Review + Giveaway: The Dragon’s Egg

Title: The Dragon’s Egg
Author: H.B. Bolton
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: May 2014
Series?: Relics of Mysticus #3
Genre: Middle Grades, Fantasy
Format: e-book
Source: CBB Book Promotions

Find the book: Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Book Trailer

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*****Synopsis*****

Sure, the glass castle floating over Evan’s head makes him uneasy, but that’s the least of his worries. With each step inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, he must battle against his worst nightmares. One after the other, wispy smoke-filled bull sharks come at him — he must remember they’re only illusions pulled from his imagination by those dreaded shadowlike hands. If only the vengeful dragon circling above was also an illusion and didn’t have his mind set on destroying the one person who can control him: Emrys. Inside the castle’s glass tower, Emrys sleeps in an eternal slumber, and Evan’s uncertain whether he can save the great wizard. Especially now that Emrys’ former student, the Lady of the Lake, has joined forces with the cunning immortal Alamaz. Together they have already stolen the Dragon’s Egg, but their greed doesn’t end there. The Siren’s Pearl calls to them, and that means only one thing … Atlantis is in trouble. Join Evan, Claire, and Dunkle — along with a few other unlikely heroes — as they travel across the realm of Medieval Legends, float through the Ancient Isle of Avalon, plunge inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, and be there when Atlantis rises once again.  

*****Review*****

I am warning you that I must be mysterious in this review, lest I give away too many details and spoil the whole kit and caboodle.

Evan and Claire are still in Sagaas, and they need to traverse into the realm of Avalon. Alamaz has escaped from the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams and has enlisted Emrys’s (or known by Merlin to most) student, the Lady of the Lake, in his struggle for power. The Dragon’s Egg has gone missing, and Alamaz now controls the dangerous and deadly dragon Thrakon. Unfortunately for Evan, Claire and Dunkle, Tom Thumb, guardian of the portal into Avalon, is very picky in admitting passage. Chatyon reappears from book two, but Tom Thumb is adamant about not allowing him into Avalon.

King Gwyn ap Nudd, the King of the Fae, aids the much-revered Dunkle in their upcoming journey. Did I mention that Emrys (ahem, Merlin) must also be found? Gwyn gives the Band of Unlikely Heroes a couple of treasures to the Fae, extremely valuable items that are offered unexpectedly.

Evan and Claire must go through the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, and it is a difficult thing to do. They see illusions that could easily sidetrack and scare them, and they must go on. For Evan it is an even more difficult journey because he is not allowed to change into his dragon form, his totem. Along the way they pick up a couple other characters, both who end up surprising me, and one who ended up abandoning the group. I suspected the wrong character, in that particular case. However, like Amadaeya did in book two, this character also redeems himself later, and just might be the reason Dunkle is revived.

Along the way, Evan and Claire learn that Dunkle has had a sibling pair of apprentices before, and one of those is someone near and dear to their hearts. Throughout the journey they continue to get tidbits about this person’s time in Sagaas, and come to realize Dunkle is keeping some major information from them – vital information, it turns out. Again in this book there are many instances of seduction, and in one event Evan actually hurts Claire. Yikes!

At one point, I thought they were all gonners. I did not see a viable solution to their predicament. Alamaz, of course, takes that opportunity to pull the psychological “Now that I have you down, I will take up all this time telling you my evil plan” – sort of. Then, he forces Evan’s hand, and Evan changes into his totem. It’s all downhill for the Band of Unlikely Heroes from there.

I LOVED this book. It pits Evan and Claire against Dunkle in the most hurtful way, and they perservere and refuse to believe anything but the best about him. To go in hand with that, when all seems lost for poor Dunkle, the pair shows genuine emotion and love for this small creature who can sometimes smell like rotten eggs.

For a time, this book dragged in the middle. I think Bolton was setting up her footwork for the ending and the next book, but again this book seemed a slight wild goose chase, but not quite like the last book (in which the Trickster actually reveals that indeed it was).

Despite that, I cannot wait to get the fourth book. I know it will be packed with even more adventure and the mysterious someone I cannot reveal to you that Evan and Claire know, well, I think that person will show up in the fourth book and I am looking forward to it in more ways that I can reveal.

*****About the Author*****

A magical part of H.B. Bolton’s childhood was being swept into worlds of enchanting

characters, fantastical creatures and extraordinary powers—simply by picking up a book. As a mother and a teacher, she was compelled to create imaginary worlds of her own in order to share them, not just with her children, but with all children. H.B. Bolton lives in Florida with her supportive husband and two highly spirited children. Shh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young-adult fantasy story, she also writes spellbinding, heart pounding women’s fiction. These particular books are written under the name Barbara Brooke, but that’s another story, altogether.

Find the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****Giveaway*****

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Giveaway: $25 gift card (Int), paperback set of all 3 books (US), ebook set of all books (INT)