"Might and Magic Prevail!"

Teman ("Tay") has decided it's better to be a homeless, independent youngster than an unloved, tortured son of a grief-stricken, angry father. Desperate for warmth but cautious of all, he meets the fearsome magician, Velachaz, and undergoes a total transformation. For Velachaz discovers that Tay is a "natural" magician and decides to make him an apprentice magician. Before his lessons can truly get underway, Tay meets some friends who draw him and his master into an exciting and noble quest, to remove a dreadful curse by slaying a murderous dragon!

On the journey to the dragon's lair, Tay's power increases as he meets Galen, the clumsy but determined master of the quest; Sally, an inn servant who escapes to join the adventure; Dart, the speaking dragonfly; a cat-like, fanged witch; the so-called "Mad Elaine"; Rowan, the wood sprite; and finally the dreadfully surprising dragon, Fieriluna!

This very short book is absolutely delightful!!! Its plot carries several intertwined stories that all become part of the quest for justice and resolution and involve every single, beloved character. Secrets become unlocked and the fantasy tale soars with ever-present challenges that can make or break the mission.

Although this book is classified as young adult fiction, the novel can be enjoyed by all ages! It's a wonderful fable, in a way, that will leave the reader believing in magic and wanting more stories from its very talented author.

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 23, 2004

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal
Courtesy Crystal Reviews
Posted January 24, 2004

Summary

Twelve-year-old Teman finds himself drawn into a world he never dreamed he'd be a part of-a world of magic and mystery: a world of heroic quests and demonic creatures, a world of dragons. Plucked from the streets to help the wizard Velachaz hide a secret past, Teman soon discovers that he shares the gift of Magic. As he practices to master his first spells, he meets a strange young knight-to-be who is off to slay a dragon. When the knight turns out to be Velachaz's nephew Galen, the quest is on. Teman and Vela journey north with the youth in hopes of saving Galen from himself. They encounter one adventure after another along the way, learning from each other as they go. But Teman has a secret of his own. He hopes to save the dragon from Galen's sword before either one of them gets hurt. What they find when they reach the dragon's lair is the biggest secret of all. The story is peopled with interesting characters and supernatural beings, from the plucky servant Sally whose sling seldom misses to the eccentric artist Mad Elaine, the wood sprite Rowan, the wicked cat-woman in her ruined tower, and of course, the dragon. In the end, only by working together can Teman and Velachaz hope to save the day.