Eoin Colfer, writer of the Artemis Fowl series, takes another turn at adult fantasy in Highfire. Be prepared, the language is salty, the humor is darker and the battles are bloodier. But there are still offbeat magical creatures trying to live in the modern world.
Who can resist Vern, a vodka swilling dragon who lives in a Louisiana swamp? Probably a lot of folks. After all, Vern is moody, grouchy and reclusive. Oh, and he is a dragon with a chip on his shoulder about humans, so he is prepared, in his remote bayou shack, to discreetly barbeque any human who crosses his path.
Enter Squib, a boy who loves his momma, but can’t quite stay out of trouble, even for her sake. Some of his trouble comes in the form of Regence Hooke, the town constable whose public persona hides the face of a corrupt stone-cold killer. When Squib sees Hooke murder a man in the swamp one night, he becomes Hooke’s next target.
While running from Hooke, Squib discovers Vern, who has all intention of barbequing Squib to protect the secret of Vern’s existence. A distraction, in the form of an alligator turf war, allows Squib to escape his fate. But Vern is not done with Squib yet.
Convinced by a good friend to put Squib to work as a delivery boy rather than fry him, a deal is struck. Squib will keep his life if he brings the dragon’s grocery shopping list to Vern’s shack and keeps his lips zipped.
Neither have thought about Regence Hook who has been running surveillance on Squib to find the best time to do away with the boy. As a result, Hooke too finds out about Vern and plots to use him to take out a mafia boss so Hooke can take over the territory.
The book becomes a contest between the good, the evil, and the neutral to see who lives or dies. It is also about the death of old grudges and the beginnings of tentative friendship and opportunity that will fundamentally change Vern and Squib.
If you want to spend time with cranky ole’ Vern and hapless Squib be sure to check out Highfire from any branch of your Augusta-Richmond County Library today.
