Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

With an invasion of her country imminent, Tipper Schope is drawn into a mission to keep three important statues from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Her friend, the artist Bealomondore, helps her execute the plan, and along the way he learns to brandish a sword rather than a paintbrush.

As odd disappearances and a rash of volatile behavior sweep Chiril, no one is safe. A terrible danger has made his vicious presence known: The Grawl, a hunter unlike any creature encountered before.

To restore their country, Tipper, Bealomondore, and their party must hide the statues in the Valley of the Dragons and find a way to defeat the invading army. When it falls to the artistic Bealomondore to wield his sword as powerfully and naturally as a paintbrush, will he answer Wulder’s call for a champion?

Dragons of the Valley is a Christian novel set in the fantasy world of Chiril, a land that desires peace but has no true knowledge of the Peacemaker, Wulder. As war invades the kingdom, it is up to a few brave souls to pull the country together and face the merciless foe. Along the way, they each learn more about Wulder, the God who has recently been reintroduced to the country in peril. Through His wisdom and strength, the heroes and heroines face the enemy and come out victorious in the end.

Dragons of the Valley is the second book in a new series by Donita K. Paul. The tagline on the book states, "A fantastic journey of discovery for all ages," and I'm inclined to agree. Whether you're 14 or 40, this is a tale to be enjoyed. The characters are so animated and detailed, from the eccentric Lady Peg to the feisty Tipper. Throughout the story, the reader can't help but fall in love with the endearing characters.

While the story can be read on its own, I highly suggest reading the first book, The Vanishing Sculptor, before reading this one. It really helps to pull things together and makes the overall plot much easier to understand.

For the most part, the story is very easy to read and follow. My only qualm is that the author throws in a lot of secondary characters and spaces them out in the story so that by the time you come back to them again, you've forgotten who they are. In addition, the names of many of the characters are complicated to read and pronounce, not to mention sounding similar to other names in the story. Until I got a ways into the story, this presented some confusion.

Nevertheless, if you love fantastical tales of dragons, wizards, and knights, you'll love Dragons of the Valley. The story is truly an enjoyable tale, woven through with strands of Biblical truth.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.