Richard: The Dragon's Curse is a work of fiction in the science fiction, adventure, and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general YA and adult reading audiences and was penned by author Michael W Hickman as the third installment in the Richard series. In this thrilling cosmic adventure packed with love and suspense, we find fifteen-year-old Richard Plantagenet, now a ruler of the Milky Way kingdom, facing new challenges as he navigates his rulership and harnesses his powers, including teleportation and conjuring. Amidst his political triumphs and newfound abilities, Richard's focus remains on Amber, his beloved and the mother of their children. However, Amber's pregnancy unleashes her feral instincts, leading to unexpected conflicts. Yet, this is just the beginning of Richard's troubles, as an ancient and malevolent dragon threatens to unleash chaos and destroy the kingdom he fought so hard to protect. Author Michael W Hickman weaves a captivating narrative, skillfully blending elements of love, intrigue, and cosmic adventure. The story unfolds with a sense of urgency, drawing readers deeper into Richard's world and the looming threat of the dragon. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to other dimensions and realms, immersing them in a rich and imaginative universe. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships and personal growth drive the narrative forward. Michael W. Hickman's storytelling prowess shines through as he delivers a captivating tale that will keep readers engaged until the very end. Fans of cosmic adventures and epic sagas will find this book a worthy read. Overall, Richard: The Dragon's Curse is a satisfying third installment to a fantastic and engrossing series, providing a thrilling and emotionally charged climax

In Hickman’s latest SF series entry, an Earth teenager who’s also the king of the Milky Way galaxy prepares to defend his massive realm against an ancient enemy dragon. “So many things have changed since I've left home, and it's only been about ten months,” understates young Richard Plantagenet in this continuation of a saga begun with Richard: Distant Son(2022). Until recently, he was Richard Drumm, a small-town Ohio teenager; then he found out that he’s the hereditary heir to the throne of a galactic kingdom. This spacefaring destiny has been brewing for 1,000 years, ever since his royal grandfather and immediate family members died due to a conspiracy by a jealous usurper. The revelation that a boy from Earth—a despised planet—carries the crucial Plantagenet DNA has led to much plotting and scheming; although many planets of the realm celebrate the return of the monarchy, the power-hungry Senator Spartacus and his conniving family want to take control themselves. In this installment, they launch a conspiracy to abduct and murder the teen, but are unaware that the boy’s steadfast guardian—an artificial alien lifeform, or AAL—has created an emergency duplicate of Richard, dubbed Henry, for just such occasions. Richard and Henry are switched, but the price of escape turns out to be a steep one. The Spartacus household sends an assassin among the foxlike citizens of the planet Beowulf to kill Richard’s pregnant queen, Amber. However, the essential function of the Plantagenet king is to enact a once-a-millennium defense of the galaxy, partnering with satyrs and flying horses against a banished species of long-lived, teleporting dragons. The barrier between the dragon’s prison dimension and the capital world of Krel is thinning, and Richard must do his duty. Blending SF, mythic fantasy, not-very-hard science, and references to Hollywood SF properties (even the TV series Sliders gets a shoutout), the epic narrative offers readers a mixture of the sophisticated and the jejeune. The latter aspect is sometimes abetted by close encounters of the bathroom-humor kind; one such moment elicits this reaction: “Richard almost lost his breakfast. ‘You have got to be kidding me!’ ” There are still some unanswered questions, carried over from the series’ inception, about mighty beings who transcend time and space and oversee everything with godlike authority; they include AAL’s mentor, Olaf, an ordinary-looking old man in a battered hat who’s invisible to most. There are deeper themes at work amid the action and menagerie of unusual creatures: Human beings are portrayed as having run the Milky Way government for centuries, mainly for their own benefit, and marginalizing a vast number of other intelligent species along the way (including rabbit folk, multi-limbed extraterrestrials, merpeople, and centaurs, among others). Fair-minded Richard not only launches his progressive reign with inclusivity in government and society, but also mates with foxlike alien Amber, which many consider taboo. As such, readers should be prepared for references to interspecies sexual couplings and sperm-related procedures, as well as profanity. A tale of a once-and-futuristic king that combines juvenile adventure elements and more mature intrigue

Title: Richard Subtitle: The Dragon's Curse Author: Michael W Hickman Genre: Young Adult - Sci-Fi Appearance: The appearance of a book can make a significant impact on the experience of a reader, whose enjoyment is often enhanced by an enticing cover, an intriguing table of contents, interesting chapter headings, and when possible, eye-catching illustrations. 5 Plot: The characters of a book should be well defined with strengths and flaws, and while they do not have to be likable, the reader does have to be able to form a connection with them. The tone should be consistent, the theme should be clear, and the plot should be original or told from a unique perspective. For informative books -- those without plot and characters--this rating refers primarily to your concept and how well you presented it. 5 Development: Development refers to how effectively you told your story or discussed your topic. The dialogue should be realistic, the descriptions should be vivid, and the material should be concise and coherent. Organization is also a key factor, especially for informative books -- those without plot and characters. The order in which you tell your story or explain your topic and how smoothly it flows can have a huge impact on the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the material. 5 Formatting: Formatting is the single most overlooked area by authors. The way in which you describe scenes, display dialogue, and shift point of view can make or break your story. In addition, excessive grammatical errors and typos can give your book an amateurish feel and even put off readers completely. 5 Marketability: Marketability refers to how effectively you wrote your book for your target audience. Authors may include content that is above or below the understanding of their target reader, or include concepts, opinions or language that can accidentally confuse or alienate some readers. Although by its nature this rating is very subjective, a very low rating here and poor reviews may indicate an issue with your book in this area. 5 Overall Opinion: The overall starred rating takes into account all these elements and describes the overall reading experience of your reviewer. This is 5 the official Readers' Favorite review rating for your book. Review: Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite Richard: The Dragon's Curse is a work of fiction in the science fiction, adventure, and action subgenres. It is suitable for the general YA and adult reading audiences and was penned by author Michael W Hickman as the third installment in the Richard series. In this thrilling cosmic adventure packed with love and suspense, we find fifteen-year-old Richard Plantagenet, now a ruler of the Milky Way kingdom, facing new challenges as he navigates his rulership and harnesses his powers, including teleportation and conjuring. Amidst his political triumphs and newfound abilities, Richard's focus remains on Amber, his beloved and the mother of their children. However, Amber's pregnancy unleashes her feral instincts, leading to unexpected conflicts. Yet, this is just the beginning of Richard's troubles, as an ancient and malevolent dragon threatens to unleash chaos and destroy the kingdom he fought so hard to protect. Author Michael W Hickman weaves a captivating narrative, skillfully blending elements of love, intrigue, and cosmic adventure. The story unfolds with a sense of urgency, drawing readers deeper into Richard's world and the looming threat of the dragon. The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to other dimensions and realms, immersing them in a rich and imaginative universe. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships and personal growth drive the narrative forward. Michael W. Hickman's storytelling prowess shines through as he delivers a captivating tale that will keep readers engaged until the very end. Fans of cosmic adventures and epic sagas will find this book a worthy read. Overall, Richard: The Dragon's Curse is a satisfying third installment to a fantastic and engrossing series, providing a thrilling and emotionally charged climax.