Before there were dragons, there were dinosaurs...
Imagine a world in which the dinosaurs weren't killed by a meteor hitting the earth. A world in which dinosaurs have learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.
Eleri is an oryctodromeus, a small dinosaur raised in an underground warren. He dreams of becoming his herd's storyteller but when he saves an enemy soldier from a pterosaur attack, he is exiled to the Deadlands. To survive this scorched desert full of carnivores, he joins a herd of other young exiles, including a peppy stegosaur, a stoic sauropod, an irritable triceratops ... and a mysterious spy. Can five young misfits save their warring kingdoms?
Includes bonus content: a map and extra dinosaur facts.
Perfect for fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, How to Train Your Dragon and Percy Jackson.
What a fantastic idea! This is based around the idea that, when the dinosaur-killing meteor fell, it uplifted some species. They have now formed tribes and cultures - and when their laws are broken, they use exile as punishment. That's where our heroes come in, all exiled for reasons beyond their control, and accidentally starting to realise there's a conspiracy threatening all their tribes.
There's a great mix of characters, all of whom have something to contribute to the story. I love all of them, but I feel like Lerithon must have been the most fun to write. Sorielle is wonderful as well, but they're all brilliant.
This is the first in a series, but the ending isn't a cliffhanger exactly - there are story threads waiting to be picked up, but no one is in terrible danger right at that exact moment (oh, spoiler! Sorry) Kids will still be impatient for the next part, but the wait won't be too awful. I love the dinosaur illustrations and facts at the back, too - they remind me of the old Top Trumps cards! (Are those still around? Have I dated myself? At least I didn't mention FunFax...)
A great start to what's going to be a very popular new series.
The Deadlands: Hunted published on the 4th of April, 2023 in the US (top image) and publishes on the 5th of May, 2023 in the UK (lower image). I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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