Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2022 Gr 4–7—Patrick presents an extended version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin tale in this British series import. This version takes place 10 years after the Piper of "Hamelyn" was imprisoned by eight members of the Pipers' Council for using his pipers' training to make both children and young dragons vanish, nearly causing a war with the Dragon Territories. The past seems to be repeating itself when Patch, a disgraced student of the piping school at Tiviscan Castle, is imprisoned for 510 years after using the same dance tune to earn food and shelter. Patch finds unlikely friends in Wren, a girl who has been cursed into a rat, and the dracogriff Barver, whose impressive battle techniques help them out of numerous scrapes. Patch and his friends uncover clues to Hamelyn's motivations that lead to further adventures. Except for gender and age, no characters are given physical descriptions, including skin tones. Patrick's story is told in third-person limited, usually from Patch's point of view, but occasionally from Wren's. Patch's escapades seem to telescope one out of another, introducing more places like an abbey and a witch's hut where Hamelyn's old adversaries now dwell, and the castle where Underath the sorcerer cursed Wren. Despite the ever-expanding Piper world, the story stays focused on Patch, Wren, and Barker. VERDICT An engaging fairy-tale adventure that would pair well with Jessica Khoury's "The Mystwick School of Musicraft" series. Suitable for most libraries.—Caitlin Augusta - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2022 Patch stumbles into Patterfall barely alive, unable to remember what brought him there or who he is. But he does know this: he is a Piper, with the magical power to use music to affect the world and its inhabitants. Piping is a respected and admired skill, but its use is tightly regulated after the rogue Piper of Hamelyn led away a group of human children and promptly disappeared a group of dragon children as well. Patch uses his gift to help the town, but when his piping goes terribly amiss, the boy is thrown into a world of nefarious plots and dangerous magic. Joined by a gutsy girl-turned-rat and an amicable dracogriff (a dragon/griffin combo), Patch sets out to restore his reputation and save the kingdom. Patrick's clever, compelling story is set apart by the incredibly rich history and mythology of its world. It is by turns dark and funny, and the interspecies friendships ring warm and true. An abrupt ending is softened by the promise of a sequel. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.