Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Jack and Draycos conclude that mercenaries destroyed Draycos' ship since there was no backup like the military would have employed. Jack joins a mercenary outfit over the objection of Uncle Virge because he and Draycos figure that each of these paid to kill groups keep tabs on the competition. On planet Carrion, using the name Jack Montana and with the clever help of Draycos Jack joins Whineyard Edge's Edgemen, a teen recruiting center. In training Jack meets talented Alison, but soon he, his dragon, she, and others will be sent on a deadly assignment in which no one is quite whom they seem to be.
Mindful of Andre Norton's 1960s outer space adventures for teens of all ages and Star Wars, the second Dragonback adventure is a fantastic action-packed tale with a fabulous cast. Jack and the dragon are a delightful pairing as he provides specialized thieving skills while Draycos furbishes cerebral military tactics and specialized fighting to their joining. Alison is a wonderful new player while Uncle Virge remains the same as he wants his nephew to disavow the relationship that could kill him. Though DRAGON AND SOLDIER can stand alone, reading DRAGON AND THIEF first will bring deeper insight into how the humanoid and the dragon joined.