Dragon of Seas

August 15, 2012
Elettra, Mistral and Harvey unite in Singapore with Sheng to bring this fantasy/thriller series to a thoroughly satisfying end (City of Wind, 2011, etc.). Singapore has never been so exciting, as the four--all born on February 29th--careen around the city avoiding villains, unearthing clues and aided by fantastic beings from Chinese mythology and history. Baccalario ups the ante with this series conclusion. The action begins before Elettra, Mistral and Harvey get on a plane; flight from the henchmen of Heremit Devil begins almost when they land; and tension builds exponentially with every shadowy alley, nighttime park and ancient monument negotiated. Characters from the first three installments make appearances, and the cast is expanded by local helping spirits, new allies and new villains. Illustrations, grouped in the center of the book, include photos, reproductions of maps and pictures of tickets and currency, bringing readers a sense of the city and adding reality to the plot. The ending is a doozy--violent (not graphically), unpredictable (despite foreshadowing) and gratifying. Loose threads are wrapped up in an epilogue that leaves room for follow-up. The fans will be happy. (Adventure. 11-14)

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