Dragon Queen

Jayel Gibson

AEdracmorae is a world torn asunder into seven different kingdoms now separate from each other. Yávië, Nall, and his siblings are Guardians of those worlds. Yávië, Nall, and Rydaen are bonded with dragonflytes. Sae�racl is the Captain of the Guard and a warrior unbeaten. Naerac is a sorceress. Yávië is the future Dragon Queen - if she can claim the throne.

Over the thousands of years the Guardians watch over the seven kingdoms of AEdracmorae under the watch of the Ancients. They fight evil wherever they encounter it. At times one or another Guardian is captured or retreats, but eventually another comes to pull the missing or sorrowing one back to their purpose. As Yávië grows stronger, she encounters more obstacles.

One of those obstacles is her sister Alaecria who is determined to claim the throne and the heart - or enslavement - of racl. Some of the dragonflytes wish for a twisted future where mankind cannot exist to claim any of the seven kingdoms or for those lands to be reunited into AEdracmorae. Perhaps the biggest obstacle Yávië faces is her own father, Alandon.

Dragon Queen promises epic young adult fantasy. Jayel Gibson has some excellent storylines in this novel. Unfortunately, there is no depth. Problems encountered are quickly resolved. Gibson alludes to the difficulties of achieving the goal, but glosses over them. Momentous occasions come and go too quickly without enough description. This novel, split into three Books, should have more depth in it. The three books probably should each be their own novel with deeper inspection of the conflict and feelings of the characters.

Michele-Lee Phelan's artwork fits the story well. I would have liked to have seen some of the scenes depicted by her throughout the book. The pen and ink drawings include the fantasy that Gibson brings to this novel.

In Book Three Yávië is trying to bring AEdracmorae back together while fighting off her mad father and evil sister. This is the best drawn of the three books but still is flat. Gibson put too much into this novel - her hopes too lofty. The novel is over 550 pages but needs to be longer. Instead of overreaching, Gibson would have done better to just take the first of these Books and developed the story as it calls for. The promise of Dragon Queen is there: the delivery isn't.

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Publicist provided for review