Searching For Dragons

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons [BOX SET] by Patricia C Wrede

Publisher: Magic Carpet Books (July 1, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0152050523

Product Description
Collected together for the first time are Patricia C. Wrede's hilarious adventure stories about Cimorene, the princess who refuses to be proper. Every one of Cimorene's adventures is included in its paperback edition--Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons.

 

In Reality (that's a strange word for me.. did I spell it correctly? heh) I have a hardback version of all 4 of these books, which I can no longer find for sale to give anyone a link to ..therefore I am linking to a boxed paperback version, and will review each one separately.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-- First the good news. The fun continues. The bad news? It continues without the fierce benign presence of Kazul, King of the Dragons, for at least 90 percent of the book. The no-nonsense sisterhood of the Princess Cimorene and her unwilling captor, Kazul, was one of the delights of Dealing with Dragons (HBJ, 1990). In compensation, however, readers are introduced to Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest. Very much still a callow youth, he imposes his preference for the simple, active life on his new role as king, disappointing his steward, the elf Willin, who has anticipated a resumption of pomp and formality. The discovery of a patch in the Enchanted Forest laid waste by wizards starts him on a quest that soon leads him to Cimorene. The two join forces to find the missing Kazul, and begin a series of misadventures that include riding a defective magic carpet decorated with pink bears, melting several wizards with Cimorene's infallible formula of soapy water and lemon juice, and advising a giant who is bored with pillaging to go into the consulting business. Wrede's tongue-in-cheek humor balances well with sweet adolescent discovery, and the result is another winning chapter in a delightful tale.

Book 2: Searching for Dragons by Patricia C Wrede,  151 pgs.

At first I was concerned when I began book 2.  I didn't hear the names I thought the whole book was about, which are the Princess Cimorene and her dragon Kazul.  Instead I found myself reading about the king of the Enchanted  Forest, Mendanbar.

But I quickly liked Mendanbar and his kingdom of the Enchanted Forest.  As the story went along we again meet the Witch Morzen and the evil wizard Zemenar. And, as it should be, I like Morzen and dislike Zenenar!

Along the way we meet a giant named Dobbilan... who.. well.. sounds vaguely familiar.  This may give you a hint:

(Dobbilan) "Beggers and thieves if you ask me, and boring at that."

"What makes you say that?" Mandanbar asked curiously.

"They always do the same thing...come in, ask for a meal, hide, and then run off with a harp or a bag full of money the minute I fall asleep." Dobbilan said. "And they're always named Jack.  ALWAYS.  We've lived in the castle for 20 years, and every 3 months, regular as clockwork, one of these boys shows up, and there's never been a Tom, Dick or Harry among 'em.  Just Jacks. The English have no imaginations."  (sorry Cath but it is funny lol)

So, some of the characters, that remain "background characters" do begin to sound familiar.  But they are not the "main characters", which made book two quite enjoyable.

I could go on but I don't want to just repeat what Amazon says about the book.. all in all I really enjoyed both books one and two. 

Two down...

Two to go!

And I have to give mention, once again, to the artwork on this cover which is by the artist Gary A Lippincott.  I just love his work!!