Length: 222 pgs / N/A audio

Overall: 🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒

Storyline:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Writing Style:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Character Development:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Enjoyment:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

There was so much paper in this room that Rome would certainly have to be careful with his eye auras. It would only take one stray flicker to turn the whole place into a towering inferno.”

Riders of Fire and Ice by Brett Salter

The Story:

They’re back! Julian and Rome are taking their show on the road. This time to lovely, old England in search of Camelot. While there, everyone’s favorite Knight and Master Dragon will be trying to solve the mystery of the Talismans, the mystery of their shadowy stalker, and the mystery of sibling rivalry. Prepare to meet some new faces and, of course, some new Darkbrands as the two further their adventures across the pond.

Key Elements:

Fantasy, Dragons, England Knights, Magic, Camelot, Librarian, Portals, War Against Evil, Friendship, Humor, Family, Middle School Age, Young Adult

Others in Series:

Book 1: The Search for Synergy

Book 3: Windy City Ruins

Book 4: The Battle of Verdana

Book 5: Desperate Tides, Desperate Measures

Why This Rating?

Full disclosure, I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.

What a fantastic book! It made for a great second book in the series! The boys are across the pound and heading to the home of Camelot – or where the legends say to have been. Within the first few hours of being over there, the adventure takes off. It was fun watching Jules and Rome try their hands at investigating. Considering they have to plan around the school days, I feel like they did a great job when it came to finding a possible portal location.

While they are over there, we get to meet Jule’s younger sister, Camela. Oh wow, she is something else. She talks just like her father and seems to strongly dislike her brother. Well, actually that isn’t accurate. She doesn’t like really anyone else except one person, her best friend, Krysta. Krysta is a perfect balance to Camela’s icy and proud demeanor. She is bubbly and outgoing in the best of ways. And perhaps has a little crush on Rome? Also kind of a badass when it comes to protecting Camela from literally everyone who is deemed dangerous in her eyes. Heck, Krysta lays out Jules for getting too close to Camela and he is her brother! One of her defining characteristics is a little quirk that has her talking in threes as Jule’s put it at one point. She likes to have everything concise, precise, and explained in a sentence (just like that!). It is a cute little quirk that grows on you the more she’s interacts with everyone. I found it was a perfect characteristic to include for someone.

The action scenes were awesome! There is definitely step up from the creatures we meet in the first book compared to this second one. The foes are getting harder and harder for the boys, but they manage to work through the troubles and find a way. Love it! The fights are getting a little more intense. We are given a range of more weaponry and we get to see magic in action! There is another team joining in with the fights, which is so cool! I find them still well in the range of young readers, but this second book is starting to show that series is also growing up with the boys and the adventures they are striking out on.

Salter’s writing stays as fun and enjoyable as ever with this second installment for the series. There are some one liners in this one that I find myself spouting off just because of the quirkiness alone. The scene that comes to mind is when the guys get to meet a character named Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson is asked to draw out something and he just pulls a pencil out of his sock. Like, a quick nod and BAM! here’s a pencil. This line had me rolling with laughter both because of the suddenness and the pure commitment the character whips out this pencil that is casually chilling out in his sock.

And what a perfect way to leave us readers at the end, hungry for more! It sends you off straight into wanting the next one. Keeping the world safe wasn’t going to be easy for them, but the team is getting stronger after every fight and encounter. I totally recommend you guys giving this series a chance if you haven’t already found the first one! If haven’t found the first book yet (The Search for Synergy) head over to my review on that book HERE or want to find out a little more about the author, take a look at my interview with Brett Salter HERE.

Time to get lost in the next story!

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