by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
This is the sequel to Deception Peak and the second in the Ian’s Realm Young Adult adventure fantasy series. Author Dianne Gardner’s epic and ambitious story is richer and deeper this time around, with more background explored. We learn more about Ian and his relationship with his father and his friend Abbi, as well as the significance of the Realm.
Ian is reunited with his father Alex, who has spent many desperate days trying to stay alive after being stranded on Deception Peak. As Gardner was at pains to explain in the first outing, the Realm is not a land of rainbows, giant lollipops and candy canes, but rather a treacherous, testing wilderness where the struggle to find shelter, food and resources, as well as self-reliance are the key to survival.
Once again, Gardner’s descriptions of her characters, their thoughts and emotions, as well as the environment they inhabit are excellently vivid. A clear picture is painted for the reader, and it is not hard to find yourself lost in this immersive world.
Three years have now passed and Ian is a headstrong eighteen year old who has been adopted by Abbi’s parents. He has graduated from High School, and his whole future is being mapped out for him. It looks promising, and his talents as an artist are undeniable, yet he has unfinished business to attend to in the Realm. Gone is the wide-eyed reluctant schoolboy, Ian is now a seasoned traveller and very much his own man.
It was thrilling to see him transformed into someone accepting their destiny and embracing their duty. This time he very much wants in. His affairs in the “real world” have been settled and this is a young man with a sense of purpose with none of the self-doubt and anxiety of the first book (that is not to say he is infallible, he still makes some very human errors and has to learn through harsh experience).
An example of why I am a fan of Gardner’s series is well illustrated from this passage of the novel:
“The moon peaked over the clouds, illuminating a haunting aura on the horses. Shadows danced like ghosts across the trail. Ian was alone again. He shuddered.”
See? You are right there with Ian. Descriptions such as this give everything a heightened sense of reality and significance. Gardner’s central character is in the most testing of predicaments and it is clear it is not going to be easy.
Travelling back through the portal opened by his father’s computer, Ian must discover whether he is “the promised one” that native of the Realm, Amleth spoke of. The tale of a boy becoming a man is a well trodden one, but Gardner gives it her own unique twist here.
Interestingly, in the intervening years, Ian is not the only one who has changed. When he returns, he discovers the Realm has changed a lot for the worse – it is now faced with its own environmental problems, it has become a gloomier, more desolate place with a downtrodden population.
If Ian is to succeed in his personal quest he is going to need all the help he can get. This help comes from unexpected quarters from both the real world and the Realm.
Dragon Shield is packed to the rafters with incident and peril. Ian’s resolve is tested like never before, the camaraderie of his supporters and their combined efforts will keep the reader engrossed. The nagging central question cannot be avoided – can Ian save the Realm?
There is a constant battle being waged between hope and despair and you are never quite sure how things will develop. This blends the real world and the cyber world to thrilling effect. By the novels end I felt that things were only just beginning for Ian and I wanted more – a mark of Gardner’s skill as a storyteller.
What can I say? This is an excellent follow-up and bridge to the next instalment.
Ian is reunited with his father Alex, who has spent many desperate days trying to stay alive after being stranded on Deception Peak. As Gardner was at pains to explain in the first outing, the Realm is not a land of rainbows, giant lollipops and candy canes, but rather a treacherous, testing wilderness where the struggle to find shelter, food and resources, as well as self-reliance are the key to survival.
Once again, Gardner’s descriptions of her characters, their thoughts and emotions, as well as the environment they inhabit are excellently vivid. A clear picture is painted for the reader, and it is not hard to find yourself lost in this immersive world.
Three years have now passed and Ian is a headstrong eighteen year old who has been adopted by Abbi’s parents. He has graduated from High School, and his whole future is being mapped out for him. It looks promising, and his talents as an artist are undeniable, yet he has unfinished business to attend to in the Realm. Gone is the wide-eyed reluctant schoolboy, Ian is now a seasoned traveller and very much his own man.
It was thrilling to see him transformed into someone accepting their destiny and embracing their duty. This time he very much wants in. His affairs in the “real world” have been settled and this is a young man with a sense of purpose with none of the self-doubt and anxiety of the first book (that is not to say he is infallible, he still makes some very human errors and has to learn through harsh experience).
An example of why I am a fan of Gardner’s series is well illustrated from this passage of the novel:
“The moon peaked over the clouds, illuminating a haunting aura on the horses. Shadows danced like ghosts across the trail. Ian was alone again. He shuddered.”
See? You are right there with Ian. Descriptions such as this give everything a heightened sense of reality and significance. Gardner’s central character is in the most testing of predicaments and it is clear it is not going to be easy.
Travelling back through the portal opened by his father’s computer, Ian must discover whether he is “the promised one” that native of the Realm, Amleth spoke of. The tale of a boy becoming a man is a well trodden one, but Gardner gives it her own unique twist here.
Interestingly, in the intervening years, Ian is not the only one who has changed. When he returns, he discovers the Realm has changed a lot for the worse – it is now faced with its own environmental problems, it has become a gloomier, more desolate place with a downtrodden population.
If Ian is to succeed in his personal quest he is going to need all the help he can get. This help comes from unexpected quarters from both the real world and the Realm.
Dragon Shield is packed to the rafters with incident and peril. Ian’s resolve is tested like never before, the camaraderie of his supporters and their combined efforts will keep the reader engrossed. The nagging central question cannot be avoided – can Ian save the Realm?
There is a constant battle being waged between hope and despair and you are never quite sure how things will develop. This blends the real world and the cyber world to thrilling effect. By the novels end I felt that things were only just beginning for Ian and I wanted more – a mark of Gardner’s skill as a storyteller.
What can I say? This is an excellent follow-up and bridge to the next instalment.
Sheila's review
bookshelves: childrens, coming-of-age, cultural,relationships, scifi-fantasy, suspense, young-adult
Feb 20, 13
Read in February, 2013
They grow up too fast don’t they? At least, that’s what everyone says, and in Dianne Lynn Gardner’s Ian’s Realm trilogy, young Ian is certainly growing up—but he’s not full-grown. After all, heroes aren’t born, they’re nurtured with wisdom from mistakes, valor from battles, and kindness from pain. Ian learns all these lessons in this book as he steps forward to take his father’s place, and learns there’s a lot more to leading than just saying no to potential followers.
You could probably pick up the trilogy without reading book one, Deception Peak, though you’d be missing a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy novel if you did. But if you’re a forgetful reader, like me, you’ll be happily satisfied by how well author Dianne Lynn Gardner incorporates all the necessary information from Deception Peak into a thoroughly exciting first chapter of Dragon Shield. There’s plenty more satisfaction and excitement within this middle-grade readers’ novel too. It’s boy-friendly, with teen male protagonists who don’t understand what the girls are getting at. And it’s girl-friendly with a boy who has much to learn, a young woman waiting to help, and a small child’s innocence. Suddenly Ian’s back in his curious realm, swords and sorcery coming to life out of the computer screen, and there’s really no time to regret the mistakes that brought him there. The story’s exciting—it even has a dragon. It’s intriguing, with satisfying connections waiting to be discovered in the pages. It’s intelligent. And even the parents will approve (and enjoy) as wise lessons are illustrated and learned. Add beautiful writing, evocative descriptions, gorgeous scenery, cleverly plausible computer wizardly, and great fight scenes and there’s something for all of us.
Three years have passed since Deception Peak. Ian’s finishing high school. His father’s disappeared. Abbi is still his best friend and only confidante. And the neighbor’s children are learning entirely too much about Ian’s Realm. But can one angry young man really save anyone, least of all himself? And can a child kill dragons?
Told from Ian’s point of view, the writing switches from third person to first as readers listen to his internal monologue—and it really works. There’s a teen freshness about the voice that pulls the reader in, an honest awkwardness, a genuine sense of guilt and frustration, and a fascinating look at what it means and doesn’t mean to make mistakes and be a hero.
Of course, with the story moving so far so fast, the ending feel like a beginning and readers will finish this begging for more. I’m about to start reading book three. You'll want to too. Enjoy.
Disclosure: I was lucky enough to win an ecopy of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service.
The Dragon Shield is the second book in Dianne Gardner's The Ian's Realm Saga. Having not read the first book in the series I felt lost during many parts of the book as it does not give you any information as to what happened previously. Before reading this book I definitely recommend that you read the first book in the series, Deception Peak. I am definitely going to have to read the first book in the series and then re-read this one.
Although, I wasn't quite sure what exactly was going on in the beginning, I was soon drawn into the story. It's a wonderful cross between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I liked the little no name being in the Realm, he has a lot of Dobby characteristics. He was a very unique character that could only come from a great imagination. Ian on the other hand, reminds me of a young Harry Potter. He's very charismatic. He's on a quest to find out what happened to his father in a world that's not of this earth.
Dianne's wonderfully descriptive writing style will have you so involved in the story that in a sense you will have forgotten that it was just a story. This is one of those books that you just can't seem to put down until you've turned the very last page. The book is very well written and enjoyable and I'm looking forward towards reading the entire series.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read great books! This is one that you will definitely enjoy
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
The Dragon Shield is the second book in Dianne Gardner's The Ian's Realm Saga. Having not read the first book in the series I felt lost during many parts of the book as it does not give you any information as to what happened previously. Before reading this book I definitely recommend that you read the first book in the series, Deception Peak. I am definitely going to have to read the first book in the series and then re-read this one.
Although, I wasn't quite sure what exactly was going on in the beginning, I was soon drawn into the story. It's a wonderful cross between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I liked the little no name being in the Realm, he has a lot of Dobby characteristics. He was a very unique character that could only come from a great imagination. Ian on the other hand, reminds me of a young Harry Potter. He's very charismatic. He's on a quest to find out what happened to his father in a world that's not of this earth.
Dianne's wonderfully descriptive writing style will have you so involved in the story that in a sense you will have forgotten that it was just a story. This is one of those books that you just can't seem to put down until you've turned the very last page. The book is very well written and enjoyable and I'm looking forward towards reading the entire series.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read great books! This is one that you will definitely enjoy
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
An absolutely amazing book! Dragon Shield is a continuation of where Deception Peak left off in the Ian's Realm series. A roller coaster ride of emotions and adventure, Dragon Shield follows Ian as he goes back to the realm 3 years later against the wishes of his friend Abbi. What he finds in the realm is saddening. He must go back and set things right, join the war against the dragon and solve the mystery of why his father has been missing for 3 years.
As thrilling as Harry Potter in its adventure and mysticism, the Ian's Realm series is amazingly told and will captivate you and keep you on the edge of your seat even till the very end. Pick it up for your kids and then read it yourself. This is a story that will captivate young and old alike!
~Review written by: Virginia Lori Jennings
Author of 'The Alien Mind' &
'Visionary From The Stars'
This reviewer received an Advanced Reader Copy
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
As thrilling as Harry Potter in its adventure and mysticism, the Ian's Realm series is amazingly told and will captivate you and keep you on the edge of your seat even till the very end. Pick it up for your kids and then read it yourself. This is a story that will captivate young and old alike!
~Review written by: Virginia Lori Jennings
Author of 'The Alien Mind' &
'Visionary From The Stars'
This reviewer received an Advanced Reader Copy
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
good young person reader. Dianne creates vivid scenes and good emotional interactions with her chracters. It's a great fast paced book that complements Deception Peak and moves the series alone nicely.
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
Dragon Shield (The Ian's Realm Saga, #2)
by Dianne Lynn Gardner (Goodreads Author) (Author/illustrator)
It has been three years since Ian Wilson returned from The Realm. A High School graduate, he now has a choice: begin a life of his own or go back to The Realm. He chooses the latter, and finds a place much changed - fouler, darker, a land at war. His reception to the Kaempearn city is not as warm as he hoped, for their treasure - The Dragon Shield - was stolen and his return is not without incident. As Ian remarks later, he does tend to have a knack for messing up.
Rejection, discovery, reunion, heartache, and having a new purpose - it seems that Ian must endure a roller coaster of emotions and experiences before his mind is finally focused and given direction.
Written with appeal to both Young Adults and Adults, it is this reader's opinion that this book appeals especially to the outsider in all of us. The part that thinks no one cares, that one cannot do anything right, and that it is better to wall up rather than to reach out. Whether it is wondering about the minor cracks in Daryl's cool demeanor, or raging with Ian when it seems that his best intentions result in terrible disasters, or even musing as Alex and Amreth do on what is the best course of action, there is something for everyone.
It is also curious about Daryl, who is constantly talking about bartering, but what is he really bartering for? Also, what could people from our world hope to gain by bringing weapons to The Realm. All of this hints to something more sinister than just the tyranny of the Dragon. It is this readers suspicion that the Prophecy will be fulfilled, but that is not the end of the story.
Not to mention, this reader especially likes how the portal between worlds shows how it affects both. From the effects on Ian's house, to what is infecting The Realm. This reader eagerly anticipates the conclusion of this story in the next novel!
Rejection, discovery, reunion, heartache, and having a new purpose - it seems that Ian must endure a roller coaster of emotions and experiences before his mind is finally focused and given direction.
Written with appeal to both Young Adults and Adults, it is this reader's opinion that this book appeals especially to the outsider in all of us. The part that thinks no one cares, that one cannot do anything right, and that it is better to wall up rather than to reach out. Whether it is wondering about the minor cracks in Daryl's cool demeanor, or raging with Ian when it seems that his best intentions result in terrible disasters, or even musing as Alex and Amreth do on what is the best course of action, there is something for everyone.
It is also curious about Daryl, who is constantly talking about bartering, but what is he really bartering for? Also, what could people from our world hope to gain by bringing weapons to The Realm. All of this hints to something more sinister than just the tyranny of the Dragon. It is this readers suspicion that the Prophecy will be fulfilled, but that is not the end of the story.
Not to mention, this reader especially likes how the portal between worlds shows how it affects both. From the effects on Ian's house, to what is infecting The Realm. This reader eagerly anticipates the conclusion of this story in the next novel!
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