Book Review: Lady Dragon, Tela Du

My author friend Kendra E. Ardnek’s newest book released yesterday, and I’m pleased to share it with you all.

Book Description: 

Two girls with one face
Two girls with twisted fate
One in purple, one in red
One shall speak the other’s death
Who shall win their final war?
Lady Dragon or Tela Du?

Amber, the Lady Dragon, has been promised a fifty-year reign over Rizkaland and nothing can stop her from claiming it. But when you’ve lived six thousand years, fifty is such a pitiful number. Only one person can keep her from making this reign permanent – the Tela Du, a girl who shall share Amber’s face.

The last thing Petra wants is a magical world interrupting her plans for a normal life, let alone an ultimate battle against the Lady Dragon with only one prophesied survivor. She has her childhood best friend, Reuben, at her side, but she’s not sure if he’s more of a help or a hindrance right now. Though she’d much prefer to just return home and forget about this whole crazy affair, things change when she discovers that the world has surprising connections to her own family – including her sister who disappeared without a trace two years before. Still, Rizkaland can’t possibly expect her to risk her very life, can it?

 

My Review:

After winning the prize to alpha read this book last fall (meaning, I’d read it as Kendra wrote it), I spent the year mostly bogged-down with academics, yet enjoying reading this book as its final draft was being written.

 

Lady Dragon, Tela Du is an interesting tale, one inspired by The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, though very few threads remain of the original story, keeping this book creative and far enough removed to be quite a piece of its own.

 

There are many twists and turns in the plot, much depth to particular characters, unique backstories, and inspiring themes woven in.

 

I’d say that Miss Ardnek’s writing has certainly progressed in writing this, however, I believe the first book in this series – Water Princess, Fire Prince, that is – will always have a special place in my heart for personally significant reasons.

 

There is romance, which is tastefully done, and heart-melting for this fan of a good love story. It’s not the main focus, but works well with the main plotline.

 

There’s much world-hopping, a dash of time travel, telepathy, surprising traditions, wonderful worldbuilding, and well-executed allegory. If you’re a fan of faith-filled speculative fiction, be sure to check The Rizkaland Legends out.

 

The first book, Water Princess, Fire Prince, is currently free. So snag that while you can!

 

Author Bio:
Kendra E. Ardnek is a homeschool graduate who picked up a pen at an early age and never put it down. The eldest of four, she makes her home in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her parents, younger siblings, giant herd of giraffes, and honor guard of nutcrackers.

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