The Secrets of Droon 23 – The Fortress of the Treasure Queen

Tony Abbott's The Fortress of the Treasure Queen is a Droon adventure for 7 year olds in which the children's worst enemy might just be on their side.

What happens

For as long as Eric, Julie and Neal have known him, Lord Sparr has been the wicked sorcerer trying to take over Droon. Now, after a spell went badly wrong, he's a boy their own age. He says he wants to help. But can they trust him?

Eric isn't sure. He's also in trouble of his own. He broke the first rule of the stairs by bringing a talking wooden bird home from Droon. Now things are starting to swap between the two worlds, beginning with his mum's cookie jar.

The bird can't remember its mission. It only knows Eric's name and a strange warning about "the hands of the sorcerer".

Then young Sparr spots two beasts flying towards the island fortress of Queen Bazra, who collects treasure and magic. Sparr is sure an old submarine built by the beast emperor Ko is locked away somewhere inside. To get through the gate, everyone dresses up as magic traders (Neal goes as Mr Blue).

This one comes a long way into the series. Eric and Julie have magic powers of their own by now, and the story leans on lots of earlier adventures. A reader starting here will pick it up, but they'll get more from it with some of the back story.

What makes it is the not-knowing. Sparr is funny and eager and quick with a spell, and he also has fins behind his ears and keeps remembering bad things his older self did. You'll find yourself changing your mind about him right along with Eric.

Queen Bazra is a treat. She's short, round and entirely pink, and Neal mostly wants to know if they'll be allowed at her buffet.

There's peril in the usual Droon way, with a four-winged moon dragon called Gethwing and guards with two dog heads each, but it's adventure rather than anything frightening.

What to read next

To see Sparr when he was still grown-up and properly wicked, go back to The Sleeping Giant of Goll, where he's digging up an enormous bronze giant to do his bidding.