by the Naga may be a sign of the Last War alluded to in a seer’s prophecy that also foretells of a “Team of Five” that will stand up to the Naga. One of these eventual Five is the recently orphaned 11\u002Dyear\u002Dold Sakura, whose late father was a Shrine\u002Ddefending Dragon Guardian. The others include seafarer and mage Myrriden the Traveler, who takes in Sakura as his ward\u003B Myrriden’s magic\u002Dschool student son Emrys\u003B the Archmage Hoth\u003B and the enigmatic Fire Mage Volcan. Crucial to their defense of Cynnahu is the unearthing of an enchantment called the Elder Song, though no one is quite certain what that spell does. Adler’s epic\u002Dlength tale comprises two seamlessly connected novels. The worldbuilding is superb, starting with the Dragonkin and their former continent Cynnahu. The many isles, though they look the same, prove distinct in other ways\u003B one contains Emrys’ school, with an exterior that’s magically different for each individual (to one it appears as a “mist\u002Dcloaked temple”), while another isle houses the formidable, gleaming Blue Fortress. The characters are just as memorable, especially the courageous, same\u002Daged Sakura and Emrys, who put everything into their training and fighting. The standout among the supporting cast is Myrriden’s brother Aneirin, a historian\u002Dlike Loremaster who helps track down the Elder Song. A handful of lengthy conflicts on land and sea reach a worthy climax and a gratifying payoff and epilogue. The author rounds out this story with a traitor or two, a series of magic spells, and at least one death that will hit readers hard."⭐ 5.0/5(1)
