Alan F. Troop, A Host of Dragons

A Host of Dragons

Alan F. Troop

Roc, Jan 2006, $7.99, 352 pp.

ISBN: 0451460618

Even though he has been home two years, Chloe remains angry and unforgiving towards her spouse, Peter DelaSangre for leaving their home Caya DelaSangre and got caught up in the lure of the seadragon (see THE SEADRAGON'S DAUGHTER). When Chloe asks for a family outing, the first in months, Peter readily agrees though he hates having to be amidst the mob of people. They, accompanied by their son Henri and daughter Lizzie, go to Miami for a day on the peninsular. At the dock they notice a man staring at them and then he almost kidnaps Lizzie

After retuning to their island home, twelve strangers arrive. Peter assumes he and his kin are threatened from the Oudere Raad Corporation who wants to destroy him and his family. They scour his ancestral archives and soon abduct Lizzie. Peter knows he must confront these foreigners, but in his natural essence, as a dragon who plans to dine on a dozen humans.

The fourth DelaSangre entry is an exciting urban fantasy in which Peter has to battle with an enemy that has invaded his island, assaulted his heritage, and ultimately kidnapped his daughter as these Europeans plan to destroy him. As a were-dragon, Peter's morality is different than that of humans and he sees things differently. Interestingly the four DelaSangres seem like a regular family on an outing together until the incursion occurs. Peter loves his family while Chloe reciprocates but is jealous when he goes off with other females. A HOST OF DRAGONS is a fine entry in a series starring a hero with a different ethics system.

Harriet Klausner