October 15, 2022
Barclay and his friends head into the Desert for their next adventure. Barclay, Viola, and Tadg saved the Sea (and the world) in the last installment of Foody's series, but stakes are still high. The villain of The Weeping Tide (2022), Audrian Keyes, was never captured and could still be out there. Not to mention that the trio must take an intimidating set of courses called the Symposium before they can become actual Lore Keepers--those who wield Lore magic and tame the world's creatures as companions. So the three friends and Runa Rasgar, their mentor, travel to the University of Al Faradh to embark on the next step in their magical education. During the Symposium, the students also participate in the Tourney, an unofficial annual prank competition that pits the different apprentice tracks against each other. Now 13, Barclay must juggle peer expectations, academic pressure, and physical danger as unnatural sandstorms threaten the Desert's capital city of Menneset. Readers who've been along for the journey can expect to enjoy the same level of solid storytelling and racial diversity as before. An especially sweet element here is the depiction of Viola's harmonious blended family, as readers meet her parents, stepfather, and half sister. Another strong and enjoyable entry that further expands the earlier worldbuilding. (map, bestiary) (Fantasy. 8-12)
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March 1, 2023
Gr 3-7-Close friends Barclay Thorne, Viola Dumont, and Tadg Murdock are back in their third adventure. This time, they've arrived at the 861st Symposium where they'll be learning as apprentices on their way to becoming Guild-licensed Lore Keepers at the University of Al Faradh. During their time there, mysterious sandstorms are blowing up and the friends decide to investigate the cause. Along the way, there are Tourney pranks that are taking place amongst the different houses at the university. A mysterious library along with riddles and clues that haunt him has Barclay unable to concentrate, much less sleep. Working together may prove to be the key to helping the companions solve the puzzle during their turbulent ride at the university. Information in the back details a Traveler's Log of Dangerous Beasts. VERDICT An engaging, dragon lover's fantasy. Hand to fans of the "Dragon Realm" and "Wings of Fire."
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