DRAGON LAW

Three siblings and their pet dragons suddenly find themselves transported to another world in this debut children’s fantasy novel.

The Zedmore kids of Calgary, Canada, are delighted with their gifts from a family friend, each getting a miniature dragon figurine seemingly made of gold and an unknown crystal. But then the dragons come to life. Alex, 12; Jared, 10; and Madison, 8, name their new pets Kishar, Rex, and Penelope, respectively. Their astonished parents, Lynn and Eddie, soon foresee problems keeping the creatures secret, so they move to the more private Alberta Foothills. Unknown to them, they’re being observed by a shadowy Order whose agenda is unclear. Meanwhile, the dragon Azurim is sent from his magical realm, Shard, to Earth, tasked with bringing the three young awakened dragons back with him. He succeeds but pulls the Zedmore children through the portal, too. They must all travel to the Dragon Enclave, where the Council will teach the whelps Dragon Law and the children, who don’t belong there, may plead their case. The Guardians of Atlantis might allow entry through a magic portal—but a coup in Azurim’s absence endangers the kids’ quest. In his series opener, Zimmermann at first seems to be offering a whimsically cute confection with the Zedmore children (tickle wars, giggles, and merrily twinkling eyes) and their kittenlike, purring dragons. But in Shard, the story becomes more serious and involving, with well-described action sequences bolstered by revelations regarding Shard/Earth history, legends, and magic. These elements are intriguing in themselves while also contributing to plot development. The three dragons grow in size and acquire more complex attributes while the siblings mature, too.

An enjoyable fantasy adventure for dragon fans that delivers thoughtful lore.