Customer Reviews

Secret of the Dragon's Eye: Book One

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What happens when a writer combines three children, Excalibur and meticulous research? A page-turner.

I was totally absorbed by the information about village life for British children in WWII England before the US joined the fight. Talk about tough - bacon grease on bread for dinner. But Gavin, Emily and Bunty have more to worry about than empty stomachs. The threat of a Nazi invasion is very real. So is Thaddeus Osbert, a sugar-loving, fire-breathing dragon.

It's hard for us, who have so much, to imagine the hard times these children experienced. Hart takes us there but, instead of the heavy hand that some writers would bring to the subject, Hart keeps it light.

I had fun with this book. The history is fascinating, the children are fun and the dragon is delightful.

Suppose you took Harry Potter and combined him with a history lesson.

Crazy, huh? Especially if you wanted to grab the attention of the junior high school crowd that this book targets. But Derek Hart pulls it off beautifully in his fantasy novel, combined with 1940s Britain, in "Secret of the Dragon's Eye: Book One".

I'm a WWII buff and thoroughly enjoyed Hart's depiction of the war and war time England. Adding a fantasy element to history is an effective and sneaky way to educate kids about history. Parents take note. Get this for your young adults. And as an educator, one of my life's many manifestations, teachers can use this book to teach how it was like to live in war time England to reticent students.

Hart provides and entertaining and - don't let the kids know - historical educational tale that offers a dragon, Sir Thaddeus Osbert, with a sweet tooth, children growing up in war-torn Britain and Nazis who are in search of Excalibur. Your think they would have quit after Indiana Jones denied them the Lost Ark. Anyway, in the process, the three children learn the meaning of friendship and the meaning of sacrifice.

I won't spoil that part for you but the children learn an important lesson from rescuing their fire-breathing friend from his pre-ordained fate.

Oh, and by the way. See that "Book One" in the title? Thaddeus the dragon will return in the next book to wreak havoc on those nasty Nazis. The Bismarck, the terror of the seas at the time, will be located - with the help of a wily dragon.

If Harry Potter was getting a real education, this would be it.

When I discovered Secret of the Dragon's Eye 1. is set in World War II Britain and 2. features one of my favourite mythical beasts, a dragon, my curiosity was raised and I couldn't wait to read the novel.
Mr. Hart has done his research well: in the first half of the book, life in wartime Britain is described with a lot of convincing detail and a little (British?) humour thrown in for good measure.
I couldn't wait to meet the dragon, and I wasn't disappointed: Sir Thaddeus Osbert is anything a dragon should be: he has charisma, wisdom, heart, and buckets full of dragon charm. He also has a weak spot (for sugar) which, like his fondness for humans has gotten him into trouble in the past.
It doesn't take long for Thaddeus' young friend Gavin to experience the horror and futility of war and revenge first-hand, and Gavin and his friends learn important lessons about love, courage and friendship as they are caught up in the battle for the legendary sword Excalibur, coveted by both the British wartime government and the Nazis. And just as they think all battles are done, Sir Thaddeus' past catches up with him.
An exciting children's / YA historical fantasy adventure that will also appeal to adults who are young of heart!

In the North Cornwall coastal town of Crackington Haven, twelve years old Gavin Kane enjoys his childhood playing make believe games with his best friend Emily Scott. However, Gavin knows his parents fear war is coming to England as the Nazis blitzkrieg their way across the continent. His dad knowing he will soon fight for his country shares time with his son; they read together a tale of about King Arthur and Thaddeus Osbert the dragon.

WW II hits home doubly so to Gavin as his father leaves to fight and he befriends a newcomer evacuee child Bunty who survived the Nazi bombing of Plymouth inside air raid shelters until he was transported to North Cornwall. The three children meet Thaddeus Osbert the dragon who begs them to provide him with sugar at a time rationing grips the country. When the Germans land a force near Crackington Haven seeking Excalibur, the three kids and their sweet-toothed dragon try to repel them and their flying ally.

SECRET OF THE DRAGON'S EYE is a superb WWII fantasy that hooks the audience in two ways. First the description early WWII England mostly through the eyes of Bunty makes for a vivid anchored historical. When Thaddeus enters their lives, the story line adds fantasy elements to it. Mindful of Naomi Novik's Temeraire saga, readers who appreciate something different in their war novels will enjoy fine historical fantasy.

Harriet Klausner