If you read my previous review of Dealing with Dragons, you’ll know I’ve loved this series for a long time, and recently stumbled across a compilation volume at a used bookstore. So of course I dropped everything to read these books again.
Searching for Dragons is the second book in the Enchanted Chronicles series. It’s set about a year after the end of Dealing with Dragons.
{SPOILERS FOR DEALING WITH DRAGONS AHEAD}
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This book is narrated by Mendenbar, the king of the Enchanted Forest. Someone is trying to start trouble between the Forest and the Dragons. Thankfully, before things can get out of hand, Mendenbar runs into Morwen the witch, who tells him to go talk to Kazul directly. Instead, Mendenbar encounters Cimerone, who is about to embark on journey to hunt down a missing Kazul. Of course Mendenbar ends up coming along. There are hijinks, wizards, giants, a broken flying carpet embroidered with neon pink teddy bears, and the introduction of Telemaine, who becomes one of our regulars.
(Sidenote- these books are obviously for younger teens/kids, and Telemaine is supposed to speak in academic jargon that is basically incomprehensible to an average Joe. When I first read these as a child that was very true. But after grad school? He doesn’t seem that bad. Stupid higher education has broken my brain).
Everything you love about Wrede books is here. Dry, meta humor, heroes who use common sense above all else, very sarcastic cats, and a good wizard melting or five. The next book in the series is through Morwen’s eyes and my favorite in the entire bunch (you finally get to hear what her cats are saying).
But I also love the insight you get into the magic Mendenbar uses. He’s basically linked to the entire Enchanted Forest as king, and the magic lays out for him as this grid of strings overlaying everything. He grabs them and twists or loops as needed to cast a spell. I still think it’s a very unique and visceral description of the use of magic.
