This series was brought out in the US in 2007 and the first book sets the stage for a lengthy series, which is currently still publishing "specials." It's a pretty typical high fantasy - the story begins with a knight going after a dangerous dragon, then switches to increasing problems in Tom's village. Tom, although the son of a daring knight and familiar with swords, has been apprenticed to his blacksmith uncle since his father disappeared. Volunteering to go tell the king of the devastation in their village, he discovers that a host of legendary beasts have been released by an evil magician and is sent on a quest to free them. Once freed, they will return to guarding the land. He meets a girl, Elenna, and her pet wolf who aid him on his quest. He is also helped by the magical assistance of the court wizard and ends the book by freeing Ferno the fire dragon, but his quest is just beginning.
From various hints, I am going to guess that his father has somehow been transformed/tricked into becoming the evil magician.
This reads quickly with lots of excitement and action. It's not as scary as the cover implies (I had always vaguely assumed these were sort of monster stories) and sticks with the traditional male, implied white, feudal structure for such fantasy.
Verdict: The early volumes are out of print and, upon inspection, I find that our copies of them are literally falling apart. Kids are more interested in newer titles like Dragon Masters and I think it's time to weed this one - it will go at the end of the year when I weed the beginning chapter series.
ISBN: 9780439906517; Published 2007 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library
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