Overview: The Lionharts by Mike Lawrence

The Lionharts is the first of a series about a famiiy with various magical talents and the adventures they have cleansing their world from danger and harm. Modeled after Dungeons and Dragons, this book is chock-full of obstacles and challenges Flynt and Alder face as they go looking for their parents who left on a "job" and did not return. Chaperoning the boys, are their grandparents, Baba and Grammy. This Book 1 in the series is about the boys' search for the parents and the secorets they discover on their journey.

The Lionharts are a family of Questers - they go out on jobs to protect their town from external magical threats. More importantly, each Lionhart family member has their own unique gift such as strength or some form of magic. When their parents fail to return from a job, Alder and Flynt decide to search for and rescue them. They sneak out one night and head to the last place their parents went to - a tavern. The reader gets the impression that the people of the town don't quite appreciate the services rendered by the Lionharts. A fight breaks out in the tavern and we see Baba and Grammy, the boys' grandparents who have been following the boys. They quickly defend the boys and end the fight. The Lionharts learn from a troll with a traveling stew pot that their parents were seen heading toward the bog. The Lionharts head to the bog but there are obstacles with ogres, goblins, elves and a mist spell. The adventurers end up in the dragon, Maud's lair and we learn a secret about their mother as they rescue them.

This is an engaging (albeit fairly traditional) tale that kids will love uncovering. The art is bright, bold as they reflect the changing moods of the scenes, and engaging. The story flows smoothly as secrets unfold. Middle grade boys will enjoy this book, girls may too but the only major female characters are the mother (who we only meet at the end), and the grandmother (who is one tough woman). That said, fans (regardless of age or gender) and nonfans of Dungeons & Dragons, and of middle earth magical creatures, will enjoy this book. My only hesitation is that this isn't a new story and it was fairly predictable. The final reveal at the end though is a wonderfully refreshing twist readers will enjoy.