Having previously read the first two books in the “Blood History” series, I was eager to see how Corbin and Blood were going to get through their most challenging enemy of all… the legal system! Blood is the target, and there’s never been a dragon on trial before. Of course, he’s been wrongfully accused, but how are they going to convince anyone that a hellfire-breathing red dragon is innocent?

Preparing for Blood’s trial ends up being almost an undercurrent for most of the story, as all sorts of challenges and side stories start popping up like mushrooms. When the time comes though, the trial is well worth the lead-up, and I eagerly read the rest of the book in one sitting.

Like many fantasy novels, this is a big book. Unlike many fantasy novels, it’s a smooth, fast-paced read, thanks to the author’s choice of letting his characters speak in an easy-going, almost modern style, and including a good sprinkling of sarcasm. The narrative is clear and moves at a good pace.

I don’t usually write plot summaries in my reviews, and this is no exception. It’d be difficult to summarize this book anyway, as there’s a lot going on, and more than one storyline plays out. I will mention that my favorite chapters were those that told the story of a woman named Amber who finds herself being tutored by a mysterious old man who could give Master Po a run for his money in the 1972 television series Kung Fu.

This is the third installation in the “Blood History” series. You aren’t going to be handed a quick recap of the action from the first two books. You really do need to read A Dragon Called Blood and Kinship of a Dragon. I promise this won’t be a hardship, as both previous books are also written in Shell’s tight, snappy, sometimes sarcastic style, with solid plotlines.

Buy the series at Amazon.