The Deadlands

March 27, 2023
In a fast-paced trilogy opener, dinosaurs have been capable of “songs and thoughts and language,” dreaming, and waging war ever since they were exposed to the star-mist created upon impact of a cataclysmic asteroid 50 years ago. The Mountain Kingdom and the Prairie Alliance—two warring, herbivorous factions—have been at odds for decades. So when, in a moment of compassion, Mountain Kingdom princeling and storyteller Eleri, an oryctodromeus, saves the lives of Prairie Alliance soldiers, he’s exiled by his peers to the Deadlands, “an endless sea of charred bones and barren wastes” that is home to innumerable carnivores. There he encounters other young exiles: airborne anurognathid spy Zyre, grumpy triceratops and Prairie Alliance soldier Tortha, gregarious genius ankylosaur Sorielle, and oracular sauropod Lerithon. The quintet form a tentative herd and endeavor to end the war for good, but their quest instead uncovers an insidious carnivore scheme. Melki-Wegner (The Hush) centers intrepid apparent rivals learning to trust and rely on one another while facing natural hazards and threats at every turn. The narrative’s emphasis on—and carefully researched depictions of—lesser-known dinosaurs will undoubtedly spark interest among Jurassic enthusiasts, and the engaging adventure will entice readers to subsequent volumes. Ages 8–12.

February 1, 2024
In this trilogy closer, an unnatural alliance between the predatory Carrion Kingdom and the armored plant eaters of the Prairie Alliance forces the herbivorous residents of the Mountain Kingdom into a desperate last stand. Recapping the protagonists' earlier exploits as she goes, Melki-Wegner brings her all-dinosaur cast back together for a furious (if nearly bloodless) climactic battle. Eleri, the gracile Oryctodromeus exile, and the rest of her multispecies Grotto herd reach the beleaguered Mountain Kingdom just in time to face not only a massive army of invaders but also treachery from supposed allies. Though the author is far too dependent on convenient magical gimmickry to keep things moving--inflammable rocks, two kinds of toxic plants--readers willing to roll with the contrivances (and to picture dinosaurs who talk like this: "There's a whole Army of Beasts about to come chargin' into this vale, and we ain't got a plan to stop 'em") will be rewarded with an engrossing whirl of fights, sallies, ambushes and betrayals, narrow squeaks, and courageous exploits, all leading to a climax that plays out against a massive conflagration and an even more massive flood. Through it all, the Grotto herd's steadfast trust in each other provides a steady anchor, and the battle's decisive outcome ultimately hinges on personal loyalties and steadfast adherence to noble principles. A tidy resolution achieved through courage and sturdy values. (map, species list) (Adventure. 9-12)

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