War of the Dragon King

For as long as anyone can remember, the kingdom of Lumnkar have known that dragons are just terrible monsters that no one wants around. Even their king has begun to slaughter dragons to expand his kingdom's territory. And the king may succeed, unless his nephew Egil stops him. Egil, a kind-hearted and caring young man, is forced to join the Ranger's Guild where he discovers the truth about dragons and how misunderstood they are. Egil must try to stop his uncle from destroying an entire race and allowing these mistreated, beautiful creatures to live amongst humans once again. Jay delivers an imaginative tale of shape-shifting creatures, powerful mages, and magical bonds. However, at the heart of this fantasy are several powerful, real-world themes. The book explores the detrimental consequences of judging others based on preconceived notions and prejudices. Multiple backstories and side plots portray the capacity for past pain to evolve into blinding bitterness and unforgiveness. Another recurring theme is the corruptive nature of power and the tendency of those in authority to abuse their power to victimize the weak. Through the characters' development of friendships and romantic relationships, the book also challenges socioeconomic divisions. Most importantly, Jay characterizes true courage and strength not as physical might but rather as compassion and the indomitable will to do what is right, no matter the cost. -The US Review of Books