He had stirred from his long sleep in snatches, his periods of awareness measured in seconds and minutes at first. Not even to summon forth a raspy croak to signal that he was alert and registering everything they were saying. He could see them, so his eyes had to be open. To all, he was unresponsive, a bump on a log. The start of his tale begins with him atop a mattress.

That’s the way a decent knight’s tale should begin.įor Ned Firebreak, that grand opening is not to be. It should feature a fast-talking knight bent on rescuing a fair maiden who more than likely has a bit of a chip on her slender shoulders about being so roughly liberated from said dragon’s scaly clutches. It should plop the reader into the heart of the predicament and not let go of them until the ride is over.

Read moreĪ suitable fantasy epic about dragon slaying should begin with the hero in peril, dodging jets of flames from a moderately oversized reptile that is merely an action appetizer. Along the way, Ned picks up a tree sidekick, a wizard versed in the ludicrous art of pun magic, and a healthy respect for both princesses and dragons alike.Ĭan he make the world outside of the reservation safe for the princesses? Will he uncover the true threat to the maidens' well-being? Can he find his father before he must face off against the nefarious black dragon, Rackeesus, who dogs his trail every step of the way?įind out Ned's fate in this rousing tale that blends fantasy with mystery and heaping helpings of wit. With the help of three motivated princesses and one who's rather a hindrance, he sets out to uncover his missing memories and reveal the truth of his family's dealings with the dragons of the Eight Kingdoms. When Ned wakes up from a coma, he finds key memories relating to his rescue missions and missing-in-action father erased by magic. At least that's what their brochure would have you believe. After dispatching the unruly lizards, this father/son team brings back the fair maidens to live on their magically protected princess reservation. The Firebreaks are a family of dragonslayers.

Ned Firebreak by Brian Clopper