Parents' Guide to The Dragon King: Otherworld Chronicles, Book 3

Products & Purchases

Based on the fictitious video game Otherworld, this story is strongly focused on gamers, with frequent references to gaming and Xboxes. Mountain Dew, popular with Artie, Kay and their followers, gets numerous mentions throughout the series; also mentioned are products including Coke, Pepsi, Red Lobster restaurant, Honey Nut Cheerios, Schwinn bikes, and YouTube.

Violence & Scariness

As with the first book, The Invisible Tower, there's a lot of violence as Artie and his knights fight the evil powers in Otherworld. They encounter scary mythical beasts, dangerous quests, and the ever-present, super-evil Merlin. The descriptions aren't overly graphic or gory but may disturb readers with active imaginations. In one scene, guards shoot at some of Artie's knights as they steal a sword from a museum in Istanbul, although no one's hurt. The Otherworld Chronicles' violence level is comparable to that of an E10+ video game.

As in the other books in the series, the mythical creatures are often grotesque combinations of creatures such as the Questing Beast -- half snake and half leopard -- or a sea of zombies with sucking tentacles instead of arms. These creatures, some from the King Arthur stories and some from the author's imagination, can be the stuff of nightmares.

The evil villain Merlin also gets creepier in this book as he gets closer to conquering the world and more addicted to "sangrealite". He abducts hundreds of kids and literally wipes England off the map although much of this is done with very little description and gore.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Addiction to "sangrealite" makes the villain Merlin even creepier as he gets closer to conquering the world.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The attraction and flirting among the characters continues but takes a backseat to the action.

Positive Messages

There's good camaraderie among characters who start out as average middle-school gamers but become adults through their adventures. Artie, his sister Kay, and their friends act honorably in their ongoing quest to save the world from the evil Merlin.

Positive Role Models

During the year in which the Otherworld story unfolds, Artie, his sister Kay, and their friends mature from geeky middle schoolers to young adults. Committed to saving the world, they carry the responsibility well and honorably. In the final book, Artie has truly become a king, realizing he's responsible for the safety of his family, his subjects, and the entire world. On a less positive note, Artie and Kay lie with ease and skill when questioned by police.

Educational Value

Author Nils Johnson-Shelton bases The Otherworld Chronicles #3: The Dragon King on the King Arthur legends, taking some liberties in developing versions with modern-day characters. Readers new to the Knights of the Round Table will learn something about King Arthur's court; those familiar with the legends may enjoy the up-to-date interpretation.