Book Review by Aarene Storms: Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire
by E.K. Johnston

​Listen!  For the Song of Owen has a second--and final--verse.

Owen Thorskard, Dragonslayer of Trondheim and his bard Siobhen barely survived the extermination of the dragon hatchery, and Siobhen's hands were severely damaged in the fire. She still hears music in the world around her, but she can no longer play most of her instruments, and she can't even write the music down anymore.

And yet, she and Owen have officially joined the Oil Watch.

Instead of being posted in a new and exotic locale, the team falls victim to political corruption and in-fighting, and are stationed in Alberta. However, it turns out that in Alberta there are dragons everywhere. Really nasty dragons.

A solid companion to The Story of Owen, this book does not stand alone easily. Romances are kindled, and some go a bit further than that, but all intimacy beyond flirtation is taken tactfully off-page. The dragon-killing action (and evisceration for disposal after) however, sweats, slashes, oozes, stinks and explodes right on the page. Especially in the final chapters...

Recommended for readers ages 14 and up.

I really wish somebody would produce an audiobook edition of this, it would be fabulous.

The events may not have happened; still, the story is true.  --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS