Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell (review)

Princess of Alder Brook, a small freeholding within a larger empire, Mathilda would prefer to write and copy texts alone than meet her subjects, who too often cast repulsed stares at her misshapen foot. After her friend, Lord Parzifal (Parz), and Tilda's handmaiden, Judith, rescue Tilda from a kidnapping attempt, the three find a taste for adventure and decide to become dragon slayers, so that Parz can prove his mettle to a doubtful mentor, Judith can live a life of adventure rather than servitude, and Tilda can be the scribe who documents it all. Not surprisingly, things do not go as planned, and their encounters with the Wild Hunt, with a truly evil lord, and with multiple dragons give Tilda new perspective on what it means to be herself and to be a leader. Tilda is an extremely likable heroine, and her adventures are compelling enough (and Haskell's writing strong enough) that readers will slide past touches of plot contrivance and eagerly plow ahead. Particularly interesting is Haskell's treatment of the Wild Hunt, with a female Hunter leading the pack and the incorporation of a trio of horses, made of gold, silver, and copper, who are referred to as the "Elysian horses," whom Tilda sets free from the Hunt. Kids with their own physical anomalies may particularly respond to Tilda's adventures, as will fans of the movie Brave or the How to Train Your Dragon book or movie.