Review: The Lost Ryu

By Emi Watanabe Cohen

Levine Querido, 2022. Fiction. 208 p.

Kohei is a young Japanese boy who somehow has memories of the large Japanese Ryu dragons who disappeared before he was born. Kohei believes that if he can find a big Ryu then his troubled grandfather, dealing with memories from the war would be happy again. Armed with his own small and chatty dragon along with a new friend, Isolde, he begins his search for a legendary dragon. This search takes them to the coast and then to a dragon sanctuary where they plan to hatch a dragon egg. During their journey Kohei and Isolde learn a few things about each other and Kohei uncovers some family secrets that were buried long ago..

This fantasy book will appeal to readers who love dragon stories with a historical setting. I really enjoyed the storytelling and how the author used a world tragedy like World War II and added a fantasy element to it. A well paced story with some tough moments but some touching ones as well.

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