For a summer or two around age twelve – I don’t remember which – I got into a big dragon slayer kick. I’m not sure the reason behind it, but if the book entailed dragon slaying or dragon hunting, I devoured said book like a ravenous wolf (that is to say, wildly).

That’s why The Eyes of the Dragon originally caught my eye. The fact that it was written by Stephen King was a mere flourish in the icing on a cake. Like thousands of other ignorant people, I assumed he’d never written something outside the horror genre (although I’d debate it actually is horror that he writes).

Oh boy, oh wow. I loved The Eyes of the Dragon. No, it’s not a dragon story any more than it is a story of birds and bees (which it’s not). As far as birds and bees go, he does include one brief, PG scene that I believe is unnecessary, but that’s beside the point (although I understand if you feel it warrants this bowl of ice cream).

Anyone in the mood for some cockroach topping?

You see, there’s a magic to this book. Yes, there are the literal magics going on, but there’s a rare magic that few books capture other than this one.

In a nutshell, or more appropriately inside a cockroach’s exoskeleton: this is the story of epic villainy playing with innocent pawns for the purpose of leading Delain to tear itself apart. Long sentence over.

If you’ve ever wished to read a well-written, “modern” book that carries the aura of the Brothers Grimm or Asbjornsen, I’d like you to meet Stephen King for Kids, meaning this book is excellent.