Well-known for their popular YA “Edge Chronicle” series, Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel have created a teen (and I would include adults) trilogy that’s worth reading by building a fascinating and believable dragon-focused ecosystem — a world that revolves around Dragons (or as they’re known in this book, Wyrmes) — while at the same time providing a solid and entertaining bildungsroman…we see Micah evolve from a naïve and gullible lad to an intelligent and decent man.

WyrmeWeald #1

 Returner’s Wealth 

Book #1 introduces us to with Micah, a young greenhorn barely surviving in the weald (I picture the weald akin to our Great Plains here in the US) who is out to seek “Returner’s Wealth” so as to make himself worthy enough for a girl. Almost dead due to lack of experience in the wild, he crosses path with taciturn, well-weald-versed, and ultimate decent guy Eli Halfwinter, who not only saves his life but teaches him the way of the weald. Along the way, they meet Thrace, a kingirl, her whitewyrme, Aseel, and also make some dangerous enemies along the way.

WyrmeWeald #2

 BloodHoney 

Fullwinter is brutal in the weald, so Micah, Thrace, and Eli are confined to a cave for the winter. Their enemies are not content to let them alone, however, as RedMyrtle, a keld hag, has sent assassins to kill them. Micah and Eli end up in a place called DeepHome: on the surface it’s a great retreat from fullwinter, but it hides a very, very dark secret underneath it…and there’s still an assassin at their backs.  The one bright spot from DeepHome is Cara, a young auburn-haired beauty enthralled by Micah.

WyrmeWeald #3

The Bone Trail

The final book takes us through the fight for the weald…who will be the ultimate victor in the battle not only between wyrmes and kith, but between kinned- and kinless wyrmes?

While I’ve sometimes found it difficult for books later in a series to live up to the excitement caused by the first book (after all, you already know the world, so there’s the sense of the unknown that of course decreases), I really enjoyed all three of these books. I feel each stands alone well enough, but I wouldn’t want to have missed any of them, so I think reading all three is a worthy time investment. The art at the beginning of each chapter is nice, and they’ve even provided mini wyrme-guides at the back.

I hope you enj0y them, too!