We Are Dragon

Rieka is a technical genius who has spent her whole life aboard Constructs. These giant mechanical creatures have spent years battling each other for territory, but now they must join forces to defeat Dragon, a new enemy created by Queenie, a rogue AI programme.

Coll, Fillan and Rieka - the Cub crew - are at the forefront of the conflict and Rieka's technical ability is vital to their plans. Rieka feels that only she can defeat Queenie, restore order to the world and rescue their lost crew mate, Brann. However, Rieka communicates better with machines than with humans, and this proves to be her weakness.

We Are Dragon is a brilliant conclusion to what has been a truly amazing series. The author introduces many thought-provoking themes, such as abuse of power and the frightening impact AI can have upon society. At first, Coll, Fillan and Brann are willing to support Rieka, but as her power grows, they begin to have doubts. She uses Kevin, an Ant construct who is Fillan's devoted companion, as a pawn in her plan, viewing him as just a machine with no rights of his own. Rieka is so desperate for the approval of Ander, the leader of Lion, that she persists with her ideas regardless of what others think. She also has to face secrets from her past which affect the way she thinks now. We see the importance of free will and of real teamwork.

I have loved this series of beautifully written novels. I would recommend that they are read in order - I Am Wolf, I Am Raven and now, We Are Dragon - in order to get the most from the storyline. Rieka is a wonderful heroine, flawed but brave and loyal, she wants to do the best by her friends but is not always sure how to do this. Coll, Brann and Fillan are perfect foils for her; they know she is essential to their defeat of Dragon, but are not afraid to challenge her when they think she has gone too far.

Special mention must go to the amazing cover artwork by Karitas Gunnarsdottir - so striking and vibrant. All in all, the whole series will make a great addition to any bookshelf or library. Highly recommended.

240 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Dragon is taking over the world, run by the AI 'Queenie' who thinks she is saving everyone, when in fact she is enslaving them. Rieka, now part of the Cub construct, thinks she knows how to deal with Queenie and Dragon. Rieka knows she is clever enough and can use technology to destroy Dragon and free the other constructs. But Rieka is not necessarily seeing the world clearly and her decisions could undo everything she is trying to change.

We Are Dragon is the third and final part of the trilogy which started with I Am Wolf. The setting, with its animal constructs and technology, is so cleverly created I was able to pick up from the last book really swiftly. In fact I read this book in one sitting, the very definition of un-put-downable!

Rieka is an interesting character because she is flawed and does not realise that herself. She is impatient and thinks herself superior to anyone else, without recognising the good qualities of her friends. In fact, she is more like Queenie than she would care to admit. The battle scenes are vivid and yet not too graphic and the different constructs wonderfully imagined. The cover by Karitas Gunnarsdottir is marvellous (I am a dragon fan anyway, even when, like here they are the villain) and the bright green with the dragon superimposed is so striking.

I have only quite recently found Alastair Chisholm books but I love science fiction and have really enjoyed his writing. I must now try and get some others out from the library.

240 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+