The children of the Godswood Village grew up hearing stories about the Thrax, a fearsome dragon “with scales like iron
plates and teeth as long as battle swords.” Because the Thrax had not been seen in over 100 summers, these always
seemed like fairy tales to Jaykriss, the 14-year-old son of Glyndich, the powerful village War Chief.
Until the Thrax returned—and killed Jaykriss’s father.
Jaykriss dreams of avenging his father’s death by subduing the Thrax and recovering the Bloodsword, a treasured family
heirloom Glyndich lost while battling the dragon. But Jaykriss struggles with his father’s legacy, balancing the need to
protect his mother and sister with the desire to nurture a budding attraction to Sola, the brilliant baker’s daughter he finds
himself falling hopelessly in love with.
Jaykriss and his best friend Marda are hunting a prize deer in the forest when they are attacked by the Thrax. During their
frantic flight from the dragon, they stumble upon an eccentric hermit named Zamarcus who lives in a hidden cave stuffed
with gadgets and books from long ago. Zamarcus enlightens Jaykriss about the many secrets of the Old Times—and
some ugly buried truths about the all-powerful Dark King, a seemingly immortal being who rules their world with an iron
fist.
Although he is not a warrior like his father, Jaykriss realizes that he can use his intellect—and the knowledge given to him
by Zamarcus—to defeat the Thrax, recover the Bloodsword and save his family. But he soon realizes that there are other
secrets he must contend with, including his own fate. It could be the destiny of Jaykriss to save the world—but that
destiny, however great, may cost him his life.
The Curse of the Thrax is the first book in The Bloodsword Trilogy by Mark Murphy.
About the author
Mark Murphy is a nationally recognized physician and award-winning writer whose first novel, The Shadow Man, was
published in 2012. He has been selected for membership in "America's Top Doctors" every year since 2003, and has
been voted as "Savannah's Best Gastroenterologist" by the readers of Savannah magazine every year that award has
been given. Dr. Murphy writes a regular Op-Ed column in the Savannah Morning News, has been a student at the Iowa
Summer Writing Festival a number of years, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the acclaimed Savannah Book
Festival. Dr. Murphy married his high school sweetheart; together, they raised two sons. They now reside in a house on
the Vernon River near Savannah with a menagerie of semi-wild animals—but no dragons. At least, not yet
My Review:
This is the first book in a series and it introduces the characters and their known world. There is even a map that was helpful as I read through the book. There is even a section that they don't know what is out there. I loved that the hero is 14 and he is trying to avenge his father's death, even though he bites off more than he can chew. There is a cliffhanger at the end, and I hate waiting for the next book in a series. This is a great beginning to a series! I am giving this book a 3/5. I was given a copy to review from PR by the Book, however all opinions are my own.
Would you say this is more of a middle grade book or a young adult book? I ask because my son, who is just entering middle school, loves these types of stories.
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