Raising Fire

Starred review from July 24, 2017
Bennett’s inventive and vivid continuation of the tale that began with Chasing Embers focuses primarily on the struggles of Ben Garston, the human form of the last dragon left on Earth. The others—along with all magical beings such as witches, trolls, giants, etc.—have accepted the Sleep that let humans forget about them for centuries. But now the magic truce is failing, some humans are seeking a talisman that would let them destroy the “monsters,” and Garston is beginning to suspect that he’s only a pawn to Blaise Von Hart, last representative of the fay, who is capable of playing a very subtle and very long game. Readers will be swept along by the vivid writing and frequent explosions of extreme violence. This is smart action storytelling, and Bennett is assembling the materials for a terrific conclusion. Agent: John Jarrold, John Jarrold Literary (U.K.).