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The Tharassas Cycle #1
The Dragon Eater
Raven’s a thief who just swallowed a dragon.
A small one, sure, but now his arms are growing scales, the local wildlife is acting up, and his snarky AI familiar is no help whatsoever.
Raven's best friend Aik is a guardsman carrying a torch for the thief. A pickpocket and a guard? Never going to happen. And Aik's ex-fiancé Silya, an initiate priestess in the midst of a magical crisis, hates Raven with the heat of a thousand suns.
This unlikely team must work together to face strange beasts, alien artifacts, and a world-altering threat. If they don’t figure out what to do soon, it might just be the end of everything.
Things are about to get messy.
A small one, sure, but now his arms are growing scales, the local wildlife is acting up, and his snarky AI familiar is no help whatsoever.
Raven's best friend Aik is a guardsman carrying a torch for the thief. A pickpocket and a guard? Never going to happen. And Aik's ex-fiancé Silya, an initiate priestess in the midst of a magical crisis, hates Raven with the heat of a thousand suns.
This unlikely team must work together to face strange beasts, alien artifacts, and a world-altering threat. If they don’t figure out what to do soon, it might just be the end of everything.
Things are about to get messy.
ebook
Published March 16, 2023
13 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Coatsworth
90 books188 followersScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 8, 2023
The Dragon Eater. My reaction to reading this title was, “I have so many questions already.” The rest of the back cover blurb didn’t help that problem much. In fact, it raised many more.
A small one, sure, but now his arms are growing scales, the local wildlife is acting up, and his snarky AI familiar is no help whatsoever.
Raven’s best friend Aik is a guardsman carrying a torch for the thief. A pickpocket and a guard? Never going to happen. And Aik’s ex-fiancé Silya, an initiate priestess in the midst of a magical crisis, hates Raven with the heat of a thousand suns.
This unlikely team must work together to face strange beasts, alien artifacts, and a world-altering threat. If they don’t figure out what to do soon, it might just be the end of everything.
My curiosity had me cracking into J. Scott Coatsworth’s latest fantasy novel (the first in a new series) within minutes.
Near the front of the book, you’ll find two maps. I love maps of fictional places, so I paused to study them. I advise you to do the same. The map of Tharassas gives an overview of this part of the world. The second map features Gullton, a city spanning five islands. Take some time to mentally wander around Gullton and get familiar with the lay of the land, as most of the story takes place here. I’m happy I did that, as it enhanced my visualization of where the action was taking place.
The world of Tharassas is well-thought-out, with attention paid to even the smallest of details, such as delicious pink cheese. I like the naming conventions, with characters given exotic-sounding formal names, but also much more manageable nicknames. Rav’Orn is nicknamed Raven. Sil’Aya goes by Silya, and Aiken Erio naturally goes by Aik.
Bigger concepts include plenty of animals with strange (yet at times, slightly familiar) names, and berried bushes that are much more than they seem. We’re given tantalizing bits of old history, including mentions of colonizer spaceships from Old Earth crashing on Tharassas. Some of the locals believe those tales, others don’t. Really, that twisted pile of metal out in Landfield might just be an artist’s bold statement, right?
This story revolves around three friends. Well… friends probably isn’t the right word. You’ll see. Raven, Aik and Silya are well-crafted characters, with personalities, traits and histories that help define their actions and decisions.
Minor characters feel just as real. And even a certain large, terrifying creature waiting in the dark manages to share her innermost thoughts with us. One being that isn’t technically ‘alive’ nevertheless displays an abundance of personality, and quickly become one I looked forward to hearing from. “Spin” is Raven’s smartass little ‘familiar’. At least that’s what Raven calls him. But, watch for hints that the little silver ay-eye is more than just a pocket-pal for a thief.
At its heart, The Dragon Eater is a love story, even though the smitten boys would be chagrined to hear me say that. The author also explores in depth what it means to be a friend, the bittersweet bliss of young love in spite of the odds, why mothers and daughters fight, why some people embrace possessions for comfort, why a devotee might question their religion, and how to cope with that little voice in the back of everyone’s mind that likes to whisper, ‘am I good enough?’
Young-ish readers will identify with the hopes and fears our unlikely trio face time and time again. I found Tharassas society’s natural acceptance of Raven and Aik’s affections honest and refreshing. And those of us who’ve swallowed small dragons will… wait. We all need to know what that’s about, for hencha’s sake!
What starts out as an act of petty thievery escalates steadily, with action and intrigue ramping up to an ending that already has me tapping my fingers while waiting for the next book in the Tharassas Cycle series.
Bonus! Get a free book!
The author is giving away the prequel, Tales From Tharassas with all preorders, as well as any purchases made during the first week following the March 16th publication of The Dragon Eater. This prequel contains The Last Run, The Emp Test, and a brand new short story, the Fallen Angel. Just order the book and email him a proof of purchase at scott@jscottcoatsworth.com, and he’ll make sure you get the book.
Review originally published at SciFi.Radio
A small one, sure, but now his arms are growing scales, the local wildlife is acting up, and his snarky AI familiar is no help whatsoever.
Raven’s best friend Aik is a guardsman carrying a torch for the thief. A pickpocket and a guard? Never going to happen. And Aik’s ex-fiancé Silya, an initiate priestess in the midst of a magical crisis, hates Raven with the heat of a thousand suns.
This unlikely team must work together to face strange beasts, alien artifacts, and a world-altering threat. If they don’t figure out what to do soon, it might just be the end of everything.
My curiosity had me cracking into J. Scott Coatsworth’s latest fantasy novel (the first in a new series) within minutes.
Near the front of the book, you’ll find two maps. I love maps of fictional places, so I paused to study them. I advise you to do the same. The map of Tharassas gives an overview of this part of the world. The second map features Gullton, a city spanning five islands. Take some time to mentally wander around Gullton and get familiar with the lay of the land, as most of the story takes place here. I’m happy I did that, as it enhanced my visualization of where the action was taking place.
The world of Tharassas is well-thought-out, with attention paid to even the smallest of details, such as delicious pink cheese. I like the naming conventions, with characters given exotic-sounding formal names, but also much more manageable nicknames. Rav’Orn is nicknamed Raven. Sil’Aya goes by Silya, and Aiken Erio naturally goes by Aik.
Bigger concepts include plenty of animals with strange (yet at times, slightly familiar) names, and berried bushes that are much more than they seem. We’re given tantalizing bits of old history, including mentions of colonizer spaceships from Old Earth crashing on Tharassas. Some of the locals believe those tales, others don’t. Really, that twisted pile of metal out in Landfield might just be an artist’s bold statement, right?
This story revolves around three friends. Well… friends probably isn’t the right word. You’ll see. Raven, Aik and Silya are well-crafted characters, with personalities, traits and histories that help define their actions and decisions.
Minor characters feel just as real. And even a certain large, terrifying creature waiting in the dark manages to share her innermost thoughts with us. One being that isn’t technically ‘alive’ nevertheless displays an abundance of personality, and quickly become one I looked forward to hearing from. “Spin” is Raven’s smartass little ‘familiar’. At least that’s what Raven calls him. But, watch for hints that the little silver ay-eye is more than just a pocket-pal for a thief.
At its heart, The Dragon Eater is a love story, even though the smitten boys would be chagrined to hear me say that. The author also explores in depth what it means to be a friend, the bittersweet bliss of young love in spite of the odds, why mothers and daughters fight, why some people embrace possessions for comfort, why a devotee might question their religion, and how to cope with that little voice in the back of everyone’s mind that likes to whisper, ‘am I good enough?’
Young-ish readers will identify with the hopes and fears our unlikely trio face time and time again. I found Tharassas society’s natural acceptance of Raven and Aik’s affections honest and refreshing. And those of us who’ve swallowed small dragons will… wait. We all need to know what that’s about, for hencha’s sake!
What starts out as an act of petty thievery escalates steadily, with action and intrigue ramping up to an ending that already has me tapping my fingers while waiting for the next book in the Tharassas Cycle series.
Bonus! Get a free book!
The author is giving away the prequel, Tales From Tharassas with all preorders, as well as any purchases made during the first week following the March 16th publication of The Dragon Eater. This prequel contains The Last Run, The Emp Test, and a brand new short story, the Fallen Angel. Just order the book and email him a proof of purchase at scott@jscottcoatsworth.com, and he’ll make sure you get the book.
Review originally published at SciFi.Radio
March 22, 2023
Raven is a master thief and a loner, cave dweller on Tharassas. His closest friend is ay-eye familiar, Spin. Spin is from another time and place and retains history from the past. For Raven and Spin there home in the caves. Even though Raven has a reputation as a thief, he steals for a reason, not so much for himself, but for the orphanage.
Aik Erio is a city guard, handsome, menacing and annoying, sometimes, for Raven. Aik would like there to be more than just a friendship with Raven. But Raven being a thief and Aik a guard just wouldn’t work. Aik has hopes that Raven would stop stealing.
But Raven just can’t resist stealing a package from the Sea Master. There’s something about this package that he can’t ignore. As much as Aik want’s Raven to turn himself in there would be punishment to come. As the package becomes more tempting to Raven he opens it and swallows a tiny dragon. Aik and Spin can’t help Raven. The only one Aik can think of seeking help from is Silya. But Silya hates Raven and she’s not very fond of Aik either, as he was once her fiancé.
Raven, Aik and Silya will have to join forces to find what is happening with Raven. They will discover new things about themselves as they take an adventurous and dangerous journey. Will Raven make the right choice? Will he put himself in danger?
What will he do to save everyone? What will happen between him and Aik?
J. Scott Coatsworth creates a colorfully written, space opera, with a fantastic tale of science fiction and a touch of fantasy in “The Dragon Eater.” The novel is well plotted, has a good flow which makes it easy to follow as more characters and situations develop throughout the story. The world building, along with the characters are descriptive and make for a clear and vivid picture. There’s an incredible scene with a collapsing bridge that creates intense suspense in the story. Along with fast paced action, danger, high emotion, fun and romance there’s a touch of mystery. I thought the idea of swallowing a critter was new and brilliant.
Raven and Aik are such a wonderful pairing. They will break readers hearts and have them wanting so much more for them. The intimate scene between them is perfectly written.
Besides Raven and Aik there is a host of delightful and interesting characters. Spin adds lot’s of interesting history to the story. He’s also snarky and brings those moments of humor to the tale. Silya brings lot’s of interest to the tale as she is a healer at the Temple and lives in the Hencha Palace. She’s facing the realization she will be the Hencha Queen and it leaves doubts in her mind. With Silya she brings a host of Temple Sisters: Daya, Desla, and Tela that have significant roles. Friend or foe, Sgt Kek, who has his eye on both Raven and Aik and can cause them trouble.
There’s also an interesting world of dragons to find out about: Sorix, Kalix, Velix, Flyx and Aryx. What will happened when the great battle comes? And what of the spore mother, good or evil? As the story progresses I’m sure more will be revealed.
I highly suggest going over the Glossary at the end of the book. It’s totally informative and really aids in the story.
I highly recommend “The Dragon Eater” there is so much more to this story that’s expertly told and J. Scott Coatsworth is brilliant at telling this story. I can’t even begin to imagine what the author has planned for Raven next. Really looking forward to the next exciting book!
Aik Erio is a city guard, handsome, menacing and annoying, sometimes, for Raven. Aik would like there to be more than just a friendship with Raven. But Raven being a thief and Aik a guard just wouldn’t work. Aik has hopes that Raven would stop stealing.
But Raven just can’t resist stealing a package from the Sea Master. There’s something about this package that he can’t ignore. As much as Aik want’s Raven to turn himself in there would be punishment to come. As the package becomes more tempting to Raven he opens it and swallows a tiny dragon. Aik and Spin can’t help Raven. The only one Aik can think of seeking help from is Silya. But Silya hates Raven and she’s not very fond of Aik either, as he was once her fiancé.
Raven, Aik and Silya will have to join forces to find what is happening with Raven. They will discover new things about themselves as they take an adventurous and dangerous journey. Will Raven make the right choice? Will he put himself in danger?
What will he do to save everyone? What will happen between him and Aik?
J. Scott Coatsworth creates a colorfully written, space opera, with a fantastic tale of science fiction and a touch of fantasy in “The Dragon Eater.” The novel is well plotted, has a good flow which makes it easy to follow as more characters and situations develop throughout the story. The world building, along with the characters are descriptive and make for a clear and vivid picture. There’s an incredible scene with a collapsing bridge that creates intense suspense in the story. Along with fast paced action, danger, high emotion, fun and romance there’s a touch of mystery. I thought the idea of swallowing a critter was new and brilliant.
Raven and Aik are such a wonderful pairing. They will break readers hearts and have them wanting so much more for them. The intimate scene between them is perfectly written.
Besides Raven and Aik there is a host of delightful and interesting characters. Spin adds lot’s of interesting history to the story. He’s also snarky and brings those moments of humor to the tale. Silya brings lot’s of interest to the tale as she is a healer at the Temple and lives in the Hencha Palace. She’s facing the realization she will be the Hencha Queen and it leaves doubts in her mind. With Silya she brings a host of Temple Sisters: Daya, Desla, and Tela that have significant roles. Friend or foe, Sgt Kek, who has his eye on both Raven and Aik and can cause them trouble.
There’s also an interesting world of dragons to find out about: Sorix, Kalix, Velix, Flyx and Aryx. What will happened when the great battle comes? And what of the spore mother, good or evil? As the story progresses I’m sure more will be revealed.
I highly suggest going over the Glossary at the end of the book. It’s totally informative and really aids in the story.
I highly recommend “The Dragon Eater” there is so much more to this story that’s expertly told and J. Scott Coatsworth is brilliant at telling this story. I can’t even begin to imagine what the author has planned for Raven next. Really looking forward to the next exciting book!
March 11, 2023
Thanks NetGalley for this arc !
I craved dragons and that’s why I choose to read The dragon eater! It was entertaining even if it was a bit confusing due to the many different characters!
The writing was super easy to read, the three mains characters were fun and full of personality even if they were frustrating to follow. Raven, our resident thief and dragon eater, was funny and it’s a shame we didn’t have more about his past. Aik was a bit cliché but at his core he just want the best for his friends. Silya was interesting and probably my favourite to follow through!
Special mention to Spin, Raven’s familiar, he was super funny and I would read a whole novel about him.
It feels like this book was a huge prologue to what’s to come next, I’m still disappointed that we didn’t get any dragons until the very end … but I’m still super curious about where all of this is going !
3,5 stars ! Rounding to 4
I craved dragons and that’s why I choose to read The dragon eater! It was entertaining even if it was a bit confusing due to the many different characters!
The writing was super easy to read, the three mains characters were fun and full of personality even if they were frustrating to follow. Raven, our resident thief and dragon eater, was funny and it’s a shame we didn’t have more about his past. Aik was a bit cliché but at his core he just want the best for his friends. Silya was interesting and probably my favourite to follow through!
Special mention to Spin, Raven’s familiar, he was super funny and I would read a whole novel about him.
It feels like this book was a huge prologue to what’s to come next, I’m still disappointed that we didn’t get any dragons until the very end … but I’m still super curious about where all of this is going !
3,5 stars ! Rounding to 4
March 13, 2023
A very intriguing start to the series. Raven, Aik, and Silya were great characters, Raven's strangely compelled theft was the spark that set off the chain of events that started the trio on their journey for answers to what exactly has taken up residence inside of Raven. I can't wait to see where their paths take them next, I'm so ready for book two.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley*
February 29, 2024
I quite enjoyed The Dragon Eater though I found the world building to be a bit vague at times. Still, I loved the characters and the plot and am fully invested in continuing the series, particularly since The Dragon Eater ends on a cliffhanger.
Two things worth considering regarding my review:
1. I’m still dealing with a kidney stone I mentioned a few weeks ago which continues to be a distraction and not conducive to coherent review writing or even thoughtful, fully focused reading.
2. There is a prequel to The Dragon Eater, Tales From Tharassas: Tharassas Cycle Book 0 that I hadn’t read prior to reading this, book one. At this point, I have now read Tales From Tharassas and I honestly don’t know whether reading it first would have helped clarify or aid my grasp of the Tharassas world while reading The Dragon Eater. It’s hard to separate how well I grasped book 0 because I’d already been introduced to the world by reading book 1 first. Though book 0 was enjoyable and did add history and some context, I don’t think it’s necessary for full enjoyment of book 1.
Anyway… I’m enjoying the series and will start book 2, The Gauntlet Runner this afternoon.
Edited to add 10% into The Gauntlet Runner:
Reading Tales From Tharassas definitely DOES give context and insight into small details I would have missed while reading The Gauntlet Runner. I like the insight, I think it’s giving me a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of certain characters and character interactions.
September 25, 2023
This sci-fi/fantasy will appeal to readers who appreciate multi-character POVs, complex planetary life-forms (some sentient, others possibly), esoteric tomes and natural events/disasters implying impending world ending apocalyptic events and a drawn out M-M romance storyline. I liked it - 3.5 stars.
March 21, 2023
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This is probably a perfectly fine book, but the description, title, and cover led me to expect something different from what it actually was, so it ended up being not for me.
I thought this was going to be mostly about Raven and what happens to him when he eats a dragon, with some adventure and romance. Instead, there were I think five POVs (if you include the occasional dragon POV and the AI recordings). And though there was some romance and some action (if not quite adventure), it felt like it was mostly about Silya coming into her power as a magical priestess. Though right at the end, something happened that makes it seem like maybe there will be more about Raven and the dragon stuff in future books.
I also would've liked a little more middle ground in terms of action and calm. There was just so much happening, one disaster after another, right away. There were also scenes of running and sneaking and hiding that didn't seem like they needed that much detail. But then there were slow parts where characters were sorta just sitting in their rooms. And I was told what the characters were feeling or what their relationships were like, but I think I would've liked more scenes of characters interacting to feel it more myself.
But there were dragons, seemingly magic, weird creatures, and AI, all of it taking place on what seems to be another planet with a high fantasy feel! The dragon thing and the way Raven starts sorta becoming part dragon does seem like it could be cool. There was nothing wrong with the writing style. The characters felt unique and likeable enough.
I've enjoyed another book by this author, but this one just didn't work for me. You may like it though if what I described is what you're looking for.
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy combos, other planets, multiple POVs, dragons, magical priestesses, lots of sneaking and running type of action, and a touch of romance.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
This is probably a perfectly fine book, but the description, title, and cover led me to expect something different from what it actually was, so it ended up being not for me.
I thought this was going to be mostly about Raven and what happens to him when he eats a dragon, with some adventure and romance. Instead, there were I think five POVs (if you include the occasional dragon POV and the AI recordings). And though there was some romance and some action (if not quite adventure), it felt like it was mostly about Silya coming into her power as a magical priestess. Though right at the end, something happened that makes it seem like maybe there will be more about Raven and the dragon stuff in future books.
I also would've liked a little more middle ground in terms of action and calm. There was just so much happening, one disaster after another, right away. There were also scenes of running and sneaking and hiding that didn't seem like they needed that much detail. But then there were slow parts where characters were sorta just sitting in their rooms. And I was told what the characters were feeling or what their relationships were like, but I think I would've liked more scenes of characters interacting to feel it more myself.
But there were dragons, seemingly magic, weird creatures, and AI, all of it taking place on what seems to be another planet with a high fantasy feel! The dragon thing and the way Raven starts sorta becoming part dragon does seem like it could be cool. There was nothing wrong with the writing style. The characters felt unique and likeable enough.
I've enjoyed another book by this author, but this one just didn't work for me. You may like it though if what I described is what you're looking for.
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes sci-fi/fantasy combos, other planets, multiple POVs, dragons, magical priestesses, lots of sneaking and running type of action, and a touch of romance.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
October 5, 2023
A great start to a new series
This is the start to a new science fantasy series on an abandoned earth colony a couple dozen light years away. The author slowly introduces his characters, then develops their inter-relations. None is stereotypical, from the rather misanthropic thief, who eats the dragon, to the guardsman, or the temple initiate. The seeds of greatness sprout to allow each to fulfill the needed roles.
This book ends on a cliff hanger
This is the start to a new science fantasy series on an abandoned earth colony a couple dozen light years away. The author slowly introduces his characters, then develops their inter-relations. None is stereotypical, from the rather misanthropic thief, who eats the dragon, to the guardsman, or the temple initiate. The seeds of greatness sprout to allow each to fulfill the needed roles.
This book ends on a cliff hanger
June 27, 2025
LOCAL THIEF SWALLOWS DRAGON WHOLE; YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
Talk about a long overdue review! I first read The Dragon Eater by J. Scott Coatsworth back when it came out in early 2023, but I was also heavily pregnant at the time so I understandably had to put all of my reading, writing and reviewing on hold to give birth. But I’m finally back in reading action, and I decided that 2025 was the perfect year to return to Coatsworth’s fascinating world of Tharassas to continue the series at long last.
But before I could continue the journey with The Gauntlet Runner (#2), The Hencha Queen(#3), and The Death Bringer (#4), I had to return to where it all began in the first book. The thief Raven swallows a dragon, and nothing will ever be the same for him, his best friend/paramour Aik, and Aik’s ex-girlfriend Silya, ever again.
Coatsworth’s talent undeniably lies in worldbuilding. Alien artifacts! Monsters! World-altering revelations! This is an alien world rich in history. It reads initially like a fantasy novel, but the more we learn and pick up from Raven’s familiar (an AI relic of an old human vessel who drops pop culture and modern references that go right over Raven’s head) as well as references to Earth, a colonisation ship, and a past that most people of the world don’t even believe in anymore, you realise that this is actually a sci-fi novel.
I absolutely love it when authors play with genre expectations like that. The mystery behind human existence on this planet, and how and why they have lost so much of their history, is perhaps even more interesting to me than the dragon-eating, possessed gauntlet, and sentient hive-mind plants – as if those weren’t interesting enough!
The big draw of this series for most readers, I suspect, is the blossoming romance between Raven and Aik. But for me, I was delighted and charmed by Silya and her entire storyline as she comes into her own as the priestess who has bonded with the sentient plantlife of the planet known as Hencha. Silya is brash and opinionated, strong yet uncertain, and I found myself eagerly reading to reach her next scene or POV chapter. (Not to mention, a potentially budding relationship with a noble and charming guard…?)
I can’t wait to continue her story in the next installments of Coatsworth’s series. There’s a massive mystery to be discovered, and I am eager to learn the secrets of the world of Tharassas.
Talk about a long overdue review! I first read The Dragon Eater by J. Scott Coatsworth back when it came out in early 2023, but I was also heavily pregnant at the time so I understandably had to put all of my reading, writing and reviewing on hold to give birth. But I’m finally back in reading action, and I decided that 2025 was the perfect year to return to Coatsworth’s fascinating world of Tharassas to continue the series at long last.
But before I could continue the journey with The Gauntlet Runner (#2), The Hencha Queen(#3), and The Death Bringer (#4), I had to return to where it all began in the first book. The thief Raven swallows a dragon, and nothing will ever be the same for him, his best friend/paramour Aik, and Aik’s ex-girlfriend Silya, ever again.
Coatsworth’s talent undeniably lies in worldbuilding. Alien artifacts! Monsters! World-altering revelations! This is an alien world rich in history. It reads initially like a fantasy novel, but the more we learn and pick up from Raven’s familiar (an AI relic of an old human vessel who drops pop culture and modern references that go right over Raven’s head) as well as references to Earth, a colonisation ship, and a past that most people of the world don’t even believe in anymore, you realise that this is actually a sci-fi novel.
I absolutely love it when authors play with genre expectations like that. The mystery behind human existence on this planet, and how and why they have lost so much of their history, is perhaps even more interesting to me than the dragon-eating, possessed gauntlet, and sentient hive-mind plants – as if those weren’t interesting enough!
The big draw of this series for most readers, I suspect, is the blossoming romance between Raven and Aik. But for me, I was delighted and charmed by Silya and her entire storyline as she comes into her own as the priestess who has bonded with the sentient plantlife of the planet known as Hencha. Silya is brash and opinionated, strong yet uncertain, and I found myself eagerly reading to reach her next scene or POV chapter. (Not to mention, a potentially budding relationship with a noble and charming guard…?)
I can’t wait to continue her story in the next installments of Coatsworth’s series. There’s a massive mystery to be discovered, and I am eager to learn the secrets of the world of Tharassas.
December 11, 2023
I was a little thrown by the cover, which - although all good and fine, and in retrospect really gave a good idea of the character - gave me a weird impression that this was going to be a young adult actiony-sports type thing and kind of put me off a bit. Turns out it was somewhat of a young adult thing, but not so much the sports. Action, though.
We open with a couple of nice maps, showing the local area, and move on into an intriguing prologue with a strange alien entity awakening and experiencing the strange gravity and moons through its exoskeletal shell. I immediately wondered what this crazy place was, and what was going on. Very fun set-up.
From there, we launch into a very fantasy-coded rogue/thief stealing a thing and running from the city watch. Intriguing! And unlike a lot of stories, the rogue/thief takes us on a minor tour of some of the landscape described in the map I was talking about. Sometimes you can go quite a long time before figuring out where the map at the front of the book fits into the story. And yes, the map is part of the fantasy coding I was talking about, but this is very clearly a sci-fi. Even if we hadn't had that excellent prologue with the exoskeletal shell.
So. Raven, our rogue/thief and star of the book cover, and his ay-eye pocket/earbud pal Spin (ay-eye, AI, do you see) steal a thing, flee the scene and are saved from a tight spot by long-suffering city watch friend Aik. The introduction to the city and surrounds is nicely done, and the mythology of the ship and human settlement is cleverly woven into the story. Spin is something of a relic of the ship that is now long-forgotten by the humans, who have been on this world for some generations it seems, and most folks don't really believe the Landing even happened.
The stolen thing turned out to be a dragon egg, or so I assumed from the name of the book and the fact that the thing hatched and then went down Raven's throat, like, very confidently and intentionally, setting off the main arc of the plot. But I don't know ... something about it didn't seem right. Hey, maybe the book should have been called The Raven Violator instead of The Dragon Eater since it really didn't seem like an act of eating that was going on there. Follow me for more great ideas for upsetting new titles for books!
We are also introduced to Silva, the third side of the love triangle and ... I want to say the Sabetha to Raven's Locke and Aik's Jean, but that may just be the rogue and muscle dynamic of the other two and the interesting cityscape and hinted-at past working on my associations (the native life forms of the world are positively Stormlighty, though ... not that you can't find these similarities everywhere and what are you going to do about it? Stories gonna story). Silva is some kind of novice in a local convent-type thing, something of a power-structure in the community - and when she unveils the power of her communion with the hencha, the second emergent superhero of the tale begins to emerge.
Is the hencha, a kind of semi-sentient plant-life and gestalt consciousness, the same as the spore thing from the prologue? Well, whatever it is, Silva becomes the mouthpiece of it and occasionally bursts into flame which is fun. She agrees to help Raven with his dragon problem, and the temple ladies seem to know quite a lot more about it all than anyone else does, possibly due to their communion with the hencha.
While our heroes are attempting to figure out what's going on with Raven, escape the continued threat of the authorities, deal with Silva's arsehole of a mother and come to grips with the other weird stuff that's going on (including but not limited to Aik getting a haunted gauntlet, a bunch of sewer rat-lizards combining to form an oddly helpful super sewer rat-lizard, and - of course - a prophecy), the reader is also treated to an intertwined backstory of the Spin Diver on its flight from Earth, which sort of covers Spin's backstory. All of these things are tantalisingly set up for later revelation and closure.
It's an exciting, imaginative and entertaining tale of love, sacrifice, transformation, and Silva's mum being a real fucking jerk. But that's all part of personal growth too, right?
Sex-o-meter
Aik and Raven have a thing in their past and a bit of tension, as do Aik and Silva. There's a lot of tension to go around, actually. There's one (1) sex in the story, which is very sweet. It's not what I'd call a horny story, although Raven is clearly a horny protagonist. Something about his situation and the way the other characters related to him did sort of place him on the young end of the spectrum to me as a reader, but not so young that it was disturbing. One Spin Diver and three Holy Divers out of a possible Lady Godiva for The Dragon Eater.
Gore-o-meter
There's not a lot of gore in this one, and not a lot to say about what little there was. It wasn't the point of the story. A collapsed lighthouse and accompanying body-count, and a moderate amount of peril and adventure violence. It's fine. Half a gobbet out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
The reader is treated to all sorts of lovely WTF. Quite aside from the rat lizard things merging into a big rat lizard thing, we get three different kinds of transformative other-species dealies, a prophecy that hints at some epic WTFery in the future of the series, and a post-Earth settlement mythos to stand with the best of them. Some of the WTF was simple confusion, which messes with the meter a bit. The temple women know about Earth and the ship, or at least the Landing and the artifacts, but it's a myth to normies like Aik and the townsfolk? The ship is buried in the landscape around town? It was hard to get my bearings here at times. What does it all mean?
I also have a soft spot for a sci-fi that dresses up as a fantasy so it can sneak into fantasy-only dressing rooms and stuff. It's okay when it's genre.
In conclusion, the WTF-o-meter wouldn't stop making Dragon Ball references and I really don't know why except that the book has "dragon" in the title and Raven is tossing Spin up like a ball on the cover, and I'm pretty sure the WTF-o-meter doesn't know what Dragon Ball is anyway. But it's giving this book a Dragon Ball out of a possible Poké Ball, and I don't know what Dragon Ball is either, so we're done here.
My Final Verdict
Talk about "eat one dragon", sheesh. This is basically an origin story / setup for the coming conflict and unfolding series. Despite occasionally jarring writing choices (Aik holds his hands a metre and a half wide at one point to indicate the size of something which, that's ... a lot, you know; that's a large distance to hold your hands apart unless you're four metres tall) this was a well-written and entertaining story that never dragged. Three stars!
We open with a couple of nice maps, showing the local area, and move on into an intriguing prologue with a strange alien entity awakening and experiencing the strange gravity and moons through its exoskeletal shell. I immediately wondered what this crazy place was, and what was going on. Very fun set-up.
From there, we launch into a very fantasy-coded rogue/thief stealing a thing and running from the city watch. Intriguing! And unlike a lot of stories, the rogue/thief takes us on a minor tour of some of the landscape described in the map I was talking about. Sometimes you can go quite a long time before figuring out where the map at the front of the book fits into the story. And yes, the map is part of the fantasy coding I was talking about, but this is very clearly a sci-fi. Even if we hadn't had that excellent prologue with the exoskeletal shell.
So. Raven, our rogue/thief and star of the book cover, and his ay-eye pocket/earbud pal Spin (ay-eye, AI, do you see) steal a thing, flee the scene and are saved from a tight spot by long-suffering city watch friend Aik. The introduction to the city and surrounds is nicely done, and the mythology of the ship and human settlement is cleverly woven into the story. Spin is something of a relic of the ship that is now long-forgotten by the humans, who have been on this world for some generations it seems, and most folks don't really believe the Landing even happened.
The stolen thing turned out to be a dragon egg, or so I assumed from the name of the book and the fact that the thing hatched and then went down Raven's throat, like, very confidently and intentionally, setting off the main arc of the plot. But I don't know ... something about it didn't seem right. Hey, maybe the book should have been called The Raven Violator instead of The Dragon Eater since it really didn't seem like an act of eating that was going on there. Follow me for more great ideas for upsetting new titles for books!
We are also introduced to Silva, the third side of the love triangle and ... I want to say the Sabetha to Raven's Locke and Aik's Jean, but that may just be the rogue and muscle dynamic of the other two and the interesting cityscape and hinted-at past working on my associations (the native life forms of the world are positively Stormlighty, though ... not that you can't find these similarities everywhere and what are you going to do about it? Stories gonna story). Silva is some kind of novice in a local convent-type thing, something of a power-structure in the community - and when she unveils the power of her communion with the hencha, the second emergent superhero of the tale begins to emerge.
Is the hencha, a kind of semi-sentient plant-life and gestalt consciousness, the same as the spore thing from the prologue? Well, whatever it is, Silva becomes the mouthpiece of it and occasionally bursts into flame which is fun. She agrees to help Raven with his dragon problem, and the temple ladies seem to know quite a lot more about it all than anyone else does, possibly due to their communion with the hencha.
While our heroes are attempting to figure out what's going on with Raven, escape the continued threat of the authorities, deal with Silva's arsehole of a mother and come to grips with the other weird stuff that's going on (including but not limited to Aik getting a haunted gauntlet, a bunch of sewer rat-lizards combining to form an oddly helpful super sewer rat-lizard, and - of course - a prophecy), the reader is also treated to an intertwined backstory of the Spin Diver on its flight from Earth, which sort of covers Spin's backstory. All of these things are tantalisingly set up for later revelation and closure.
It's an exciting, imaginative and entertaining tale of love, sacrifice, transformation, and Silva's mum being a real fucking jerk. But that's all part of personal growth too, right?
Sex-o-meter
Aik and Raven have a thing in their past and a bit of tension, as do Aik and Silva. There's a lot of tension to go around, actually. There's one (1) sex in the story, which is very sweet. It's not what I'd call a horny story, although Raven is clearly a horny protagonist. Something about his situation and the way the other characters related to him did sort of place him on the young end of the spectrum to me as a reader, but not so young that it was disturbing. One Spin Diver and three Holy Divers out of a possible Lady Godiva for The Dragon Eater.
Gore-o-meter
There's not a lot of gore in this one, and not a lot to say about what little there was. It wasn't the point of the story. A collapsed lighthouse and accompanying body-count, and a moderate amount of peril and adventure violence. It's fine. Half a gobbet out of a possible five.
WTF-o-meter
The reader is treated to all sorts of lovely WTF. Quite aside from the rat lizard things merging into a big rat lizard thing, we get three different kinds of transformative other-species dealies, a prophecy that hints at some epic WTFery in the future of the series, and a post-Earth settlement mythos to stand with the best of them. Some of the WTF was simple confusion, which messes with the meter a bit. The temple women know about Earth and the ship, or at least the Landing and the artifacts, but it's a myth to normies like Aik and the townsfolk? The ship is buried in the landscape around town? It was hard to get my bearings here at times. What does it all mean?
I also have a soft spot for a sci-fi that dresses up as a fantasy so it can sneak into fantasy-only dressing rooms and stuff. It's okay when it's genre.
In conclusion, the WTF-o-meter wouldn't stop making Dragon Ball references and I really don't know why except that the book has "dragon" in the title and Raven is tossing Spin up like a ball on the cover, and I'm pretty sure the WTF-o-meter doesn't know what Dragon Ball is anyway. But it's giving this book a Dragon Ball out of a possible Poké Ball, and I don't know what Dragon Ball is either, so we're done here.
My Final Verdict
Talk about "eat one dragon", sheesh. This is basically an origin story / setup for the coming conflict and unfolding series. Despite occasionally jarring writing choices (Aik holds his hands a metre and a half wide at one point to indicate the size of something which, that's ... a lot, you know; that's a large distance to hold your hands apart unless you're four metres tall) this was a well-written and entertaining story that never dragged. Three stars!
March 22, 2023
It was supposed to be a simple plan: steal the thing and run before anyone caught him. Except now Raven Orn has problems. That thing was an egg, and inside that was another thing—that shoved itself down Raven's throat and into his stomach. It's not food, it's alive, and Raven has no idea what it is, only that it's doing awful things to him. His truest friend, Aik, tries to help him (while enlisting the help of others, including Aik's ex, Silya), but when it rains this hard, it pours in the greatest of deluges, and they're swept up in a stunning adventure—all while their whole world is under the threat of a great and silent danger.
The Dragon Eater is the first book of the The Tharassas Cycle, a new series by prolific author J. Scott Coatsworth. Like many of Coatsworth's other works, The Dragon Eater is an engaging work of speculative fiction featuring queer characters, this time blending traditional high (and epic) fantasy with the shiny glimmers of science fiction—and there's a romantic subplot woven throughout, leaving us wondering if Raven will hook up with sweet, caring Aik, who really does love him.
There's so much to grasp on to in this book, from the premise and characters to the history of what's really going on. The book is centred on Raven, but his perspective is only one part of the story—the rest is told through multiple POVs, all of them in 3rd-person, each with valuable details. Every member of the ensemble cast plays a part in the story, small as their role may seem at the time. But don't be fooled: not everything is as it looks on the surface. Time of the essence and Raven's circumstances are only one newly opened window on a much larger situation to come, one that'll really put survival to the test.
As a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, I loved this book. The author's experience with both genres shines through: the writing is tight and clear with everything well thought out and intertwined. There's no fluff here—everything has a purpose, even if you can't figure out what it is yet. The worldbuilding is there from the first word, and there's no holding back. The use of description is fantastic—I could see the characters and scenes moving along in my head, so clear that it would be easy to put this on a movie/TV screen. This could make for a great film! (And having said that: I got so many vibes from this that I loved. Sometimes I got a Dungeons & Dragons vibe, while at other times, Raven reminded me of Autolycus from Xena: Warrior Princess, since Autolycus is also a fun and mischievous thief known for getting himself into ridiculous situations. But there were other moments that reminded me of when I watch things like Stargate and Doctor Who, where I find myself yelling at the characters "NO! PUT IT DOWN! ALIEN TECH DOES STUFF!")
But those are just flavours I drew from this. This story stands on its own merits, including how well the world and characters are written. Their world is vast, and it feels that way because the author invested time in creating a world that's fully pulled together. Readers get to learn about the geography and geology of the world, but also pieces of its history, politics, science, and religion (polytheistic at that, which I love). There are societal matters, money, ranks, specific language rules, and a whole culture, right down to the specific conventions around their names, which is honestly one of my favourite details. There are also little hints of how their world connects to ours, which I found both charming and clever. (Extra points for The Proclaimers reference! And the "ae-eye"... I see what you did there.)
Importantly, though, the storytelling has great movement and texture. The dialogue is easy, full of tone and emotion, and carries significant depth. The glimpses into the characters' inner thoughts and feelings give a full-bodied storytelling that kept drawing me all the way to the end—and it's absolutely left me wanting more. Notably, the characters are all very different, right down to nuances like nervous habits. They're not only complex, they're complicated with strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. I also really loved the LGBTQ+ representation here! Multiple characters fall under that umbrella, including Raven himself (gay) and Aik (bi).
Another really awesome aspect is how easily the genres are blended here. There's an effortless flow of genres that makes sense, rather than feeling contrived or forced. And even though the main characters don't understand certain references that the character Spin makes, or the references to alien tech, the reader does understand the references. Because of that, the story encourages readers to bring their own knowledge to the story, knowing things the characters don't—kind of a flip on knowledge exchange. Usually, as readers, we're reliant on the characters telling us about their world and their stories. But here, there's a true exchange going on, where readers are privy to information the main characters don't have, while those characters have other information that the reader doesn't have. I also really loved the recurring motifs, particularly the constant draw on the theme of water and fluidity, which really came through with the specific word choices.
Overall, I give the book 5 stars. I can't wait to see where Book #2 takes this cast. I couldn't have asked for a whole lot more from this first installment, except for maybe one super tight hug full of TLC for my boy Aik near the end. ♥
Plot = 5
Characters & relationships = 5
Overall = 5
* I received this book as a complimentary ARC, and this is my honest opinion and voluntary review.
Read
December 3, 2023While this wasn't my favourite of Scott's novels, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Silya, Aik, and Raven.
April 3, 2023
The Dragon Eater
J. Scott. Coatsworth has created with this the first book in “The Tharassas Cycle”what promises to be an incredible and epic saga. I read it in one sitting it is that engrossing and exciting.
This first book introduces us to the major protagonists and the as yet unknown to them a formidable adversary.
Rav’Orn aka Raven a thief, Aik’Erio aka Aiken or Aik a guard and Sil’Aya aka Silya an initiate at The Temple, plus several other characters, who are not just bit players but infused with real presence, all extremely well depicted including Spin an AI who much more than he initially appears.
John has made a commitment to himself and his readers to fill his stories with many diverse and positive characters than answers the questions his younger self posed “Yes! but where are the people like me? “ A statement that my younger self echoed.
When Raven compulsively rather than impulsively steals a ornately decorated silver box he discovers not the cache he was hoping for but a mysterious egg which hatches and the hatchling forces itself into him, hence the title “The Dragon Eater”. Aik witnesses the event and his only recourse is to seek aid from Silya a Temple acolyte and his former lover.
What ensues is the start of a whirlwind adventure that will leave all involved greatly changed.
John has built a complex society in/on Tharassas which is a former settlement colony of a now destroyed Earth a society that has devolved now it no longer has the support and technology it formerly relied on from Earth to a more medieval state.
The rich diversity of the flora and fauna are lovingly depicted by John and his personal investment in the story is obvious. The world building as detailed and intricate as Pern or Earthsea. His characters come alive off the pages and into the reader’s imagination. You empathise on a quite visceral level with them, their feelings, their thoughts and their conflicts both internalised and external.
John’s work has grown richly as he has progressed as both an author and with his husband Mark as producers and publishers and this new series holds the promise to be spoken of in the same breath as Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K Le Guin, C.J. Cherryh and others of that illustrious ilk.
The only negative thought I have is that I’ll now have to wait for Bk2 to see how the series progresses.
J. Scott. Coatsworth has created with this the first book in “The Tharassas Cycle”what promises to be an incredible and epic saga. I read it in one sitting it is that engrossing and exciting.
This first book introduces us to the major protagonists and the as yet unknown to them a formidable adversary.
Rav’Orn aka Raven a thief, Aik’Erio aka Aiken or Aik a guard and Sil’Aya aka Silya an initiate at The Temple, plus several other characters, who are not just bit players but infused with real presence, all extremely well depicted including Spin an AI who much more than he initially appears.
John has made a commitment to himself and his readers to fill his stories with many diverse and positive characters than answers the questions his younger self posed “Yes! but where are the people like me? “ A statement that my younger self echoed.
When Raven compulsively rather than impulsively steals a ornately decorated silver box he discovers not the cache he was hoping for but a mysterious egg which hatches and the hatchling forces itself into him, hence the title “The Dragon Eater”. Aik witnesses the event and his only recourse is to seek aid from Silya a Temple acolyte and his former lover.
What ensues is the start of a whirlwind adventure that will leave all involved greatly changed.
John has built a complex society in/on Tharassas which is a former settlement colony of a now destroyed Earth a society that has devolved now it no longer has the support and technology it formerly relied on from Earth to a more medieval state.
The rich diversity of the flora and fauna are lovingly depicted by John and his personal investment in the story is obvious. The world building as detailed and intricate as Pern or Earthsea. His characters come alive off the pages and into the reader’s imagination. You empathise on a quite visceral level with them, their feelings, their thoughts and their conflicts both internalised and external.
John’s work has grown richly as he has progressed as both an author and with his husband Mark as producers and publishers and this new series holds the promise to be spoken of in the same breath as Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K Le Guin, C.J. Cherryh and others of that illustrious ilk.
The only negative thought I have is that I’ll now have to wait for Bk2 to see how the series progresses.
March 22, 2023
The Review
This was a captivating and thrilling blend of sci-fi meets fantasy. The space opera narrative felt somehow natural in all its glory, and the author did an incredible job of having just the right amount of imagery and atmosphere to really bring the reader into this alien world. The ways in which the characters see this fusion of the ancient magics they’ve always known with the emergence of this alien technology and scientific discovery was so driving to read and played into the concept of destiny and discovery very well.
For me, as always with this wonderful author, the heart of the narrative rested in the fantastic character development that brought this fantasy and sci-fi world to life. The LGBTQ+ themes and relationships that are explored, especially the budding romance between Raven and Aik, are inviting and inclusive, giving readers a romance to root for and telling it in a natural way for the narrative. The tension that arises when Silya joins the group and the humor of Raven’s friendship with the AI companion Spin he brings on his adventures create a great balance within the narrative. The introduction and inclusion of the chilling “Spore Mother” are great teases for the future of this series as well.
The Verdict
Captivating, thrilling, and entertaining, author J. Scott Coatsworth’s “The Dragon Eater” is a must-read space opera sci-fi meets fantasy novel and a great first chapter in the Tharassas Cycle series. The cliffhanger endings that leave the core group on their own paths by the book’s end and the spine-chilling tease of the Spore Mother’s continued evolution will have fans hanging off of the author’s every word, eager to dive into this imaginative world once more.
This was a captivating and thrilling blend of sci-fi meets fantasy. The space opera narrative felt somehow natural in all its glory, and the author did an incredible job of having just the right amount of imagery and atmosphere to really bring the reader into this alien world. The ways in which the characters see this fusion of the ancient magics they’ve always known with the emergence of this alien technology and scientific discovery was so driving to read and played into the concept of destiny and discovery very well.
For me, as always with this wonderful author, the heart of the narrative rested in the fantastic character development that brought this fantasy and sci-fi world to life. The LGBTQ+ themes and relationships that are explored, especially the budding romance between Raven and Aik, are inviting and inclusive, giving readers a romance to root for and telling it in a natural way for the narrative. The tension that arises when Silya joins the group and the humor of Raven’s friendship with the AI companion Spin he brings on his adventures create a great balance within the narrative. The introduction and inclusion of the chilling “Spore Mother” are great teases for the future of this series as well.
The Verdict
Captivating, thrilling, and entertaining, author J. Scott Coatsworth’s “The Dragon Eater” is a must-read space opera sci-fi meets fantasy novel and a great first chapter in the Tharassas Cycle series. The cliffhanger endings that leave the core group on their own paths by the book’s end and the spine-chilling tease of the Spore Mother’s continued evolution will have fans hanging off of the author’s every word, eager to dive into this imaginative world once more.
April 11, 2023
Over 400 years have passed since starships from Earth brought colonists to Tharassas. It's been 143 years sine the last ship came, bearing news of Earth's collapse, and for many, Earth has become semi-mythic, and some doubt its reality. Humans have adapted, and evolved cultures that often unlike any that may have been on the homeworld.
This is the world of Raven, a charming, yet insecure and troubled thief, whose lair is in a cave. He is afraid to trust love, even when it is right in front of him. He has a familiar, Spin, an AI, who is a relic of that semi-mythic Earth. He's also a smart aleck. Aik is Raven's devoted friend, who is in love with him. Aik is a guardsman, something of a policeman. Raven's proclivities for thievery are what changes everything, a beautiful box, with an egg, stolen from the rich. When the egg changes, the creature that emerges manages to crawl down Raven' throat. It seems to be a verent, the Tharassasian equivalent of a dragon. Aik goes for help to a former lover, Silya, who aspires to be the next Hencha Queen, a woman chosen by the semi-sentient hencha plants to in rapport with them.
Can she help Raven? How? When she becomes Queen, what then? And. Raven and Aik, will they know their own hearts? Raven is growing white scales--is he becoming a dragon?
I was immediately captivated by this adventure, this mystery, this love story. The world-building was well done and authentic. I can't wait for Book 2 in this trilogy!
Recommended.
This is the world of Raven, a charming, yet insecure and troubled thief, whose lair is in a cave. He is afraid to trust love, even when it is right in front of him. He has a familiar, Spin, an AI, who is a relic of that semi-mythic Earth. He's also a smart aleck. Aik is Raven's devoted friend, who is in love with him. Aik is a guardsman, something of a policeman. Raven's proclivities for thievery are what changes everything, a beautiful box, with an egg, stolen from the rich. When the egg changes, the creature that emerges manages to crawl down Raven' throat. It seems to be a verent, the Tharassasian equivalent of a dragon. Aik goes for help to a former lover, Silya, who aspires to be the next Hencha Queen, a woman chosen by the semi-sentient hencha plants to in rapport with them.
Can she help Raven? How? When she becomes Queen, what then? And. Raven and Aik, will they know their own hearts? Raven is growing white scales--is he becoming a dragon?
I was immediately captivated by this adventure, this mystery, this love story. The world-building was well done and authentic. I can't wait for Book 2 in this trilogy!
Recommended.
October 15, 2023
I guess I was kind of surprised by this book. Fantasy and I have not gotten along in a while, so reading this story--which is so much more creative and interesting than I would have thought.
The cover is a bit "cheesy" and "cartoonish", but the story isn't.
It is the story of a thief that through destiny of fate steals a valuable box from a powerful person and is chased into his hideout, only to open the box and something incredible crawls out and down his throat--the dragon eater--Raven.
The story has elements of science fiction. These humans are from earth, but this planet and that history is lost in time. Although the AI from the crashed ship still works and Raven has made friends with him--Spin--named after the downed ship.
The world turns on its head as one of the original inhabitants of this planet, Tharassas, wants to repopulate it with her kind. Dragons are also gearing up for a battle to save the planet thus the dragon changing Raven into a hybrid, but Aik, Raven's "boyfriend/friend" has found an artifact that is needed for the awakening entity in the earth that has just caused a major earthquake. Both unaware that they are on warring sides and falling madly in love at the same time.
Basically three beings are fighting for supremacy, but none of that is as important as Raven and his friends survival and desire to figure out what is going on.
The cover is a bit "cheesy" and "cartoonish", but the story isn't.
It is the story of a thief that through destiny of fate steals a valuable box from a powerful person and is chased into his hideout, only to open the box and something incredible crawls out and down his throat--the dragon eater--Raven.
The story has elements of science fiction. These humans are from earth, but this planet and that history is lost in time. Although the AI from the crashed ship still works and Raven has made friends with him--Spin--named after the downed ship.
The world turns on its head as one of the original inhabitants of this planet, Tharassas, wants to repopulate it with her kind. Dragons are also gearing up for a battle to save the planet thus the dragon changing Raven into a hybrid, but Aik, Raven's "boyfriend/friend" has found an artifact that is needed for the awakening entity in the earth that has just caused a major earthquake. Both unaware that they are on warring sides and falling madly in love at the same time.
Basically three beings are fighting for supremacy, but none of that is as important as Raven and his friends survival and desire to figure out what is going on.
August 16, 2024
A harsh, yet beautiful fantasy world rises from the ruins of a mysterious science fiction expedition, leaving technology behind which feels like magic. A thief, Raven runs around with a sentient piece of tech as he finds himself swallowing a dragon, becoming part dragon, and drawing draconian beings to himself. Aik, a guard whom insists upon being Raven’s friend and wishing to be even more intimate terms bonds with an artifact in Raven’s stash, an organic tool which fuses with his arm. The two of them find themselves turning to the cleric Silya, Aik’s former lover and Raven’s rival for aid, drawing her into their peril when Silya is chosen as Queen of the equally mysterious hencha of their world.
Trouble and tension dog these three as they rise to their circumstances or try to run from them. Raven and Aik are at times maddening, yet they engaged my sympathies. I found myself rooting for their romance, even as I rolled my eyes at times. Silya was quite strong, with a heart under all her sarcasm, even if I wasn’t sure about all of the directions she was going in. The circumstances were quite intriguing, giving a layer of mystery to the setting. The situation was by no means resolved at the end of book. I’m curious about what happens next, not to mention what’s going on.
Trouble and tension dog these three as they rise to their circumstances or try to run from them. Raven and Aik are at times maddening, yet they engaged my sympathies. I found myself rooting for their romance, even as I rolled my eyes at times. Silya was quite strong, with a heart under all her sarcasm, even if I wasn’t sure about all of the directions she was going in. The circumstances were quite intriguing, giving a layer of mystery to the setting. The situation was by no means resolved at the end of book. I’m curious about what happens next, not to mention what’s going on.
September 10, 2024
A colonized planet where people have all but forgotten they are a colony. There is some old technology left but without the knowledge or parts to repair them, they are useless. Add in sentient plants that choose a human queen they can communicate with. And mysterious creatures in the distant mountains that are rumored to resemble old Earth dragons. And the occasional musings of the spore mother. And so much more. This book is a fabulous blend of science fiction and fantasy.
The characters are so much fun, a priestess in training, a city guard, and a thief who reminds me a bit of Robin Hood. There are scenes from the three human characters as well as a few surprising others that helps build the suspense beautifully. Each has a unique narrative voice so there is no chance of confusing which character leads each scene.
The story is crafted very well, with suspense and intrigue building from page one. So many things intertwine like a complex tapestry forming a colorful picture.
I completely loved reading this book and will be grabbing the rest of the books as soon as I can.
The characters are so much fun, a priestess in training, a city guard, and a thief who reminds me a bit of Robin Hood. There are scenes from the three human characters as well as a few surprising others that helps build the suspense beautifully. Each has a unique narrative voice so there is no chance of confusing which character leads each scene.
The story is crafted very well, with suspense and intrigue building from page one. So many things intertwine like a complex tapestry forming a colorful picture.
I completely loved reading this book and will be grabbing the rest of the books as soon as I can.
March 26, 2023
3,25/5
The story had potential but I feel like I missed something.
Everything starts well: a thief successfully accomplishing a robbery to whom he should not, the encounter with a guard friend of him whom he has a sexual tension that makes you stay addicted to reading, an unexpected twist that will start the plot of this book, and the only person able to help them is our guard’s ex-girlfriend. All this, added to a different and fresh atmosphere, has gotten me to devour this book.
The reason I haven’t given it a higher rating is that I think the author focuses a lot in the consequences os the theft and it took us a long time to see the outcome of the rest of the plot. And as much as the author manages to catch you anyway, it’s still a fantasy book in witch, from my point of view, more things should happen.
A fantasy LGTBIQ+ story totally recommended for people who are starting with this genre, and look for an addictive story with q romance between two men and without spice.
The story had potential but I feel like I missed something.
Everything starts well: a thief successfully accomplishing a robbery to whom he should not, the encounter with a guard friend of him whom he has a sexual tension that makes you stay addicted to reading, an unexpected twist that will start the plot of this book, and the only person able to help them is our guard’s ex-girlfriend. All this, added to a different and fresh atmosphere, has gotten me to devour this book.
The reason I haven’t given it a higher rating is that I think the author focuses a lot in the consequences os the theft and it took us a long time to see the outcome of the rest of the plot. And as much as the author manages to catch you anyway, it’s still a fantasy book in witch, from my point of view, more things should happen.
A fantasy LGTBIQ+ story totally recommended for people who are starting with this genre, and look for an addictive story with q romance between two men and without spice.
April 13, 2023
4.5*
For some reason it was a hard book for me to get lost into. Most likely it's on me since I've read almost everything Scott wrote and loved what I read.
I still remember the small short stories that preceded this book, so I knew the background of the Tharassas world, the uniqueness of the flora and its interconnections with the select colonists living there.
Once I was able to immerse into the storytelling, I was hooked and invested to see how the story arc will unfold and what adventures will happen to all MCs, which are usually many and they are quite diverse and interesting characters, with a great anticipation.
Of course, the book ended at the most interesting moment and I can't wait to see how all these tangles will be handled and what fate awaits the world that might explode onto itself and if romance will survive and overcome the grim anticipated adversities.
For some reason it was a hard book for me to get lost into. Most likely it's on me since I've read almost everything Scott wrote and loved what I read.
I still remember the small short stories that preceded this book, so I knew the background of the Tharassas world, the uniqueness of the flora and its interconnections with the select colonists living there.
Once I was able to immerse into the storytelling, I was hooked and invested to see how the story arc will unfold and what adventures will happen to all MCs, which are usually many and they are quite diverse and interesting characters, with a great anticipation.
Of course, the book ended at the most interesting moment and I can't wait to see how all these tangles will be handled and what fate awaits the world that might explode onto itself and if romance will survive and overcome the grim anticipated adversities.
February 5, 2024
more than I expected
I’m not sure what I expected but there’s a lot more than met my eye at first glance. I guess I thought it’d be an MM slow burn romance story. Instead it’s that and what appears tb a well fleshed out fantasy. The three main characters started out simply enough but all three are growing and developing nicely. They’re already seeing themselves reaching and being forced to reach well beyond their comfort zones.
The story is a slow burn in general. I kept wondering when it would get started. It seems it’s moving ahead at the end and sometimes I’d say it was too long a wait but I’m not sure about that expectation.
The complexity of this story is pulling me in. I’m very much intrigued to continue and I’m happy I have the second book ready to start.
This is my first Coatsworth story. If this typical of his writing I’ll be reading a lot more.
I’m not sure what I expected but there’s a lot more than met my eye at first glance. I guess I thought it’d be an MM slow burn romance story. Instead it’s that and what appears tb a well fleshed out fantasy. The three main characters started out simply enough but all three are growing and developing nicely. They’re already seeing themselves reaching and being forced to reach well beyond their comfort zones.
The story is a slow burn in general. I kept wondering when it would get started. It seems it’s moving ahead at the end and sometimes I’d say it was too long a wait but I’m not sure about that expectation.
The complexity of this story is pulling me in. I’m very much intrigued to continue and I’m happy I have the second book ready to start.
This is my first Coatsworth story. If this typical of his writing I’ll be reading a lot more.
April 26, 2023
A World of Trouble
What has Raven gotten himself into? He was just a lowly thief trying to get by with his few friends, Aik and Silya. The three of them find they are destined for greater things. This is a fast-paced adventure that is hard to put down. Unfortunately, this is not a standalone story. It doesn't quite end with a cliffhanger, but a to be continued. We will have to wait for the next volume to find out what happens to our heroes next and if they will ever get an HEA. I strongly recommend reading the prequel stories in Tales From Tharassas to understand some of the historical and social background of the story.
What has Raven gotten himself into? He was just a lowly thief trying to get by with his few friends, Aik and Silya. The three of them find they are destined for greater things. This is a fast-paced adventure that is hard to put down. Unfortunately, this is not a standalone story. It doesn't quite end with a cliffhanger, but a to be continued. We will have to wait for the next volume to find out what happens to our heroes next and if they will ever get an HEA. I strongly recommend reading the prequel stories in Tales From Tharassas to understand some of the historical and social background of the story.
July 29, 2023
The Dragon Eater features a trio of protagonists with their own history together, coming into the start of a new crisis as each taps into a different, alien change.
Overall, it's a good ride, though fairly slow - this book desperately awaits the next installment in the series, and is clearly structured with that intent - it only barely stands on its own.
Still, it's a worthwhile read. The worldbuilding is good (though may take some getting used to), and the changes in perspective and point of view between different entities and groups all have meaning, even if it doesn't seem as such when first read.
I await Book 2.
Overall, it's a good ride, though fairly slow - this book desperately awaits the next installment in the series, and is clearly structured with that intent - it only barely stands on its own.
Still, it's a worthwhile read. The worldbuilding is good (though may take some getting used to), and the changes in perspective and point of view between different entities and groups all have meaning, even if it doesn't seem as such when first read.
I await Book 2.
April 10, 2023
This book didn't match the blurb very much. The points in the blurb were included. It had so many other things going on that, the story raced from one thing to the next without really giving time to absorb what had happened. It's a great premise, and I did like the world. I will always support fantasy that puts an m/m romance front and center. I would like to see how book two in this series plays out. It does have a great deal of potential.
December 9, 2023
*I got a free copy, but this review is my own opinion.*
This book was a nice read. I really enjoyed the personalities of the characters, and the suspense was nicely written. It kept making you think "what's about to happen?". The book uses new words, but the author defines them. The only thing that bothered me was the pacing. It was an interesting story but a little too slow. Otherwise, I'm excited to read the author's other books
This book was a nice read. I really enjoyed the personalities of the characters, and the suspense was nicely written. It kept making you think "what's about to happen?". The book uses new words, but the author defines them. The only thing that bothered me was the pacing. It was an interesting story but a little too slow. Otherwise, I'm excited to read the author's other books
January 17, 2024
This book was a little weird and hard for me to get into. I was expecting fantasy, and it seemed more a mix of sci-fi, aliens maybe, other worlds, and AI. Not what I was expecting. I did get invested in Raven's story and worried what would happen to him (visions of the movie Alien, anyone?), but I felt a disconnect, and didn't feel like I knew what was going on most of the time. YMMV.
I received a free copy via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
I received a free copy via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
July 1, 2023
I really liked the premise of the story and the world building.
However, I felt most of the character interactions were artificial.
Finally, the book doesn't really have an ending. The plot is never tied up, and I didn't even felt like it was a cliffhanger. The book just... Ended. As a reader, it was quite unsatisfactory.
However, I felt most of the character interactions were artificial.
Finally, the book doesn't really have an ending. The plot is never tied up, and I didn't even felt like it was a cliffhanger. The book just... Ended. As a reader, it was quite unsatisfactory.
March 17, 2023
this was a wonderful kick-off to this new world book series. we meet some interesting and complex characters that we see slowly start blending together. who doesn't love the beauty and mystery of dragons
March 22, 2023
Coatsworth is back with an imaginative new sci-fi/fantasy series following three...sort of friends? As they battle countless obstacles to save the world, they just might sort themselves out along the way. If not...well, that would be bad.
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