Morwen and her cats take center stage in the third book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede, which was a bold choice that paid off.
This time around we’re Calling on Dragons and Morwen is leading the way with Cimorene in tow. I think Ms. Wrede did the best she could with this one, which is mostly a transition between the first two books which introduced the Cimorene and Mendenbar to us and to each other and the last in the series where we meet their son.
This book has some fun moments, but it’s not the most fun book in the series. In fact, I think it’s pretty universally accepted that it’s the weakest book of the four and just there to do a thankless job. Even Ms. Wreded admits that she struggled with it. She didn’t want to write it, and it shows.
It’s not a bad book, it just has a job to do and it does it. Those are always hard books to write and to read, but there are some fun parts. the main saving grace is seeing the world and the characters from the point of view of the cats. We get some time with Kazul. Killer the hapless rabbit is mostly irritating, but can be funny at times. Morwen herself is a fun point of view character and she meshes well with Telemain.
The story doesn’t stand on its own, but it does what it has to do and doesn’t waste too much time getting to the end. It’s just that the author has taught us to expect more. That’s the danger of being so good, you set the bar too high for your future self.
3 1/2 Manage-Your-Expectations Stars
