Dragon Outcast (Age of Fire Series #3) Book

"I'm sorry, hatchling. You are an outcast. You must learn to overcome on your own..."

Such was the welcome the young, nameless Copper dragon received upon breaking free of his shell. Crippled while battling his brother for dominance in the nest, he is all but ignored and discarded by his mother and father---the last of a dying breed. Forced to fend for himself, he learns the hard lessons of survival. When he’s captured by vengeful dwarves, he buys his own life with the lives of those who rejected him---and pays a price he never imagined.

Fleeing his guilt, the Copper finds himself far from all he knows. Rescued by unlikely, bloodthirsty saviors, he makes an extraordinary trek to the last bastion of free dragonkind. In this secret civilization, he finds a new family. They too are wary of the crippled, wild-bred dragon, but this time he's determined to prove himself equal to any enemy, on four legs or two, from the highest mountaintop to the deepest cave, as he pits...

KLIATT

AGERANGE: Ages 15 to adult.

The third book in the Age of Fire cycle concerns Copper, the dragon hatchling maimed and expelled from the nest at the beginning of Dragon Champion. The events from the first part of that book are played out from Copper s point of view, including his betrayal of his family to a dwarf raid. When the dwarves betray him in turn, Copper flees further into the subterranean world. Accompanied by a colony of bats, he makes his way to the Lavadome, where he is welcomed and adopted by the Tyr, the ruling dragon. Given the name of Rugaard, the Copper enters into a whole new life as a resident of the Lavadome and member of the Drakwatch. His new home is a place of political intrigue and power plays, but he does well for himself, gaining rank and respect. As in his previous books, Knight makes his characters unique and appealing. The reader can t help but admire the feisty Copper as he overcomes each trial. Knight incorporates humor into his story, such as the bats that follow the Copper everywhere, ingratiating themselves to him for a sip or two of drake blood. These bats would tug their forelocks, if they had them. Knight s talent for storytelling serves him well, engaging and engrossing the reader immediately. The Copper s trials seem almost unbearable, but his perseverance is remarkable, and the novel ends on a strong note. The book stands alone well enough, but the experience would be enhanced by having read the previous books. Point wannabe dragon riders in the direction of this series. Reviewer: Donna Scanlon
March 2008 (Vol. 42, No.2)