Review: Dragons of the Dark Rift by Kevin Gerard

Diego's Dragon, Book 2: Dragons of the Dark Rift

 by Kevin Gerard 

Crying Cougar Press

 214 pages

For ages 10+

 A Prophecy, an Ancient Calendar, and a Battle for Earth’s Survival The turning of the 26,000 year cycle is approaching. The fifth sun promises a time of peace for all creatures. Magnifico, Estrella, and the Sol Dragones eagerly await the new age. Vipero hopes to alter the ancientprophecy. He orders the Dragons of the Dark Rift to find and eliminate the Sol Dragones. If they succeed, nothing will stop him from destroying Diego’s world and claiming ownership of Sol, a star with unlimited spiritual power. Diego and Racquel travel with their dragons to the Dark Rift, the entrance to the magical realm known as the Xibalba. Together with the Sol Dragones, they battle Vipero’s immense army in a fight to save or shift the Mayan prediction. The fate of earth depends on victory or defeat, and Diego is the key. His choice – to betray Magnifico or stay true to the Sol Dragones – will determine the outcome of the conflict.  

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MY TIDBITS

This is a gripping, fast-paced story, which slides in perfectly behind the first book in the series. The main focus here is dragons, powerful and majestic ones. The descriptions are lovely, allowing the reader to experience these wondrous beasts as if they were solid reality. The dragons are an intricate part of Earth's destiny, and in this book, have good vs. evil battling in the realm of the stars. 

Diego is a twelve-year-old, Hispanic boy, who generally doesn't cause trouble, but being a Guide, finds himself wrapped up in exciting adventures. However, this isn't only a story about him as much it is about the battle around him. The scenes shift from him, to Magnifico, to the other dragons, as a story enfolds, which holds enough tension and intrigue.

I love the dash of Spanish thrown into this book, and enjoy the well described scenes. The friendships and loyalties between characters are inspiring, and make it easy to cheer the main characters on. And there's a lot to cheer for. The danger and action hits from one page to the next, refusing to let go.

Others Buzz About the Series

"Diego’s Dragon: Spirits of the Sun is a gripping, intrigue-filled adventure featuring a young Hispanic boy as the main protagonist, a beautiful statue that transforms into a real dragon, and a cast of secondary characters who all play a role in helping Diego fulfill his destiny as the Guide who delivers his ancestors into the spirit world. Tweens and teens will enjoy this magical and mystical journey..." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Kevin, you are an amazing writer. You have inspired me to make a book of my own. It is about a kid who can jump through space and time just by jumping. The next few paragraphs are what I have so far from the book. Please read them and give me feedback." ~ Your #1 fan - Ryan

"Another fun little book by Kevin Gerard in the Diego's Dragon series... My daughter (who is in the 4th grade, but reads at the middle school level) read this book right after she read the first in this series 'Diego's Dragon: Spirits of the Sun. She can't wait for the next one to come out." ~ Tjasinto, Amazon, 5 Stars

"I love your fantasy fiction books so much!" ~ Tanner - Palm Desert Charter School

 

And here he is. . .

KEVIN GERARD!!!

Kevin Gerard lives in San Diego, California, with two feline friends, Jesse the WonderCat and Little Man. When not writing or teaching statistics at Cal State San Marcos, he enjoys walking the grounds at the San Diego Zoo, hitting the waves at Cardiff State Beach, and hanging with his brother, nieces and nephews at the local Pizza Port. He also enjoys playing Halo on the internet; look for him in the rocket games as one of the characters from Diego’s Dragon or Conor and the Crossworlds.  

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