Dragon Coast

Van Eekhout concludes the Daniel Blackland series, set in a magical alternate version of our world, with this solid installment. In Pacific Fire (2015), the consciousness of Sam, a golem cloned from the evil Hierarch of Southern California, was absorbed into a deadly Pacific Firedrake. Daniel, a sorcerer who gains his power from consuming magical bones, has to find a way to extricate Sam from the dragon. He gathers his trusted friends, Moth and Cassandra, but will also need the help of past rival Gabriel, a water mage, to complete his mission. Learning that the rare axis mundi bone is in the Northern California realm, Daniel disguises himself as his recently deceased brother, Paul, and infiltrates the kingdom to catch the dragon and use the bone to resurrect Sam. While dodging assassins bent on killing “Paul,” Daniel bids to be named High Grand Osteomancer in order to gain access to the axis mundi, but he must outmaneuver others who want the powerful position. This installment features strong writing from van Eekhout, with exciting magical battles and a difficult heist, but there are still occasional questionable plot points and unconvincing character motivations. Agent: Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates. (Sept.)