Draconis chronicon
Salerno, 1066. A preacher wanders the streets announcing the end of the world: “The Beast is stirring again! Fear the dragon, because the day of the eclipse is near!” The young Barliario doesn’t pay attention to those words ofdoom, but that same evening his father, Rainardo, an alchemist, is surprised by a fire in his laboratory. When they bring him out, he is still alive but disfigured by the fire. And while Barliario watches over his bedside, a mysterious and hooded figure, Ahriman, appears and reveals to him: “As it is written in the Draconis Chronicon, bring me the fire of the dragon and Rainardo will be saved.” Barliario doesn’t need to think twice: he has to go. He is accompanied by his friend Shabbatai, who dreams of becoming a warrior, Trotula, a young medical student with a disarming intelligence, Mercuriade, with mysterious powers, and the very young Ligea, who can talk to the dead. Among brigands, werewolves and witches capable of unleashing storms, an epic adventure in which science and magic mix: in search of the dragon’s fire and self-discovery.
– The Goonies meets Ladyhawke in a breathtaking journey.
– In-depth characterisation of the characters with a comic (Shabbatai), a romance (just hinted at between Trotula and Barliario) and an identity plot line (Mercuriade).
– Strong conflicts (magic vs science, male vs female, good vs evil, desire vs fear) and short chapters with cliff-hangers to drive page-turning and a frenzied pace.
Manlio Castagna is a screenwriter, director and film critic. He wrote and directed his first short film before he had graduated. He then began to collaborate with the Giffoni festival and was its deputy artistic director for a decade, until 2018 when he made his debut as a novelist with the bestselling Petrademone saga (Mondadori). He continues to churn out books and was shortlisted for the Strega Children’s Prize in 2021 with La notte delle Malombre (The Night of the Malombre), Mondadori.
