The First Shadowdragon is a fantastic sequel. It’s full of adventure, family. magic and is a wonderful LGBTQIA+ book. You just jump right into the action again with Charlie, Cadno and Co, and it’s like you never put The Last Firefox down.

The Last Firefox, the 1st book in this series, was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I was really looking forward to the sequel. One of the things that works so very well and brings this story to life for the reader are the illustrations, which are plentiful and so expressive; there are even double spread detailed illustrations! This aside, it’s great to be back in Wales with Charlie, his dads, his adopted lively baby sister Edie who comes as a package with her comfort toy Madam Sugarpuff, and his magical pet fire fox, Cadno. After defeating the awful shape-shifting otherworldly monster, the Grendilock, in the last story, the family and Charlie’s friends Lippy and Roo find themselves grappling with the possibility of another quest for Fargone. There’s a terrible darkness called the Draig spreading through the magical land and after the Grendilock’s defeat, Charlie is now VERY famous. The creatures and people of Fargone are looking to him to save them and rescue the missing Princess!! As the protagonist, Charlie is a worrier, finds it hard to come out his shell, but is actually a great leader when he has the support and kindness of his friends and family, especially if Cadno is by his side - they build him up to have an inner faith and bravery that he struggles with on his own. A powerful deer-like creature from Fargone joins them on their quest, they name her ‘Blodyn’ (Welsh for ‘flowers’). As featured on the cover artwork, she’s a beautiful representation of nature and is the key to defeating the terrible foe. The final new member of the daring quest party is a sword-wielding Princess who becomes Lippy’s sweetheart by the end of the story. This is a magical ‘St George and the Dragon’ legend-like adventure with lots of imaginative twists and turns, some very amusing talking animals with attitude, truly nail-biting moments, and an authentic representation of same-sex parenting, plus a normalisation of LGBTQ+ tween relationships. Book 3 is out in Spring 2024!

The Last Firefox, the 1st book in this series, was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I was really looking forward to the sequel. One of the things that works so very well and brings this story to life for the reader are the illustrations, which are plentiful and so expressive; there are even double spread detailed illustrations! This aside, it’s great to be back in Wales with Charlie, his dads, his adopted lively baby sister Edie who comes as a package with her comfort toy Madam Sugarpuff, and his magical pet fire fox, Cadno. After defeating the awful shape-shifting otherworldly monster, the Grendilock, in the last story, the family and Charlie’s friends Lippy and Roo find themselves grappling with the possibility of another quest for Fargone. There’s a terrible darkness called the Draig spreading through the magical land and after the Grendilock’s defeat, Charlie is now VERY famous. The creatures and people of Fargone are looking to him to save them and rescue the missing Princess!! As the protagonist, Charlie is a worrier, finds it hard to come out his shell, but is actually a great leader when he has the support and kindness of his friends and family, especially if Cadno is by his side - they build him up to have an inner faith and bravery that he struggles with on his own. A powerful deer-like creature from Fargone joins them on their quest, they name her ‘Blodyn’ (Welsh for ‘flowers’). As featured on the cover artwork, she’s a beautiful representation of nature and is the key to defeating the terrible foe. The final new member of the daring quest party is a sword-wielding Princess who becomes Lippy’s sweetheart by the end of the story. This is a ‘St George and the Dragon’ legend-like adventure with lots of imaginative twists and turns, some very amusing talking animals with attitude, truly nail-biting moments, and an authentic representation of same-sex parenting, plus a normalisation of LGBTQ+ tween relationships. Book 3 is out in Spring 2024!

The First Shadowdragon by Lee Newbery is a captivating and thrilling fantasy novel that takes readers on an exciting adventure through a world of magic, danger, and intrigue. The story follows the journey of Charlie, a young boy and his Firefox, Cadno, his dads as well as new characters. The world-building in this book is exceptional, with vivid descriptions and intricate details that brings Fargone to life. The characters are well-developed and believable, with each one carrying their own motivations, fears, and secrets. The plot is well-constructed, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and guessing throughout. One of the most compelling aspects of the book is the way in which Newbery explores themes of power, identity, and destiny, especially between Charlie and Draig is both relatable and inspiring and moments of the story had me in tears. Overall, The First Shadowdragon is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. Surpassing my expectations following on from The Last Firefox. It is a well-written, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyable book that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. The book is enhanced with the inclusion of blue sprayed edges and a signed bookplate. I would love to see puffin make this into a hardback, Clothbound edition.