it takes a lot to bring a tear to my eye, but page 264 of the paperback edition of this book did just that. I’ve read the first in this series and it certainly helps to know a bit of background to some of the characters but it’s not essential to enjoying the sequel in its own right.
Essentially, Silke and Aventurine are two very unusual girls who work in the most famous chocolatiers of Drachenburg. Silke is a refugee and market stall girl who supplements her income as a waitress at The Chocolate Heart cafe. Aventurine is a young dragon who, in the previous book ‘The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart’, became enchanted by a food mage into appearing as a human girl with a taste for chocolate. In this story, we learn of Silke’s life on the streets and how she came to be there. We follow her on her new adventure when she is recruited by the crown princess to become a spy in the palace during the much feared visit of the Fairy King and Queen of Elvenden. Unlike the previous book which was told from Aventurine’s viewpoint, this story comes completely from Silke’s perspective and as such is a roller coaster of emotions, fierce protectivenesss, bravery and denial. Determined to discover what happened to her parents 6 years ago, trying to patch up the broken relationship with her older brother and struggling to prevent the dragons and fairies from beginning all out war, this plot carries the reader along with Silke and her stubborn determination that stories will fix everything. Silke’s brittle shiny exterior disguises her longing to be loved and accepted by the people she cares about and all her decisions are affected by this desire. Not only does the story help us empathise with the challenges refugees face but it also gives some insight into the mental turmoil a looked after child might be under when they have been without a stable family environment for so long.
An easy read for those who love fantasy, this could be enjoyed as a continuation of the saga of Drachenburg and the dragon and humans alliance. However, for more thoughtful immersive readers it is an emotionally challenging and heartwarming tale of love in all its guises.
Schoolbk blog 