFor generations, raiders from the North and their Silver Dragon have been plundering the Dragon Islands and stealing children. But the Islands are not defenseless, for they have a dragon of their own, the great Golden Dragon of Ang.
Now after countless raids and battles, there is peace. However, old wounds are slow to heal. That is particularly true for Benchu and Mai-Lin, two orphans with revenge in their hearts. With the outbreak of peace, Ben and Mai have only one hope at vengeance-they must seek out and join the Denchi Assassins.
But things don’t always go according to plan. Ben and Mai will come to learn that it will take more than a thirst for revenge and a lethal assassin’s guild to make things right.
Although Some Like it HotFor generations, raiders from the North and their Silver Dragon have been plundering the Dragon Islands and stealing children. But the Islands are not defenseless, for they have a dragon of their own, the great Golden Dragon of Ang.
Now after countless raids and battles, there is peace. However, old wounds are slow to heal. That is particularly true for Benchu and Mai-Lin, two orphans with revenge in their hearts. With the outbreak of peace, Ben and Mai have only one hope at vengeance-they must seek out and join the Denchi Assassins.
But things don’t always go according to plan. Ben and Mai will come to learn that it will take more than a thirst for revenge and a lethal assassin’s guild to make things right.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2026
About the author
Gregory S. Slomba
6 books47 followersGregory S. Slomba is an instructional designer, former editor, and the author of the award-winning Deliverers Series.
He studied English at the University of Dayton, then worked as a banker for 20 years. He also spent four years as an editor and writer for a national trade magazine, giving him an opportunity to sharpen his writing and editing skills. Along the way, he was able to visit some fun places such as Bermuda, Spain, China, England, and over 60% of the U.S. states. He currently designs, writes, and delivers training courses for bankers.
Reading fantasy and science fiction has always sparked his imagination. Inspiring the imaginations of young readers through his writing is what drives him.
Greg lives in Connecticut with his wife, Stephanie, his two post-teen children, dog and four cats.
He studied English at the University of Dayton, then worked as a banker for 20 years. He also spent four years as an editor and writer for a national trade magazine, giving him an opportunity to sharpen his writing and editing skills. Along the way, he was able to visit some fun places such as Bermuda, Spain, China, England, and over 60% of the U.S. states. He currently designs, writes, and delivers training courses for bankers.
Reading fantasy and science fiction has always sparked his imagination. Inspiring the imaginations of young readers through his writing is what drives him.
Greg lives in Connecticut with his wife, Stephanie, his two post-teen children, dog and four cats.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 23, 2026
As a professor of Children’s and Young Adult Literature, I have long been a fan of Gregory S. Slomba’s The Deliverers Series, a quartet of novels featuring two twelve-year old protagonists who navigate fantasy worlds with the help of a 428-year-old white owl named Stig. In his latest release, Slomba brings his storytelling talents back to The Dragon Islands featured in The Deliverers series, chronicling the land’s ancient history in a standalone novella titled Fire & Ice.
The prologue to Fire & Ice immediately draws readers in to an exciting scene as raiders from the North bring their Silver Dragon to plunder the islands and steal its children. Eleven-year-old Benchu loses his family in the raid, and readers next meet him as he jumps along the rooftops after curfew with his friend and fellow orphan Mai-Lin. The head of the Night Watch escorts the two children back to their caretaker Madame Fru who gently reprimands them and reminds them of their great potential, but Benchu and Mai-Lin, bent on revenge against the Northmen, continue to thwart the rules as they plot to join the Denchi Assassins. What follows is a beautiful exploration of both vengeance and forgiveness that will entertain and instruct young readers thirsty for adventure.
Fire & Ice is set in a world featuring a dark underbelly of street crime, but it sings with poignant lessons that subtly lead readers toward the conclusion that “violence is not the way to peace.” Although the two children must navigate a mystery that forces them to discover and confront a dangerous and manipulative antagonist, their lives are filled with caring adults who guide them and have their best interests at heart. Slomba shines in his pacing and character development, and young readers will eagerly turn pages as they follow Benchu and Mai-Lin through a series of exciting adventures. In addition to an engaging plot, clear writing, and an epic battle between a Golden and a Silver dragon, Fire & Ice is beautifully illustrated with maps of both The Dragon Islands and Dragon Home. This book immerses readers in a fantasy setting that carries real-world stakes, and I would recommend to all who enjoy thrilling character-based stories filled with tension, comic relief, meaningful friendships, and life lessons. I loved it!
The prologue to Fire & Ice immediately draws readers in to an exciting scene as raiders from the North bring their Silver Dragon to plunder the islands and steal its children. Eleven-year-old Benchu loses his family in the raid, and readers next meet him as he jumps along the rooftops after curfew with his friend and fellow orphan Mai-Lin. The head of the Night Watch escorts the two children back to their caretaker Madame Fru who gently reprimands them and reminds them of their great potential, but Benchu and Mai-Lin, bent on revenge against the Northmen, continue to thwart the rules as they plot to join the Denchi Assassins. What follows is a beautiful exploration of both vengeance and forgiveness that will entertain and instruct young readers thirsty for adventure.
Fire & Ice is set in a world featuring a dark underbelly of street crime, but it sings with poignant lessons that subtly lead readers toward the conclusion that “violence is not the way to peace.” Although the two children must navigate a mystery that forces them to discover and confront a dangerous and manipulative antagonist, their lives are filled with caring adults who guide them and have their best interests at heart. Slomba shines in his pacing and character development, and young readers will eagerly turn pages as they follow Benchu and Mai-Lin through a series of exciting adventures. In addition to an engaging plot, clear writing, and an epic battle between a Golden and a Silver dragon, Fire & Ice is beautifully illustrated with maps of both The Dragon Islands and Dragon Home. This book immerses readers in a fantasy setting that carries real-world stakes, and I would recommend to all who enjoy thrilling character-based stories filled with tension, comic relief, meaningful friendships, and life lessons. I loved it!
Displaying 1 of 1 review