This book starts out very simply, where the hero believes he is facing one task, but it soon mushrooms into something much larger and darker than he anticipated. The author does an excellent job creating and describing this fantasy world. I love it when authors can make a mythic world come to life as she did. This book follows the path of the classic hero’s journey, and I loved the allies our hero picked up along the way, including a romantic interest! The book had a few surprising twists and turns, which I always love to see in fiction. I’m a voracious reader, so I like it when an author takes me down a path I was not expecting. I particularly like the bit about Ziggy and Spider, as well as the surprise about the villain at the end. Everything goes much deeper and broader than Pieter and his tiny band of allies could imagine. This world is magical. Actually, it has different types, and I was fascinated by the type that Pieter learned about early in the story based on powerful emotions. What a great concept! The ending brilliantly set up the next book in the story, and I can’t wait to start listening to it. The narrator did a fantastic job of giving distinct voices to each of the characters. I loved how characters from a particular region have Scottish accents! The dragon characters were as well done as the human ones. I particularly liked Pieter’s dragon Gloriox, who certainly comes across as a wise old soul with much affection and compassion for his young human rider.