Fledgewitch: A Dragons of Hallow Book by Lian Tanner

Title: Fledgewitch: A Dragons of Hallow Book

Author: Lian Tanner

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 3^rd April 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 352

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: There are no witches, no dragons and no secrets in Quill, so how can Brim be trapped in the School for Prevention of Witches with Rose, a royal dragon with an injured foot, and a large mystery to untangle? A delightfully pleasing whimsical fantasy adventure with more knots and snarls than a skein of wool, suitable for readers who love the books of Cressida Cowell or Katrina Nannestad. 

Here are the three Laws of Quill, carved in stone outside every town hall, and learnt by every schoolchild:
There shall be No Witches.
There shall be No Dragons.
There shall be NO SECRETS.

Ten-year-old Brim has been sent to the Quillian School for Prevention of Witches, but she’s sure it’s a mistake. It’s true that she has tiny feathers sprouting from her elbows, and that she’s the only person who remembers the odd-looking calf that has been following her. But she is most definitely Not a Witch.

Meanwhile, Queen Rose of Hallow has received reports of a secret weapon in the mountains of Quill, and goes to investigate. Alone. Luckily, she’s not just a twelve-year-old girl with red hair and a wilful nature. She is also a dragon.

Before long, Rose and Brim find themselves trapped in Quill, in the worst possible danger. Just a witch, a dragon and a LOT of secrets.

A bewitching tale of bravery, betrayal and one very forgettable horned glob, from the award-winning author of Rita’s Revenge and Spellhound.

~*~

Welcome back to Hallow, two years after the events of Spellhound. Queen Rose is now twelve, and ruling Hallow with the Regent, Uncle Edwin – our green jellybean loving dragon narrator is back to tell us ten-year-old Brimward’s story. Brim lives with her family in Quill, where there are no witches, no dragons, and no secrets – Count Zaccar and Countess Xantha have made sure of that! They’ve also come to take Brim to the School for the Prevention of Witches – she has feathers sprouting from her elbows, and is the only one who can remember Snort, the Horned Glob. But Brim has her knitting magic – and Rose is still searching for her parents. So how are these two stories related? Well, as Uncle Edwin would say, give me more green jelly babies and we’ll tell you more about this grand adventure of magic, witches, dragons and missing families.

Lian Tanner has delivered again! Her Dragons of Hallow stories are continued in Fledgewitch, alternating between Rose, Brim, and the narrator – Uncle Edwin – who is one of my favourite things about this series. In this book, there are two seemingly unrelated stories -Rose, searching for the secret weapon she has reports of, and Brim and Snort, who are trying to escape Zaccar and Xantha, to get back to their family (even if Snort is a very forgettable Horned Glob for many). Poor Snort. But at least he can use his forgettability to find out things that other people can’t. I have to say, I loved Snort – he was cute, funny, and such a great character who slotted in nicely, and his bravery in the face of things he was scared of, as he searched for a Home he knew but couldn’t find was endearing and charming. One thing you need to know about Horned Globs is that they have a terrible sense of direction, which I am sure some people can relate to.

Snort’s story is as important as Rose and Brim’s – and in this book, witches are feared. They’re evil – and Brim knows that what Zaccar and Xantha are up to is not quite right – and she’s the kind of character who finds ways to survive and make sure what they want to do doesn’t quite affect her, even if she’s not sure why at first (but you do find out soon enough, so don’t worry, Brim will be okay). Much like in the first book, we’re treated to a fest of clues and hints that come together when they need to, and characters who meet each other when they need to as well. Some of the things we know from the first book have already been turned on their head, so I went into this book knowing that what I was told on page one would not be the case when I got to the end. I loved discovering people’s secrets and ideas, were magic came to life in good and bad ways.

Kids will love Brim, Snort, and Rose – they’re fun, brave, anxious, clever, and creative kids who follow their dreams and noses to get back home and reconnect with the people they love. Fledgewitch is filled with life – the words, story, and characters dance off the page as they go on a fantastical adventure tinged with mystery, perfect for readers aged seven and older because it has something that readers of all ages can appreciate. I loved reading it, as it drew me in and I didn’t want to put it down, much like the first book, and I hope that kids will get this same thrill. I remember this thrill with books I read when I was younger, and Lian has captured this timeless feeling that I love discovering in whatever I read. It is what brings a book to life.

Filled with humour, and set in a fantasy world, but one that feels like ours – but with less technology – this series is one that I think will charm readers and be a series that will become a classic.