Skip to main content

The Dragon of Trelian

The Dragon of Trelian
by Michelle Knudsen
407 pages
age 10+
Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2009

Calen was an orphan working at a roadside inn until Mage Serek discovers him and takes him on as his apprentice. Calen is excited at the prospect of being able to cast spells. He learns quickly that being a mage involves lots of study time and not so much spell-casting. When Serek becomes the King of Trelian's Royal Mage life becomes a little more interesting for young Calen.
Princess Meglynne is Royal Daughter Number Three. The castle is in an uproar preparing for her older sister's impending wedding. The marriage was arranged to put an end to the century long feud between the two kingdoms. Princess Meg retreats to an upper floor guest room to watch the groom's Royal Procession enter the castle grounds. She stumbles upon Calen doing the same thing. She instantly decides he is someone she can trust with her biggest secret - the young dragon she found orphaned in the forest. Calen wholeheartedly bends to the task of helping Princess Meg even if it puts both of their lives in jeopardy, several times.
This book has it all, princesses, magic, dragons, monsters and even a little romance. I was pleased that this book ended well on its own yet could have a sequel if the author feels so inclined. There were a couple of little things at the end that seemed out of place, rather like the author was trying to wrap things up quickly. Overall an enjoyable read. It's hard to go wrong with an exciting fantasy novel filled with intriguing characters.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...

Display: Be A World Traveller

Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...

Review: Grounded for All Eternity

Grounded for All Eternity By Darcy Marks New York : Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2022. Fiction. 375 pgs. Malachi, Crowley, and Lilith are just your average, normal, middle-school kids. That is, if you consider living in the suburbs of Hell and having black feathered wings normal. They want to enjoy their school free vacation, but Hell is on lock down after the soul of Reverend Samuel Paris, leader of the 1693 Salem witch trials, escapes. Malachi and his friends travel to Earth, looking for some fun, but accidentally bring the Reverend's soul with them to modern day Salem, Massachusetts. Chaos ensues, and Malachi meets many new types of characters, such as witches, angels, and humans. Malachi and his friends must work together to return Reverend Sam's soul to Hell, or else all of Salem will be destroyed. Or worse, be grounded for all eternity.  Read this book for the ultimate Halloween experience, and if you want to revisit the ...