Review: The Rising Wave (The Rising Wave #0.5) by Michelle Diener

Rating: 3.75⭐️

The Rising Wave is the prequel story to the first book of this series, setting out the characters and the series arc.

Ava is a princess of unusual magical abilities who’s been imprisoned for years in a castle and now seems destined to die shortly because of her captor’s agenda. A new prisoner, Luc, changes her plans for escape to include himself and together they flee the prison and that kingdom.

That’s the short story.

The more in depth version goes into their backgrounds, growing relationship, her magical powers which are highly sought after by multiple kingdoms, and the wars that are going on which Luc is a major part of.

I liked several aspects of this story. The unusual magical system is interesting, although after thinking about it overnight it also raises many questions about its uses. Part of this is that I just don’t sew. The idea of using thread and sewing patterns into fabric as vehicles for magical powers is unusual. I don’t think I’ve read this before the way it’s used here. However, afterwards, I did find myself wondering how useful this would be in instances where the mage or witch doesn’t have time to stop and stitch whatever pattern is needed. Even the simplest item takes time with needles and threads. As in “oh no, I need to stop and sew a dog(s) on fabric “. Yes, indeed. That happened.

I can’t imagine it. Standing still, let alone on the run. Or is that just me? Too subtle ? Give me a kaboom spell? Stitch a kaboom? Idk many questions.

The other thing is the rushed romantic aspect of the story. They meet up as brutalized prisoners, each hiding their own secrets. They’re on the run. And it’s instant love?

Made zero sense to me. As well as the author not building a relationship or solid foundation for this. There’s books to come so any instant love could happen later as well.

So some parts work. Others not so much.

I’ll be interested in seeing what the magic system does in different events and how Ava is going to handle it.

The Rising Wave (4 book series)

The Rising Wave #0.5 prequel

The Turncoat King: (Includes The Rising Wave Prequel Novella

The Threadbare Queen #2

Fate’s Arrow #3

Truth’s Blade #4

Buy link

Related to: The Rising Wave

Blurb

A princess intent on escape . . . Ava has everything ready for her last chance at escape from her years’ long imprisonment. She knows if she doesn’t succeed this time, she will die. When an injured warlord is thrown into her cell with her, upsetting her plans, she faces a dilemma . . . leave him to die or try to take him with her.

A warlord intent on rebellion . . . Luc may lead a rebel army, but now he’s at the mercy of his enemies, and they have no mercy to give. All except the woman imprisoned with him. She not only has mercy, she has a plan to escape. He just has to convince her to let him come along . . .

A partnership forged in adversity . . . Unable to leave him behind, Ava includes Luc in her plans, but escaping the castle where her cousin has imprisoned her is only the first step. Hunted by their enemies, she and Luc will have to trust each other, no matter how many secrets they’re keeping.

NOTE: THE RISING WAVE was first published as part of Warlords, Witches & Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology in November 2020. It is the prequel novella to the Rising Wave series and is followed by THE TURNCOAT KING.

Eclipse

Publication date

March 10, 2021

Language

‎English

Print length

111 pages

Review: Ale Storm (Tales from the Dragon Diner Book 4) by Lindsey Buroker

Rating: 4⭐️

Ale Storm picks up right after Rylana and Jildarin have decided to take their relationship to a different stage, a date and maybe more.

Plus there’s that pesky dwarf hunting horn that Rylana was given during the last story, one that glows blue on mysterious occasions, that she has to find out where it’s from before it causes her trouble.

Ale Storm predictably features a meal with ale, a special menu, and multiple storylines, all really interesting and involving the characters that live in and around the community.

It also has many dragons, ones who don’t seem to take no for an answer.

I enjoyed it. Found Jildarin somewhat less appealing, especially when he continues to be non-communicative about his plans and ever eager to repeat his mistakes when dealing with the other dragons. That’s getting old.

But her bestie the assassin elf? The dwarf baker? Love them. More of the community please.

Still a terrific series.

Tales from the Dragon Diner (5 book series to date)

Calculated Whisk #1

Knead for Speed #2

Morel Dilemma #3

Ale Storm #4

About Jam Time #5 – Nov 30, 2026

Buy link

Blurb

Now that her business partner, the dragon and award-winning chef Jildarin-grozanarav, has realized he has feelings for her, Rylana’s looks forward to going on a date with him. The elven queen has departed and the troll-god curse has been resolved, so it’s the perfect time for a moonlit walk and a kiss.

Or so Rylana thinks.

But dwarven thieves show up, ransacking the diner and looking for an antique hunting horn she recently found. Even worse, Jildarin has unearthed a centuries-old book on the proper protocol for courting a human woman. Now, he’s determined that he needs permission from Rylana’s father before they can go on a date. Lastly, the female dragons that want Jildarin to mate with them have returned and are threatening Rylana.

Why can’t life ever go according to plan?

Lindsay Buroker

Publication date

September 25, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

318 pages

Book 4 of 5

Tales from the Dragon Diner

Review: A Tale of Secrets and Sorcery by Vanessa Nelson

Rating: 3.75⭐️

I enjoyed this new fantasy adventure novel by Vanessa Nelson and feel it’s got some wonderful elements to it.

But after reading it, it feels very much like a prequel or half of a story for a larger version. The characters, the concept and overall powers here as laid out are intriguing. But in the scenes where,especially Evie’s magic is revealed in marvelous detail, the promise of increasing potential for her as “the most powerful sorceress” that he’s known to have any impact here never happens.

Even those gremlins, a fantastic asset to Evie and a element that I wanted to know more about, from their magical abilities to their backgrounds, their futures were left unanswered by the ending, a rushed finale that begged for a sequel.

But back to the main characters, Evie the magical librarian and Lord Fentemann, Barnaby, on a secret mission from his Queen. Evie’s got a great backstory and she’s totally believable in this fantasy. My issue here is that we get constant scenes where we’re watching Evie, along with the gremlins, bring alive fantastical legendary landscapes from descriptions in ancient tomes she and Barnaby are researching from . Where’s more of this in the story? More of her powers and her abilities here? This is what I want as a reader.

Even Barnaby, who is supposed to be a high level magician, isn’t shown any of the scenes to be that powerful. The characters are interesting enough but not entirely credible. Except for Evie and the gremlins.

The plot is very good. And its elements of an ancient earth based religion that’s been upended holds more promise than was satisfied by the storyline’s ending. Again, no real finish to the multi plots and characters.

It just ends with everyone just leaving to different paths with no resolution to the many different journeys of this novel. What happened to the Druids? The gremlins? The enemy?

And spoiler, that rushed romance and instant marriage felt less like a real believable event between two people and more like a plot device needed to bring the story to a close.

That is a shame. Because the beginning of this book is very different, layered and well done. Unlike the ending which feels rushed, unbalanced and unsatisfying.

So much potential for a sequel to set this right.

Interesting though.

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comA Tale of Secrets and Sorcery eBook : Nelson, Vanessa

Blurb

One librarian, one sorcerer, and a whole lot of trouble.

Evie has been doing her best to lead a quiet, unremarkable life, working her job as a librarian at one of the largest libraries in the world amid a collection of magical books and magical creatures that delight in causing mischief. She dreams of adventure even as she struggles to hide her magical abilities in a kingdom that executes rogue sorcerers. When a chance encounter leads to her secret being uncovered, Evie finds herself in the middle of a greater adventure than she could ever have imagined.

Lord Fentemann – Barnaby to his few friends – has been charged by his Queen with a special, dangerous and vital task. Already annoyed at having to travel to the kingdom to carry out research in the library, worse is to come when he is forced to go on the run. Someone doesn’t want Barnaby to succeed in his mission.

Thrown together, Evie and Barnaby realise that their best chance of survival is working together.

Can Evie and Barnaby work together to stay ahead of the Queen’s enemies and complete the mission not just for the Queen but possibly the whole world?

Review: Blood Jade (Phoenix Hoard #2) by Julie Vee and Ken Bebelle

Rating: 4.75⭐️

I will admit to absolutely consuming this series. I am so engaged in the dragon magic universe and contemporary world that these authors have so fabulously created for their characters and fantasy story that I read right through the entire series.

Blood Jade picks up after the events of Ebony Gate, where Emiko Soong finally accepts her duty as the Sentinel of the City of San Francisco. We all learn about a grander conspiracy and plot against her family and other clans from a mysterious figure known only as The General.

As with the first book, the authors have multiple important storylines coinciding with the emotional Emiko’s development between herself and the City, what that entails, as well as Emiko’s character learning to engage with others around her in real relationships. From someone who has chosen a life of isolation to that of connection that spreads through a City to families and communities she’s been avoiding, Emiko has to undergo a major change of heart and mind. The transition isn’t easy and accepting it completely isn’t something she can handle.

The journey towards her personal growth takes her back home to Tokyo, to face family and responsibilities she ran away from. And the story with all its new characters and complex storylines, weaves old memories and new paths together for an explosive story and several revelations.

Just a phenomenal journey and book. I can’t believe I had not heard of this before.

Get all three books and binge read them together.

Absolutely amazing.

Highly recommended and thrilled to share.

The Phoenix Hoard – 3 books completed

#1 Ebony Gate

#2 Blood Jade

#3 Pearl City

Buy link

Blood Jade (The Phoenix Hoard, 2)

Blurb

The follow-up to Ebony Gate, the critically acclaimed debut of Vee and Bebelle’s Phoenix Hoard series.

IT TAKES A KILLER TO CATCH A KILLER

Emiko Soong, newly minted Sentinel of San Francisco, just can’t catch a break. Just after she becomes the guardian for a sentient city, a murder strikes close to home. Called by the city and one of the most powerful clans to investigate, she traces the killer whose scent signature bears a haunting similarity to her mother’s talent.

The trail will lead her back to Tokyo where the thread she pulls threatens to unravel her whole world and bring dark family secrets to light.

Meanwhile, the General rises in the East and Emiko must fight the hidden enemies of his growing army who are amped up on Blood Jade, while keeping her promises to her brother Tatsuya as he prepares for his tourney.

Her duties as Sentinel and her loyalties collide when she must choose between hiding her deepest shame or stopping the General’s relentless march.

The Phoenix Hoard

#1 Ebony Gate

#2 Blood Jade

#3 Pearl City

Tor Books

Publication date

June 17, 2025

Edition

Reprint

Language

‎English

Print length

464 pages

Book 2 of 3

The Phoenix Hoard

Review: Glyphs & Merit: The Glyphwright Chronicles Book 5 by Jeremy Fabiano

Rating: 4⭐️

Glyphs & Merit shows definitive maturity and character growth in the the small group and couples that have formed over five novels in The Glyphwright Chronicles.

Marcus and Felix are now in established relationships, with Felix and Katherine soon to return home from their honeymoon. Rose Fairwind, Marcus’ sister, an artificer works alongside them and others now in their own home and shop.

This story is about Marcus and Felix working through individual issues, both personal and professional. They obtain a brother and sister as interns which affects their group dynamics and business model.

And they also have to deal with their future work in the Guild and other partnerships.

It’s a lot. Plus there is an overall plot that involves an old enemy who is undermining their work in an “invisible” manner.

Sometimes it seems as though it takes forever for various characters and storylines to get the heft and information they need to feel interesting and relevant. Not just laid down and left behind in the narrative.

It all eventually comes together. And there’s an engagement as well.

Does this feel as satisfying or as well put together as the books that came before? No, but Jeremy Fabiano has under a health crisis while he was at a conference, and makes (in his own notes) an apology for the errors found in the book because it was rushed to release.

Swift hopes to the author and I’m looking forward to reading his next book in the series.

A great series and I’m in love with the characters, including the new additions.

Cover design by Jacqueline Sweet Design

Glyphwright Chronicles (5 book series to date):

Ashes & Anchors #0.5 (Erasmus’s backstory)

Ink & Intent #1
Wards & Measures #2
Trades & Treaties #3
Vision & Venture #4
Glyphs & Merit #5
Legacy & Succession #6

Buy link

Glyphs & Merit: The Glyphwright Chronicles – Book 5

Blurb

Six weeks without Felix was supposed to be the hardest part of the season. Then the mayor walked into the shop with a problem the town had already failed to solve four times.

With Felix away and Erasmus at the capital, Marcus Fairwind is running the shop alone. He expected a quiet stretch of routine commissions and a partner home by month’s end. Instead, Mayor Weatherby arrives with a district that has gone twelve years without hot water and a budget smaller than the boiler it can’t afford.

The town has voted the replacement down four times. Marcus thinks Millbrook has been solving the wrong problem. The right one is a utility that serves every house on the line at once, and nobody in the region has ever built one.

Then a Senior Inspector asks him to take two apprentices on trial, and the Guild sends a board inspector to decide whether a shop this young has any business teaching anyone. Marcus has spent two years learning the craft. Now he has sixty days to prove he can explain it — while a quiet campaign against the mayor gathers somewhere he can’t see.

The Glyphwright Chronicles continues with civic infrastructure, first apprentices, small-town politics, one long-postponed question, and the lesson that the hardest part of mastering a craft is teaching it to someone else.

Pour yourself something warm, settle into your favorite reading spot, and discover that the work nobody sees is the work holding the whole town up.

op this young has any business teaching anyone.

Marcus has spent two years learning the craft. Now he has sixty days to prove he can explain it — while a quiet campaign against the mayor gathers somewhere he can’t see.

Unbounded Creation

Publication date

August 11, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

511 pages

Book 5 of 5

The Glyphwright Chronicles

Review: Dragon Rogue (Riders of Jade and Fire Book 3) by Melanie Ansley

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Ever read one of those books that you just both wanted to scream at when you got to the end and still loved? Yes indeed.

Welcome to Dragon Rogue, a book of storylines full of deception, betrayal, heartbreaking revelations and bloody violence that ends in a fight with shocking consequences.

And it starts right off with violence. Jin and her jade dragon are sent off by the Empress, a shady character herself, to kill the Empress’s “evil enemy”, the blood-bonded traitor Mengkhis Lai, rider of a jade dragon himself.

But things aren’t as simple as it seems. She’s fought him before and he’s let her live. And she’s been having fragmented dreams about her past and the Prince’s birth. It’s a labyrinthine narrative, full of false plots, intriguing stories about dragon natural history, and blood bonding.

Even the ability to summon ghosts and what it means to the lifespan of the summoner, the author barely touches on the aspect of this element. And it’s so fascinating and horrifying.

But all the tightly held secrets and connections that are being strung here, ones that feel more like chains than relationships, are the key. It’s well written, suspense filled, and realistic to the point of anxiety.

Then comes that ending. Amazing. Now to wait until September.

Fantastic series and great writing.

Highly recommended.

Cover Design: Get Covers

The Riders of Jade & Fire series:

Night of the Black Dragon (prequel novella)

Dragon Class #1

Dragon Flame #2

Dragon Rogue #3

Dragon Blood #4 – Sept 2026

Buy link

Dragon Rogue: A Clean YA Fantasy Adventure (Riders of Jade and Fire Book 3)

Blurb

Some truths rewrite the past. Others rewrite your soul.

Jin was sent to kill a man while he dreamed.
Instead, she woke a nightmare.

As the empire’s most celebrated dragonrider, Jin thought her mission was simple: assassinate the blood-bonded traitor Mengkhis Lai before he could ever wake from his mage-induced sleep.

But events at the Well of Fire go terribly wrong. Buried with the man she was supposed to kill, Jin begins to question everything—especially when Mengkhis claims the empress meant for them both to die.

Escaping the Well is only the beginning. Injured and forced to publicly lie about killing Mengkhis, Jin must decide whether to trust the word of the man she was trained to destroy—or risk being silenced forever by the empire that made her a hero. When Jin is put into training with the Royal Veil, the empire’s secret police, Jin decides to uncover the truth behind the mission that nearly killed her, and put an end to Mengkhis once and for all.

But the deeper Jin goes, the more she suspects the empress’s motives. Jin uncovers plots, secrets, and a destiny far greater—and more dangerous—than she imagined.

Her enemies want her dead.
Her allies want absolute loyalty, even at the price of love.

And the one person who may hold the answers… is the one she must kill to earn her freedom.

Review: A Rider’s Guide to Dragon Healing (Dragons of Safe Haven #3) by Julia Huni

Rating: 4 ⭐️

I enjoyed the third story far better than the second, circling back to characters who are older, been worn and in many ways, damaged by their past histories, in the particular case, a shared traumatizing event, caused by one of the main characters.

A Rider’s Guide to Dragon Healing sees the return of two characters who have had important roles and relationships with the main characters in this series.

Sarai Lavigne,a Tier One Healer, is dragon rider William Ordell’s sister. Someone who is thought dead by the ruler and Kingdom they both have fled. William and his dragon seeking sanctuary and retirement on Safe Haven, a mysterious island magically hidden from others and inhabited by multiple otherworldly species that coexist together. She has found her own way to a kingdom currently at war with the one they fled. She’s a beautifully written, multi dimensional woman, thoughtful, intelligent, whose past life has left its wounds.

Do I love her? Yes I do. As much as retired war witch, Calantha Stormbringer, who’s now William’s wife. The OG couple and story are great.

Then there’s Tyge de Xerrist, a dragon rider and his wounded dragon Sundri, who have fled the same ruler and Kingdom as William to Safe Haven, seeking help for his dragon who’s in desperate need of healing. Tyge and Sundri have been betrayed and she’s been ordered destroyed.

So Tyge should be a character we empathize with. But he has a problematic personality and backstory. He kidnapped Sarai previously in another story, and he’s a hot tempered bigot. He’s arrogant and insincere. So, even with a plot line that has him emotionally attached to his wounded dragon, Tyge is still his dragon’s and his own worst enemy.

And it makes him remarkably hard to connect with. I’m with Willam each time he talks to him about his racism/specism towards the islanders and inability to deal.

The growth of the dragons , including Sundri, their communications and abilities is a joy. As is all the relationships building around them.

However, I don’t think Huni made a case for Tyge’s character’s makeover here. It’s not credible in the short time frame that he goes from hardcore bigotry to total acceptance of the island’s character and history. And that the dragons have been able to “talk” directly to their riders all along, which he’s absolutely slow to believe even given proof in front of him.

So putting aspect aside a not so realistic scenario for Tyge’s redemption, I think it’s a very good story and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Eventually that nasty ol’ Kingdom will notice the dragons. Drama will be coming!

A real winner!

Cover design by David Drummond

Dragons of Safe Haven (4 book series to date):

A Dragon Rider’s Guide to Retirement #1

A Blacksmith’s Guide to Dragon-Rearing #2

A Rider’s Guide to Dragon Healing #3

A Guide to Mermaids and Mountain Trolls #4 – June 29,2027

Buy link

A Rider’s Guide to Dragon Healing (Dragons of Safe Haven Book 3)

Blurb

The only thing harder than mending a dragon’s wing is softening his rider’s heart.

Tyge de Xerrist would rather face a Borgonne army on foot than trust his dragon’s life to a witch. But exiled to Safe Haven with Sundri’s wing torn to shreds, the surly rider is out of options.

Sarai Lavigne is a Tier One Healer who has spent years mending the wounds of war. She’s ready to save Sundri, but his rider is her most stubborn patient yet. Even as Sarai and Tyge clash over dragon-lore and ancient grudges, they must work together to get Sundri back in the sky and help Safe Haven’s dragon fire brigade come to full strength.

A cozy fantasy with a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that won’t steam your glasses. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic, and K.M. Shea’s Magiford books—a tale of scales, soot, and second chances.

IPH Media, LLC

Publication date

June 30, 2026

Accessibility

Learn more

Language

‎English

File size

4.6 MB

Screen Reader

Supported

Enhanced typesetting

Enabled

X-Ray

Not Enabled

Word Wise

Enabled

Print length

332 pages

Page Flip

Enabled

Book 3 of 4

Dragons of Safe Haven

Review: Dragon Class (Riders of Jade and Fire #1) by Melanie Ansley

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Dragon Class, the first book in the outstanding fantasy series Riders of Jade and Fire by Melanie Ansley, is a book and series that I can recommend across the board for all ages.

I’ve already read through to the end of third novel and can say this one is very beautifully written series, so well executed and developed that each story exceeds the one prior to it.

Melanie Ansley, an amazing author I’ve discovered with this book and series, has taken historical figures and history as well as included some of China’s mythology and legends into her world building and characters.

The Tang Dynasty, its Empress Wu are facts she drew inspiration from and Aadan is modeled on a Prince Narsieh, who fled to China in 650’s with his father from Persia. So many of the elements here are based on things that actually existed in China’s “golden age”. It’s these layers of authenticity that add such richness and depth to this series and to the characters that exist within it.

The names are in the Chinese language order. Last names come first and what English speakers call first names are listed last when the full name is given. FYI.

Wang Kway Jin is our main character and she’s a standout among the multitude of similar dragonrider characters and series. The a storyline where Jin, a thief of unknown origins, steals a treasure that’s revealed to be a dragon egg. When it hatches, she and the rare jade dragon, form an illegal bond just before they are caught.

From this point, both Jin the lowly thief and Rayden, the rarest of dragons, fight to retain their bond while navigating the labyrinth of imperial Chinese societal laws and a Empress’s secrets and tightly controlling nature over her power, which includes Jin and her dragon’s future.

There’s an academy aspect to this, which layers in much of the history of the culture and current political landscape. It’s done so well that we feel a part of Jin’s character as she scrambles to survive in this new complex and dangerous world she’s living in and totally unprepared for.

The cast is as well executed as every main character. All the personalities continue to evolve and show development as this complicated narrative changes and gives us more secrets and expands into new territories and political disputes.

Persia, trade agreements, and the lack of dragons outside of the realm as well as how mages are educated and horrifically “created” to help channel their energy. It’s finely defined, broad in its reach and rich in its design.

But the emotional heft is beautifully carried by Jin and Rayden in a tightly held dynamic that the reader is absolutely connected to.

And the more she grows into her role, the darker the she situation becomes.

Just an incredible story and a cast of fantastic characters. A series that will deepen in the complexity and just get better and better.

Highly recommended for all lovers of fantasy and dragons.

Cover Design: Get Covers

The Riders of Jade & Fire series:

Night of the Black Dragon (prequel novella)

Dragon Class #1

Dragon Flame #2

Dragon Rogue #3

Dragon Blood #4 – Sept 2026

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Riders of Jade and Fire

Blurb

A thief without a future.

A dragon born for kings.

A bond that could ignite an empire.

In the shadows of the Tang Empire, Jin survives by stealing from the rich and keeping her head down. Until a single reckless heist binds her to Rayshan—a rare jade dragon destined for royal blood alone.

The bond should have been impossible.

Instead, it marks her as a threat.

Faced with a brutal choice between a lifetime in the mines or competing in the Dragon Class trials, Jin is thrust into the deadly world of the empire’s elite dragon riders.

But dragons choose warriors. Nobles. Men.

Not thieves. Not girls.

As deadly rivalries ignite and dark secrets stir within the palace walls, Jin is drawn into a dangerous world of court intrigue, where a charismatic prince with a talent for manipulation seems determined to keep her close—and a fierce foreign dragon rider understands her in ways no one else can.

But while the Dragon Class trains for glory, unrest is spreading across the empire. A ruthless Minister of War will do anything to see Jin fail, and beyond the empire’s borders, a growing darkness threatens to drag the realm into chaos.

If Jin loses control of the power growing between herself and Rayshan, she could lose far more than her place in Dragon Class.

And if she survives, she may become the spark that sets an empire ablaze.

Perfect for fans of dragon rider academies, slow-burn romantic tension, fierce heroines, and epic fantasy steeped in imperial intrigue. Dragon Class is ideal for readers of “Fourth Wing”, “Eragon”, and “The Lunar Chronicles.”

“An exciting adventure that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go.”

“The most well-written dragon rider book I have read!”

Writing Rooster Media

Publication date

October 25, 2023

Accessibility

Learn more

Language

‎English

Print length

408 pages

Book 1 of 3

Riders of Jade and Fir

Review: The Dragon’s Thief (Rise of the Golden Dragons Book 1) by Shelby Hild

Rating: 3.75⭐️

The Dragon’s Thief (Rise of the Golden Dragons Book 1) is the first book in a dragon rider’s trilogy by Shelby Hild, another new to me author. This review is going to be used for all three books as it’s about the series as well as the book as I’ve finished reading all the novels.

It’s a fantasy series I quickly read through in one day, each novel a flows through into the next. There’s little romance, some action sequences, political intrigue and lots of drama.

There’s some similarities between The Deagon’s Thief and another well known series. Hild starts each chapter of every book with ‘writings’ from a current dragonrider who’s using the history of her country as her thesis.

The focal point of her thesis is the hidden history and heroism of Quincy Durand, the rider of the Golden Dragon, Ezsearo, transcribed from historical records.

Which makes these chapter “notes” a bit of spoilers for the storylines that follow as we already know what happened.

I enjoyed Quincy as a young female character. This has the same elements as many other fantasy/dragonrider/academy tales. There’s adversity from higher status students and their parents to a low born person such as Quincy, and her circumstances. But it’s handled pretty well by her character as she adjusts to her new role.

There’s some interesting elements and also some aspects that I found worked against the characters and the overall series.

The fantasy storylines, the dragon friends, the shards, the otherworldly creatures, all nicely balanced together. I would have liked to have read more about the fairies, wyrms, and different creatures here but unfortunately an underdeveloped political plotline becomes the main series thread.

While Quincy’s character development moves forward from oldest sibling role helping with her family in her father’s absence to a teenager alone in an academy with a small dragon, learning to cope with political pressures and societal problems, a war on the horizon. Then onto assassin and spy and rider of a golden dragon. Her struggles to find her way feel credible. Especially when dealing with the turmoil within her family and the damage done by her leaving.

The potential for this to have been a better executed or even better developed series is here, imo. Hild did quite a few things that kept that from happening.

In a story about a dragonrider and her dragon, that dynamic and relationship is oddly absent from a majority of the series. It’s mostly about Quincy, her off on a variety of missions, leaving her dragon behind. Or having him go somewhere else. Her communication with him is actually less than it is with other dragons. She flies with him, but it’s brief scenes and the descriptions are underwhelming. Which really negates the reason most people are reading this. The dragons , the draw , are maybe a tenth or less of the story.

There’s a weird plot twist about a magical transporter mirror (which took my mind off to warped Disney aspects) and a really weak Queen and King main characters who never believe anything they’re told and left many a SMH moment.

And then curious and repetitive word choices by Hild who can’t find another word for blue eyes other than cerulean. The Queen is constantly looking at you through her “cerulean” eyes, in her many moods. Ditto the King. Maybe their son too. Let’s just say its overuse was noted. Other strange things like Quincy saying “career path “ was just jolting.

And having the villain be sent off to become someone else’s problem rather than actually dealing with someone responsible for the deaths of bonded young people and their dragons to say nothing of the war and the deaths and destruction that caused? That taught nothing. But definitely on par with the weak rulers and the way the narrative is set.

Finally, Hild’s story has disappearing characters like Yohm, Mithy and others who play main roles, and fade away at the end, only to be mentioned in a sentence and be dismissed.

All these things, positive and negative, are present in each book. The odd, repetitive words, the lack of dragon time in the plot sacrificed to a storyline about a weak Queen and her problems, and just overall narrative choices that kept this from being a better series.

It’s a good series but with notable flaws. If you want a YA fantasy series with a side order of dragons, check it out.

Cover design by Sabrina Watts of Enchanted Ink Studio

Rise of the Golden Dragons – 3 books:

The Dragon’s Thief’ #1
The Queen’s Assassin #2
The King’s Spy #3

Buy link

Book 1 of 3: Rise of the Golden Dragons

Blurb

After a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger in the woods, a simple farm girl is faced with a desperate dilemma.

Quincy Durand had never planned to become a thief. With her parents both missing, when her younger brother is mortally wounded it falls on Quincy to find a way to save his life. She discovers a possible solution, but the price for help is high: she must steal a dragon’s egg from Dravonya’s acclaimed Silver Wings Academy.

When the egg unexpectedly hatches during the escape, it’s no longer just her brother’s life that hangs in the balance but hers as well as she must prove herself more than just a failed thief.

June 30, 2022

Language

‎English

Print length

332 pages

Book 1 of 3

Rise of the Golden Dragons

Review : Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Rating: 4⭐️

There’s an interesting trope that has developed that features main female characters who decide, for a variety of reasons, to become a villain. The details leading up to this process depending upon the narrative. Some of these stories are fantastic, some great, some okay, and a few meh in their execution, but the premise has always been interesting. This fits somewhere in the middle.

Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan is a really well executed story. The premise, while not completely original, is intriguing and her main character’s dilemma is both relatable and compelling.

It opens the story with Rae, a young woman in a hospital bed, dying of cancer. With her is her younger sister who reads to her their favorite books, a popular fantasy series, Time of Iron. Rae’s cancer diagnosis has left her with little hope, a failing memory that’s left her unable to read, emotionally depressed and raging at her fate. And oftentimes angry at the very sister trying to support her and stay with her.

At times this is a very difficult and dark story, for all its realistic scenes and raw emotions.

Rae has created a natural mental and emotional tunnel vision for herself in order to deal cancer and all the treatments and everything that comes with it. Chemotherapy that’s no longer working, hair loss, body that looks and acts like a skeleton. And an absent mother who doesn’t seem to care.

One we find out later that is working many jobs because of the extreme expenses of Rae’s cancer treatments and hospital bills, and the fact that the family is losing their home over this. But Rae can see nothing but the fact that she is dying.

The point is made that Rae has skipped over the very important first part of the series and only really got into it when the Emperor arrives, a villain with a tragic story. He becomes her favorite character.

Just before her death a mysterious woman arrives and offers Rae a bargain, a quest. She’s to enter into the fantasy realm of the series, becoming a character, completing a quest and then she can return home healed.

Out of choices, she accepts and winds up as the female villain in the story. The one scheduled to die in the tower.

It’s clever, often funny and well executed. Especially as it relates to how the cancer has impacted Rae’s outlook and life now affects her relationships with the characters within the fantasy world.

I’ll give you a hint. Not well.

And that’s the thing here. While I absolutely understand Rae, the choices she makes, the reasons why she’s so stunted emotionally in certain situations, so unyielding, it makes her a character whose slow growth is also very frustrating to read about. I don’t agree with her choices or even like her for a majority of the story.

Other characters? Yes, absolutely solid creations and great characters you enjoyed spending time with.

The author has quite a bit of interesting twists here. One is revealed immediately and I thought it was a great element. And it’s logical, given the facts laid down by the author and plot lines. I wanted to know more about this aspect of the story.

Another “reveal” was one I think is easily guessed at by a reader and leads to the haunting conclusion of the story. One that will be resolved in Book 2. The elements here could be found earlier in so honestly so surprise. But it’s horrifying and poignant at the same time.

I do recommend reading Long Live Evil (Time of Iron #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan. Especially if you’re a fan of the fantasy female villain trope.

Cover design by Ben Prior | LBBG Cover illustration by Syd Mills

Map by Rebecka Champion (Lampblack Art)

Time of Iron (2 book series)

Long Live Evil #1)

All Hail Chaos #2

Buy link

Book 1 of 2: Time of Iron

Blurb

This is a tale for everyone who’s ever fallen for the villain …

When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favorite fantasy series.

She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she’s not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor’s tale.

So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they’re doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor’s fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.

August 27, 2024

Language

‎English

Print length

464 pages

Book 1 of 2

Time of Iron

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