Item - Under Dragon's Wing

This is a pretty good book, though it's hard to figure out exactly where its story fits into the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse (in it, dragons have been gone for several centuries, but this is definitely not set in Dragonlance's world of Krynn). Probably the most notable thing about the book is that it's the first book with the appearance that would last for the rest of this series; while the cover material and layout changed frequently during the first fourteen books, it was consistent from here on (until, of course, the second Endless Quest series was released in the nineties starting with Dungeon of Fear).

More reviews by Demian

This book has something of a Dragonriders of Pern vibe to it, which sets it apart from typical D&D modules. The protagonist is a young magic-user, and one of the adventure's major themes is 'learn to overcome self-doubt and trust yourself', which is also present in other entries in the Endless Quest series (such as Raid on Nightmare Castle and Song of the Dark Druid). Overall, this adventure is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. Also, as Kveto mentions, the choices feel strategic and epic (though as is common to many books in this series, the story has more successful endings than it probably should have). Also of note is that along several paths it's possible to be permanently turned into a dragon; if you want to explore this kind of theme further (although from a different angle) I recommend the excellent The Quest for Dragon Mountain in the Twisted Journeys series.

As for Sam Grainger's artwork, I don't believe it's bad, though it's true that his detailed drawings of dragons don't look their best in the series' small paperback format. All in all, this book is good enough to be considered a classic.

More reviews by Guillermo

This Endless Quest book is unusual for me, as I hadn't ever read it as a kid. For whatever reason, I'd never got my hands on it, so I'm left to wonder if I would have liked it. I think so.

In this book, you play Prince Treon, an apprentice wizard of a family whose kingdom is being invaded. You are sent off to a backwater village with your elven teacher for safety. Of course, you try to help your family, and adventure ensues.

It's set in an unusual world where dragons are creatures of legend, so when they appear it's a big deal. The book has a lot of tough choices, many of which are hard to predict as the best. Most concern military matters, which gives the book an epic feel.

The interior artwork is pretty poor, and the Larry Elmore cover is lifted from the D&D Basic Set (an annoying TSR trend, recycling artwork). There are a number of scenarios, one includes you transforming yourself into a golden dragon, that may even be permanent. I liked that you have a large family that gets involved in the plot, particularly your mother and sister, who are powerful wizards.

Overall, a good addition to the series.

More reviews by Kveto