The epic conclusion of The Avalonia Chronicles is here . . .
War is on the horizon. Queen Morgana’s power grows every day, aided by her army and unseen dark forces. Illiador and Eldoren have fallen completely under her reign. There is no one who can stand against her now—except one.
Aurora Firedrake has finally come to understand the power she is capable of wielding, but is it too late? Stripped of her allies and those she holds dear, failure seems inevitable. To win the war for Avalonia, she must journey to the deepest parts of the Darklands to find a way to take back all she has lost, before Morgana opens the Book of Abraxas and releases the greatest evil the world has ever known.
Aurora, the Dawnstar, is all that stands between Avalonia and total destruction. But can she find the strength to unite her people and defeat Morgana and her wicked forces? Or will Avalonia be lost forever?
Assessment:
Plot: Portals that transport people over geographical distances and tapestries that enable time-travel are just some of the delights that await readers in this sumptuous fantasy novel. At its heart is a story about a young girl who is the long-awaited Dawnstar that will save the world from the dark forces of Dragath. Aurora's personal quest is to step into and believe in her capabilities, and the reader navigates that thrilling journey with her.
Prose/Style: The Return of the Dragon Queen is well-written and flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter. Oomerbhoy skillfully creates the suspense needed to keep readers engaged throughout an eventful and lengthy narrative.
Originality: This novel contains a diverse cast of imaginary creatures such as hamadryads, fae, witches, and Drakaar. Numerous elements of the book seem to be drawn from classic fantasy novels by Tolkien and Rowling, but here they are combined into a uniquely charming story.
Character Development: While the chief protagonist Aurora is an engaging and sincere young queen who carves out her own path, she can be a frustrating to follow because of her constant guilt. Conversely, her love interest Rafe stands out as one of the most memorable characters, a compassionate prince who cares about the wellbeing of people in general, not just those in his kingdom. He is the archetypal hero whose unquenchable love and loyalty to Aurora proves endearing. Along with Rafe, Abraxas the dragon is particularly alluring.
Date Submitted: April 06, 2020
