Review of “Highfire” by Eoin Colfer

This adorable book for adults (Jim: “A book about a dragon is for adults?” Me: “Most definitely, yes!”) is hilarious, satirical, insightful, and a rollicking good read.

The main protagonist is Vern (short for “Wyvern, Lord Highfire”), an antihero [i.e., a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes] who fits in perfectly with his swampy environment in fictional Petit Bateau, Louisiana. Vern spends his endless days drinking Absolut Vodka, chomping on Pringles, and watching reality television. He gets food, alcohol, and cable tv thanks to his go-between to the human world, Waxman, a nearby houseboat-dweller who is Vern’s only friend. But when Waxman has to leave for a while, Vern needs a new “familiar” to see to his needs, and Waxman recommends Everett “Squib” Moreau.

Squib is fifteen and “leaning toward” being a good boy. He works hard to help support his momma Elodie, who is a pretty nurse currently pursued by the corrupt town constable, Regence Hooke. Hooke is about as evil as you can get, but with an awareness that he is a psychopath (and proud of it!).

Hooke has plans to take over the drug running business from the New Orleans capo who pays off Hooke and other dirty cops throughout the area. He has visions of being a billionaire with Elodie by his side. (Elodie has special appeal for Hooke on account of having rejected him.)

Vern agrees to take on Squib as his familiar but only because he will indeed need one with Waxman not around. Vern’s first instinct was to kill Squib because Squib found out Vern existed. That information was dangerous to Vern. Vern is, after all, as far as he knows, the only living dragon left in the world, and there are plenty who, if they found out about Vern, would like to boast of killing him. What if Squib tells anyone about Vern, or worse yet, posts a video of him on social media? But Waxman argued:

“Vern, Lord Highfire as was. The older I gets, the more I realize that we is all just souls. All souls in different bodies. . . . Some souls are assholes and some ain’t. Maybe it seems like there is an inordinate amount of human assholes, but that’s just percentages. And I do believe this specimen of a boy is a good soul.”

Vern reluctantly buys into Waxman’s argument, and just as reluctantly grows fond of Squib, as Squib grows attached to Vern.

When Hooke, spying on Squib, finds out about his new job and more importantly, the nature of Squib’s new boss, Hooke comes up with a plan to eliminate Squib once and for all – Squib being a barrier to snaring Elodie. Hooke thought maybe he could even use Vern to vanquish the local mob and take it all for himself.

What follows is an improbably hilarious wild and violent showdown between the forces of good and evil, with the outcome never certain.

Evaluation: While this story certainly includes brutality and meanness, it also features endearing characters, unconditional love, touching friendship, satire, loads of humor, and all the elements of a great “fish tale” – or in this case, dragon tale. It’s a bit like a Carl Hiaasen book, but with a lot more warmth. There is plenty of deeper meaning too, such as the most obvious point that external appearance should not be an indicator of who is “human” and who is monstrous.

I found the coming-of-age, father/son aspects especially appealing. Highly recommended!

Rating: 4/5

Published by Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2020