Where The Dragon Waits

Tom Moorhouse, author of highly praised stories such as The River Singers and The Rising, goes in a very different direction in his new book, a fantasy adventure which puts its (human) protagonist in a life-or-death situation. It opens with a terrifying crash at sea. Ed and his father are both thrown off their yacht in the collision and when Ed comes round, on an almost deserted beach, things are no safer. Under a strange white sky, there is definitely ‘weirdness afoot’, to quote Steff, the girl he meets there. Soon the two of them are fleeing from the butterflies swarming the beach as close encounters with them appear to bring death. In true fantasy quest style, they meet creatures who might be able to help them, if at a cost. These include a pangolin, of all things, who needs Ed to help oil his creaking scales, and a wolf named Halfear, who seems particularly tricky.  It’s the latter who spells out their challenge: to climb a mountain spire on an island and confront the dragon that lives there; only then will the butterflies vanish and the way home open. Meanwhile, readers are aware of Ed’s parents waiting at home for him to return.

There is a great deal here to intrigue readers, bags of action and excitement, a genuine sense of the danger facing Ed and the weight of the task he faces. Astolpho the pangolin is a worthy companion for any young questors, noble, conflicted, mysterious but surprisingly humorous at times too while, despite his sarcasm and all-round tricksiness, Halfear prompts our sympathy. Ed, though he seems less knowledgeable than Steff, is the steadier of the two, and proves to have the resilience, determination and character to see him through. Their growing friendship is another pleasure of the book and a second reading will reveal all sorts of hints to Steff’s personality that readers might have missed first time round. The story works as a fantasy adventure and on other levels too, reminding us of the importance of family, of honesty, of love, as well as the fickleness of fate. It’s original, distinctive, often funny, always exciting.

Read our Q&A interview with Tom Moorhouse.