RACE FOR THE DRAGON HEARTSTONE

Silver and her bonded dragon, Hiyyan, are on the run in this sequel to Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races (2019), seeking safety from Queen Imea and her trackers.

With the help of Nebekker, “master of the curative arts,” Hiyyan is healed, healthy, and strong after their last adventure. A month later, Silver, Nebekker, and Mele, plus their dragons, are trekking through the frigid mountains. When a terrifying, cave-dwelling Screw-Claw attacks Hiyyan, poisoning him, and Nebekker’s heartstone cannot heal him, Silver must figure out a way to save him before it is too late—for both Hiyyan and herself. Their journey takes them to the Watchers—“the keepers of knowledge and history, charged with sharing that knowledge freely.” Readers join all of them on a freezing journey during which they must remain vigilant and stay ahead of trackers and other lurking creatures. Silver must also come to terms with who she is—she walked away from her family’s legacy to fulfill her dream of racing water dragons—and explore her bond with Hiyyan. Halbrook focuses on each character in relation to Silver and through Silver’s point of view. Because of this, Nebekker and Mele may not appear fully developed, yet each character undergoes a transformation. Halbrook continues to develop her Middle Eastern–esque fantasy world, fleshing out the historical relationship between dragons and humans.

A gripping sequel full of adventure, bravery, fear, and self-discovery.