DRAGONBORN

The dragons of Skralla return in this follow-up to a bestselling series opener by Scottish author Murray.

After her best friend’s betrayal, 12-year-old Alex experiences bullying at Skralla. Meanwhile, Drak Midna, a vengeful dragon who wishes to kill all humans, possesses the Phylactery, a magical object of great power. To stop him from using it, Alex and her friends travel to Dundarrak, the home of Ferox, her strongest opponent on Skralla. There, she uncovers Ferox’s tragic family secrets, and their friendship develops into a resilient one based on trust. On Dundarrak, humans bond with dragons and become riders known as Dornadair in order to fight against demons; Ferox, in his human form, is matched with Alex, in her dragon form, as a Dornadair team. Through snippets of ancient texts interspersed throughout the storyline, a long history of complex relationships among humans, dragons, and demons emerges, challenging extremist groups that would violently eliminate other groups as a form of peacemaking. The Twilight Child, part of an ancient myth, features as a key figure in Murray’s complex narrative of war and violence. Meanwhile, both Alex and Ferox attempt to make up for their parents’ failures. A coming-of-age story steeped in generational family trauma, this sequel delves into questions of peaceful coexistence, allegorically confronting our own human histories and the consequences of war. It simultaneously offers a hopeful glimpse into the next generation’s future.

A heartbreaking yet inspiring window into a war-torn world.