Mudd is a tinkerer living in a tiny village named Potter's Mill. His sister, Hiera, is a Ranger-in-Training. But a Red Dragon named Redclaw the Detroyer has a plot to bring together Mudd, a Dwarf named Greenthumb Drakecutter and a young outcast named Kirak to destroy a rival Silver Dragon named Sleekwing.
Redclaw starts by attacking Potter's Mill and carrying off a seer known as Shemnara. Once, Shemnara was completely blind, but she chose to regain her sight. She is no longer properly a seer, but instead seeks visions on behalf of those who come to her. A while ago, she sought a vision for Kirak, who sought the den of a Silver Dragon...
But when Shemnara vanishes, Mudd decides to leave his sister and go in search of the Red Dragon's Lair and Shemnara. When he finds Hiera following him, he's determined to make her go home- until she saves his life, after which he concedes that he needs her.
Mudd had found a book with a picture of the door to the Dragon's lair in Shemnara's house, but he needs someone to translate it for him, so he goes to the Dwarven Village to speak with Stonefist Drakecutter, Greenthumb's father. But while they are there, Redclaw attacks the town and steals Stonefist's axe. Stonefist is injured in the attack, and Greenthumb is determined to track down the Dragon and kill it.
Eventually, the three join up and travel to the Library of Palanthus, where they encounter Kirak. Kirak, a former squire, is also looking for the Dragon's lair, but he's working with Redclaw to trap the others. He's not really human, but a Sivak Draconian, who can take on the appearance of someone they have killed. The only thing is that most Sivak Draconians, which Kirak is, are evil, and Kirak isn't as evil as other Draconians.
They also meet a Kender who claims to be Iroden Endorlian- a noted Elven Cleric of Paladine. But is he telling the truth, or just lying? And how can a Kender be a cleric of Paladine? But he's the only one who can translate the runes on the picture of the door to the Dragon's Lair, and perhaps the only one who can help them pass all three tests and be allowed to enter through the door.
But Kirak isn't like other Draconians. He's something quite special. But can he break free of Redclaw's influence in time to save Shemnara and Stonefist Drakecutter? Or will he choose to give into evil and betray the others, who think of him as a friend? And can he ever find the Silver Dragon who is his mother?
This is the first book in the Dragon Codex series, and one I found myself really enjoying. We're told (or know) that Draconians are evil. They are the corrupted eggs of good Dragons, their spirits taken over by demonic Abishai, but somehow, Kivak was able to fight off the Abishai before his draconic soul could be corrupted- which makes me think there could be others like him out there...
I like how the big theme of this book was friendship and working together. Mudd wants to go it alone, but he can't do it without friends- and Kivak has to learn this lesson as well, that he needs friends- he can't just do it on his own. It takes all of the characters working together to defeat the big Bad Redclaw- and the story leaves you guessing which side he'll choose until almost the end of the book. But I did guess who his mother was pretty early on.
I liked this book, and readers who like to read about adventure, dragons, Dungeons and Dragons or Dragonlance will really enjoy this particular book, and all the other books in this series. It's about more than just not relying on yourself, but that's the main thrust of many books in this series, as well as the importance of having friends and accepting others. Well done and recommended.
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