Shattered Blades (A Dragon’s Spell, book 2)
Author: Abby Arthur
Publisher: Abby Arthur
Publication Date: December 2020
In this second short story in a four-story series, we meet crown prince Tarrek Vaydmehn of Jasikx, twin of prince Albree Vaydmehn. If their lives were entirely their own, the royal pair would be partying after a performance by Albree and his sister Sheva’s band. Instead, the brothers are under the control of a dragon’s spell. This time, Albree and Tarrek are chasing after a multiplier, whom the dragon wants alive. The mission would be hard enough on its own, but a mysterious opponent who attacks both the princes and the multiplier makes it even worse.
Albree is the archetype perfect teenage boy - with bravery, looks, charm, and wit to spare. Fortunately, his potentially annoying perfection is leavened with comedic sarcasm. Quietly intelligent, cheeky in the way that comes with being the older twin, and thoughtfully solemn at points, Tarrek is Albree’s well-matched counterpart. There’s some apparent substance to our young heroes as well. In a few short chapters, readers get to glimpse them vulnerable, persevering, frustrated, courageous, infatuated, and intelligent. Fragments of information about the rest of Albree and Tarrek’s personal lives help build them as characters and make readers emotionally invested in the next few chapters of their journey. I would recommend this short story to middle grade fantasy readers looking for a familiar type of kingdom - one with princes bound to save people, but also needing to fight their own demons.
- D. K. Nuray
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