Title: Aerie

Author: PTL Perrin

Genre: Fantasy / Sci-fi

 

Aerie by PTL Perrin is the second in a series, continuing the journey of Gabri, a young woman who was kidnapped from Terra and transported to another world, Umbra. Now, she’s part of the Dragon Guild, a group of warriors who are bonded with dragons and protect their world from the Shadow, a dark force bent on creating fire-breathing dragons to destroy the planet. Meanwhile, Gabri’s family back on Terra, led by her childhood friend, Donny, develop technology to transport to Umbra and rescue Gabri.

Perrin excels at world-building. What was established in the first novel continues into the second. The author carefully balances the differences between worlds and the rules and powers that govern them without becoming overwhelming. Perhaps the most unique and intriguing idea is how the planet Umbra possesses both an outer level and an inner level, Sanctum, like two sides of the same coin. This clever dichotomy creates two opposing places, which further enhances the themes of safety versus oppression.

Also worth noting is the brilliant concept of time moving twice as fast on Umbra as what it does on Terra. The author utilizes this element to increase the sense of urgency for the Terra team, led by Donny, to rescue Gabri. That Perrin’s world-building techniques enhance other aspects of the novel, including character and plot development, further proves the author is a master world-builder.

Perrin’s characters are also deep and well-developed. It’s through their relationships with other humans and alien species that we see them come into their own. But what stands out the most is the abiding connection between riders and their dragons. These deep-bonded relationships show the dragons as sentient creatures who work for the good. The dragons are much more than pets or even magical familiars to be used as tools. They are friends, with relationships built on mutual trust, respect, and love. Dragons are utilized in many fantasy stories, and Perrin’s use of them is sure to be a favorite.

To further enhance the author’s character development, Gabri’s coming-of-age journey shows tremendous character growth. She navigates from a captive from another world who is overcoming her past to become a leader of the Dragon Guild. Nothing about her leadership feels contrived. She has rightly earned her place through building relationships with her dragon and other riders on Sanctum. The supporting cast also play a vital role in both the story and in Gabri’s journey.

One of the themes deals with chosen family versus the family someone is born into. Gabri must make some hard decisions involving these two aspects of her life, all while navigating the path to healing from her demons.

There are occasional challenges with pacing due to the novel’s scope. This happens mostly in the middle of the story, where several plotlines play out concurrently, all involving a large cast of characters, which can prove tricky for the reader to keep track of who is who and what role they are playing.

Perrin has masterfully continued a compelling series, creating worlds populated by characters they’ll genuinely be invested in. Aerie succeeds in setting up conflicts for the next book, all the while also delivering a satisfying resolution to the current story. For readers who are seeking a dragon fantasy with top-notch character development and emotional depth alongside thrilling adventure, Aerie more than delivers.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.