“As your father the king has been saying for years, sir, we must ‘be ready to defend and defend and defend, for the final war will come—someday.’”
Lander gazed back toward Grimble Island as their boat rowed for the opposite shore. “I think someday might be here.”
Prince Lander and the Dragon War by S. D. Smith is the tenth book in the Green Ember universe, but the third and final book in the Tales of Old Natalia spin-off series. It brings the conflict of the previous two books to a thrilling climax and plants seeds that we see grow in the main series.
Table of Contents
Plot
In the years since their fateful voyage in The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner, the rabbits have been in a constant state of war. Their cliff-side camp is fortified, ready for the final defense against the dragons and Grimble’s traitorous band. Years of raids and tensions have kept them from truly settling down in their new home.
But after a daring rescue led by Prince Lander, war is no longer far off. The final defense might happen any day. Whitson and the Lander also have to deal with escalating problems in the camp, as many doubt the aging king’s judgment is still sound. Before Lander can end a war, he must first end the battles within their ranks.
The enemy outside their walls is fearsome, with killing a single dragon being more than enough of a challenge. Yet the dragon’s mount holds more than just one; hundreds of them reside in and around it, itching for a fight. It will take more than just swords and arrows to overcome these monsters.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a Green Ember book, and Prince Lander and the Dragon War reminded me why I like the series. The pacing is on-point, with heartfelt character scenes offset by epic battles. And the battles are quite well-written and immersive.
I did feel that some story elements, two, in particular, were not used as much as they could have been. These conflicts might have become intriguing plot points, but were instead brushed over after a quick resolution. They didn’t feel unsatisfying, per se, but they could have been more.
Characters
This book occurs years after the previous one, but it’s not stated exactly how many. All of the characters we’ve come to know have grown up, some exiting the prime of life, such as Whitson Mariner, and some just entering it, such as Lander. We also see Massie, Fleck Blackstar, and a host of other side characters from the previous books. It creates a strange sort of nostalgia, seeing all these characters I’ve come to know grow old.
Some new characters also come in, like Lander’s younger brothers, Lemuel and Grant. I can’t recall whether either of them were in previous books, but they at least fulfill a much greater role in this story, being fully grown.
Theme & Content Warnings
Typical of this series, Prince Lander and the Dragon War contains no central message—that is, it doesn’t attempt to communicate a truth through the development of the characters. But it promotes noble traits, with the rabbits demonstrating loyalty, courage, diplomacy, and compassion. Lander, and many others, are excellent role models.
The dragons practice some sort of dark magic, performing rituals and uttering chants over steaming cauldrons. In one scene, they put drops of blood from a young rabbit into a potion that her father drinks. All this is unsettling, but it’s meant to be—these dragons are the embodiment of evil. Their witchcraft is denounced by the heroes and contributes to the list of reasons these lizards must be wiped from the face of Natalia.
The numerous battles contain many deaths from arrows, swords, and even stones thrown from slings. In the final battle, dragons are split in half, dismembered, and beheaded. But the wounds are stated as fact, such as, “He struck out, causing several dragons to fall, divided.” There’s no gore and little blood.
Overall
If you’re a fan of the Green Ember books, this book is more than worthy of a read. I found myself glued to the page from the moment I started reading. It contains all the same thrilling battles, realistic characters, and high stakes that are present in the rest of the saga.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll write you in the next one!
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