Brief

Cole’s human life is upended on his 18th birthday when he discovers his true dragon heritage and the prophecy that awaits him. He is whisked to a realm of dragons and must become their protector against a nefarious race of enemy creatures. Can he rise to the challenge? An epic fantasy page-turner!

What We Liked

- Escaping the ordinary world is usually an appealing story, especially when superpowers are added. Dragons are always fun, and this story has plenty. The lead is likeable and empathetic. There is danger and betrayal and some good battles as the lead finds out more about what he is and what he can do along his journey from average boy to a prince of dragons.
- This story would best be told on the big screen because of its special effects. New worlds and dragons are the staples, and the structure of the story is conducive to a movie.
- Key points: Dragons; Empathetic/likeable protagonists; Evil enemies; A cool journey; Action and battles

Synopsis

COLE, 17, laments his lack of prospects after graduating high school. His grades weren’t good enough for college and he can’t find a job. His parents, upset, sit him down and tell him they protected him too much growing up. They tell him he’s special, a protector himself, and they promised to give him back to his real parents when he turns 18. In two days. He had no idea he was adopted and his parents are very sad but tell him this is the best decision. Cole’s mind is all over the place. They eat dinner on his 18th birthday, and Cole feels a weird energy surging through him and passes out. He wakes up and his birth parents are there. RYLAN and SILA, both of whom look around 35, both big and good looking. They tell him they have to leave soon, while it’s still dark out. Cole is reeling, having no idea what to do, so he just goes along with it. They say they are taking him to Ochana; surely his parents told him all about it. They decide they’ll have to show him who they are. Rylan turns into a giant green dragon. Sila tells him they are called Leslos, and are the protectors of Ochana. Sila tells Cole he’s a dragon too and a lot is expected of him. They speak to him telepathically, and he gets on his father’s back while Sila turns into her dragon form. “Mahier” is the force that powers them. They tell him Ochana is in the clouds near Greenland and they’ll be there in two hours. Cole hopes he doesn’t fall off. They land in Canada and eat and rest. Sila tells Cole that Rylan has to rest because he was using his mahier to keep from being detected by humans for the flight. She tells Cole he will be left alone to “find his dragon.” He concentrates, then transforms into a dragon. He flies up to meet his parents. They land at an island in the clouds, Ochana. Cole is introduced to the council who have been waiting to meet him. They are in human form and all have different colored eyes. They go through a cave behind a waterfall and there are paintings of dragons and humans on all the walls. They reach a chamber that has a different dragon on each wall - red, blue, silver and green. Sila explains that greens are the leaders. Blues protect and nurture. Silvers are the workers. Reds are the warriors. Rylan is their king. LUKE and JULES wonder if Cole is a dramon, half human/half dragon. The council doesn’t like this prospect. Cole has scales of all four colors though which makes him special. Rylan is upset when he explains that a powerful dragon named Jago lost his mahier and therefore couldn’t survive on Ochana. He was Rylan’s brother.

The next morning, Cole is awoken by MIRA, who is his personal assistant, and JERICHO, who is to be his trainer. Jericho tells him he’s already failed - he let a stranger into his room with strange food and a man whom he didn’t know and trust. He makes his way to the throne room where his parents hold court. His uncle ZANE is there, and Jericho doesn’t seem to like him. A guard rushes in, saying there is a security breach. Jericho gives orders and Cole is taken by guards to a room deep inside the mountain, separate from his parents for the security of the royal family. He waits for a long time, then is taken back to the council room. On monitors, they watch security footage. They recognize a big dragon named CAIRO, who flies with a smaller dragon-like human who is said to be a dramon - but they’re not supposed to be able to come to Ochana. Cole thinks he recognizes her but isn’t certain. Security is increased on Cole, while everyone searches for Cairo and the mystery girl. Jericho takes Cole to the command center, full of the highest tech-looking machines Cole has ever seen. Jericho wants to know what he knows about the girl and Cole confesses it looks like his best friend EVA. Jericho wants him to show him a cabin that was a safe space for Cole and Eva when they were growing up. She might be there. Jericho, some other red dragon guards or “Wolands,” and Cole, fly to Cole’s hometown in Texas. At the cabin, Cairo comes out in human form. He says Eva is the one from the prophecy. She comes outside and greets them. Then, there is a loud boom from the direction of Cole’s old home. Jericho says they must leave now. Carnites, a mixture of trolls and giants, are attacking other dragons near Cole’s home. Back in Ochana, the council assembles and they bring out a huge book of “Aprella’s” prophecy, which says a golden dragon will come in a time of great fear (Eva) - and a warrior of the four dragon colors (Cole) would fight by her side. Confused, Eva asks for an explanation, and Sila begins: Aprella was the first dragon but no one knew where she came from. She (like Cole) was comprised of each of the four dragon colors and their mahiers. She gave birth to four sons, one of each color, and passed on her mahier to each of them. One day, a golden dragon, a true “draman,” would come during a time of great need and save them all from creatures that wanted to take over Ochana. With her would be a warrior comprised of all four mahiers. Cole and Eva together are the “Keeper of Dragons.” They are to defend the entire planet.

In the control room, all of the screens turn off. Jericho, Rylan and Cole watch the big screen where a small fairy woman with white hair and sharp teeth addresses them. She is Queen TANA, a “Farro,” and she says they will stop waging war against the dragons if they give them the Keeper of Dragons. Cole and Eva are summoned to the council room where they vote whether to send them right out and into battle or keep them there for training. The vote is to send them to war. It is explained to Cole and Eva that the Farros used to be good fairies but became greedy and evil and split from the others. Then, Cole and Eva meet JUDE, head of the five warrior red dragons that will protect and fight for them. Cole, Eva and a giant group of Wolands fly to India where the Farro live. Eva senses a trap. They stop for dinner - one of the Wolands roasts an elk alive. When they arrive to the area where the Farrows live, it is explained to Cole that they are there to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. All hundred or so dragons land in a beautiful region where there are snow covered mountains. When an avalanche starts they try to use their mahier to stop it but it keeps coming. Eva and Cole jump into a cold lake and start swimming. Then the avalanche stops and the whole area turns into a frozen tundra. Queen Tana appears and greets them. They are in Farro Grove, and Tana reaches out to Eva and Cole and invites them to join her. They decline. The other dragons can’t intervene for some reason. Their mahier is gone. Tana tells Eva and Cole that the Farro have watched them since birth. Eva and Cole are incredulous. Then, Zane appears. He’s a traitor. Zane has power from the Farro as well as his mahier, and he uses it to take all the power from the Farro. He was a double agent. Cole is told to decide the fate of the incapacitated Farro, but fairies arrive. They ask Cole if they can have the Farro to judge them - Farro were once fairies and they feel they are their responsibility. Cole agrees and the fairies fly off with the Farro. Back at Ochana, Zane explains that it took him years to gain the Farro’s trust and absorb some of their powers. For a hundred years, the Farros have been making alliances with other creatures who have been in hiding. Also, they had been watching Cole and Eva, planning on recruiting them when they came into their power. Back in Ochana now, Cole is coronated as prince in a grand ceremony where he is presented with a scepter, a robe, a sword and a crown. Cole and Eva are then officially named The Keeper of Dragons.

About The Author

J.A. Culican is a USA Today Bestselling author of the middle grade fantasy series Keeper of Dragons. Her first novel in the fictional series catapulted a trajectory of titles and awards, including top selling author on the USA Today bestsellers list and Amazon, and a rightfully earned spot as an international best seller. Additional accolades include Best Fantasy Book of 2016, Runner-up in Reality Bites Book Awards, and 1st place for Best Coming of Age Book from the Indie book Awards. J.A. Culican holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for over 13 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her husband and four young children.