Night Sky Dragons

Yazzul lives on a han on the great Silk Road, the route taken by traders moving east and west. His father is lord of the han and Yazzul must learn to be one too. But Yazzul prefers to make kites with his grandfather; a useless hobby. But when bandits attack this hobby proves to be not such a waste of time.

There is some talk about the superiority of the digital over hard copy; that young readers will naturally prefer the electronic. I am sure young readers will show more sense, realising one can enjoy both. This book is one designed to convince them. For a start the production values are very high – it is an object that demands to be held and felt; it attracts the eye. In this the artwork by Patrick Benson must be recognised. From the beautifully designed cover, to the carefully framed illustrations and the page decorations, the artist’s palette echoing and emphasising the desert landscape of the Road, the whole is a visual pleasure. This is a story to be shared, to be read aloud. The prose is unforced and direct. Together with the two previous titles by these authors, this is a book to give and own. Recommended.