THE DRAGONS' DUEL

In this debut fantasy, a young warrior fights to restore his clan in war-torn Japan.

Not long ago, feuding Japanese clans laid waste to two of the four groups. Sakuris Kaemouri, traveling with his little sister, Kayah, hopes to revive his lost Dragon Clan. The 18-year-old warrior trains tirelessly using ancient manuscripts he uncovered in his destroyed home city. One day, he comes across a formidable opponent in Saiera Kanz, who belonged to the other decimated clan, but the two quickly fall for each other. Meanwhile, the leader of the thriving Wyvern Clan continually attacks villages, determined to conquer all of the land. He’s also hunting for powerful “sacred blades,” one of which is the twin-silver fang that Sakuris wields. Unfortunately, Sakuris’ old Dragon friend Kenzji Ketsuro is the diabolical fighter leading the charge against the young warrior. The Wyvern Clan will do whatever it takes to get Sakuris’ sword, including abducting someone he loves. It seems a prophecy has come true, and now two Dragons will clash to either unite Japan or tear it apart. Daugherty’s tale moves at a measured pace. This benefits its extensive cast, making it clear where characters are from and where their loyalties lie, betrayals notwithstanding. There’s also an absorbing focus on melodrama, as the passing years allow families to grow. For example, Sakuris, who has raised his sister since their parents’ deaths, may not approve of the boy she likes. Unfortunately, while the author delivers vivid descriptions, the narrative tense toggles between past and present. These depictions can be confusing, especially when the tense changes in the same sentence or paragraph (“Looking around, the stranger notices the women she had had with her were all dead”). Nevertheless, the action scenes are searing, as characters display combat skills along with supernatural abilities, including Sakuris’ power to manipulate classical elements. The story ends on an unmistakable cliffhanger, with fates up in the air and a superb, lingering mystery.

This engrossing, if messy, action tale boasts a likable cast and series potential.