FOLLOW THE SHADOWS

None of Marise’s dabbling in Wicca could have prepared her for being magically transported to a world that wants her dead.

When Marise’s biology tutor disappears, she’s less distraught than she is determined to get her hands on one of the strange crystal balls she found in his desk. Scrying in a sphere she takes from his house, she sees a great eye gazing back at her—before she’s suddenly flung to the edge of a cliff, with a dragon bearing down on her. In the land of Moerden, dragons rule, but a mysterious disease is wiping them out, and many suspect human interlopers as the cause. Others hope that humans—Marise, for example—might hold the key to their salvation. With the aid of young dragon Javeer, who saves her life and becomes her friend, Marise must figure out how to help the dragons before it’s too late. Rife with magic, hair-raising survival scenarios, trial-by-fire friendships, and, of course, dragons, this series opener has a refreshingly old-fashioned feel; even the ostensibly modern real-world setting feels disconnected from time. A less effective disconnect occurs in the narration, which is somewhat lacking in emotional depth and occasionally rushes to plot points or conclusions without pausing for breath or to offer context. The unresolved ending leaves room for a sequel. The minimally described human characters seem to be white.

Engaging and energetic if a bit slapdash.