The Dragon Hoard
Tanith Lee
Paperback
(Tempo Books, Jan. 1, 1984)
The princess handed Fearless a black book, bound in gold, entitled 'The Hoarded Dragon.' Not to be read by the faint-hearted. Fearless read it aloud to Prince Jasleth. 'The dragon is as high as a house, with scales no sword can pierce, and a mouth so huge it can swallow an army in one gulp -- and once did just to prove it. It has nine hundred and fifty-four teeth, each three inches long and as sharp as a needle. It never sleeps, and it hasn't been fed in a hundred years..' 'Let's go home,' said Jasleth." Prince Jasleth is a young man under a spell to become a raven for one hour every day, on a quest to break the curse. Along the way he joins up with a horde of princes and meets many dangers, including enchanters, ogres, impossible tasks, and a beautiful princess who will stop at nothing to prevent them all from gaining the Dragon Hoard. This edition was published as #6 in the MagicQuest series by Ace Books, a reissuing of classic young adult fantasy novels.