Daughter of the Serpentine

September 21, 2020
Picking up from 2019’s Novice Dragoneer, the epic second installment to Knight’s Dragoneer Academy series sees dauntless heroine Ileth, now 16, facing down a slew of obstacles as she unflaggingly pursues her dreams, despite her underprivileged upbringing, lack of resources, and persistent stutter. After many months of grueling work and misadventures, Ileth has earned her spot as Apprentice to the Dragoneers of the Serpentine, bringing her one step closer to her goal of riding a majestic dragon in service to the Republic she calls home. But she has much left to learn, and her school masters are determined to push her to her limits. Along the way, Ileth once again stumbles into intrigue, participating in the Serpentine’s campaign against the pirates who have gripped the region in a stranglehold, and becoming a pawn in a delicate political game when the powerful Governor Raal claims her as his daughter. Through these myriad adventures, Ileth, with her innate honesty, unyielding determination, and kind heart, proves a catalyst for change in the Republic. Her leisurely paced coming-of-age will put readers in mind of the classic YA fantasies of Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey. This is sure to delight fantasy readers young and old. Agent: John Silbersack, the Bent Agency.

October 9, 2020

Knight ("Age of Fire" series) continues the story of Ileth, a teen who comes from nothing and strives to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a dragonrider in the Serpentine academy. Ileth has matured since the first book and takes on new challenges, such as balancing two apprenticeships; one as a dragonrider and the other as a dancer. As she rises in rank, enemies threaten the republic, forcing her to take charge of her future sooner than she anticipated. Knight creates a marvelous character study of a young woman within the walls of a mostly male-dominated world. Ileth possesses a gentle, easygoing manner and learns as quickly as her male peers; her intelligence is beyond the book knowledge that her fellow, more entitled colleagues possess. VERDICT Highly recommended as a crossover for adults and YA readers drawn to fantasy novels with dragons and the women who ride them. Start with the first in the series or just dive right into this perfect adventure tale.--Lucy Roehrig, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI

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