The Dragon of Trelian

Trelian #1

by Michelle Knudsen

A feisty princess befriends a mage’s apprentice—and finds she’s uncannily linked to a dragon—in a suspenseful fantasy charged with warmth and wit.

Calen, a lonely young mage-to-be, never dreamed that Princess Meglynne would become his friend. And impulsive Meg never imagined that tending a baby dragon would "link" her to the creature — for life. And now Meg’s sister is about to marry a prince to end a war between kingdoms, a celebration that Meg and Calen know is endangered by a murderous plot. How can a girl, a boy, and a dragon merge their magic and strength to bring down a powerful traitor in time? From the author of  Library Lion  comes a classic middle-grade fantasy soaring with sorcery and suspense, spunk and adventure, friendship and first romance, and a cast of enchanting characters.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure, Magic, Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2009

About the author

I'm the New York Times best-selling author of more than 50 books for young readers for all ages, including the award-winning picture book Library Lion, which was selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 Best Children's Books of All Time. My other books include the picture book Marilyn's Monster (NPR's Best Books of 2015) and the novels The Dragon of Trelian (VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers) and Evil Librarian (YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults; Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner). My newest book is LUIGI, THE SPIDER WHO WANTED TO BE A KITTEN (a new picture book with the wonderful Kevin Hawkes, published 3/5/2024). Next up will be INTO THE WILD MAGIC, a new middle grade fantasy novel coming August 2025.

I also work as a freelance editor and teach in Lesley University's MFA program in writing for young people.

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're going to laugh when you hear me say this, but I'm just going to come out and ask anyway: Where did all the fantasy go? I know that in this day and age of vampires, zombies, and zombie vampires (subgenre) that sounds weird, but when it comes to fantasy for the kids, not teens, it isn't like it used to be. In the heyday of Harry Potter you couldn't spit over your left shoulder without hitting some new wizardy/magicish wonder romp of fun and frolic. These days fantasy keeps coming out, but it's strange. Boys who can melt people with their hands. Post-apocalyptic quest novels. Alternate earths. And dragons? At most I'd say there are maybe five or six dragon-based chapter books out this year of varying quality. It's funny that it took me so long to pick up The Dragon of Trelian though. I mean, if I was looking for dragons, there's one right there. Big and scaly and more than a little green. But for some reason I put it off. I delayed. Now I've read it, and I have to admit that it's a tasty treat. Sometimes a kid just wants a good dragon book. And with its equal opportunity boy and girl perspective, The Dragon of Trelian is the kind of book that's going to appeal to all kids, at all ages, at all times. If they're fantasy lovers, of course.

Calen is in trouble. Probably. I mean, here he is, just an apprentice mage trying to spy on the incoming royal wedding party, and he gets caught by none other than the princess Meg. Since Calen's mage works for Meg's parents, this could be problematic, but instead the two kids strike up an instant friendship. He's dealing with a master who doesn't think he has any talent and she... well Meg has a pretty big secret she's been hiding. Unbeknownst to everyone, she has inadvertently raised and bonded with a baby dragon. Now evil forces are conspiring to start a new war and kill Meg's sister and it's up to her, Calen, and the dragon Jakl (who, I should note, can't even breathe fire yet) to discover what they are capable of and how to save everyone they know and love.

Is this a psychedelic groundbreaking fantasy that redefines the very heart of the genre itself? No, of course not. We're talking princesses, dragons, magic, and bad guys. And there's nothing wrong with that. There might be something wrong with it if it was poorly written, mind you. Fortunately with Knudsen at the helm you've little to fear. Best known probably at this point for her remarkably popular picture book Library Lion, Knudsen has this little world well and truly at hand. She knows how to define it, and how far it really goes. Some fantasy novels indulge in complex maps and characters with names like E'ulseth and the like. Not Knudsen. This is a smart tale that doesn't rely on tawdry glamor or shiny sprinkles to sell its concept. It just lets the writing speak for itself.

The best fantasies out there are metaphors for realistic situations. For example, Harry Potter taps into the feeling that all kids have that maybe they're special. Maybe one day they'll be told that there's a whole out there where they're famous. The Dragon of Trelian does something similar. For our two heroes, each one is dealing with a different problem. Calen's quest relies upon trusting in himself and actually going through with the work that it will take to become a great mage. His story is for those kids that want to do great things but may be reluctant to see how the basics apply. Meg, on the other hand, has a story that is all about surrendering control. Jakl, with whom she shares a bond, wants more from her than she's willing to give. She doesn't like the idea of sharing herself entirely with something this wild and powerful. Puberty much, people? This is like Our Bodies Ourselves in the midst of pretty gowns and massive battles.

The book begins from a boy's perspective. Smart move. Boys often like reading about boys. They'll read about girls sometimes too, sure, but generally they avoid anything that looks overtly feminine right from the start. Knudsen plays off of this. She wraps the boys up tight in the story. They come to get into the magical aspects and the storytelling. Then Knudsen makes a risky move. Before we even meet the dragon she brings up Meg (not risky) and her attraction to a young man named Willem (quite risky). She's fourteen so that isn't ridiculous for the character, but it does mean that those boy readers who get squeamish around romantic situations are either going to plow through and get to the dragon or place the novel down, convinced that this is (in the words of Fred Savage from The Princess Bride) "a kissing book." And for those that soldier on, they'll be amply rewarded. I'll be interested to see if that happens.

At 400+ pages, Trelian harkens back to those days when a fantasy novel could be a little thick. I wouldn't consider it unwieldy either. Certainly with its child-bonding-with-a-dragon element it owes much to The Dragonriders of Pern, but that's okay. By the time Eragon came along, it was pretty much a standard idea. Speaking of which, if you know of any kids going through Eragon withdrawal, hand them this book lightning quick. It's better written, edited, and imagined and may serve as the gateway book from rote fantasy to the good stuff. A surprising little gem and a book worthy of your consideration. Be ready for this to surprise you.

Ages 9 and up.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting debut novel from VCFA student Mikki Knudsen! This enticing middle grade fantasy is told in alternating points of view (girl and boy), making for a page-turning read for teens of either sex. I don’t wish to spoil the multiple surprises within, but Knudsen has created a unique world and an action-packed adventure. Wonderful descriptive language and strong and engaging characters complete the package.

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to avoid spoilers at all costs, but just a warning: I love to quote excerpts of my favorite parts!

I recommend this book for many reasons, but the character of the master mage, Serek, is a big one - I think he has potential to be one of the great fantasy mages, just a step below Gandalf and Dumbledore - if this book turns into a series. Here's just a snippet that gives you an idea of his sarcastic character, and his cool sidekick, a gyrcat:

“What exactly are you doing?” Serek’s deep voice spoke suddenly from the doorway behind him.
“I am looking for that stupid – uh, for Lyrimon,” Calen said. “I know he’s in here. I can feel him watching me.”
One corner of Serek’s mouth turned up slightly. “Oh, he’s watching you, all right.” He jerked his chin toward the window. Calen whipped his head around to look. Lyrimon was sunning himself idly on the stone wall that ran through the yard. He was watching, though. Even from this distance, Calen could see the evil glint in the gyrcat’s eyes.
“How do you do that?” Calen asked plaintively.
“Do what?”
“Find him like that. You always know where he is. You can see him even when he’s practically invisible. Why won’t you teach me how to do it?”
“Now, what fun would that be?” Serek strode forward into the room.

The main characters are Princess Meg and her friend, a mage's apprentice Calen, both fourteen years old. The book alternates between them in first person Point-of-Views, like Shiver and the Red Pyramid and several others I've read lately. Switching first person is apparently more acceptable these days, though you always see reviews from people who say this confused them because it was hard to tell as a new chapter begins who's POV you're in.

I didn't have a problem with the switching POVs though because the characters had distinctive voices.

Here's a snippet of Meg's bossy, brash personality:

Something in his face must have reflected his thoughts. Meg stopped walking, her eyes wide and concerned. “Well, what? What is it, Calen?"
He shook his head. “I don’t really know.”
She poked a finger at him angrily. “Don’t do that,” she said. “You do too know, and you’re going to tell me.” She poked him again, harder. “Right now.”
Calen rubbed his chest. Did she always have to be so violent?

Here's a snippet of Calen's careful, analytical personality - but don't think he's boring because he's not:

Calen backed away from the chair and resigned himself to leaning against a wall instead.
After a while, Serek looked up.
“What have I taught you about divination?” he asked.
“That it’s difficult, dangerous, not always reliable, and that I’ll learn more about it when and if you feel I’m old enough to handle it,” Calen said. “Why?”
Serek’s lips twitched slightly into what might have been a smirk. “I suppose I’ve just decided you’re old enough. Come here.”

At this point, you may be wondering where in the world the dragon is in this book.

I wondered the same thing. The dragon doesn't have a big role, most likely because he doesn't speak at all, though he is unique enough to be very pleasing. He shows up in odd spots just often enough to keep you wondering about him.

The world-building and descriptions are well-done. The mages in this story are marked on their faces (I kind of envisioned them like the marks/tattoos on the Romulans' faces in the 2009 Star Trek movie. Oops, just revealed that I'm a trekkie). The marks end up being crucial to the story's plot, which was kind of cool:

“May I ask – is an appointment such as this one, an honor like this – is it recorded in your marks? Forgive me, but I’ve never understood the full scope of what a mage’s marks include.”
That was an interesting question. Meg had wondered about the same thing herself. Calen’s face was barely marked, just a few lines and small shapes under his left eye, but Serek had delicate black lines spiraling across both sides of his face, with tiny symbols and dots of color worked into the design at various points.
Serek shook his head. ‘No.” For the first time, Meg thought she detected the barest touch of emotion in his voice. “No, the marks are given for years of study, fields of expertise, and accomplishments of that nature, Sen Eva. A mage may serve many masters in his lifetime, but it is the work and the study of magic that defines his life and purpose. Those are the things that set him apart from others, and the reason why no mage may go unmarked, as they show what he is capable of.”

And just because I love Calen so much, here's another few great snippets from his point of view:

Calen was perched on the edge of a table. The chair across from the mage was occupied by Lyrimon, and Calen was too tired to fight him for it. As they talked, Calen fished black olives out of a jar and ate them. He had never cared much for olives, but he was so famished that he would have eaten almost anything at this point, and all Serek seemed to have on hand was jar after jar of olives. Perhaps, once he’d finished the current jar, he’d try some of the green ones.

Last one:

Calen had never been to a wedding before. Of course, he guessed that even if he had, it wouldn’t have been anything like this one. At first it had all seemed rather boring. There was a lot of watching the members of the different families standing around repeating things back and forth to each other, and about a hundred different people got up to read long passages from various books, and then there were songs, and then possibly some other part he missed because he dozed off, but then finally people were shouting and cheering and he woke in time to watch Prince Ryant lean forward to kiss Princess Maerlie in full view of every living person that had been crowded into the enormous grand hall. Calen wondered if the Prince was nervous. He’d certainly be nervous if he had to kiss a girl in front of an audience! Well, he’d probably be nervous about kissing a girl in any event, he supposed. But the audience would make it even worse.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Jill Williamson

Calen, a mage’s assistant, just wants to see the royal procession as it approaches, and he’s not the only one. Princess Meglynne had the same idea. The two become friends, and Meg asks Calen to meet her again. She wants to share a secret with him. When they meet again, Meg shows Calen her dragon and begs him to help her learn more about the rare creatures. What calen discovers horrifies him: Meg and the dragon are linked. Should one be killed, the other will die.

That is not the worst of Calen and Meg’s troubles, however. They stumble onto a traitorous plot that threatens the peace of the kingdom and their lives. They must work together to prove what the traitor is plotting before it’s too late for everyone.

I found this book a lot of fun. It took a while to get going, but once it did, I couldn’t put it own. I rather enjoyed Calen and Meg’s characters. Michelle Knudsen did a wonderful job with them. Calen is smart and cautious, and Meg is passionate and headstrong. I also enjoyed the way Knudsen showed magic in her book. It was creative and fresh. I will give a caution to those who do not like to read books about mage magic, as this book was full of it, including a lesson about reading cards. What I found interesting was that there was a cost for the magic. It wasn’t just endless wand waving, the characters used a great deal of physical power to cast spells, and then they were tired and useless. There are some nice themes in this book: friendship and mercy. There is no faith element, but this is still an enjoyable story.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep on forgetting that the kids' section at the library has more than just Magic Tree House and Rainbow Fairy books. I picked this up while browsing through and it was really enjoyable. Likeable characters(for me, this is very important in the overall impression of the book), and a good plot. And just to brag a little: I guessed it! I'm not going to spoil it here and say what exactly I guessed, but I did. For some reason, I really liked Serek. He was just that completely un-cheerful and taciturn kind of character who's really cool. He kind of reminded me a little bit of Halt(one of my favorite characters of all time, read Ranger's Apprentice). I liked how this has a strong girl character. Anyway, this had magic, adventure, friendship loyalty, and not just a straight-forward villain. Very good.

[Chey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! :)

[Givenpreciousjules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a lovely escape. In fact it stood neck to neck with some of my most cherished princess centered story lines. It wasn't overly jam packed and there were some predictable moments but it really was sweet to read nonetheless. Yes, I am a little bias because I am a Mom and Ms.Knudsen did a wonderful job of displaying a beautiful platonic friendship between Princess Meg and Magicians Apprentice Calen, but hey that in it's self is sooooo refreshing in this generation. I loved going along with them each time they left the secure boundaries of the castle walls to go on their dangerous journeys to visit with the Dragon. I enjoyed the well-developed connection that the Dragon and Meg shared metaphysically, and I also enjoyed the constant triumphs that were achieved because of the power of their friendship. When Meg started experiencing those first flutters of romantic love, I was reminded of how important it is for a young woman to be very careful with guarding her precious heart. Although I prematurely sniffed out the betrayals that would lie ahead for her concerning the story line involving Wilem it did not prevent me from experiencing feelings of genuine sadness for young Meg when she eventually experienced her first heartbreak. Call me preachy but as a former teen counselor and a current teen mentor, it fit in perfectly with the realities that young people have to be careful and not rush so hastily into what they consider to be true love. They don’t have enough wisdom to cipher the difference between attraction and feelings. They sometimes think we (the adults in their lives were never teens ourselves) and are just overly cautious with them when we warn them of this and this set a perfect example of what could happen when we trust emptions. (OK Rant over)…So anyhoo, it was just nice seeing the author step back into time with her words, depicting thoughts that would race through any young female’s mind in that age group. Seeing both parents in the story line, no one dieing, no one's life cut short, and everyone making it until the end was a nice touch. In fact the dynamics of the families' relationships were wonderful to read. With the various personalities and many responsibilities for each Sister carfully plotted out it made me care for them more as individuals. I enjoyed reading about their unity. The family had a realistic loyalty that often fantasy writer's shy away from. Having the enemy, Sen Eva, being external, far from within the typically written "black sheep" family story line was a nice touch for the read. All in all it was a nice departure from my day to day;I can not wait until this experienced children's author delves further into the y/a fantasy novels genre. I would be sure to take a look if she does another book. This was very creative for a first novel. I wanted more at the end which is always a sign the author has spoken to my inner love for a beautiful fantasy novel...I might be adding this to my home library ;-)

[Juliana Hanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I blame Michelle Knudsen for the fact that I got no sleep the week I read this book. I felt like a kid again, reading Nancy Drew under my covers by flashlight. ("Just one more chapter . . . okay, just one MORE chapter . . . !") And I also have to say I think Knudsen managed to get in one of the best page-turns in YA literature. (But I won't spoil that moment for you by telling you about it.)

I've enjoyed tales of magic and dragons ever since I was a kid reading The Book of Dragons, The Loathsome Dragon, St. George & the Dragon, The Hobbit (etc., etc.), but The Dragon of Trelian was a breath of fresh (and fiery!) air for me in the world of dragon stories. More than just a dragon tale, though, this novel is such a valuable addition to the good vs. evil theme that the fantasy genre somehow always seems to grapple with best. Calen, Meg, and their entire world--with characters and ideas as complex as in our own world--absolutely come to life in these pages.

In terms of the writing, I will say for the record that I am a super picky reader . . . and Michelle Knudsen really hits the mark. The language, the narration, the dialogue, the rhythm, the humor, and the very, very cool structure--they are all spot-on. Many times I found myself stopping to read a line over again just because I felt like reading those words one more time. Brava!

So, in summary . . . read this book. It's fantastic. And then, like me, you can wait with bated breath for the sequel. :)

[Georgann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a super read! I loved the progress of our MCs and the dragon. They all grew up a lot during the short time that passed. I was genuinely worries about the survival of several of the characters. I marked this as YA rather than middle-grade, as our MC's were 14 and, besides all the threats to life and limb, our princess thought a lot about torture and killing. I would recommend for more mature kids.

[Treasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Meglynne has a great secret - a baby dragon that she has been taking care of in the woods. When she meets the castle's mage apprentice, for the first time she wants to tell someone her secret. Thus begins a friendship between Meg and Calen that will get both of them through the many hard times ahead. The kingdom of Trelian is in great danger, and it is up to the two friends, with a little help from the dragon, to save everyone.

It took me a little while to get into this book. Someone asked me what it was about when I was half-way through, and I couldn't answer. There were so many little stories, that I was having trouble seeing the big picture. Shortly after the half-way point, however, the many parts of the story began to come together, which resulted in a truly enjoyable read.

Meg and Calen are co-protagonists. Knudsen tells the story in the third person, but alternates the focus of the chapters between Calen and Meg. Therefore the reader gets to know both characters equally. Because for a lot of the book Meg and Calen are together, it was kind of funny suddenly switching to the perspective of the other one - I would forget that I was seeing things from a certain perspective until it was changed.

Some of the fantasy elements in the book took a little getting used to - the magic that Calen is learning, for example, is different from the magic in some other children's books. But the adjustment wasn't hard at all, and I quickly found myself enjoying entering this imaginary world where dragons form connections with humans and mages can speak to one another through their thoughts. As Calen explores the boundaries of his magical abilities and Meg learns more about her connection with her dragon, I got more and more amazed by this world that Knudsen created.

I really hope there is a sequel to this book. There is enough of an ending that I feel satisfied by this book in itself. But there are plenty of issues that could be resolved in a sequel.

Note: I would consider this book a border-line YA book. There is a whole conversation that revolves around Meg's sister's approaching wedding night - it is vague enough that perhaps it will just go over some children's heads, but others might wonder why Meg finds this conversation embarrassing. Overall, however, the book is appropriate for children. I think it would be a good choice for children who have perhaps outgrown most of the children's books but aren't quite ready for some of the YA stuff.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a romp--adventure, romance, and humor blended into a tale that will appeal to both boys and girls. Calen is a mage's apprentice who appears to be not the best student. Then one of his side trips on an errand takes him high into the castle where he meets Princess Meglynne who has come for the same reason as Calen--to watch the arrival of the prince coming to wed Meg's sister and unite two warring kingdoms. Because of this accidental meeting, Meg entrusts Calen with a secret she has shared with no one--she has hidden a dragon in a cave outside the castle walls.

The focus of chapters alternates between Meg and Calen as they build an alliance. She is brave and quick to make decisions and has no compulsion to follow the decorum expected of princesses; he has realized that meeting Meg's dragon has rekindled the spark within him to complete his education under Mage Serek and perfect his natural talents for magic.

Calen searches for information about dragons so he can help educate Meg, but he also begins to build his own powers through self-education. And they will need all their talents to combat a terrible plot that may bring war to the kingdom again. The two must work closely together to squelch a plot to murder Meg's older sister and inculpate her groom.

Several interesting counterpoints exist in the book: Calen and Meg; villainous Sen Edna and Mage Serek, advisor to the royal family; Wilem and Calen. Relationships, too, are important: friends, families, teacher and student, dragon and human.

The romance in the book and the relationship of a dragon to a heroine remind me of Dragon Slippers, another favorite, and the dark magic reminds me of the considerable dark forces in Harry Potter. I enjoyed the book enough to wish that Meg and Calen's teamwork would not end with this book and the conclusion certainly offers that opportunity.

[Avanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is based on an ARC.

About halfway through the book, I had to stop reading to do laundry. Walking to the laundry room, I caught myself thinking, "How is it so good?" Then my boss called and I was interrupted from my chore for a while. Upon returning to the laundry, I realized that all I could think about was what was happening in the story and what would happen next.

I'd like to congratulate Michelle Knudson on writing an engaging, fast-paced fantasy that is neither overly simplistic nor overly weighed down with unnecessary fantasy lore (which few authors have successfully implemented). I recently found myself straying away from dragon novels because they are too often poorly done. Knudson, however, appears a master at crafting a fantastical creature that readers will want to relate to, without making the dragon too human itself.

The story follows a young "feisty" princess and a mage's apprentice as they attempt to save loved ones, kingdoms, and their world. We are accompanied by a mysterious mage (magician), sisters of all personalities, a completely understandable crush, and evil in numerous forms.

The only criticism I have is a failure to announce the characters' age. While I correctly guessed 14, I felt that putting the characters at the correct age (even approximate age) would have helped the characterization move just a little bit faster (it was finally confirmed on page 125).

All in all, a wonderful, quick read for readers craving a little more fantasy in their lives.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Meglynne, 14, has a secret...a big one. The kingdom of Trelian has not seen a dragon in ages, but Meg has befriended one and kept him hidden as best she can...until now. Calen, the new mage's apprentice seems to be the one she can trust with her hidden discovery. Calen is cautious of Jakl and senses a powerful link between Meg and the dragon. Calen is training under Selek, a powerful and unemotional mage, who doesn't seem to completely trust in Calen's ability or dedication. When Calen and Meg hear a murderous plot being devised to destroy her family, they enlist Jakl's assistance, along with Calen's emerging powers of magic to attempt to overthrow the threat. A formidable and furtive foe is out for revenge of the deadliest kind...but, no one seems to believe their story completely, yet time is running out to save the royal family. The link between Jakl, Meg, and Calen will be stretched beyond it's effectiveness, or so it seems. Only time will tell if their combined power is enough to thwart the enemy's diabolical plan.

A story full of twists and turns, and a suspenseful plot makes this one that kids will love. There is danger and friendship, dragons and battles, with the classic good vs. evil storyline thrown in to make The Dragon of Trelian a book you won't want to put down. Some evil-doers are not completely out of the picture, so the reader senses a sequel in the future.

[Kino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it unfortunate when books like this use young teenagers only to have them act not unlike old teenagers that make it so, make it seem quite unnecessary. It begs the question, the only question worth begging, the only one of its kind: Why make them 14 year-olds if they act like 16 or 17 year-olds?

By the way, if you disliked the way I wrote that first paragraph then you will find SOME parts of the book annoying as it manages to say quite a lot without really saying much. It's ok, but it gnaws at you from time to time. Also mentioned, it doesn't make sense to write 14 year old teenagers then have them act like 16 or 17. I know it seems like I'm nitpicking, but at the same time one must admit that it doesn't really make sense. Why not just write them according to how they act?

This doesn't really do them justice though as some parts of their youth are still quite evident, but just some. This is where Brandon Mull excels. When he writes kids, they really act like kids.

In any case, this is a good book if you like then genre. Nothing new but still better than a lot out there.

Worth buying on sale, worth reading sometime in the future.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I finally got to have a solid few hours uninterrupted with this book last night, and I read late into the night. I loved it! (obviously, books are the only reason to give up sleep) It was just such an engaging story, and I had to know the outcome, at least of book one. Would anyone find out about Jakl?

Speaking of Jakl, we need MORE dragon next book. He was my favorite part, except perhaps Calen. It was just such a simple, sweet character with not much aspiration outside of friends and having people in his life. But Jakl is this shining, mysterious presence and I always like a dragon that has bonded with its human (Meg) it reminds me of the Pern books, another series I loved.

If dragons, magic, war and a hint of early romance (!) is your thing, this book might be for you. I hope the next book is just as good. Five stars!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calen, an apprentice mage, and Meglynne, the third princess of Trelian, seem to have little to draw them together. But the two make a firm friendship in the face of an unspecified threat to the kingdom. The two of them, plus the dragon of the title, embark on a dangerous quest to save Meg's sister from death and prevent a war.

I liked Meg as a character and was intrigued by her link with the dragon, Jakl. It was also a nice twist that she is the impulsive, passionate one while Calen was the thoughtful, careful one.

This book seems to be the first in a series, and I am looking forward to reading the next one. A fun book for readers who enjoyed Harry Potter, Fablehaven, and the younger readers of Eragon.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragons. Princesses. Magic. True friendship. All that good stuff, plus add in a murder plot, an evil mage trapped in-between planes of existence and untrustworthy suitors, not to mention the two kingdoms on the brink of a peace after centuries of war. Sadly, the evil mage is vague, Sen Eva escapes and it really and truly needs a sequel. Loved Calen and Meglynne and Serek and Jakyl and pretty much all the characters. It felt like a great fantasy story, a bit heavy on Meg's crush on Willem though, and just was a lot of fun.

It just really bothered me that nothing was actually finished and that we have no idea if a sequel will be forthcoming.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon Of Trelian is a splendid return to the traditions of fairy tales and legend. Michelle Knudsen demonstrates a respectful treatment of these traditions fleshing them out with some intriguing innovations. She tells a story of a magician's apprentice and a princess (though not the eldest daughter) and their adventures in the midst of intrigues underlying a treatied marriage. Knudsen approach to the traditions of magic are well thought out. Her characters reactions are real and demonstrate believable development as the plot progresses. A fine adventure that allows the characters to discover their personal power while discovering dragons.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters in this lively romantic fantasy. The plot was fun--anything with a dragon can't be all bad. The young princess has a secret bond with a dragon. She decides to share this secret with the mage's apprentice, whom she's accidentally met just before the wedding of her older sister to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Of course there are treasonous villains to defeat and limited time. It's a great romp with magic and friendship and action in lovely balance. I liked it.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Middle grade fantasy dream-come-true: a girl, her dragon, and a nice guy to hang out with. Through the alternating viewpoints of Meg and Calen - a princess and a mage's apprentice - the story is a wild adventure of betrayal, magic, murder, and budding romance. Meg is an extremely likable and strong female character with a breathless quality, who sometimes has more inside of her than she can put a lid on, which makes for wonderful, subtle humor.

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calen, a mage's apprentice, and Princess Meglynne form a friendship when Meg shares her secret. Together they must protect the Kingdom of Trelian from an evil plot, but the future has never seemed more uncertain.
The perfect mix of familiar fantasy elements and new twists to keep things interesting. I'd hand this to any fan of Eragon, Septimus Heap, or Dealing with Dragons.

Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...

[Rad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Maybe because, as some other blogger pointed out, it's more about relationships than it is about action? And we all know my favorite Library of Congress Cataloguing-In-Publication Data category is Interpersonal Relations.
But I also like the playfulness, the inventiveness, and the humor. Because it made me laugh. And to quote Roger Rabbit: "A laugh can be a very powerful thing."

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! The story of Princess Meg and mage-in-training Calen who discover a wicked plot to kill members of the royal family and prolong a war between theirs and a neighboring kingdom. The two form an extraordinary friendship and find that working together as well as trusting themselves bring them strength and abilities beyond what they thought possible. The dragon is pretty awesome too.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dragon of Trelian has everything you could want in a YA fantasy book...princesses, dragons, monsters, sorcery, and even a little romance. It's age appropriate and since it has a little bit of everything mixed in, I think it would appeal to boys and girls. It's a fun and fast-paced plot and I'm ready to read the sequel!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great YA novel with both male & female protagonists. Too much focus on the princess' first romantic entanglement for some readers, perhaps, but it's a great clear-sighted look at the feel of an intense crush. Exciting plot & well written to boot!

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It has all the great fantasy staples: magic, dragons, an evil sorceress, deep friendship. The ending was left in such a way as to leave room for a sequel. I hope one is forthcoming!

[Auralia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one day, loved it. It has everything a great book should: princesses, magic, friendship, danger, secrets, evil, and of course good. I had a hard time putting this down so I finished it in one day.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love dragon stories! and this one is a cross between Eragon (except she is a female protagonist) and Merlin. Very clever plot, well set out and the female protagonist has guts and spunk (Hermione eat your heart out :-)

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down - read it through the night. Dynamic female protagonist. Definitely a different twist from typical fantasy. Loved it!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I hope that there will be a sequel.