The Dragon's Tooth (Ashtown Burials) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

When I was given The Dragon's Tooth, I was more than a little skeptical of it. It looked much more juvenile than I usually like, what with its explorer like society, the magic that it describes, and the age of the characters. That coupled with the cover made me think this was not going to be something that was going to be for me.

I was thoroughly surprised.

Wilson does a superb job creating intelligent interesting characters (especially the protagonist Cyrus), that I really felt acted in a much more realistic (and enjoyable) manner. Of course it wasn't just that Cy acts more grown up than you would expect for a middle grade reader, it's that Wilson obviously treated the reader's intelligence with respect when creating this character, in that he isn't dumbed down, which I find quite a lot of middle grade books do to their characters. Of course not all the characters are quite as interesting as Cyrus, I was a little disappointed with Maxi (a black and white villain), and some of the other supporting characters, but overall I was still impressed with the lineup.

As for the plot itself, that too surprised me. There was much more action than I was expecting, and while some of it seemed to jump about a bit, overall I was very impressed. Wilson also throws in some interesting twists with the Smiths background that I hadn't fully expected, but found quite enjoyable. Not only that but Wilson makes the smart move and doesn't expect the readers to believe the Smiths just learned everything in a short period of time. Yes, it is still fast, but I felt the way Wilson handled it was very apt.

All in all don't let this cover fool you. This is a great middle grade book that will entertain and captivate readers as they get to know the world of the Order and the Smiths. The protagonists are well written, the action fast paced, and the story interesting. Plus Wilson leaves some intriguing mysteries for the readers to wait on until the next installment of this interesting series, that I will certainly read.
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"Please declare aloud: I hereby undertake to tread the world, to garden the wild, and to saddle the seas, as did my brother Brendan. I will not turn away from shades in fear, nor avert my eyes from light. I shall do as my Keeper requires, and keep no secret from a Sage. May the stars guide me, and my strength preserve me. And I will not smoke in the library." - Oath of the Order of Brendan, translation approved, 1946.

Cyrus Lawrence Smith, a nearly too tall boy of almost thirteen, is absolutely, positively convinced that his life cannot get any worse. Two years ago - well, two years ago Cy's life was perfect. The Smith family - Cyrus, his sister Antigone, his older brother Daniel, and his wonderful, vibrant parents - all lived quite happily on the coast in northern California. That was before everything went horribly, tragically wrong. Cyrus's father died - drowned at sea - and his mother fell into a coma from which she may never awaken. Dan, who used to be laid-back and happily-go-lucky, has had to take on all of the stress and worry of keeping their dwindling family afloat and together. The house in California is long gone, sold to help pay the bills. For the past two years, the three remaining Smiths have lived in the decrepit Archer, a once grand example of the roadside motel slouching by the highway on the outskirts of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

So yeah, Cyrus's life has been pretty tough lately, but it was never out and out bizarre before the last 48 hours. It all started when Billy `Bones' Skelton, a walking definition of `crazy old man' as far as Cyrus can tell, called the Archer and demanded a specific room for the night. Any type of paying guest is strange enough, but no one has ever wanted to stay in one particular room. That phone call set off a chain of events that has seen Cyrus nearly electrocuted, the Archer burned down and Dan kidnapped by the insanely evil henchman of a malevolent criminal who sometimes calls himself Dr. Phoenix and sometimes, Mr. Ashes. Now Cyrus and Antigone have pledged themselves to the Order of Brendan, an obscure and ancient society of explorers who keep the world's secrets and beat back evil wherever they find it. The O of B is the Smiths' only hope of rescuing their brother, but it's obvious that not every member is ready to welcome Cyrus and Antigone into their ranks. They'll have to work very hard just to avoid being tossed out on their ears while they determine just what, exactly, is going on.

It's not easy to find an original work of fantasy that successfully combines the world we know with the world of myth and legend. Mr. Wilson has done that with The Dragon's Tooth and he's done so in a particularly vivid and inventive way. The Ashtown Estate of the Order of Brendan is as much a character in this novel as any of the people Cyrus and Antigone meet and Mr. Wilson gives this institution a personality that is both grand and forbidding. The myth-building is perfectly executed here. The reader learns things about the O of B along with Cyrus and Antigone and, also along with them, finds confusion turning to wonder and fear morphing into a determination to set things right.

All of the characters are multi-faceted and interesting but it is Cyrus Smith, along with his sister, that makes The Dragon's Tooth work on every level. He ties the fantastical to the real and gives the reader a stake in the outcome of Dan's kidnapping. The story is full of action and conflict, heroes, villains and those that are a little bit of both, and it is up to Cyrus and Antigone to figure out who will help them and who is working to see them fail. The Dragon's Tooth is the first book in the new Ashtown Burials series but, unlike so many other series starters, it is also a fully realized, richly entertaining novel on its own. Fantasy fans are sure to love it and those who haven't liked the genre before may find themselves pulled into Cyrus's story.

As a final note, I ought to add that the Advanced Readers' Copy I had said this book was designated for readers 8-12. I'm sure there are 8-year-olds out there who can handle the danger and violence of the story, but parents should be aware that The Dragon's Tooth may be a bit intense for younger readers.

I fell hard for N.D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards trilogy a year or so ago, and then I read Leepike Ridge, which was possibly even better. So I was eager to get my hands on the first book in his new series.

If Rick Riordan's series were as dark as the later Harry Potter books, they might be something like N.D. Wilson's books, especially this series launch. In other words, boys who are into action movies and video games will like this stuff. However, the books aren't just for reluctant readers: they're for any major fantasy fan, and probably for you dystopian fans, too. The Dragon's Tooth is Harry Potter meets film noir--a little edgy, kind of gritty. And fast paced, too!

Cyrus Smith and his older sister and brother live in a run-down motel called the Archer because of the sign out front showing a lady with a bow and arrow. The sign used to be lit up, and the motel used to have guests. Now, as Wilson puts it, "To a traveler's eyes, the motel is dead and useless, a roadside tragedy, like the remains of some unfortunate animal in a ditch--glimpsed, mourned, and forgotten before the next bend in the road. But to the lean boy with the dark skin and the black hair struggling in the thick brush behind the pool, the motel is alive, and it is home."

Soon Cyrus has an encounter with a strange old man named Billy Skelton who lights up the long-dark archer, nearly zapping the boy as he apparently calls down lightning. The one-and-only guest in the hotel, Mrs. Eldredge, pitches a fit when the Smiths let the old man stay--and Skelton insists on staying in Cyrus's very own room. After the visitor passes along a couple of his secrets to Cyrus and his sister Antigone everything really goes haywire, leaving Skelton dead and an uber-creepy guy named Maxi determined to take the treasure that was left in Cyrus's keeping.

Cyrus and Antigone must go on the run. Following a car chase in a limo, bullets flying, they end up at Hogwarts.

Just kidding: the place they land is called Ashtown. It's a training academy and headquarters for a group of mysterious guardians, but most of them are decidedly unfriendly to the Smith siblings. And you won't believe where these two kids are expected to sleep! Now they must outwit their enemies at Ashtown, and Maxi is still after Cyrus and the secret he carries....

You can practically feel the spider venom in this new series starter from N.D. Wilson!

Note for Worried Parents: The Dragon's Tooth has a fairly high level of violence and suspense. I recommend it for kids (especially boys) 10 and up, or younger kids who are comfortable with teen-level video and movie violence.