This book is intended for middle-grade children and not my usual fare but I found it extraordinarily entertaining.

In Callie's experience, females are expected to have and use magic; albeit only as an amusement or for the arts.  Males are expected to be muscle-ladened warriors and never have or use magic.  Callie is a twelve-year-old child who isn't certain that they are anything in particular; however, they are sure they aren't a girl.  Their fathers are queer. Callie has a crush on Elowen (who uses she/her) and it's possible that Elowen also likes Callie; no idea if Elowen needs a label. Prince Willow doesn't seem to have a specific label either; liking both male and female clothing and having magical ability. And a new character is introduced, Teo, who isn't any of those things and uses xe/xir/xem.  It seems obvious that the author is trying to give identity to any child who picks up this book; and that's definitely not a bad thing.  In this story, Callie finally discovers there is an identifier for them which comes with the revelation that they are not the only one.

As the story starts, we see that Callie's found family now includes both Elowen and Edwyn.  Elowen is blossoming but Callie's fathers are still struggling to make sense of Edwyn and find a way to give him a sense of security. Callie thinks they have finally found peace in Helston and that they will soon graduate from being a page into a squire.  But the peace is broken when a group of Helston's knights and squires return badly bloodied.  They were ambushed by the Witch's people; who, naturally, had a different take on the event. But they did manage to bring back one of the enemy, still alive.  It's a boy; who catches Callie's attention.  Callie pleads with their fathers to not judge the boy by the actions of their adults.  The Queen and Adan, a nasty sort who enjoys hurting anyone who is different, have no patience with a creature that may be a dragon and the poor boy is immediately thrown into a dungeon.  But the altercation between Neal, one of Callie's fathers, and Adan where Neal appears to be trying to save an enemy combatant, draws the ire of all the townsfolk watching.  Neal is only barely tolerated due to his relationship with Sir Nick.  This event appears to be polarizing and Sir Nick is desperate to keep his family safe.  Unfortunately, his family tends to have their own ideas and it proves impossible to keep them all safe from racism and prejudices.

The Queen declares that they are now at war with Dumoor; which is, I think, just all the area of the forest outside of the city of Helston.  And for reasons that are not made clear, she anoints her twelve-year-old son, Willow, to be King and then recognizes all the twelve-year-old Pages in training to be officially Squires. Squires always accompany Knights into battle; so, in essence, she declares her city is run by a twelve-year-old who is protected by more twelve-year-olds. But before the procession is finished, a bully named Peter accosts Edwyn and declares loudly Edwyn's secret: he is magical.  Remember: males are not magical and to be so is to be unaccepted.  A scuffle ensues and both Edwyn and his sister, Elowen, who defends him, are both thrown into the dungeon, as well.

Willow sneaks away during the uproar and grabs Callie. Together, they take a secret way into the dungeon to save their friends. When they get there, it's a little late for Edwyn; he's been beat to a pulp by Adan. Elowen is about to lose her mind but the dungeon was designed to forestall magic so neither Elowen nor Willow are able to summon magic to open the doors.

After a fruitless argument with their Papa, Sir Nick, Callie determines that his way of talking people into being reasonable isn't working; hasn't worked for a long time.  Nick wants Neal to take Callie back to the woods where they lived in peace.  Callie is outraged when they learn that Papa isn't going back to break Edwyn and Elowen out to go with them. And that's when all four children decide they won't survive waiting for adults to "talk it out," taking Teo with them.  They head outside the city's walls into the dreaded Dumoor forest.  They were all brought up on the facts that dragons lived in the forest, that dragons all lie, and they all kill. But Teo is a dragon and saves them all as they leave the city…but is xe to be trusted?

All too soon, all their preconceptions and notions about dragons are completely wrecked.  And the four Halston children discover they might actually find a safe and happy home in Dumoor; even though the erstwhile queen, Alis, who is Queen Ewella's sister, is a bit forboding.  The four are also wary of the dragon Kensa; unable to decide if she is dangerous to them or not. But when they discover a threat to Halston and the loved ones they left behind; Callie realizes they have to get a warning to the city even if it means both Callie's and Teo's lives may be forfeit.

The plot is actually pretty complex for a middle-grade story and I found it very satisfying.  I think kids would like this.  There isn't any worldbuilding to speak of but the characters carry the show.  They are, of course, able to see things more simply and clearly than conflicted adults; but this story is for them, after all. The story did end with a cliff-hanger and I imagine I squawked as loud as anyone when I got there.  Fortunately, the third book is already on my table ready and able to be read.  ~~ Catherine Book

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