Searching for Dragons: Searching for Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 2
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

Gr. 6-12. Disturbed and angry when he discovers a piece of his domain destroyed, Mendanbar, the 20-year-old king of the enchanted forest, takes the advice of a squirrel and journeys to consult the witch Morwen, who, in turn, sends him on to Kazul, the king of the dragons. Cimorene, the dragon king's chief cook and librarian, is about to go searching for Kazul, who has disappeared. The two join forces, borrow a faulty flying carpet from a giant, and set off on their quest, picking up certain allies along the way. This riotous sequel to Dealing with Dragons [BKL O 1 90] evinces the same wacky wit and skewed fairy-tale elements, with the addition of a touch of romance. Once again, Wrede offers a story that will delight fantasy fans, particularly those who have relished Cimorene's adventures in the first book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. ~--Sally Estes

Gr 5-9-- First the good news. The fun continues. The bad news? It continues without the fierce benign presence of Kazul, King of the Dragons, for at least 90 percent of the book. The no-nonsense sisterhood of the Princess Cimorene and her unwilling captor, Kazul, was one of the delights of Dealing with Dragons (HBJ, 1990). In compensation, however, readers are introduced to Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest. Very much still a callow youth, he imposes his preference for the simple, active life on his new role as king, disappointing his steward, the elf Willin, who has anticipated a resumption of pomp and formality. The discovery of a patch in the Enchanted Forest laid waste by wizards starts him on a quest that soon leads him to Cimorene. The two join forces to find the missing Kazul, and begin a series of misadventures that include riding a defective magic carpet decorated with pink bears, melting several wizards with Cimorene's infallible formula of soapy water and lemon juice, and advising a giant who is bored with pillaging to go into the consulting business. Wrede's tongue-in-cheek humor balances well with sweet adolescent discovery, and the result is another winning chapter in a delightful tale. --Sally T. Margolis, Park Ridge Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In a sequel to 'Dealing with Dragons' (Harcourt), the first novel about the tart, independent Princess Cimorene, problems are appearing in the Enchanted Forest of young King Mendanbar. He and the princess have adventures with magic carpets and rescue the King of the Dragons - a female named Kazul. The book gives an amusing, modern twist to a fantasy. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Sensible princess Cimorene meets sensible king Mendanbar of the Enchanted Forest, and they sensibly decide to get married-- but not before each mistakes the other for those greatest of twits, the pompous hero and the simpering princess; they take a bumpy ride on a broken-down magic carpet to rescue Kazul, King of the Dragons; they meet Telemain, a research magician who never uses one word when ten will do; and they defeat the dastardly wizards attempting to suck all the magic from the Enchanted Forest. Then, to the joy of castle steward Willin (a pomp-loving elf), they exchange vows (almost certainly not including ``to obey''). This sequel to revisionist-fabulist Wrede's Dealing with Dragons (1990) is as sprightly as the original. Nothing much happens, but the wry twists are both fun and funny (e.g., Rumpelstiltskin's grandson appears as a beleaguered but sweet nanny to the many children he ends up with when the beneficiaries of his gold-spinning can't guess his name). A refreshing romp. (Fiction. 10+)

Gr 5-9-- First the good news. The fun continues. The bad news? It continues without the fierce benign presence of Kazul, King of the Dragons, for at least 90 percent of the book. The no-nonsense sisterhood of the Princess Cimorene and her unwilling captor, Kazul, was one of the delights of Dealing with Dragons (HBJ, 1990). In compensation, however, readers are introduced to Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest. Very much still a callow youth, he imposes his preference for the simple, active life on his new role as king, disappointing his steward, the elf Willin, who has anticipated a resumption of pomp and formality. The discovery of a patch in the Enchanted Forest laid waste by wizards starts him on a quest that soon leads him to Cimorene. The two join forces to find the missing Kazul, and begin a series of misadventures that include riding a defective magic carpet decorated with pink bears, melting several wizards with Cimorene's infallible formula of soapy water and lemon juice, and advising a giant who is bored with pillaging to go into the consulting business. Wrede's tongue-in-cheek humor balances well with sweet adolescent discovery, and the result is another winning chapter in a delightful tale. --Sally T. Margolis, Park Ridge Public Library, IL Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information.