Dragon's Pawn [Paperback]

Carol L. Dennis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1999

"Balance good with evil's stain, Lest dark wizard's powers reign. Every hap shall come aright, When Dragon's Pawn is Keeper's Knight. Let in tiny sparks of day, Free those who are wizard's prey, Web of universe shine bright, Turn the Darkness into Light."

Jarl had gotten his riddle from a kindly, grandmotherly sort of which. But friendly or not, she'd told him pretty firmly he had to solve it if he was to become a hero who could fight off evil and find his way home to earth. She didn't warn him, however, that this very riddle would also lead him into the most bizzare adventures imaginable - and that he would soon find himself contending with ogres, bandits, talking trees, and the dark minions of the Shadowlord himself... DRAGON'S PAWN

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carol L. Dennis has a broad and successful record of teaching both Spanish and English. Her strong background in teaching writing and journalism gives her well-rounded educational and practical experience.

Her education:
University of Toledo (B. Ed.)
University of Houston in Clear Lake (M.S.)

Teaching:
Texas Certified Reading Specialist
Public School English Teacher in Michigan and Texas for 25 years
Teaching Supervisor of student teachers

Instructor:
Rice University Summer Program
University of Houston at Clear Lake
Creative Writing at San Jacinto College
Creative Writing at Angelina College in the Community Services Program

Some of the positions she has held:
Supervisor of student teachers for the University of Houston At Clear Lake
Fiction judge for the Bay Area Writer's League (4 years)
Conference Speaker for the Bay Area Writer's League and Woodlands Writer's Guild

Presenter for the:
Bay Area Writer's League
Fort Bend Writer's Guild
Livingston Writer's Club
Houston Writer's League
International Reading Association
Houston METRO Program

Professional Memberships:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Austin Writer's League

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Pale Horse Publishingadel (December 31, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0964022729
• ISBN-13: 978-0964022720
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fast, Fun Fantasy Read!, November 4, 2002

By 

Silmarwen (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dragon's Pawn (Paperback)

Dragon's Pawn is a quick, fun read for those looking for a fantasy book that is a little lighter than most that are out there. The hero is Jarl, a computer programmer from modern-day earth who is recruited to become the hero of Realm, the alternate world where all the fairies, leprechauns, etc. escaped to when man chose science over magic. Jarl is appointed Dragon's Pawn and given an amulet that he cannot remove. As he does good deeds, the dragon's scales on the amulet turn to gold. So Jarl sets out across the country killing ogres, fighting dragons, freeing princesses from binding spells and the usual sort of heroic stuff. He finally makes his way to the Keepers who guard the Gate between worlds and discovers that the evil wizard is trying to build another gate, which would enable him to bring in evil creatures from every universe/reality. But does Jarl have enough power in his amulet to stop the wizard from taking over Realm?

I really enjoyed Carol Dennis' characters. They are easy to get to know and aren't really deep, but they were fun and they all have their own little quirks: Jarl has some hesitations about believing in magic when he first arrives, but quickly discovers that magic is real if you believe in it...;Mirza is everything Jarl ever wanted in a woman, but she is hard to keep track of as she can choose to be any shape she wishes; Fafnoddle is a pacifist, vegetarian dragon who would much rather develop new plants such as his steak-tasting fruit than fight; Ebony is the evil-wizard's dragon whom Faf falls in love with; Rory is a leprechaun who gets dragged into being the Keepers' contact with Jarl; then there are the dryads, the death-that-comes-from-the-sky creatures, laser-shooting robotic warriors, old librarians, other pawns, and many, many more.

The world is basically earth if magic still existed and is very easy to imagine. The plot is quick and easy to understand, as well. This book would probably be better appreciated by teenage readers and/or first-time fantasy readers, but if you read a lot of fantasy (as I do), you know that it is sometimes good to get a break and read something that doesn't take a lot of thought, but is still quite well written - if you fall into this category, check out this book. I look forward to reading the next couple of books in the series and seeing what happens to Jarl and his companions!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Best suited for pre teens, November 12, 2001

By 

Catherine L. Fick "da fickster" (Haverstraw, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon's Pawn (Paperback)

This is the first of a trilogy, and although the title may intrigue adults, the language, storyline and characters are best suited for much younger readers. There are no real challenges for the hero, Jarl, who just seems to be incredibly lucky in that every situation resolves itself with very little trouble. The tone is light enough for pre teens to enjoy, and the presence of the dragons as major characters will keep them entertained through the following two books. Adults will find it a rather simple and boring story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lighthearted fun read with a sense of humor!, September 19, 2005

By 

Jaymie Larkey "eclectic reader" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon's Pawn (Paperback)

I was immediately charmed by the quick humor and light playful tone of this story (1st of 3 in the series...Dragon's Knight and Dragon's Queen completes the trilogy). Book description pretty well sums up the storyline, but I thought I'd mention what an enjoyable break I found this series to be from most other fantasy on the market today, which tends to be serious and dark. Dennis combines a rich cast of characters with a classic fairy tale feel and conclusion that leaves you with a smile.

A quick and easy read, I found this book hard to put down. Reminds me a little of the Xanth series.

Also check out her new series set on planet Wald, starting with the book "Guardian's Gambit." You won't be disappionted!