Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 2, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400073391
ASIN: B0044KN2Y8
In the first book of the Chiril Chronicles, it's another time and another place, a country called Chiril that has no knowledge of Wulder. There we meet Tipper, a young emerlindian girl who is just trying to make ends meet. Because her father vanished a long time ago, she has to get by by selling things from her large home. Her life is disrupted when a artist named Beaulomondore shows up wanting to meet her father and study under him. After deceiving him, she discovers her father one night, but he vanishes as soon as he appears. Eventually she discovers he is stuck between a gateway and the only way to restore him is to retrieve three statues she sold a long time ago that contain a healing power. With the the help of her father's foreign, new friends, (familiar to us) Wizard Fenworth and Librettowitt, along with Beaulomondore and Becaroon (her guardian), they set out to find them before her father vanishes forever.
Tipper, our young heroine, is easily a character you feel sympathy for consider her troubled life since her father disappeared. She is skeptical about his finding Wulder and she avoids discussions of him.
Beaulomondore, a tumanhofter artist who is rather an oddball considering the rest of his race, is a reluctant traveler. Much like Kale, he knows the dangers ahead and doesn't have much faith in himself. Because of his realistic attitude, he is my favorite character. :)
Becaroon, a large talking bird that watches over Tipper, is stern and befuddled by the foreigners that Verrin Schope has befriended. He is very loyal to Tipper and would do anything for her.
Prince Jayrus, a dragonkeeper, is handsome,smart, and athletic. And right off the bat we know he is Tipper's romantic interest, considering their love-hate relationship. Because of his reclusive lifestyle, I found his character unreal. He has never met anyone and yet has good manners and charms everyone he meets. He has no flaws that I know of (except being stubborn for two seconds in the beginning).
Lady Peg, Tippers mother, doesn't fully have control of her senses. She tends to babble on about the oddest things.
Verrin Schope, Tipper's father has found Wulder and tends to share it with all of Chiril. But first he has to share it with his family.
I found the return of Fenworth and Librettowitt comforting. They add their usual funny conversations and their interesting spells. Mrs. Paul keeps her usual fast paced writing, as the group encounters many problems along the way, from convincing a stubborn prince to let them ride his dragons to sneaking into a mansion and rescuing a kidnapped Verrin Schope.
The only dark cloud over the book are certain aspects of Tipper's character and most aspects of Prince Jayrus. We know why Tipper has a crush on Jayrus, he's perfect. We know why Jayrus likes Tipper, she's pretty. Their shallow relationship is such a sharp contrast to how Bardon and Kale fell in love it's hard to believe its written by the same author. Also, Mrs. Paul makes too many references to how beautiful Tipper is, it comes off as overbearing.
For a first book in the series, Mrs. Paul shows her usual skill for an original story full of action. I give it three stars, because I have to dock one for the badly designed relationship between our heroine and Jayrus, and basically Jayrus's character in general.
If you want to learn more about the books by Donita. K. Paul, check out her homepage.
You can buy the book at Amazon.com
Up next, I'll review "Dragons of the Valley" By Donita K. Paul, book two in the Chiril Chronicles.
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