The Dragon Circle: Dragon Waking

Gardner's delightful, if not wholly fulfilling, follow-up to Dragon Waking continues the saga of the neighborhood from Chestnut Circle that has found itself transported to a mysterious land and several foreboding quests. The fast-paced action centers on the discovery and allocation of the rest of the seven mysterious and powerful dragons' eyes. By the end of this volume, several characters have increased in importance-especially Jason Dafoe and the creature who combines the souls of Evan Mills, Rox the wizard and the creature Zachs-while others are developed in greater depth; as in the previous book, nearly all appear to possess one enviable virtue or another. Several deaths punctuate the story line, as do a couple of unexpected but not unbelievable resurrections, but abundant witty repartee lightens the tone throughout. Through infectiously enthusiastic storytelling, Gardner has here laid the groundwork for a wrap-up to the Dragon Circle series that his fans will welcome. (Oct.)