Nightborn

Gr 4–6—Placing your head in a dragon's mouth hardly seems the most sensible way to begin one's quest. And yet Karn, protagonist of Nightborn, does just that. Like Frostborn (Crown, 2014), this novel takes place on the continent of Katarnia but expands beyond the frozen landscape and also introduces a new character, Desstra. Desstra is a dark elf training to join an elite group called the Underhand. To do so, she must retrieve the horn of Osius, which controls the dragons. But our hero Karn must also find the horn if he wants to rescue his friend Thianna. Anders continues the world-building and character development begun in Frostborn and also further develops the friendship themes with the new characters—all without sacrificing pacing or making things too complicated. Anders includes instructions on how to play Charioteers, a game within the story, making this book ideal for teachers or librarians who may want to supplement the reading with extended activities. Maps and a "historical" time line are also included for the fantasy obsessives who want to further study this intricate world.