A Darkening of Dragons (Songs of Magic #1)

Gr 4-7--Patrick presents an extended version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin tale in this British series import. This version takes place 10 years after the Piper of "Hamelyn" was imprisoned by eight members of the Pipers' Council for using his pipers' training to make both children and young dragons vanish, nearly causing a war with the Dragon Territories. The past seems to be repeating itself when Patch, a disgraced student of the piping school at Tiviscan Castle, is imprisoned for 510 years after using the same dance tune to earn food and shelter. Patch finds unlikely friends in Wren, a girl who has been cursed into a rat, and the dracogriff Barver, whose impressive battle techniques help them out of numerous scrapes. Patch and his friends uncover clues to Hamelyn's motivations that lead to further adventures. Except for gender and age, no characters are given physical descriptions, including skin tones. Patrick's story is told in third-person limited, usually from Patch's point of view, but occasionally from Wren's. Patch's escapades seem to telescope one out of another, introducing more places like an abbey and a witch's hut where Hamelyn's old adversaries now dwell, and the castle where Underath the sorcerer cursed Wren. Despite the ever-expanding Piper world, the story stays focused on Patch, Wren, and Barker. VERDICT An engaging fairy-tale adventure that would pair well with Jessica Khoury's "The Mystwick School of Musicraft" series. Suitable for most libraries.--Caitlin Augusta