A Darkening of Dragons

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Paperback
$9.99 US
| $13.99 CAN
On sale Mar 14, 2023 | 400 Pages | 9781682635216
Age 8-12 years | Grades 3-7
Embark on an epic, dragon-filled adventure where music has the power of enchantment in Book One of the Songs of Magic trilogy.

Thirteen-year-old piper, Patch Brightwater, is a boy in disgrace. Thrown in jail for playing a forbidden spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth—the evil Piper responsible for the disappearance of human and dragon children is on the loose!

With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch must stop the Piper of Hamelyn from plunging the human and dragon worlds into utter war and chaos.

S. A. Patrick's debut children's novel is a brilliant retelling of one of the darkest legends of all time, "The Piper of Hamelyn." Combining folklore with the very best of modern storytelling, A Darkening of Dragons will delight young fans of fantasy who are hungry for sprawling perilous quests, friendships forged on the road, and inventive magic systems to thrill the imagination.
"Patch’s rich fantasy world is steeped in whimsy and magic. . . . the novel maintains a swift pace for its entirety, filled with surprises and the introduction of new people that pique continual interest."—Foreword Reviews


"Patrick's clever, compelling story is set apart by the incredibly rich history and mythology of its world. It is by turns dark and funny, and the interspecies friendships ring warm and true."—Booklist

"Filled with adventure, magic, and humor, this multilayered story makes for a rich read. The promise of a sequel will satisfy those who are left wanting more by the sudden ending."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"An engaging fairy-tale adventure. . . ."—School Library Journal
Seth Alan Patrick was born in Belfast. When he was a child, he wanted to write video games, become an author, and have magical powers. The first two came true. If he ever does get magical powers, he hopes people like dragons and griffins because there'll suddenly be a lot of them around. A Darkening of Dragons is his first book for children.

About

Embark on an epic, dragon-filled adventure where music has the power of enchantment in Book One of the Songs of Magic trilogy.

Thirteen-year-old piper, Patch Brightwater, is a boy in disgrace. Thrown in jail for playing a forbidden spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth—the evil Piper responsible for the disappearance of human and dragon children is on the loose!

With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch must stop the Piper of Hamelyn from plunging the human and dragon worlds into utter war and chaos.

S. A. Patrick's debut children's novel is a brilliant retelling of one of the darkest legends of all time, "The Piper of Hamelyn." Combining folklore with the very best of modern storytelling, A Darkening of Dragons will delight young fans of fantasy who are hungry for sprawling perilous quests, friendships forged on the road, and inventive magic systems to thrill the imagination.

Reviews

"Patch’s rich fantasy world is steeped in whimsy and magic. . . . the novel maintains a swift pace for its entirety, filled with surprises and the introduction of new people that pique continual interest."—Foreword Reviews


"Patrick's clever, compelling story is set apart by the incredibly rich history and mythology of its world. It is by turns dark and funny, and the interspecies friendships ring warm and true."—Booklist

"Filled with adventure, magic, and humor, this multilayered story makes for a rich read. The promise of a sequel will satisfy those who are left wanting more by the sudden ending."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"An engaging fairy-tale adventure. . . ."—School Library Journal

Author

Seth Alan Patrick was born in Belfast. When he was a child, he wanted to write video games, become an author, and have magical powers. The first two came true. If he ever does get magical powers, he hopes people like dragons and griffins because there'll suddenly be a lot of them around. A Darkening of Dragons is his first book for children.