The Dragon of Trelian
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Magician's apprentice Calen and young princess Meglynne meet accidentally when both choose the same hiding place from which to watch the enemy kingdom's procession, in which the prince of Kragnir comes to Trelian to marry Meg's sister. Calen, lonely with only his strict master for company, and Meg, burdened with a terrible secret, quickly grow to trust each other. Calen helps Meg with the baby dragon she has been secretly tending, and he teaches her how to manage the psychic link she's formed with it. When they discover a plot to assassinate Meg's sister on the eve of her wedding, thus rekindling the war, they must find a way to stop the traitor with just their wits, Calen's apprentice-level magic, and Meg's half-grown dragon. Calen and Meg's easygoing, entirely believable friendship is the core of this adventurous first novel. Meg is gutsy and impulsive, while Calen is thoughtful and steadfast; and they make an appealing duo. Though not breaking new ground, this is a solid addition to the fantasy genre.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2009 Booklist

Gr 4-7-Calen, a young mage-in-training, is vaguely dissatisfied with his life. Learning magic isn't as exciting as he thought, he's alone much of the time and always in trouble with his master for something. Then he meets Princess Meglynne and an unlikely friendship begins. Meg has secretly a dragon baby she found and is discovering all sorts of complications with keeping it secret. Calen helps her learn more about dragons and through his studies finds out more about magic and his own unique talents. When they discover that treachery is afoot, they must find a way to save the kingdom with only their wits and their talents. This is an exciting fantasy that draws in readers from the start. Knudsen does a fantastic job of creating sympathetic and realistic characters that really drive the story. The tale is adventurous and exciting with many twists and turns along the way. The ending is satisfying yet leaves room for sequels, which readers will be clamoring for. A page-turner.-Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(Intermediate) After a chance encounter, Calen, the mage's apprentice, is befriended by Princess Meglynne ("King Tormon's third and least patient royal daughter"). Neither one realizes that within weeks the fate of two kingdoms will rest in their hands. Meg's older sister is pledged to marry the prince of the neighboring rival country, a union that should end years of bitter hatred, strife, and warfare. As the castle prepares for the momentous occasion, Meg herself becomes quite smitten by Wilem, a courtier from the rival kingdom, but her deepest secret-that she has found a dragon and has bonded with it-she shares with Calen alone. As the two work together to learn more about the dragon, they uncover Wilem's betrayal, a plot to kill Meg's sister that threatens to plunge the kingdoms back into war. Using their combined resources-his knowledge of magic and her mindlink with the dragon-they race to avert the impending disaster. The length of the story dilutes the pacing, but otherwise this strong debut novel should find a welcoming audience among Gail Carson Levine and Shannon Hale fans. Moreover, the villain's ultimate escape opens the door for further adventures featuring this endearing duo. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Appealing characterization elevates a standard fantasy adventure. Princess Meg's independent streak saddles her with an awkward secret: Just as a nuptial delegation from an enemy kingdom arrives to cement peace terms, she accidentally "links" herself to a baby dragon. Fortunately, she bumps into Calen, a young mage-in-training, whose boredom with the dry didacticism of his mentor has left him eager to explore more practical applications of magic. When the pair stumbles upon a scheme to reignite political hostilities, their subterfuge becomes a desperate struggle to thwart a murderous traitor. There's nothing in this story line that the genre-savvy reader won't deduce by the second chapter, nor is there much innovation in the stereotypes of feisty princess and insecure apprentice. But this familiarity is transcended by the freshness of their voices, as well as the charmingly honest portrayals of family life, the dizzying heartbreak of first romance, the insecurities of loneliness and the rewards of scholarship. While the secondary characters (especially the dragon) remain woefully underdeveloped, the narrative moves at a brisk clip to a satisfying conclusion, with a broad hint of sequels. A promising start. (Fantasy. 9-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

"Magician s apprentice Calen and young princess Meglynne meet accidentally when both choose the same hiding place from which to watch the enemy kingdom s procession, in which the prince of Kragnir comes to Trelian to marry Meg s sister. Calen, lonely with only his strict master for company, and Meg, burdened with a terrible secret, quickly grow to trust each other. Calen helps Meg with the baby dragon she has been secretly tending, and he teaches her how to manage the psychic link she s formed with it. When they discover a plot to assassinate Meg s sister on the eve of her wedding, thus rekindling the war, they must find a way to stop the traitor with just their wits, Calen s apprentice-level magic, and Meg s half-grown dragon. Calen and Meg s easygoing, entirely believable friendship is the core of this adventurous first novel. Meg is gutsy and impulsive, while Calen is thoughtful and steadfast; and they make an appealing duo. Though not breaking new ground, this is a solid addition to the fantasy genre."

Gr 4–7—Calen, a young mage-in-training, is vaguely dissatisfied with his life. Learning magic isn't as exciting as he thought, he's alone much of the time and always in trouble with his master for something. Then he meets Princess Meglynne and an unlikely friendship begins. Meg has secretly a dragon baby she found and is discovering all sorts of complications with keeping it secret. Calen helps her learn more about dragons and through his studies finds out more about magic and his own unique talents. When they discover that treachery is afoot, they must find a way to save the kingdom with only their wits and their talents. This is an exciting fantasy that draws in readers from the start. Knudsen does a fantastic job of creating sympathetic and realistic characters that really drive the story. The tale is adventurous and exciting with many twists and turns along the way. The ending is satisfying yet leaves room for sequels, which readers will be clamoring for. A page-turner.—Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ