NIGHT HUNT

Ruskin unwillingly enters a contest in the third dragon-centric graphic-novel spinoff of The Kingdom of Wrenly series.

Every 50 years a Red Moon rises, and that’s when a magic fire selects which Crestwood dragons get to compete in the Night Hunt, which they do in teams of two. Villinelle and the sinister figure scheming in the shadows see this as a chance to turn Ruskin and Cinder against each other, so Villinelle tampers with the ritual. This is how the ineligible Ruskin (he’s not a lifelong Crestwood dragon) comes to be teamed with the roguish Roke. Cinder, who wanted a chance to shine as brave and heroic, feels betrayed by Ruskin and is determined to win. Each team is given a different scavenger-hunt list, and the race is on! The obstacles the pairs face require teamwork and cleverness, which generates both action and amusement. But the tampering goes deeper than just who participates in the Night Hunt: Near the end of the contest, a secondary ploy unleashes a danger to all of the Crestwood dragons that only the Night Hunt participants can stop. Rounded, large-eyed draconic characters have distinctive silhouettes and colors that help distinguish them in the twilight nighttime settings. While the story arc centers on Ruskin and Cinder’s friendship, secondary characters Groth and Roke also shine. The triumphant ending also teases a new goal for the villains; a closing sneak preview of the next book also tantalizes.

A fast, vibrant adventure.