Dragonshadow: Heartstone, Book 2

Dropping the Jane Austen homage of her first book, Heartstone, White delivers another warm-hearted tale of romance and fantasy adventure. Healer Aliza and her new spouse, noble dragonrider Alastair Daired, must abandon their honeymoon plans when Lord Niall Selwyn asks Alastair to help find a murderer. Despite Alastair’s misgivings, Aliza joins the mission with the backing of Alastair’s dragon partner, Akarra. With strange reports of attacks by “unfamiliar beasts” and mysterious activity taking place in the old tunnels beneath Alastair’s castle, it’s clear someone, or something, is up to no good. Rumors say a very old, very dangerous power has returned, and the mystery deepens when the Daired party arrives at Castle Selwyn. Add the reappearance of an old enemy who should be dead and a mysterious wedding present that proves impossible to leave behind, and there are more than enough puzzles to be solved. Despite some uneven pacing, White’s latest offers readers another fun foray into a land of dragons and mystery. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Nov.)