And this comes in the form of a nine-fingered Cajun teenager called Squib. When you’re presented with a character like Vern, it’s obvious there’ll be something sooner or later to kick him back into action.
While the grouchy old has-been with a drink problem and a hatred for humanity is a tried-and-tested stereotype that has itself become as cynical as its subject matter, it’s pretty darn funny to think of a dragon lounging about watching Netflix. I laughed from practically the first page. If you read the Artemis Fowl books as a child and fell in love with Eoin Colfer’s humour and style, you’re in for a treat with his first adult fantasy novel. The scene setting in Highfire is well done, with a narrative tone to match that carries through the story. These were sometimes almost out of place, yet often the moments I laughed the hardest.
But the tiny links to modern times, such as selfies, James Corden’s talk show, and a mafia boss with a standing desk, give the occasional zap back to present times. The location described often seems caught between timelines, with a cast of characters that would probably look the same were the story told in a past era. It’s little details like this that made Highfire such a captivating read. Hilariously his presence has managed to create rumours of a swamp monster, but on the wrong island. As the potential last-of-his-kind, he’s become self-exiled to an island in the Louisiana swamps where he spends his days watching cable TV, keeping the alligators in line, and avoiding anyone human. But these days, Vern is usually full of vodka rather than fire.
Vern was once Lord Highfire, master of the skies and fire-breathing doom to many a village. But there’s always room for another one.Īccording to Eoin Colfer, dragons used to rule over us. With the amount of world mythologies that contain dragon-like creatures, there has to be some basis for their existence at some point in history, right? And yes, there are so many variations of said reptile throughout pop culture and folk tradition alike. The main reason I picked this book? It had dragons in it.
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