MIDDLE GRADE FICTION : The Twilight Child (DragonBorn) by Struan Murray (Coming October 20, 2026!)
ABOUT THE BOOK
Having discovered her true identity as a dragon, Alex Evans must embark on a dangerous quest to stop Drak Midna and his war against humanity.
When tragedy strikes the island of Skralla, Alex and her friends journey north to the magical heart of Scotland, where dark plots are in motion, and humans and dragons fight side-by-side against a rising storm of ancient demons.
Sinister forces are growing stronger every day, and as friendships fall apart and enemies old and new strike from the shadows, Alex must master her own fearsome power, and unravel a mystery that might just be the key to victory: the legend of the Twilight Child.
REVIEW
Alex Evans knows she's a dragon now, but the learning curve is steep. She not only needs to learn how to shift between her human and dragon forms on demand but must deal with the repercussions of what she's learned about herself, her family, and her friends. But as Alex wrestles with her feelings of anger and betrayal, she and the other young people from Skralla must flee their home when their mentor gets taken by Drak Midna, the evil 3,000 year old dragon who seeks to destroy mankind. In an effort to save Ferox's (one of Alex's fellow students on Skralla) homeland, Dundarrak from Drak Midna's evil plans, Alex and the other students from Skralla head to Dundarrak to warn them. Ongoing conflict between Ferox and Alex as well as Ferox and his family, including the ruling dragon of Dundarrak, gets in the way of their preparations to fight Drak Midna.
Along the way, Alex must face Erik, the boy/dragon she befriended in book 1 who betrayed them by assisting Drak Midna with his plans. Alex struggles to determine whether he is trustworthy or not while wrestling with her own feelings of hurt and fury that interferes with her ability to shift into dragon form as well as continue training. Alex meets Skiora, The Twilight Child, who changes everything in unexpected ways. Alex finds herself at odds with almost everyone, including her mother, whose own past lands her in the dungeon of Dundarrak. Unless Alex can get past her anger she'll be of no use in the upcoming battles and may end up in the dungeon permanently herself.
Surprising secrets from the past continue to impact the present leaving Alex, her friends, and the whole of Dundarrik fighting to survive. Numerous betrayals, surprising histories, and powerful emotions carry the story forward at a blistering pace. Just when the reader thinks they understand the situation and who is allied with who, another surprise gets thrown into the mix and the story moves in unexpected directions. The incredible characterizations carry the story forward with every character having an interesting backstory with an incredible variety of motives and mixed emotions leading to a messy mix of choices and consequences.
The book feels like an emotional roller coaster ride as Alex and her friends confront numerous obstacles and make choices with lasting import. They discover the power of the past and the importance of both remembering it and letting it go. Even Drak Midna, the villain turns out to have a more complicated history than one might think. This stunning story leaves the reader with a lot to think about in terms of choices made and consequences faced. Even the 'bad guys' have their complicated stories that may leave the reader pondering the different ways characters respond to events. A solid ending leaves a number of conflicts unresolved setting the story up for at least one more volume in the series. One of the most interesting and twist-filled books I've ever read. Definitely one I look forward to reading again. Highly recommended for readers who like their stories complex with no easy answers and no perfect choices.
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