Dragon Hunter (Nazam Anhar, Scholastic)

Baran is used to hardship. There isn’t a day that goes by in his isolated mountain village in which he isn’t mocked for the disappearance of his father. His only escape is the kindness of the village elders and the stories they tell— stories of long-extinct dragons and the warriors who once hunted them. When the dragons reappear to terrorise the village, those warriors are their only hope. But when a dragon-hunter comes to their aid, he does so at a price— one boy from the village is to come with him and train as a warrior. To Baran, this offers an opportunity to leave his suffocating village and to become something other than an outcast—if he can be brave enough to face his fears. Nazam Anhar’s tale has all the elements of epic adventure: fearsome enemies, a wise mentor and a strong, courageous hero whose growth as a character weaves effortlessly into the fantasy elements. With thrilling and detailed action sequences and a well-crafted world, Dragon Hunter will appeal to fans of Emily Rodda and John Flanagan, and is perfectly suited for boys age 10-14.

Meg Whelan works at Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews