The Dragon Round

February 22, 2016
Power’s promising first novel mixes dark naval adventure with classic fantasy in a tale of mutiny with a twist. Greed and politics conspire against Jeryon, captain of the ship Comber: his first and second mates have aspirations above their stations, and they somehow manage to survive a dragon attack. Instead of killing Jeryon outright, mutineers Livion and Solet put Jeryon in a dinghy with the ship’s apothecary, Everlyn, but give them no food or water, or even an oar. Chance will see them survive or die, leaving the mutineers with no blood on their own hands. Power adeptly mashes together Horatio Hornblower–style adventure with the art of training dragons and a hint of backstabbing treachery for a thoroughly enjoyable tale. Agent: Sydelle Kramer, Susan Rabiner Literary.

June 15, 2016

Jeryon has been captain of the Comber for over a decade. When his ship is attacked by a dragon, the crew mutinies and offload Jeryon and Everlyn, the vessel's apothecary, onto a small boat with no rudder or sail. The two wash up on an island and discover a baby dragon. If they can train the creature, they may be able to make their way home. As Jeryon finally heads back to civilization, he knows that what awaits him will not be justice or rules but political intrigue and revenge. VERDICT Power's debut brings to mind Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series, with its dragons and maritime themes, and will keep readers engrossed as they follow his protagonist's quest for survival and vengeance.--KC

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