Dragon's Winter by Kandi J. Wyatt

Blurb:

Scout the area.

Plan the escape.
Rescue the slave.
What could possibly go wrong?

Mere's continuing her apprenticeship in San Valencia, but when a strange illness affects everyone in the dragon colony including dragons, she's forced to help a pregnant girl find safety. 

Rescuing slaves is all in a day's work for Jareem, until a new slaver in town takes exception to Jareem's interference. Now, sick and with a wounded dragon, Jareem must free the slave and find Mere and the pregnant girl before the slaver.

The clock is ticking. The baby's due any day, and the slaver's persistent. Mere and Jareem must reach beyond who they believe themselves to be in order to bring the former slaves home in one piece.

 

When I read most books the first question I ask myself is if this is a book I would put on my shelves for my students, and why.  I have every book in this series so far. My students love them.  When they found out Kandi was a teacher that was another boost.

The first thing I thought after finishing this book was that my students today would be able to make connections. That is important to me.  The idea that slavery still happens around the world is appalling. However, this is very prevalent in this book.  The idea of standing up for what is right no matter what the risk is something we want our kids to learn.  

I felt very at home in the world Kandi has created. I have said before she is a master at world-building. You don’t just read about these places, people and dragons.  You walk beside them throughout the story.  You are there alongside them fighting for what is right.

As far as her characters go, they are all not only believable, but lovable.  I absolutely felt like I was on an adventure with friends.  One more thing. When Kandi creates her antagonist he is a character that you love to hate. This is a book that I highly recommend to young and old alike.