nachtfalke's review against another edition
4.0
I very much minded the sexism and the gore, but I liked the overall story. It's a bit of a problem with oldschool fantasy - on a meta-level, the values and scenes displayed are often straight-out alien, from today's perspective.
teapot_of_unique's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Spoilers, CONTENT WARNING: rape this is not my first time reading the series it holds a very special place in me and my sisters heart. There is one thing that drives me crazy!!! That one of the main characters talks about how he rapes another... maybe it's just me but he is the one who is raped. I don't consider what he did to be rape because the woman didn't care how she got pregnant by him whether it was through soft love making or violent means she captured him had sex with him once while he was sick and drugged and thought it was his wife the second time he was coherent and while it was violent she could have stopped the situation but she didn't because she just wanted to have his baby.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual content, and War
bookwyrm_kate's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed the politics, and the system of magic, but many of the characters, mostly the villains, were very one-dimensional and predictable.
I enjoyed the politics, and the system of magic, but many of the characters, mostly the villains, were very one-dimensional and predictable.
mint_the_muffin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
lookingtoheaven's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the first two-thirds but the book totally should have ended there. I was worn out by that point and the angst went up a notch. Fantasy books are supposed to have heroes, that's one of the great enjoyments of them and she totally messed with hers until I wasn't rooting for them anymore.
xeni's review against another edition
4.0
I love Melanie Rawn, but it always takes me ages to get into one of her books. It's a shame, though, because her writing really is amazing. My most favorite book by her is The Golden Key which was a joint work with Kate Elliot and second favorites would be the Ruins of Ambrai.
It was hard for me to get into the Dragon Prince, but mainly because it dealt heavily from the beginning with intrigue and delved straight into the plot. There was no introduction to the world or anything. Now a days I like that, but back when I first started reading this novel I thought it was really confusing and annoying.
But once I managed past that, the story really flowed. I adored the characters and how the plot unfolded. I never picked up the second in the series, but I think I will one of these days!
It was hard for me to get into the Dragon Prince, but mainly because it dealt heavily from the beginning with intrigue and delved straight into the plot. There was no introduction to the world or anything. Now a days I like that, but back when I first started reading this novel I thought it was really confusing and annoying.
But once I managed past that, the story really flowed. I adored the characters and how the plot unfolded. I never picked up the second in the series, but I think I will one of these days!
magickislife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a reread for me, and I don't feel the same way about it that I did before. I love Rawn's writing so much in other works that I was excited to listen to this as I hadn't read it in ages. And it began well but it took such a dark, uncomfortable turn toward the end. It felt icky.
ladyofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Okay. I reread a quarter of this before deciding to dnf it. I don't remember anything and now I know why. This book is utterly forgettable and boring. The dragon hunting scene at the first chapter was something intriguing. But after that?
Nothing but political intrigue about marriage and setting up events for war, backstabbing betrayal and from the brief bit I read-instalove. [Correct me if I'm wrong!]
I'm not impressed with the writing style nor did I particularly care about the characters. I'm going to ignore this series and mark this as read. 2 ⭐ and I will probably not come back.
Nothing but political intrigue about marriage and setting up events for war, backstabbing betrayal and from the brief bit I read-instalove. [Correct me if I'm wrong!]
I'm not impressed with the writing style nor did I particularly care about the characters. I'm going to ignore this series and mark this as read. 2 ⭐ and I will probably not come back.
wdkilpackiii's review against another edition
5.0
Every once in a while, there are books that change the direction of fantasy as a genre. This is one of them. First, Melanie Rawn is one of the few fantasy authors who I think really understand medieval politics (particularly the politics of arranged marriages). Second, her version of magic, based solidly in the four alchemical elements was a nice, fresh concept. Next, Sioned. Ah, Sioned ... strong, beautiful, and certainly not one to mess with. Rohan was the perfect match. The last thing that really struck me was the strength of female characters in general. In this and the others in these series, the villains plan and plot very intelligently but, when the chips are down, the man throws all aside and goes for blood. The woman steps away into the shadows, knowing that she'll be back, but with a vengeance ... maybe married to her enemy's son. The worst villains are always the women, and they are just brutal in all the ways that steel and blood cannot even begin to achieve. Highly recommended!