James M. Ward, Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe

Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe

James M. Ward

Tor, Dec 2006, $24.95

ISBN: 0765312549

Sixteen-year-old Arcania Empire dragonship naval officer Halcyon Blithe has not only received a pardon following a court martial, but also is promoted for his courageous action that saved his shipmates, including a dragon, on the Sanguine. However, not everyone is pleased to see this late-bloomer seventh son of a seventh son rewarded. His on-board enemy Elan Swordson is jealous of the attention and acclaim the upstart Blithe is receiving and plots to destroy his rival.

During a battle against a demon ship and its crew, Blithe's demon-half takes over and saves the day again, but also places him on trial for misusing magical essences. His sentence is a promotion to the dragonship Rage where the crew is escorting an elven ambassador to the Dwarven Empire while their enemy the Maleen plots another sea battle.

The second Blithe tale (see MIDSHIPWIZARD HALCYON BLITHE) once again reads like Horatio Hornblower meets Harry Potter. The storyline is fast-paced as much of the plot focuses on battles, but insuring that the magic seems real, and the hero and the dragons appear genuine. Fans, especially young adults, will want to go to sea with Blithe on a dragon ship at they fight against the Maleen and demons ships in an enchanting military fantasy

Harriet Klausner