The Dragon Orb

"The first book of the Alaris Chronicles series brings a refreshing take on magic and politics in fantasy. The world feels very much alive as the wizards take on their new challenges, struggling with their personal demons as much as those of the land they are expected to protect. For people wanting a fantasy kingdom-based read that is more sorcery than swords with a depth of intrigue that goes well beyond blood and debauchery, The Dragon Orb is a solid new entry in the genre." -Self-Publishing Review



"The Dragon Orb is full of magic and adventure, and a way for younger readers to get a peek into the world of politics. The book is a strange combination of a Dungeons and Dragons adventure with Game of Thrones, but with kids as the movers and shakers of the story -- and with a PG rating. It is a very easy read, a page turner. I love the fact that the protagonists of this story come in all colors, shapes and sizes, and that our leads are not your usual all-white characters. As mentioned before, the world our characters inhabit borrows from already established fantasy folklore; from Lord of the Rings to the Wheel of Time series. The biggest innovation on these series by Mr. Shelton is the inclusion of how politics work (hence the Game of Thrones reference), but accessible for a younger audience. This book is perfect for older elementary school children, from tweens to teens. Fantasy lovers will enjoy the read, the younger focusing on the adventure and its young characters' feats. It does have a few emotionally charged parts and violence, so I'd recommend caution for the youngest readers. For my part, as a fantasy fan, I will very much enjoy seeing how this series evolves and I can't wait for my daughter to read it too." - Erika Grediaga for Readers' Favorite