Dragons
House of Dragons Book One
Written by Jessica Cluess
Fantasy, Dragons, Magic, Romance
Published June 16th 2020
448 Pages
Thank you to Penguin Teen Australia
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★★★★
Five royal houses will hear the call to compete in the Trial for the dragon throne. A liar, a soldier, a servant, a thief, and a murderer will answer it. Who will win?
When the Emperor dies, the five royal houses of Etrusia attend the Call, where one of their own will be selected to compete for the throne. It is always the oldest child, the one who has been preparing for years to compete in the Trial. But this year is different. This year these five outcasts will answer the call.
The Liar. Emilia must hide her dark magic or be put to death.
The Soldier. Lucian is a warrior who has sworn to never lift a sword again.
The Servant. Vespir is a dragon trainer whose skills alone will keep her in the game.
The Thief. Ajax knows that nothing is free, he must take what he wants.
The Murderer. Hyperia was born to rule and will stop at nothing to take her throne.
The five eldest children of the royal estates of Etrusia will answer The Call, their kingdom seeking a worthy competitor to succeed the Emperor, chosen by the Great Dragon and overseen by Their Graces, high priests of the temple of Delphos. Except the second born, the servant, the bastard child and the pacifist are chosen in their stead, those untrained and ill prepared. In the kingdom, the eldest member of each royal linage is conditioned and trained to take part in a series of tests known as The Calling, where the mythical Great Dragon chooses a child and their dragon mount to compete. The narrative is told from five points of view, each character easily distinguishable and a glimpse into their lives before and after The Calling, as they struggle with the expectations placed upon them.
Emilia has lived in isolation, her parents believing she is dangerous and concealing her illegal ability. Being chosen for The Call is an opportunity for Emilia to escape her confines, she hadn't expected to find former childhood friend Lucian also competing in the trial. Lucian has conquered lands and its people alongside his father and warmonger sibling, leaving the young man traumatised and vowing to atone for his brutality and using a pacifist approach to conflict. Emilia and Lucian are both wonderful characters, gentle, compassionate and both wanting to avoid the brutality of the trials. It was lovely to see them reconnect as tentative friends and watch their subtle attraction develop.
One of my favourite characters is Vespir, the servant and dragon keeper. Vespir is a servant within one of the royal houses, treated with contempt and seen as less than human. Her true companions are the dragons within her keep until she falls in love with the boss' daughter. Vespir shouldn't be underestimated, she's a survivor, she's resourceful and deliciously crafty. Although in a gentle, totally non backstabby kind of way unlike Ajax. Ahh Ajax, the bastard son, among a sea of bastard children, created from a sexual assault and tormented by his noble father and his legitimate children. Ajax has always struggled to fit in, surviving through any means necessary. He's well aware his lack of attractiveness means he can slip under the radar, a little like a cheeky cat burglar, although not as slick as he pretends to be.
A fair warning about our last competitor, she's ruthless and bloodthirsty beyond compare. Hyperia isn't a young woman to be played the fool, she's cold, calculated and will allow no one, absolutely no one to stand in her way of becoming victor. Oh my goodness, this girl makes Mia Corvere look like a Catholic school girl. She lives for her kingdom, the admiration of her father and the fear she instils in others.
The world building is breathtaking. Spiralling cities steeped in history and grandeur, rustic villages and desolate woodlands, beautifully atmospheric and wonderfully imagined. And the dragons! When a dragon hatchling is born, they choose their human companion, connecting to their spirit as dragon and rider become one. When their human companion passes, their dragon eats them which wouldn't be an altogether bad way to go. I loved Dog especially, Ajax' companion. He's playful, loyal and befitting of his name.
House of Dragons was glorious and left me wanting more! The brutality, the loyalty, companionship and moments of friendship among the fierce competitiveness is entwined so beautifully, shades of a young adult Game of Thrones that even reluctant fantasy readers will enjoy. Best be off, need to see a man about a dragon.
Check out my reviews for Akarnae and Raelia
The Medoran Chronicles Book Three
Written by Lynette Noni
Fantasy, Magic, #LoveOzYA
448 Pages
Published April 2017
Thank you to Pantera Press and Netgalley
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★★★★★
With Aven Dalmarta now hiding in the shadows of Meya, Alex is desperate to save Jordan and keep the Rebel Prince from taking more lives.Training day and night to master the enhanced immortal blood in her veins, Alex undertakes a dangerous Meyarin warrior trial that separates her from those she loves and leaves her stranded in a place where nothing is as it should be.As friends become enemies and enemies become friends, Alex must decide who to trust as powerful new allies, and adversaries, push her towards a future of either light… Or darkness. One way or another, the world will change…
Mortal Alexandra Jennings has embraced her education at Akarnae and continues her indoctrination in order to protect the Medoran society against Aven Dalmarta, the fallen prince of the City of Meya when a fallen Draekon is discovered, captured and awaiting death. Journeying to a world of infinite discovery, Alexandra has regressed to the former glory of the City of Meya where the Draekon saturate the skies. With juvenile Draekon Xiraxus as her guide, Alexandra cannot yet return to the Akarnae Academy and is placed with the Dalmarta princes under the guise of being a lost child of the empire.
My Thoughts
Draekora is the third fantastical installment of The Medoran Chronicles. Alexandra Jennings is an adventurous, enchanting character and her journey a compelling narration. As Alexandra continues to prepare for the impending confrontation her main concern is for Jordan, captured under Aven's influence. Alexander is wonderfully human, immersed within a world of immortal beings and transported to a bygone illustrious City of Meya, concealed as a lost Meyarin daughter.
Roka and Aven Dalmarta are assigned to assist Alexandra, her humanity unbeknownst to both Dalmarta Princes.
Roka is disciplined and gentle leader and accepting of the Meyarin trade with the human population who reside beyond the boundaries of Meya, whilst Aven opposes. Aven's distaste for mortals evolves as he and Alexandra begin to develop a tentative friendship. Aven is a warm and compassionate young man, albeit ignorant and consumed with abolishing transactions with human merchants and incites a revolution evoked within the darkened streets of Meya. Aven is a delectable character, nefarious but not without redemption and I'm entirely infatuated.
Xiraxus is a wonderful addition to the The Medoran Chronicles. The Draekon heir shares a familial alliance with Alexandra, assisting her in navigating the City of Meya.
The Meyarin chronicles were captivating and I appreciated Kyia and Zain's inception. Aven's trusted warrior Niyx was delightfully surprising and an ingenious inclusion. Alexandra's parents are still noticeably absent, assumingly discovering the artifacts of the Akarnae Academy as are friends Bear, Jordan, D.C and Kaiden, Alexandra's potential love interest although a constant within her thoughts.
Author Lynette Noni had crafted a breathtaking ambiance that introduces wonderous worlds in an exceptional and enchanting infusion of fantasy and adventure.
Xiraxus is a wonderful addition to the The Medoran Chronicles. The Draekon heir shares a familial alliance with Alexandra, assisting her in navigating the City of Meya.
Author Lynette Noni had crafted a breathtaking ambiance that introduces wonderous worlds in an exceptional and enchanting infusion of fantasy and adventure.
Edited by Kirsty Murray, Payal Dhar and Anita Roy
Dystopian, Short Stories
Published January 2015
240 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin Australia
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★★★★
A ground breaking intercontinental collection of speculative stories, in both prose and graphic novel form, with contributors from India and Australia including Isobelle Carmody, Margo Lanagan, Nicki Greenberg and others of similar calibre.Be transported into dystopian cities and other worldly societies. Be amazed and beguiled by a nursery story with a reverse twist, a futuristic take on TV cooking shows, a playscript with tentacles, and more, much more. Plunge in and enjoy!A collection of science fiction and fantasy writing, including six graphic stories, showcasing twenty stellar writers and artists from India and Australia: Isobelle Carmody, Penni Russon, Justine Larbalestier, Margo Lanagan, Lily Mae Martin, Kuzhali Manickavel, Prabha Mallya, Annie Zaidi, Kate Constable, Vandana Singh, Mandy Ord, Priya Kuriyan, Manjula Padmanabhan, Samhita Arni, Alyssa Brugman, Nicki Greenberg and Amruta Patil.
Eat The Sky, Drink The Ocean is a compilation of both whimsical and illustrated short stories from both Australian and Indian Authors that stemmed from the power of women all around the world. Each story is based on a dystopian alternate reality and range from the engaging and quirky, to the strange yet enthralling. From the Australian dystopian story by Justine Larbalestier, author of Razorhurst comes Little Red Suit. The storyline follows Poppy, a girl who lives underground after decades of drought. Now cities are nothing more than ruins, which Poppy will need to navigate to reach her grandmother's house. Taking inspiration from Little Red Riding Hood, it's unique and packs a real punch. I would love to see it developed into a full length novel.
Each story wavers between dystopian, fantasy and magic realism, And although each are written by a different author, compliment each other beautifully. I loved the inclusion of the illustrated stories, but none more so than Swallow The Moon which is written and illustrated by Kate Constable and Priya Kuriyan. It tells the story of a community who now calls the forest home, where the young women make the long journey to the ocean, where they participate in a naming ceremony in the waters above a submerged civilization. A strong environmental message, it's powerful and beautifully illustrated.
Cooking Time is a quirky take on the worldwide Masterchef. In a world where citizens are fed by nutrition packs, the show offers contestants the opportunity to travel back through time to locations all over the world, where fresh food was still available. Contestants are the envy of the nation.
With seventeen incredible stories, including six beautifully illustrated from authors such as Kirsty Murray, Payal Dhar, Anita Roy, Samhita Arni, Alyssa Brugman, Isobelle Carmody, Kate Constable, Nicki Greenberg, Priya Kuriyan, Margo Lanagan, Justine Larbalestier and more. This compilation is the perfect gift for lovers of the written word. I loved it. Overall, it was incredibly engaging and charming and the transition from each story flowed beautifully from the selection of authors that complimented one another. One of the best young adult anthologies published.
Talon (Talon: Book One)
Written by Julie Kagawa
Fantasy, Dragons
Expected Publication October 28th 2014
400 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Australia and Netgalley
Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: And nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all too human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: And what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Lora Jones has always
known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an
ordinary sixteen year old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of
secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of
smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that
insists she’s far more than what she seems.
England, 1915. Raised
in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to
hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her
surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an
elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie,
gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she
meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
Jesse
is the school’s groundskeeper, a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for
who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant
aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both
hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both
will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must
harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose
everything she dearly loves.
Eleanor, or Lora as she is known, has never known wealth. Never known what a warm winter coat feels like against her skin, if her parents are still alive, or to not be allocated enough food to keep the hunger pains away. She knows that she can hear melodies. Beautiful tinkering songs that no one else can hear. So when the air ships start dropping bombs on Old London, she receives a scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious schools in England. It's a rare opportunity for a girl of her statue, so why was she chosen?
Lora is out of her element, with high society girls in flowing gowns in every colour compared to her threadbare tattered rags. The girls are taught all the fine graces of young ladies, and nothing more. Needlepoint, how to maintain a home, painting and reciting sonnets. It is unheard of for refined young women to immerse themselves with the verses of Poe, to learn mathematics or the sciences. The only way the dreadful school is made bearable, is the handsome, but mute ground staff worker, Jesse.
Jesse only speaks to Lora. His sweet melody calls to her and she finds herself tethered to the young man that makes her heart soar, literally. He holds the secret to Lora's past and future. Jesse has a gift of his own, he is Jesse of the stars and their fates entwined. Not if Mandy, the dukes son has anything to do with it.
Mandy is drawn to Lora, her haunting song reminds him of his late mother. The three will be irrevocably be drawn together as the bombings continue and their lives will never be the same again.
This book was undoubtedly beautifully written. I tend to steer clear of historical novels, but The Sweetest Dark felt more so of a modern supernatural tale, set in a historical era. For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was entertaining, but I was in a state of confusion with the supernatural element. Involving dragons, morphing into a smokey haze, hearing melodies from metal objects, being 'of the stars' and being able to turn living objects into solid gold, it was all too overwhelming. The constant explanation of 'dragon protects star and star adores dragon', didn't explain much at all.
If Eleanor, Jesse and Mandy had of been angels and demons, witches and warlocks or any other mainstream type of supernatural, I would have given this a near perfect rating, sadly I just couldn't fathom the star and dragons connection with the Midas touch aspect.
It was simply beautifully written and unique. I won't fault the author for my own lack of understanding though. I'm looking forward to the second in the series, hoping the connection is clearer.
The Sweetest Dark
(The Sweetest Dark: Book One)
Written By Shana Abe
Expected Publication 02 / 04 / 2013
352 Pages
352 Pages
ARC Courtesy of Netgalley
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