Dragon's Breath

Dragon's Breath is E.D. Baker's second book in the Frog Princess Series. I was able to obtain a copy of this book through our local library regional system.

Emma and Eadric have still not completely overcome their issue with the frog spell as they discover when Emma sneezes and they return to their frog status. Another sneeze returns them to human form, and they understand the enchantment is not over. Eventually, Emma determines that the ability to change is not always a bad thing.

Romance continues for Eadric and Emma as well as Grassina and Hayward, her otter enchanted fiancé. The author has done a good job presenting a strong feminine character in Emma. The author avoided a cliché happy ever after ending for Emma and Eadric. Emma is not ready for marriage. She has chosen to study magic while she matures. It is not that she does not love Eadric, she just wants the time to finish her education. I thought that was a great message.

What bothered me is the author does not seem to realize that you can make assertive female characters without making wimpy male characters. Many authors have managed to create young adult male and female characters that are strong and comfortable with their strengths and weaknesses existing in the same novel. Eadric could be a strong male role without diminishing Emma's independence and emerging confidence in her abilities.

Emma and Grassina learn of an curse that plagues their family. As Emma and Grassina work to return Hayward back to his human form, they realize the real treachery of Emma's grandmother.

I have Once Upon a Curse on reserve at the library. While I am not happy with Eadric's role, I have enjoyed watching the plot emerge. I will give it at least one more book to see if Eadric’s character improves.

Fablehaven

Fablehaven is the first book in a fantasy series written by Brandon Mull.

Fablehaven shares traditional fantasy series elements and creates new twists to entertain readers. Kendra and Seth provide the traditional brother and sister who arrive in a magical family situation and learn of a connection to magic that they were previously unaware of prior to their visit. This premise is not new to fantasy. Kendra and Seth are sent to visit their grandparents at Fablehaven, a sanctuary for magical creatures. Grandmother is strangely not present and grandfather has a list of rules that the children must follow.

As is usual in most fantasy novels the children are not able to follow the rules leading to magical chaos. The children unleash forces and discover Grandma's fate. The forces they unleash kidnap Grandpa and force the children to manage circumstances they could never have imagined.

While many people compare this series to Harry Potter, I do not. I see this more as a transitional series to the more complicated adult fantasy series. While Harry Potter pulled adults into reading children's literature, this series seems more designed to prepare young adult readers to become audiences for adult fantasy series. As I have been reserving the other books in the series, this opinion has become stronger. The themes and plots seem to be moving more towards adult fantasy series traditions and less towards children's fantasy novels. It is a great marketing strategy to attract new readers to a genre.

I checked this book out from the library at the suggestion of a younger relative who is eagerly waiting to get a copy of the second book. I have the second book from the library to read so we should be able to discuss the series this summer.

Free Fablehaven Resources:

Online Quiz

Teacher's Guide from Brandon Mull

Writing questions answered by Brandon Mull