Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon

If you’re brave, follow cousins Beth and Patrick to Libya in the 13th century. The town of Silene is being terrorized by a vicious animal that is eating livestock. The townspeople believe it’s a dragon sent by the devil. In order to appease the beast, the people believe they must offer a human sacrifice—a young girl named Sabra. When Beth tries to help Sabra escape, she too is tied up as an offering for the dragon. Meanwhile, Patrick and a new friend named Hazi join Georgius, a Roman knight who is serving in Africa to keep peace. Georgius decides to find the dragon and kill it. Georgius’s plans go awry when Beth and Sabra beg him not to kill the dragon. The girls know the true secret of Silene—the dragon isn’t its worst enemy. 

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon begins with Beth being afraid to stand up for a friend wrongly accused of cheating on a test. Beth says, “I should have done something to stick up for Rachel. But I didn’t. I was . . . afraid.” This conflict shapes the rest of the book. Unlike Beth, the Roman Knight Georgius does what is right even when it is difficult. Georgius relies on God to help him in dangerous times. When Beth goes back in time, Georgius’ example gives Beth the strength to stand up for her new friend, Sabra, even though it means facing a dragon. Beth’s experiences with the dragon are tied back into her daily life. Beth had “trusted God and tried to defend Sabra. That decision almost cost her life. But God had taken care of her. He even used a dragon to save her!” 

Beth’s and Patrick’s adventures are full of suspense and high-action scenes. The story has a surprising twist because, in the end, the dragon isn’t a bloodthirsty beast but a mother defending her children. Some readers will find the scenes with the dragon frightening, but they will cheer when the dragon is safe. However, readers may be terrified at the idea of adults being willing to sacrifice children to appease the beast. In the end, several people are injured, but no one dies, which allows the book to reinforce the idea of trusting God. 

In Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon, Georgius bravely faces danger because he trusts God. Georgius does what is right because he believes God will protect him. He is even willing to fight a dragon and a saber-tooth cat! Intermixed with the action are lessons about trusting God, even when it is difficult. The conclusion reinforces the message when Beth discusses standing up to bullies. She says, “We don’t have to stand alone. Georgius helped me remember that God is my help when I face trouble.”   

The Imagination Station Series books can be read as individual stories because each book focuses on a new adventure. Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon has many characters and a complicated plot that may confuse younger readers. However, black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the book to help readers visualize the events.  

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon is an exciting book that will engage readers and teach biblical principles that can be applied to children’s daily lives. The story focuses on Beth, a likable protagonist and a good friend. Whit, the man who sends the children on their time-traveling adventure, helps Beth connect her experiences in the past with her daily life. This helps reinforce the message and allows Beth to discuss how she will treat the bullies when she returns to school. For more exciting time-traveling adventures that teach biblical truth, check out The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Series by M.J. Thomas. Readers longing for adventure should also read the Dragon Slayers’ Academy Series by Kate McMullan and the Time Jumpers Series by Wendy Mass. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• A young shepherd disappears, and the villagers believe a dragon has killed him. To appease the dragon, “The village people are upset. They are demanding more sacrifices.” The village had been sacrificing sheep, but now they want to sacrifice human children. 
• The villagers decide to sacrifice Tarek’s daughter, Sabra. “Tarek leaped in front of his daughter. But his efforts failed. Three strong men held him off.” Sabra is captured and Tarek is thrown in a jail cell. 
• Beth jumps in and tries to help Sabra. “Sabra screamed and kicked at the men. Beth hurled herself toward Sabra. But her foot caught a tone. And she tripped. She tumbled headfirst into the stomach of one of the men. He gasped, and he fell down.” Sabra and Beth are tied together and left for the dragon to eat. 
• When Beth and Sabra are tied to a post, a saber-toothed cat “roars in [Beth’s] face. The beast opened its mouth wide. Its fangs were as long as her forearm.” A dragon appears and fights the cat. 
• When the dragon appears, the saber-toothed cat “sprang at the dragon’s neck. The dragon swung its head like a hammer. The blow knocked the saber-tooth cat into the air. It hit the ground with a hard thud. . . The dragon opened its mouth wide and let out a loud cough. Once, twice. . . and then a burst of flames shot forward.” The cat runs away, leaving the dragon with three bold streaks across its snout. 
• Beth and Sabra break their bonds and hide in the dragon’s cave. Georgius arrives and believes the girls are in mortal danger. “Georgius stood in battle position. His sword and spear were ready. The dragon charged forward. It swiped at Georgius. The soldier knocked away its sharp claws with his spear. . . Georgius raised his sword and faked to one side. Then he jabbed at the dragon’s neck.”  
• During the fight, Georgius’s blade slices sales off the dragon. “The dragon spun violently. Its mighty tail whipped around. It slammed into Georgius. The soldier was thrown like a rag doll.” The battle is described over five pages and ends when Beth and Sabra intervene on the dragon’s behalf. 
• Lucius, a soldier, tricks others into believing Georgius left his post without permission. Lucius, along with other soldiers, travels to the village to kill Georgius. “One moment, Prefect Lucius was about to charge at Georgius again. The next moment his saddle was empty . . .” The saber-tooth cat had knocked Lucius off his horse, and “the beast raked its claws across Lucius’s shoulder. It tore his armor free.” 
• When it becomes clear that Lucius will lose the fight against the saber-tooth cat, Georgius “threw himself forward. He trusts his sword in front of him. He reached down and grabbed Lucius’ sword . . . Georgius thrust the swords at the animal. . . he lost his balance. The saber-tooth slashed its claws across Georgius’s upper arm. . .” Georgius eventually kills the cat. The fight is described over three pages.

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• A soldier calls Beth and Patrick “castoffs, throwaways, dogs.”  
• A man calls his horses cowards because they ran away from the saber-toothed cat.  
• A soldier calls his horse a stupid animal.

Supernatural 

• With Whit’s help, Beth and Patrick use the imagination station to travel back in time. “The red button on the dashboard began to blink. Beth pushed it. The machine began to shake. There was a loud hum. Then everything went black.” 

Spiritual Content  

• Since the book is Christian fiction, not all references to God are listed below.  
• There is a contrast between two soldiers—one who is a Christian and one who is not. 
• Georgius, a Christian soldier, says, “Christos [Jesus] showed me mercy. He paid my debt of sin. So I show mercy by paying the debts of others. . . You have the means to pay your debts. These children don’t. Just as we can’t pay our debt to God. Only Christos can—”  
• Georgius tells Beth and Patrick that he does not fear others because “Christos told us not to fear those who can kill our bodies. Instead, we’re to fear those who can destroy our souls.” 
• The villagers believe a dragon has been killing people. One man says, “The dragon is from the devil.”  
• When Beth’s friend Sabra is taken captive, Beth prays, “God, please help me and Sabra.” Later, when Beth and Sabra are tied up as a sacrifice, Beth whispers, “My help comes from the Lord.” 
• When Georgius finds out that Tarek is in danger, he goes to help without anyone else. Georgius says, “I’m not alone. Christos goes with me.” 
• When Beth thinks she is about to die, she reminds herself Jesus “promised Christians life after death.” 
• A soldier Lucius prepares to fight Georgius, but Georgius refuses to draw his sword, saying, “My God will be my protector.”