The Dragon's Apprentice

Sadly, I am giving up on this series. I think that James Owen has drifted away from what made his books so good, weaving fantasy with fairy tales, the classic theme of good versus evil, and a focus on a small group of caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. The books have drifted into a dizzying, senseless series of time travel escapades, with a veritable "Who's Who" list of famous characters from history from magic to invention to explorers to writers. Too many characters to keep track of and impossible to figure out who is good and bad anymore.

Another adventure for the Caretakers. This time the Summer Country has become disconnected from the Archipelago and there is a rift in time. Their time travelling watches and the Trump Cards are no longer working and they must do what they can to save both worlds and create a new zero point. The Dragons are gone, but they are tasked with finding their last remaining apprentice who is still somewhere in the world. A band of select representatives of the Caretakers and the new faction must once again set forth and fight the new enemy.

Finally a new enemy! This book is mostly filler and annoyingly doesn't tell you if the final sacrifice worked or not after the fire. It sets things up for the next book (any word on when this will be out show more yet?), but I did enjoy this significantly more than the previous instalment. It seemed like James A Owen has a new direction and although it was still a bit overcomplicated, it has renewed my faith in the series. I only hope the next one keeps the same momentum. show less

This story is so complex and has so many characters, off-shoots, timelines, and intrigues I sometimes feel I need to start a notebook to keep up with it all - but somehow it all fits in. This was a very satisfying read however it is more of a bridge between stories than a complete story itself, but I appreciate the fact that James Owen takes time to spin his threads carefully and maintain character growth throughout. There is a full book of adventure here with a larger promise of more to come. Made even better after the rather less than perfect preceding novel. I will keep recommending this story to everyone that I can.

New villains, old foes, pirate map makers, tea with the moon, and Ben Franklin meeting talking animals...and thats just the tip of this literary ice berg. This novel is definitely a major plot turn for this series. P.S. Loved the epilogue.

What do you do when the dragons have gone, and you need them? When the evil you thought defeated has risen more terrible than before? When the world you have sworn yourself to protect, and the world you have left behind, face a terrible danger? Charles, John, and Jack, the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica, have finally made it back to the Archipelago of Dreams, but the world they have come to love is in desperate danger, and Time itself is fracturing.

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