She was born into it. No choice. She was a freedom fighter, working alongside her courageous and loving parents to bring justice to the galaxy. That is, until the Alliance captured them. Too young to be sentenced to death with her parents, Megan Willis was branded as a pirate, fitted with a shock collar, and kept as a slave to an Alliance officer.

Soon after her thirteenth birthday, the Nebula Nine is attacked, leaving Megan as the only survivor.  Now, she’s stranded on Delta Ninety-eight  – where storms turn friends into enemies, slave traders are around every corner, and mysterious beings keep children hostage – with computerized Emerson as her only guide. 

Megan is sure that her mother is alive somewhere. She has to find her! But, Megan feels that she cannot leave Delta Ninety-eight without searching for the captain’s lost son or helping the oppressed kids who will be with him. Megan’s decision launches her into a world of evil and danger she couldn’t fully predict, but also gives her steadfast friends to fight with. Along the harrowing and heart-probing journey, Megan finds that she was born into more than she ever imagined.

Search for the Astral Dragon, book one in Bryan Davis’ new Astral Alliance Series, is a brilliant Sci-Fi for young adults.

Although this book is written in First Person – a switch in Davis’ style – there is nothing singular about this book. He does such a good job fleshing out other characters – both good and bad! You don’t feel like you’re stuck inside of Megan, rather her viewpoint gives us the feelings, actions, and viewpoints of other characters in addition to her own. Yet, Megan’s story keeps the primary focus and we don’t feel like we’re missing any aspect of her world. It is so well written! This is definitely one aspect of writing in First Person that I would love to improve on myself.

Search for the Astral Dragon has an intense story plot (typical for a Bryan Davis book), barely giving readers a breath before more perilous adventures arise. However, the soft lilt of hope stirs through every scene, keeping readers on the edges of their seats.

Bit by bit, Davis reveals the startling and ambiguous nature of Megan’s world, until you are wholly wrapped up in it and the characters who live there. It’s the perfect setting for such a perilous journey!

So, when we read the back cover, or hear a review, and see that the character is going to face peril throughout the story, why do we pick it up?
Because we want to see them fight. How do they choose their weapons? Who fights with them? How do they find the strength and courage to keep on? We read because we want to see them fight and, hopefully, win.
We live lives similar to those portrayed in these books, although usually less dramatic and fantastical, so we want to read about the heroes and heroines who have asked the same questions, fought the same battles, and one way or another found the strength to keep on.

Megan’s world is in a whirlwind. She has so many questions. What is her purpose? How can she find strength and courage to fulfill her purpose? Is human life sacred? Is it okay to kill those who threaten you and your friends? What is justice?
Just when Megan begins to get a grip on her newfound life and purpose, new secrets are unveiled and fatal circumstances arise, and things begin crashing down around her again. How will she find the strength and courage to fight on?

Megan’s story begins in Search for the Astral Dragon, but it’s not over. We are eagerly awaiting book two in the Astral Alliance Series. Once again, Bryan Davis thrills his readers, leaves them on edge, and invites a host of emails begging him for another book!

Praise be to God, who works all things in justice and righteousness. “Your throne, O God, will last forever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6). “The Lord is known by His justice” (Psalm9:16a). “He will judge the world in righteousness and govern the people in justice” (Psalm 9:8). Although there are many injustices in this world caused by men with evil hearts, “it is from the LORD that man gets justice!” Hallelu Yah!

How would I sum up Search for the Astral Dragon?

“Love of family.” Her heart’s desire is to reunite with her mother; it’s the one thing Megan prays for every day.
“Zeal for justice.” She has to stop the SS Squad and put an end to child trafficking in the galaxy. 
“Compassion for the oppressed.” Those who are oppressed are her best friends. Megan not only sympathizes with them, she acts on their behalf.

“Pursue these treasures with all your heart,” she was told. “Sacrifice for them. And, if necessary, die for them.”