Review by Booklist Review
This new offering in the Dragon Realm series is set several years after the initial series. Earth's dragon and human populations have been working together for coexistence. A special training corps has been formed at Camp Claw, where young humans are heart-bonded to their partner dragons. Twelve-year-old Lance is excited to be attending the camp with his little sister, Zoe, and he entertains dreams of becoming a brave defender of this new world. The siblings have barely begun their training when an evil force begins scheming to destroy the tentative world peace. This quick adventure-mystery comes with memorable relationships and relatable personalities, but the icing on the cake is the dragons who emerge as individuals. One caveat: as a continuation series, the story line is frequently interrupted by explanatory flashbacks. Hopefully Dragon Realm newcomers will appreciate the added information as they soar through to the cliffhanger ending. Young dragon-loving adventurers, step right up. A solid purchase for fantasy collections.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In the first entry of this soaring adventure series by married collaborators Katie and Kevin Tsang (the Sam Wu Is Not Afraid series), a specially selected group of tweens must train alongside their dragon companions to save the world. Ever since the Great Collapse opened a door that allowed dragons and other creatures to enter the human realm, 12-year-old Lance Lo and his younger sister Zoe, both of Chinese and English descent, have been fascinated by the winged wonders--so much so that Lance dreams of joining the Dragon Force, an elite team of heart-bonded dragons and humans that defends the world from dangerous magical creatures. The siblings are ecstatic when they're recruited to Camp Claw to start their dragon training. But while Zoe displays natural talent and is already bonded to her dragon, Lance falls behind, becoming jealous when he's the only camper without a companion. Then Camp Claw is attacked, and Lance, along with a timid dragon and the other recruits, must call upon his training to save the day. Well-paced, action-packed escapades combine with evocative worldbuilding to kick off a rollicking journey that capitalizes on many young readers' evergreen love for dragons. Ages 8--up. Agent: Pete Knapp, Park & Fine Literary. (Mar.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Lance Lo, a 12-year-old British boy living in New London, seeks his dream of forming a heart bond with a dragon. Ever since the Great Collapse five years ago, "when the Dragon Realm fell into the Human Realm," dragons and people have coexisted in the New World. Lance, who's Chinese and white, has been invited to attend Camp Claw, a prestigious training center for Dragon Force, an elite unit of humans and dragons who keep the world safe. Surprisingly, his sister, Zoe, who's only 10, is invited, too. The Dragon Force dragons have heart-bonded with humans, awakening their special powers. Because Zoe already bonded with a dragon, whom she names Violet, before camp began, Lance is left feeling even more anxious about whether he'll find his own dragon. The siblings quickly make new friends, including Bea Garcia, who's from Argentina. On the other hand, campmate Arthur Royden, whose family owns a major technology company, is less friendly and appears to be hiding something. While Lance does eventually find a heart bond with a dragon, Infinity, the pair's special abilities are slow to surface. Threatening monster attacks are also on the rise, straining Dragon Force's resources and hinting at a larger evil force at play. While the worldbuilding is intriguing and the plot moves quickly, the writing is a bit flat, and the villain is revealed suddenly, undermining the chance to build suspense. A solid dragon-filled series opener. (map)(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
