The Dragon's Pool is the third in a masterful series by Edward C. Patterson. He is a Sinologist extraordinairre.
In The Jade Owl, we meet most of our protagonists in San Francisco, Nick Battle, and his life-partner, Simon/Simone, Rowden Gray, and the rest of the 'China Hands' that include some of the best sinologists all interweaved in the history of China and the current study of China. The Third Peregrination, Owl's sequel takes us back to China and the China Hands once again, astound us with their courage, heart, and the magic and power that is an integral part of this series -
Now we have The Dragon's Pool...and although our favorite folks don't make it to China until over half of the book, the web of the story is gracefully spun by Edward C. Patterson, using the old and new characters to create a situation that must take our friends back to China to once again repair a tear in time, and rescue two innocents.
Those whom were thought 'family' friends are not, and mean evil to the China Hands. Those who were rescued, come forth into the most amazing book of the series to date.
Comets, dragons, oh yes, I said dragons, and the mystery that is Nick Battle that never fails to amaze, come into play.
The end of The Dragon's Pool is one of the most spectacular I have ever read and couldn't have even imagined, but not only is amazing, but shows love, hope and one hopes Mr. Patterson is writing book 4 of this wonderful series as fast as he can.
Mr. Patterson is a writer who knows his subject matter like no other, and he literally brings you with him in this wild ride of a series.
My words cannot do this series justice - it needs to be experienced.
In this instance - I would definitely suggest starting with The Jade Owl first, then The Third Peregrination, etc.
Edward C. Patterson also has a companion-like series starting with The Academician - The Southern Swallow - book 1 - that gives backstory to the series, but can stand alone.
This is one talented writer.
These are long books that as you read, will wish they were 100 pages longer - lightening fast action and characters you come to love as your own, and even great bad guys.
Long live the China Hands!!!
ellen george
The Dragon's Pool by Edward C. Patterson, ISBN 10: 1442170999, Kindle ASIN B0028RY7BQ, Dancaster Publishing, CreateSpace, review by ellen george
