Legends of the Sky

Gr 3-7–Dragons, tested friendships, and secret bloodlines abound in this coming-of-age story sure to please middle grade fantasy enthusiasts. On the island of Arcosi, where dragons once thrived, an increasingly despotic duke is obsessed with having a dragon of his own. When oprhaned servant girl Milla witnesses a murder on the estate of her wealthy merchant master, she feels an immediate need to shelter the four dragon eggs that the stranger died to protect. With the help of the merchant’s twins and the duke’s son, Milla fights to keep the eggs safe as her island devolves into civil war between two rival factions. Milla must choose who to trust and risk everything to save the people she loves. This is a fast-paced and action-heavy story that tackles weighty issues like class warfare through simple, easy-to-read prose. Battle scenes do not contain gory descriptions, but Flanagan does not shy away from depicting her heroic characters murdering those who obstruct justice. A closing scene with a few loose ends hints at a sequel featuring Milla and her friends, both dragon and human alike.