GLINT

Stories from two very different genres, rather slim and predictable on their own, interweave to create a satisfying read that is more than the sum of its parts. Fifteen-year-old Ellie’s life falls suddenly apart when her brother Danny disappears on his 11th birthday. In desperation, she turns to her memories of the stories they shared in childhood of the dragon-loving Argent, and seeks her brother among the outcasts and forgotten. Meanwhile, Danny endures his nightmarish captivity, sustained only by drug-induced dreams that chronicle Argent’s efforts to rescue a kidnapped baby dragon and save the life of its mother. As all the adults in their lives are either hapless or hostile, both the diffident Ellie and the spunky Argent must face life-threatening dangers on their own, making surprising allies, suffering deep betrayal and summoning unexpected courage. Guided by fortuitous glints of light, their respective quests spiral together, reinforcing the drama and depth in each independent narrative. A clever conceit, masterfully executed. (Fantasy. 10-16)