Dark Wyng

October 15, 2017
Dragon Gabrial and white human boy Ren return in this sequel to The Wearle (2017). The book opens with a dramatis personae that primarily defines females by either their beauty (Grendel), weakness (Gayl), or marital status (the majority of the human women). The prologue then introduces the "black dragon" myth that explains that "no dragon can be completely black" because Godith, the female dragon god, doesn't like black dragons. The linkage of blackness with negativity is deeply unfortunate. In the myth, when one of Godith's sons (accidentally) kills the other, Godith's punishment is to crush his heart and leach him of color...but he doesn't turn white, as one would expect--he turns black, thus earning him the name Tywyll, meaning "the darkness." In the present day, a mysterious stranger, Ty, arrives in Ren's town on a unicorn. Though many villagers are initially suspicious, he inexplicably and near instantaneously gains clout. Elsewhere, hotheaded Gabrial and Ren are as reckless as ever, except now they both have a responsibility to two orphan wearlings. Over the 300-plus pages of the book, the plot unfolds predictably, with a twist at the end that guarantees at least one more volume. With problematic tropes and stereotypes, little character development, and a poorly paced plot, this one is for fans of the first book only. (Fantasy. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 15, 2017
Grades 4-8 After a disastrous and short-lived battle between skaler (dragons) and hom (humans), the people of the Kaal settlement have more reason than ever to distrust dragons and want revenge. When a mysterious newcomer, Ty, offers to return to the scene of the battle, supposedly to retrieve a fallen villager's body, some are skeptical of his motives. Ren Whitehair, an ally to some of the dragon factions, faces off against Ty and forges a new connection between the two species, which will likely be unpopular with both groups. This second book in the Erth Dragons series offers readers more of the same high fantasy, rich language, and compelling action scenes. Ren, the main character from the first book (The Wearle, 2017), is offstage for most of this one, and the relatable hero role falls to Rolen. But the key is Ty, whose character and motives are cleverly unveiled bit by bit, and whose connection to the past is hinted at in a prologue. The list of characters and index are helpful, although the latter seems spotty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)