Morally gray characters take the lead in this multiple points-of-view story. Arcady is a thief, living on the streets of the city of Vatra. After stealing a magical item from the tomb of the most reviled person in history, the Plaguebringer, Arcady plans to start a new life--and find revenge. The theft unexpectedly brings forth Everen, the last male dragon in the kingdom. Everen supposedly holds the key to bringing more dragons back to the world: to bond with the person who triggered his return, and then kill him. Disguised as a human, Everen pairs up with Arcady, but as their individual goals and destinies become intertwined, they find that the survival of both of their worlds may be at stake. Additional subplots keep the action building, and the intricate worldbuilding and surprising plot twists will keep readers enthralled. VERDICT Lam's (Goldilocks) newest trilogy is a powerful nod to pursuing one's own path, wrapped in an intriguing magical system and dragon scales.--Kristi Chadwick

Lam (Pantomime) launches the Dragon Scales trilogy with this sumptuous epic fantasy. Young Arcady Dalca steals the magical seal off the corpse of their disgraced grandfather, who was unjustly blamed for unleashing a magical plague, hoping to use it to get vengeance against their grandfather's murderers. The theft causes a mystical storm that opens a hole in the Veil between worlds that allows the dragon Everen Emberclaw to pass through. Long ago, humans stole dragons' magic and banished them to a dying dimension. Ironically, humans now worship dragons as ancient gods, oblivious to the truth of the past. Everen, the prophesied last male dragon, sets out to find Arcady, steal their magic, open the Veil, and let his vengeful race reenter this world to fight for their freedom. Disguised as a human, Everen realizes to his horror that the seal has bound him to Arcady in virtual servitude. To gain Arcady's trust, Everen takes his sister Cassia's advice: "Make your little human love you. Do what you must. And then kill it." Lam crafts a dynamic world of mystery and magic populated by diverse characters with well-shaded backstories and conflicting motivations that add a layer of depth to this sophisticated fantasy. Readers will be eager for more. Agent: Juliet Mushens, Mushens Entertainment. (May)