REVENANTS RETURN

In this sequel to 2025’s The Dragon’s Apprentice, an impulsive apprentice, a crotchety dragon, and an enigmatic prince clash over the truth of the ancient past.

Having found her ancestor Bianca’s spellbook, awakened dragon Scorch from a thousand-year nap, learned magic, and helped save her town, 12-year-old Ciara’s next challenge is teaching magic to her friend Meg. Scorch, Ciara’s teacher, is appalled: When his apprentice Bianca attempted to teach magic to a non-apprentice, it brought about an invasion of Revenants and led to war. Fortunately—or unfortunately—the arrival of Prince Aiden, the Emperor’s son who’s about Ciara’s age, sends them all into hiding. Convinced Aiden and his father are evil, Ciara sets out with her usual panache to prove she’s right, provoking Scorch’s fury. But the powerfully magical Aiden turns out to be annoyingly friendly and helpful. He claims he can prove Revenants are real. Is he telling the truth? Memorable characters, nuanced relationships, a complex magic system, laugh-out-loud humor, deadly peril, and a cliffhanger ending combine in this fast-paced sequel. Hotheaded, insouciant Ciara is tremendous fun, whether she’s riding roughshod over Scorch’s pained attempts at reason or being thwarted by Aiden’s unflappable good cheer. The story goes beneath the surface, though. As they explore questions of truth, trust, and illusion, the characters experience genuine growth. Aiden has “russet-brown skin” and “dark brown hair,” and other major human characters present white.

A hilarious, swift-paced, thoughtful, and heartbreaking fantasy adventure.