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lavendermarch's review against another edition
5.0
This book was really good. It's an epic fantasy that draws you in from page one, and doesn't let you go.
Maia, the main character, had a compelling voice and an interesting story, with believable moral and religious qualms that were brought with a rude introduction to the dangers of political, religious, and war.
I really liked the drawings before each part. They were cool. The cover is pretty, too.
Overall, this book was the perfect epic fantasy: dragons, a kickass, dragon riding heroine, epic battle scenes, rich world building, and dragon-size challenges. 5 stars.
Maia, the main character, had a compelling voice and an interesting story, with believable moral and religious qualms that were brought with a rude introduction to the dangers of political, religious, and war.
I really liked the drawings before each part. They were cool. The cover is pretty, too.
Overall, this book was the perfect epic fantasy: dragons, a kickass, dragon riding heroine, epic battle scenes, rich world building, and dragon-size challenges. 5 stars.
stacy_wilson's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting concept and world. I think it could benefit from some better dialogue, and more fleshed out development of the characters and religion.
michael_kw's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
mhockenson's review against another edition
5.0
Hard to believe this is Todd Lockwood's first novel. He's created an absolutely amazing world with some very strong characters. I found myself becoming emotionally invested in these characters and that includes the non-human ones. I went from shedding tears one moment to 20 pages later laughing out loud. I love it when an author can play with your emotions that way. We had some amazing world building, great battle sequences and just an overall great story. If you're into dragons and great fantasy stories I highly recommend this book. Easily one of my top books of the year.
firefly8041's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. I was going to give this a three, but it really dragged and I got more bored as it went on. Great illustrations.
saphibella's review against another edition
DNF at 65%, bored to tears, very bad pacing
agavala's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
webz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
If anyone enjoys fantasy and appreciates a good dragon book then this is the book for you. The dragons are done in such an interesting way and one I haven’t seen before. The religious system adds that much more flavor and grounding to the story as well. I didn’t realize how big of a part religion would play in this story until over halfway through the book.
It was really unique to have drawings throughout the book by the author. The picture on page 96 of Maia in the forest with the statue is my favorite. It really set the atmosphere for that part of the story.
Maia was definitely my favorite character but Jhem is perhaps one of my favorite supporting characters that I have ever come across. She was just absolutely amazing. The scene at the end between her and Tauman on page 494 made me like this book that much more. Tauman: His chin bunched up. “I’ve treated you so poorly,” he said. Then he climbed onto the harness so he could kiss her. They clung to each other’s necks for a long time.
Maia is the first character I have felt more in tune with in a while. I felt like I understood her with her thoughts and motives and connected to the character.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and I ended up being not as concerned with remembering all of them with their names after a while and just tried to grab onto the more notable/important characters.
I don’t like that Cairek died at the end but I also wasn’t surprised. I wish Maia had given him more of a chance but given the situation it made sense that she didn’t want to.
I did cry at the scene where Malik and Keirr reunitedbefore the final battle between Malik and the Horror and his rider. The scene was really touching and the picture that Lockwood had drawn and placed at this spot enhanced the scene even more, clearly and beautifully rendering Malik and his baby.
Maia’s relationship with her passed away mother is interesting. On page 282 encapsulates her thoughts:
And I thought about the two mothers who lived in my head-the one who talked to dragons, and the one who cursed me before she died.
Maia thinks that her mother may have accidentally cursed her in a moment of anger. The scolding words she said to Maia were the last words she ever said to her, which add weight to them that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.
Also:
Page 333
I pulled the dried flowers from my coat. They were wrapped in paper and not too terribly damaged. What better way to honor Mother’s memory? I was flying. The words found themselves. “I think I know you now, Mother. You were like me.” I smiled and let my bundle of chrysanthemums go. The blooms and stems separated in the current and swirled around us as we mounted higher, laughing, into the tallest canyon of the sky.
On page 371 and 372 when Maia starts to understand the dragon language more:
There were no words to be learned, only pictures to be sent and received. As if I could speak a painting. If there was a language within, it was probably beyond human comprehension.
This scene is notable to me just because of how interesting and thoughtful the preparation for the cremated remains was.
Page 495 Tulo: “I prepared these in the old ways,” he said, “with herbs to confer our blessings on the departed and seeds to encourage the next cycle of life.” …. “For Mabir: sage and pine, for wisdom and humility; hyssop for sacrifice and cleansing. “For Cairek: white jasmine for innocent love, mint for virtue, sweet willim for gallantry. “For Bellua: willow for sadness, coriander for hidden worth.”
In summary, what initially kept me reading this was the great descriptions of the settings. Lockwood masterfully described the surroundings throughout the book. What kept me reading from there were definitely the characters themselves. Good characters, plus great description so I feel even more drawn into the story plus an interesting plot all combined to have this be a very enjoyable reading experience.
I really hope the second book comes out soon, I see it has been eight years since this first book was published but since there was a recent update from the writer saying the second book is in an editing process still that makes me feel hopeful it will eventually happen. It was super fun to get back into a book that involved dragons as it has been years since I last did that. I really recommend this book to any fantasy lover. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next one in this series!
It was really unique to have drawings throughout the book by the author. The picture on page 96 of Maia in the forest with the statue is my favorite. It really set the atmosphere for that part of the story.
Maia was definitely my favorite character but Jhem is perhaps one of my favorite supporting characters that I have ever come across. She was just absolutely amazing. The scene at the end between her and Tauman on page 494 made me like this book that much more. Tauman: His chin bunched up. “I’ve treated you so poorly,” he said. Then he climbed onto the harness so he could kiss her. They clung to each other’s necks for a long time.
Maia is the first character I have felt more in tune with in a while. I felt like I understood her with her thoughts and motives and connected to the character.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and I ended up being not as concerned with remembering all of them with their names after a while and just tried to grab onto the more notable/important characters.
I did cry at the scene where Malik and Keirr reunited
Maia’s relationship with her passed away mother is interesting. On page 282 encapsulates her thoughts:
And I thought about the two mothers who lived in my head-the one who talked to dragons, and the one who cursed me before she died.
Maia thinks that her mother may have accidentally cursed her in a moment of anger. The scolding words she said to Maia were the last words she ever said to her, which add weight to them that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.
Also:
Page 333
I pulled the dried flowers from my coat. They were wrapped in paper and not too terribly damaged. What better way to honor Mother’s memory? I was flying. The words found themselves. “I think I know you now, Mother. You were like me.” I smiled and let my bundle of chrysanthemums go. The blooms and stems separated in the current and swirled around us as we mounted higher, laughing, into the tallest canyon of the sky.
On page 371 and 372 when Maia starts to understand the dragon language more:
There were no words to be learned, only pictures to be sent and received. As if I could speak a painting. If there was a language within, it was probably beyond human comprehension.
Page 495 Tulo: “I prepared these in the old ways,” he said, “with herbs to confer our blessings on the departed and seeds to encourage the next cycle of life.” …. “For Mabir: sage and pine, for wisdom and humility; hyssop for sacrifice and cleansing. “For Cairek: white jasmine for innocent love, mint for virtue, sweet willim for gallantry. “For Bellua: willow for sadness, coriander for hidden worth.”
In summary, what initially kept me reading this was the great descriptions of the settings. Lockwood masterfully described the surroundings throughout the book. What kept me reading from there were definitely the characters themselves. Good characters, plus great description so I feel even more drawn into the story plus an interesting plot all combined to have this be a very enjoyable reading experience.
I really hope the second book comes out soon, I see it has been eight years since this first book was published but since there was a recent update from the writer saying the second book is in an editing process still that makes me feel hopeful it will eventually happen. It was super fun to get back into a book that involved dragons as it has been years since I last did that. I really recommend this book to any fantasy lover. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next one in this series!
melmmh's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing. I'm dying though - when is the second book being released?!
rhrie38's review against another edition
It just dragged on and didn't hold my attention. It was just so boring 😭 The illustrations were so beautiful though, too bad they couldn't keep my interest.