The Dragon’s Egg (Relics of Mysticus- Book Three) by H.B. BoltonSure, the glass castle floating over Evan’s head makes him uneasy, but that’s the least of his worries. With each step inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, he must battle against his worst nightmares. One after the other, wispy smoke-filled bull sharks come at him — he must remember they’re only illusions pulled from his imagination by those dreaded shadowlike hands. If only the vengeful dragon circling above was also an illusion and didn’t have his mind set on destroying the one person who can control him: Emrys. Inside the castle’s glass tower, Emrys sleeps in an eternal slumber, and Evan’s uncertain whether he can save the great wizard. Especially now that Emrys’ former student, the Lady of the Lake, has joined forces with the cunning immortal Alamaz. Together they have already stolen the Dragon’s Egg, but their greed doesn’t end there. The Siren’s Pearl calls to them, and that means only one thing … Atlantis is in trouble. Join Evan, Claire, and Dunkle — along with a few other unlikely heroes — as they travel across the realm of Medieval Legends, float through the Ancient Isle of Avalon, plunge inside the Dungeon of Dreadful Dreams, and be there when Atlantis rises once again.
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I still really miss Lazonia from The Serpent's Ring, but that's it. Bolton please bring her back for me.
There was an amazing villain, amazing characters, an amazing story. Overall it was an AMAZING book. Too many amazings? Ah well, insert your appropriate synonym where needed.
"Doesn't this guy realize we're on an important quest?"
The Good
The characters were amazing, from the unicorn, to the faerie, to the wizard. They were all fantastic. The villain was really cool and he had an interesting background. The story was great too. Somehow nothing EVER seems to go right for Evan, and it's very entertaining. I loved the cliff-hanger ending. It makes me hungry for more.
The Bad
I still really miss Lazonia from The Serpent's Ring, but that's it. Bolton please bring her back for me.
Conclusion
There was an amazing villain, amazing characters, an amazing story. Overall it was an AMAZING book. Too many amazings? Ah well, insert your appropriate synonym where needed.
EXCERPT - Entering the Dudgeon of Dreadful Dreams
“Remember, this portal will lead us to the realm of Dreams … both cheerful and petrifying.” Dunkle edged closer to the well. His eyes squeezed shut, as he tumbled inside.
“Stay close.” Claire tightened her grip on her spear, and in a blink, she too jumped in.
“Why am I always last?” Evan said to himself, as he peered down the hole into complete darkness. “All right, what am I waiting for? They’re only dreams.”
With that, he sprang off the disc, tucking his legs into a cannonball position as if diving from a board. Splash down! Instantly, a tantalizing scent surrounded him: apple pie fresh from the oven. Evan searched through flashes of light and sprinkles of color. Something warm and gooey dripped onto his arm. He looked up. Hot fudge drizzled from nothingness, down into a vat of happily ever after. Evan moved his arms and legs, using strokes as if swimming through water … except, he wasn’t in water. Still, he followed the stream of fudge down toward an enormous sundae.
Before his eyes, a cherry burst from a pink cloud and landed right on top of a mountainous scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Evan squealed like a child and rushed toward the mountain of glee. A tink, plink sounded from above and pecan bits trickled down, sticking to globs of chocolaty bliss. He wrapped his arms around a gigantic marshmallow, but to his utter disappointment, they rolled right through. He reached for a chocolate chip, but the instant he grabbed hold, it vanished!
“No!” Evan screamed as the entire sundae faded away.
Just then, he heard a voice … a familiar voice.
“Evan, over here,” she said.
“Lazonia,” he called out. “Is that you?”
“Yessss,” she said in a hush as she swam from a sea-blue mist. “I’m here.”
“How’s this possible?” Evan scratched the side of his head as he studied her.
“Anything’s possible … in the realm of Dreams.” The mermaid flicked her lavender tail and floated around him. “Come with me.”
“But, you’re not really here. You’re in Asgard.”
A delicate smile rolled across her face as she swam through the sky. Her cheerful expression slowly melted as she dove behind a wisp of smoke.
“Save me!” she cried out.
Evan’s heart skipped a beat, as he tore past a school of fish and a playful dolphin, but the second he reached his friend, she changed … really changed. No longer was she the Lazonia he knew and cared for. A sinking feeling tugged at his heart as he inched his way closer.
“Lazonia, is that you?” he asked.
Just then, a frightening shriek erupted from the girl’s lips as sharp tipped nails grew from her slender fingers. Her fair complexion turned sickly-green and the whites of her eyes darkened to jaundice-yellow. No longer was she a lovable mermaid. Now, she took the form of a sea siren! A glistening light flashed from around her neck, and Evan looked closer. A pearl shimmered from a chain of golden seaweed.
“It’s too late to save the Siren’s Pearl … and soon it will release me,” she said through razor-sharp teeth, seething and snapping at him. Her mouth reared open and out poured a terrible screech. Suddenly, a smoke-filled bull shark tore through her cloud-like center and she evaporated right before his eyes.
“Ah!” Evan swung his arms, throwing punches at the shark, but then it too disappeared.
“Evan,” Claire called out to him, waving from the edge of a jagged cliff. “We’re over here!”
“Help me,” he hollered as a swarm of cloud-sharks thronged him. Somewhere, deep inside, he knew they weren’t real, but that didn’t stop his voice from trembling and hands from shaking.
“Your sword, use it,” she yelled while stuffing her spear into the belly of an enormous worm. The worm exploded into a million pieces and lay sizzling around her boots.
Evan’s sword hummed and quivered inside its sheath. He reached for its hilt, and with trembling fingers, he swung it aimlessly in front of him. His heart slammed against his chest as he haphazardly sliced through a shark’s fin, and just like the marshmallow, the entire shark simply disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“Remember, nothing here is real,” said Dunkle. “Clear your mind and release your fears.”
Evan swiped the back of his hand across his sweat laden forehead and raced towards his sister.
“Claire,” he shouted, “I knew you didn’t like worms, but you’re seriously afraid of them?”
“I can’t stand them.”
With his sword braced in front of him, he circled around Claire as he hunted nightmares. He searched, but nothing came at them. No swarming sharks. No bloodcurdling screams from mythical sea sirens. And not one single life threatening, Claire-eating worm floated by.
The Serpent's Ring (Relics of Mysticus- Book One)
Evan and Claire Jones are typical teenagers, forced to go with their parents to yet another boring museum … that is, until something extraordinary happens to make their day a little more than interesting. After following a strange little creature into a closed exhibit, Evan and his older sister, Claire, discover the Serpent’s Ring, one of the magical relics formed from the shattered Mysticus Orb. Purely by accident, they have awakened its powers and opened a portal to Sagaas, land of ancient gods.
Before the siblings can comprehend what has happened, the Serpent’s Ring is wrenched from Evan’s hand by an enormous fish and flown back to Aegir, the Norse god of the sea. Evan and Claire, accompanied by a band of unlikely heroes, must retrieve the Serpent’s Ring before Aegir uses its immense powers to flood all the lands on Earth.
The Trickster's Totem (Relics of Mysticus - Book Two)
Life has returned to normal for fourteen-year-old Evan and his older sister, Claire. That is until Dunkle, a clever but stinky little imp, pays an unexpected visit to their school. He has come to take the siblings back to Sagaas, the mythical realm of the gods. Once again, a Relic from the ancient Mysticus Orb has fallen into the wrong hands. Only Evan and Claire, with their unique mystical abilities, can help find it.
Through the power of the Trickster’s Totem, a coyote trickster has escaped. His laughter echoes throughout the realm, as he spreads mischief and mayhem. He burns an entire crop of popcorn, carves his grinning image into sacred artifacts, and things really get interesting when he shape-shifts into Evan’s friends.
Claire and Evan must capture the Trickster, retrieve the Totem, and be careful not to become sidetracked by robotic Steampunk animals, “sweet” pixie-like Pains, and a problematic mermaid … all while dodging Mothman-like aces. Most surprising, Evan discovers the true reason dragons exist in the Native American Spirit World.
About the Author:
A magical part of H.B. Bolton’s childhood was being swept into worlds of enchanting
characters, fantastical creatures and extraordinary powers—simply by picking up a book. As a mother and a teacher, she was compelled to create imaginary worlds of her own in order to share them, not just with her children, but with all children. H.B. Bolton lives in Florida with her supportive husband and two highly spirited children. Shh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young-adult fantasy story, she also writes spellbinding, heart pounding women’s fiction. These particular books are written under the name Barbara Brooke, but that’s another story, altogether.
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