THE DRAGONBARDS

by Shirley Rousseau Murphy ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1988

This action-packed windup of a trilogy should bring satisfaction to readers of Nightpool and The Ivory Lyre. Entries from the diary of the long-lost queen, Meriden, punctuate the straggle of her son (Tebriel) and daughter (Camery) to rid their world of the evil Quazelzeg, who controls an army of monsters and the unliving. The followers of Tebriel and Camery include other dragonbards, their dragons (who share with them powers of vision and thought-transference), talking animals, and various courageous humans. Much of the action is dominated by Quazelzeg's capture of Tebriel and his subsequent control of Tebriel's mind after the prince escapes. In the climactic battle, Meriden returns and Tebriel must make a final choice between his mother and everything else he loves. To pull the trilogy together, Murphy uses various inventive methods to explain characters and previous incidents. Most work, but they do slow things down, as does her love of luxurious descriptions. Nevertheless, she handles suspense expertly and draws her characters well. Though the final confrontation seems a bit overwrought, its outcome is memorable.

Pub Date: March 1, 1988

ISBN: 0011110244

Page Count: 288

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1988

Categories: CHILDREN'S