Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Dragon Thief - S. Andrew Swann

Dragon Thief
S. Andrew Swann
DAW, Apr 7 2015, $7.99
ISBN: 9780756410131

Mediocre thief Frank Blackthorne reels from his mind transported inside the body of Princess Lucille of Lendowyn while she occupies a dragon who in turn resides in the incarcerated Elharg the Unwise Wizard who finds himself inside Frank (see Dragon Princess).  Several months of being a female royal leaves a bored Frank needing a respite from his gilded cage.  He sneaks away from negotiations with the Duchy of Dermonica and his dragon mate for time with a tavern wench Evelyn, but his husband tracks him down.

The Dark Lord sends the married couple a wedding present.  Frank as the princess deploys the artifact in an attempt to become a man again.  The relic works as Frank turns into the male Snake the thief wanted by two angry deadly guilds; while a grateful Snake becomes Princess Lucille.  Realizing what he wrought on Lendowyn, Frank as Snake dodges assassins and worse with only Snake’s groupies abetting him in his effort to save his mate’s kingdom from the cursed switch.

The second amusing “Thief” quest fantasy continues the misadventures of an antihero; who desperately tries to rectify what he caused with his latest body switch that left a fox in the royal hen house.  With a nod to Freaky Friday, fans of lighthearted farces will appreciate Frank’s reflections on his swimming in the cesspool of life.


Harriet Klausner

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