Havemercy

May 12, 2008
Jones and Bennett vividly convey the testosterone-saturated world of fantasy fighter pilots in this fast-paced debut. When the stereotypically Asian Ke-Han threaten the Volstov empire, graduate student Thom is sent to rehabilitate the Dragon Corps, an ersatz air force of rebellious, violent young men who fly enormous metal dragons animated by magic. As Thom struggles with his task, challenged most by the brutish ace Rook, the Margrave Royston, banished for an illicit homosexual affair, befriends Hal, an innocent but brilliant tutor who eventually becomes Royston's lover. These four join minds and skills to solve the mystery of a devastating plague and defend Volstov from the foreign army. The insular corps culture of combative homoeroticism and masculine archetypes dominates the book, as female characters fade far into the background. Despite few surprises or original flourishes, Jones and Bennett credibly bring the decadent empire and its inhabitants to life.

May 15, 2008
At the moment of victory in Volstov's battle over the rival Ke-Han, disaster strikes, crippling the elite Dragon Corps and its crew of reckless riders. Only an exiled mage, a newly arrived farm boy with a love for reading, a harried professor, and the troubled and troublesome ace dragon rider have a chance to use their combined talents to solve the puzzle that could save their countryprovided they don't kill one another first. Debut coauthors Jones and Bennett have created a freshly imagined fantasy universe with magically powered metal dragons, a hard-living, tough-talking crew of dragon riders, and tales of hidden identities, long-kept secrets, and loves that prove stronger than magic. Fans of dragon-oriented fantasy may enjoy this unusual take on dragons, which belongs in most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2008
Adult/High School-The cities of Volstov and Ke-Han have been at war for more than a century. Volstov's flying Dragon Corps (think motorcycle gang with wings) is its greatest weapon. Made up of a ragged, motley crew of young men who don't fit in anywhere else in the community, their nightly raids cause havoc and appear to be getting the upper hand, with victory seemingly near. Then things start to change; "the girls"as the dragon riders call their metal steedsseem to be "off," unable to communicate, and start behaving as though their riders were complete strangers rather than the almost mind-connected teams they had been. The magicians of Volstov are also plagued with illness and affliction. What is causing the devastating shift in the 100-year war? Who or what is behind the massive change in the balance of combat? Perhaps it is the intruder from the 'Versity who has been stationed inside the Dragon Corps to find out what makes the riders tick; or maybe the Margrave's new lover has thrown the world out of whack, and he is the reason for the magicians' disease? All parties will have to work to save their kingdom, using cooperation and teamwork to do it. Fans of epic fantasy novels will be pleased with this one."Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2008
Volstov has been at war with Ke-Han for a century. Volstov has the advantage, thanks to the Dragon Corps, 14 brash pilots who ride sentient metal dragons to bombard Ke-Han with fire, and victory appears tantalizingly close. During this period, self-indulgent mage Royston and pilot Rook of the dragon Havemercy cause scandals with life-changing repercussions. Royston is exiled to the country and meets naive young tutor Hal, while Rook and the other pilots are forced into sensitivity training led by timid student Thom. As Royston and Hal slowly fall in love, Rook and Thom do the opposite, fostering an obsessive hatred. The war and the dragons only eventually become paramount in this character-driven story in which each protagonist has a distinctive voice, from Roystons catty sarcasm to Rooks unrestrained anger, and each undergoes sensitive and realistic changes because of their relationships. The few flaws (the worst, a clich'd revelation about Thom and Rook) are minor compared to the strengths of this fantasy, which satisfyingly concludes within the same volume in which it started.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)