Book Review
Title: Bright Hopes (Dragon School #11)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: *****
Review: After escaping from the warrens, the group are now scattered with Amel and Raolcan heading for his homeland, the Lands of Haz’drazen and I couldn’t wait to get into Bright Hopes. Amel was gravely injured in the escape from the warrens and for a time she slips in and out of consciousness but she is acutely aware of everything going on around her. After Savette’s dragon was killed, it means she is also dying and uses most of her remaining strength to heal Amel. After regaining consciousness again she learns that the Dominar is also with her, Savette and Hubric and they are heading to the Magika city on his orders despite the fact they should be heading for the Haz’drazen in order for Savette to be healed. However, Amel somehow knows that the man with them isn’t the Dominar but Iskaris in disguise and the real Dominar is out there somewhere and this might be due to the fact that Savette transferred some of her power into Amel to heal her as both Hubric and Raolcan comment on her eyes being brighter than they were before.
Amel tries to tell Hubric about the imposter but it turns out that whoever wears the mask and crown is the Dominar and even if this man is an imposter there is nothing they can do about it. This is proven when they arrive at the sky city of Umtal and the “Dominar” orders the guards to keep Hubric, Amel and Savette there until he orders that they can go and Amel instantly knows that this is Iskaris not the kind Dominar who spoke to her before and swore her into the dragon rider ranks, however, there is nothing they can do about it right now with Savette sick and themselves severely weakened by their journey but they need to get to the dragon homeland as soon as they can if they are to have any hope of saving Savette before she dies. Things are getting worse, after four days confined Amel learns through Hubric that Starie has claimed the position of the Chosen One and everyone is following her orders. The “Dominar” from Starie’s information has placed blame for the war on the Lightbringers and they are being hunted down and killed. As Hubric, Amel and Savette has been proclaimed as Lightbringers they are under arrested and are being taken to Dominion City.
It seems there is no way out for them unless someone comes to rescue them but they can’t escape and Savette’s time is running out and it seems that hope is fading but Amel and Raolcan are holding strong for now. As they are all transported in cages to Dominion City, Hubric and the other captured Lightbringers being teaching her the language of the cards when hope is restored as the true Dominar is captured and thrown into the cage with them. Amel only knows this because she took off his mask when she and Ashana were treating his injured arm and recognises him instantly as she plays the Dominar card to tell the others of his arrival. The Dominar now going by the name Shonan, fills them in on everything that happened while they were separated and even helps induct Amel into the Lightbringers properly. However, things get interested when she mentions that Savette is the true chosen one and he explains that Savette transferred her power into Amel which didn’t only save her life but healed her injured leg as well, but she has to give it back and sacrifice that future in order to save her friend and Amel knows despite the fact she could walk properly again, Savette is more important.
Together Amel and Shonen heal Savette by breaking the bond she had with her dragon, the same bond that was killing her but they alert the riders guarding them in the process. However, during the storm the dragons have managed to escape and they can now make a break for freedom but it isn’t going to be easy. They manages to free themselves and get on their dragons but they are outnumbered and it seems like they aren’t going to make it out for a moment as Savette is too weak to help them. But just as all seems lost Leng comes swooping in to save the day with the free dragons and in an instant the tide of the battle turns in their favour. Almost as quickly as it started, the battle is over and despite some minor losses everyone is ok, but the scene where Leng and Amel embrace each other as both feared the other way dead was divine, now they just have to stop the darkness that is growing under Starie’s command, which will require reuniting Savette and Rakturan as they are stronger together than apart. Bright Hopes was one of the darkest books in the series so far but it does really set up the counter attack that is going to be coming very soon.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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