The Griffin’s Feather - Cornelia Funke

Written by Cornelia Funke
Read by Marc Thompson, Cornelia Funke
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

• Series: Dragon Rider Series, Book 2
• Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
• Release date: 08-21-18
• Publisher: Atmende Bücher GmbH

It’s now been two years since Ben and Firedrake defeated Nettlebrand and rescued the silver dragons.

Both boy and dragon have finally found homes, but they must live hundreds of miles apart and can only see each other every once in a while. During one such visit, news reaches Ben, the Greenblooms, and their friends that the last Pegasus in the world has been discovered. The legendary horse has three unhatched eggs with him, but the only way they’ll ever hatch — and continue the survival of this incredible magical species — is to place them under a griffin’s feather.

But griffins are the most dangerous creatures in the world, and their mortal enemies are dragons… Ben has vowed not to tell Firedrake about his quest, to protect him. But as he and the Greenbloom team set off for a remote island where the terrible griffins are rumored to live, he may just need the help of his best friend and dragon…

ForGrades 3-6-
Dragon rider Ben Greenbloom feels emptiness in his heart being away from his silver dragon, Firedrake. But when he and his family discover the last Pegasi in the world who need the precious sun feather of a Griffin to hatch, he must lie to the dragon. Griffins and dragons are mortal enemies. Ben and his father Barnabas along with a motley crew including a troll, a rat, and a homunculus (the last of his kind), attempt to complete this dangerous quest which takes them to a remote island ruled by the cruel “lion birds.”
Most of the characters are familiar from Funke’s Dragon Rider and this book does not disappoint as a sequel with suspenseful adventure, creative characters, and the mixing of the modern world with the fantastical. Even those who have not read the previous work will enjoy delving into this world, as enough background is given for it to be a standalone. Detailed black-and-white drawings curve around and throughout the text, adding visual context for the story. Well-chosen quotes from various famous modern and ancient literary works perch on each chapter heading. .

VERDICT A not-to-be-missed fantasy by an author who is master of her craft.—-2018 School Library Journal,