Fluff Dragon

In this second installment in the Bad Unicorn trilogy, Clark continues the misadventures of Max Spencer and his friends, who are currently trapped in the magical realm of the Magrus. Their only hope of getting home is to unlock the true potential of the unpredictable Codex of Infinite Knowability, a powerful book that only Max can read. To do that, the motley band of would-be heroes must travel to the Wizard's Tower, home to Rezormoor Dreadbringer, who also seeks the Codex. Max and his allies%E2%80%94including the genre-savvy gamer geek Dirk, the dwarf Dwight, and Puff the fluff dragon%E2%80%94brave numerous threats, including a homicidal unicorn and a deadly dungeon. With its gonzo blend of fantasy adventure and loony threats played seriously (including a zombie duck and a sinister guild of toupee makers), this tale subverts epic quest tropes even as it celebrates them. Dirk's familiarity with games proves especially useful and funny as he drinks forbidden potions and predicts the final showdown. While suffering slightly from middle-book syndrome, it's still a deviously enjoyable story. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. Agent: Deborah Warren, East-West Literary Agency. (Apr.)