The Last Namsara

Gr 9 Up—Asha has grown up as the Iskari, the one known to bring death. She is the dragon slayer for the king, her father. To lure the dragons to her, she tells the forbidden old stories that the dragons can't ignore, although the tales are fatal. When tasked by the king to destroy the First Dragon, she agrees to do it because her reward will be not having to marry Jarek, the cruel leader of her father's army. Her task gets complicated when the Old One, a god, demands that she protect the dragons instead of killing them, and she follows his command. As she struggles to avoid marriage, obey the king, and not anger the Old One, secrets are unearthed that change her whole existence. She must decide who to trust and how to realize her true self. Ciccarelli brings to life a world filled with dragons and folklore. The plot blends perfectly with the use of old tales. This coming-of-age narrative shows the struggles of learning to trust one's own mind and heart.