FICTION

The King's Dragon

by Scott CHANTLER
illus. by Scott Chantler. 112p. (Three Thieves: Bk. 4). Kids Can. 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781554537785; pap. $8.95. ISBN 9781554537792.
COPY ISBN
Gr 6 Up—The fourth volume in the series, this title nicely weaves the tale of an honorable knight's search for three fugitives. Chantler, a Joe Shuster Award-winning cartoonist, amusingly captures the adventures of Captain Drake, an idealistic knight in service to his monarch. In black-and-white flashbacks neatly interspersed with the current narrative, readers witness the protagonist's initial knighting. He then learns that not every King's Dragon (knight) is truly in service to the crown. The color panels reveal that Drake is now operating without formal guidance. His search brings him back in contact with his former leader, and the hero must confront some of his concerns and issues with trust. Prettily drawn, in a style reminiscent of the "Prince Valiant" comics, The King's Dragon can almost stand alone. Still, those who wish to read the whole tale will need to order the first three installments and commit to purchasing future volumes. Given the popularity of complex monarchal stories for adults—such as Game of Thrones—this series serves middle and high school students interested in the same genre.—Sarah Knutson, American Canyon Middle School, CA
While he and the other men of the King's knights, known as the Dragons, follow clues to find three young thieves, Sir Drake reminisces about the fatal events that led to their present day. Black-and-white art among color signifies the flashback scenes, making the transitions easy to follow. The backstory will be satisfying to fans of this graphic novel series.
This exciting, immersive adventure picks up where The Captive Prince, the last book in the series, left off. Drake’s reminiscences of joining the King’s service add a layer of depth to his character. They show the most menacing of the King’s dragons to have once been a devoted and fair-minded servant of the king, not simply the three thieves’ indefatigable pursuer. The intertwined narratives—one taking place in the past, the other Drake’s search for Dessa in the present—are filled with tension as each builds toward a climax. Readers will be left eagerly anticipating the next installment. The bold, stylized illustrations, which often depict scenes from dramatic angles, are especially good at bringing action sequences to life. Drake’s memories, shown in black and white, are expressive and evoke an atmosphere full of intrigue and regret.

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