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Dragon's Teeth
You can never outrun your past... After years of war ravage the globe and decimate humanity, civilization is revitalized in the city of New Arcadia, a cybernetic playground where longevity treatments promise near immortality. Detective Cyrus, fond of fedoras and narcotics, is hired by Benji MacDowell, heir-apparent to an eugenics empire, to find MacDowell's long-lost biological father. Employing his network of shady contacts within the underbelly of the city, Cyrus uncovers a murderous web of corporate corruption and political conspiracy with ties to the old Order, a tyrannical organization whose sole intent was perfecting the next generation of genetically engineered soldiers. Now Cyrus knows too much and finds himself caught in the cross-hairs of super-soldier assassins while the dark secrets of his past snap at his heels, forcing him to confront the truth he's been running from... and discover his own terrifying purpose.
- GenresDystopiaScience Fiction
282 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Xan van Rooyen
48 books138 followersI'm an autistic non-binary author with a penchant for the dark and strange. I primarily write SFF but enjoy literary writing as well. (Pronouns: they/them)
When not writing, I teach music at an international school, climb, eat anything involving peanut butter, and serve the whims of my shiba inu.
When not writing, I teach music at an international school, climb, eat anything involving peanut butter, and serve the whims of my shiba inu.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 27, 2012
I got this book for free from Making Connections, in exchange of an honest review.
get the book here
So, I'll start the review with: Wow! What just happened!
Amazing book.
Couldn't find any spelling/editing errors.
Loved the names Zia and Nur-they are words used in Urdu, of course!
the story flowed beautifully.
the title of the book does connect with the story but the connection needs to be made more obvious.
i knew by the tone of the story that there wasn't going to be a HEA but found the ending perfect.
get the book here
So, I'll start the review with: Wow! What just happened!
Amazing book.
Couldn't find any spelling/editing errors.
Loved the names Zia and Nur-they are words used in Urdu, of course!
the story flowed beautifully.
the title of the book does connect with the story but the connection needs to be made more obvious.
i knew by the tone of the story that there wasn't going to be a HEA but found the ending perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2012
Dragon's Teeth by Suzanne Van Rooyen, is a futuristic scifi that the author describes as a "cyberpunk/dystopian noir". I have to say that it is not my usual read, but I really enjoyed this and would recommend it without hesitation to scifi fans and anyone else for that matter.
The novel is set in a dystopian future, where people flock to "polycarbonate bubble" suburbias like New Arcadia, while the atmosphere undergoes a "Sky Rejuvenation Program". The story focuses on the central character of Cyrus, a detective with a penchant for fedoras, trench coats and "replica Cuban cigars". In a world where DNA is everything, Cyrus takes on a case to investigate the biological parentage of Benji MacDowell - the heir to a large eugenics company. The novel goes back and forth between the past and the present, until the mystery of MacDowell's heritage is revealed. But, as Cyrus comes close to solving the case he must face some ghosts from his own past.
While I found the beginning a little (just a little) slow, I quickly became very attached to this novel. The story is very intriguing. It has fantastic action, suspense, mystery and humour. The more I read the better it got and I found myself frequently thinking "god, this is good!"
What I liked most about it was our reluctant hero, Cyrus, who likes coffee and cigars for breakfast. Cyrus, in some ways, is a stereotypical detective, especially with that fedora and trench coat! But, I like this about him. We get the sense that Cyrus has been around the traps, he has a cynicism and a world-wariness. He is ultra street-wise and we have confidence in him to solve the case. He has a soft side though, and Van Rooyen shows this in a delightful way through his interactions with his only friend, his cat Cora. Cyrus is enigmatic throughout, with good reason, he brings some gripping twists to the novel's ending.
Another thing I really liked was the author's style of writing. Van Rooyen has a clear talent. Action scenes were exciting, love scenes were lovely. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of settings. Obviously, being a futuristic novel the setting was very important to convey and it was done so effectively. The author put a lot of effort into making it believable and 'real'. The cybernetic culture of the city was revealed, often in dark and dubious city bars where humans, robots and cyborgs mixed. Citizens carried information around in their nanodrives the way we might carry briefcases. But there was an element of the past too. It reminded me of the way the futuristic film Gataca used elements of 1940s film noir. So too does Dragon's Teeth -
"Cyrus gazed towards the stage, peering through the smoky haze that billowed around the crowded tables. The interior of the club was dark, the walls painted a deep green - or perhaps even black. Life-size projections of Dizzie Gillepsie and Miles Davis moved across the walls, living shadows in moribund dance. The patrons were a motley lot. Some were clad in sequins and feather boas, other sporting the slim-fit catsuits of the modern era, all engrossed in the speakeasy vibe of the club called Dixieland."
So what am I critical about? Just a couple of things. Firstly there were a few little anachronisms that to me didn't fit with the 1940s nostalgia and also didn't fit with the futuristic setting. One glaring example for me was the use of mobile phones. It just seemed out of place that people were using super technology to improve or even replace their physical image, yet they still communicated with 21st century technology. This is really a very minor point, but every time Cyrus answered his "mobile" it seemed very obvious to me. The other criticism is a little more complex and it is do with the level of complexity given to some of the minor characters. Some parts of the story weren't so clear to me until after I had read the middle flashback scene. I think this could have been remedied by interspersing the flashbacks more throughout the novel rather than having one major flashback in the middle. Also, some characters played very crucial parts in the story, but they were given only small attention. The relevance of the title of the novel, 'Dragon's Teeth' for example, is tied up in one scene that covers two or three pages only, and is at risk of being forgotten by the reader. I went back and found it after finishing the novel and its significance was then made clear for me, but if I hadn't done that it would have been lost to me. Essentially I think some things were not given the attention they needed to stay in the forefront of the reader's mind, and this could have been easily remedied before publication.
Nevertheless, the story is a very good one. It is intriguing and engaging. There are twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. And the writing is excellent.
The novel is set in a dystopian future, where people flock to "polycarbonate bubble" suburbias like New Arcadia, while the atmosphere undergoes a "Sky Rejuvenation Program". The story focuses on the central character of Cyrus, a detective with a penchant for fedoras, trench coats and "replica Cuban cigars". In a world where DNA is everything, Cyrus takes on a case to investigate the biological parentage of Benji MacDowell - the heir to a large eugenics company. The novel goes back and forth between the past and the present, until the mystery of MacDowell's heritage is revealed. But, as Cyrus comes close to solving the case he must face some ghosts from his own past.
While I found the beginning a little (just a little) slow, I quickly became very attached to this novel. The story is very intriguing. It has fantastic action, suspense, mystery and humour. The more I read the better it got and I found myself frequently thinking "god, this is good!"
What I liked most about it was our reluctant hero, Cyrus, who likes coffee and cigars for breakfast. Cyrus, in some ways, is a stereotypical detective, especially with that fedora and trench coat! But, I like this about him. We get the sense that Cyrus has been around the traps, he has a cynicism and a world-wariness. He is ultra street-wise and we have confidence in him to solve the case. He has a soft side though, and Van Rooyen shows this in a delightful way through his interactions with his only friend, his cat Cora. Cyrus is enigmatic throughout, with good reason, he brings some gripping twists to the novel's ending.
Another thing I really liked was the author's style of writing. Van Rooyen has a clear talent. Action scenes were exciting, love scenes were lovely. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of settings. Obviously, being a futuristic novel the setting was very important to convey and it was done so effectively. The author put a lot of effort into making it believable and 'real'. The cybernetic culture of the city was revealed, often in dark and dubious city bars where humans, robots and cyborgs mixed. Citizens carried information around in their nanodrives the way we might carry briefcases. But there was an element of the past too. It reminded me of the way the futuristic film Gataca used elements of 1940s film noir. So too does Dragon's Teeth -
"Cyrus gazed towards the stage, peering through the smoky haze that billowed around the crowded tables. The interior of the club was dark, the walls painted a deep green - or perhaps even black. Life-size projections of Dizzie Gillepsie and Miles Davis moved across the walls, living shadows in moribund dance. The patrons were a motley lot. Some were clad in sequins and feather boas, other sporting the slim-fit catsuits of the modern era, all engrossed in the speakeasy vibe of the club called Dixieland."
So what am I critical about? Just a couple of things. Firstly there were a few little anachronisms that to me didn't fit with the 1940s nostalgia and also didn't fit with the futuristic setting. One glaring example for me was the use of mobile phones. It just seemed out of place that people were using super technology to improve or even replace their physical image, yet they still communicated with 21st century technology. This is really a very minor point, but every time Cyrus answered his "mobile" it seemed very obvious to me. The other criticism is a little more complex and it is do with the level of complexity given to some of the minor characters. Some parts of the story weren't so clear to me until after I had read the middle flashback scene. I think this could have been remedied by interspersing the flashbacks more throughout the novel rather than having one major flashback in the middle. Also, some characters played very crucial parts in the story, but they were given only small attention. The relevance of the title of the novel, 'Dragon's Teeth' for example, is tied up in one scene that covers two or three pages only, and is at risk of being forgotten by the reader. I went back and found it after finishing the novel and its significance was then made clear for me, but if I hadn't done that it would have been lost to me. Essentially I think some things were not given the attention they needed to stay in the forefront of the reader's mind, and this could have been easily remedied before publication.
Nevertheless, the story is a very good one. It is intriguing and engaging. There are twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. And the writing is excellent.
March 4, 2012
This is the first book I won! Thanks for the giveaway guys! And I'm super excited, it's been a really captivating book so far, will follow up with a nice long review as soon as I finish reading! :)
Update: Finished reading! Time to review now
Dragon’s teeth gave me the goose bumps.
I loved reading it!
It made me uncomfortable, but kept me enthralled, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed reading the dystopian genre so much since 1984 and Brave New world.
Suzanne Van Rooyen has a wonderful style of storytelling, she keeps it clear, simple, to the point yet manages to add in enough details to bring to mind a vivid image. I enjoyed the futuristic journey part I took me on, the new age lifestyle and the mysterious detective Cyrus. He is not your average new Era guy, he seems like the kind who like living in the past. One thing is clear - Cyrus is a complex character and he is a lot more capable of emotions and attachment than his jaded counterparts.
Part II took me to a gritty, hair prickling journey of its own. We’re taken to the time where it all begin and as Cyrus tries to uncover the true gene of his client Benji MacDowell, things seem to be a lot more clear. The modified soldiers and the order they served – part II focuses on a pair of twin soldiers, Zia and Nur that seem to be different than the rest. They’re gifted with telepathic powers and human emotion. Here is the beginning of the revolt that busted the Order long ago. Here, we learn about this new fangled religion and genetic control and the possible father of Benji MacDowell.
She had me guessing till the end and the major plot twist in Part III! I did not see that coming. Zia was my favourite character and I felt his misery, his torment and his loneliness. I couldn’t help but feel sad the way things ended. Dragon’s Teeth is the kind of book that leaves you wondering, long after I finished the last page, I thought what if things hadn’t been this way. Would Zia and Senya be happy? Would they have survived the new Era?
I look forward to reading more from this author.
This review and a lot more can be found on Dining with the Muses
Update: Finished reading! Time to review now
Dragon’s teeth gave me the goose bumps.
I loved reading it!
It made me uncomfortable, but kept me enthralled, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed reading the dystopian genre so much since 1984 and Brave New world.
Suzanne Van Rooyen has a wonderful style of storytelling, she keeps it clear, simple, to the point yet manages to add in enough details to bring to mind a vivid image. I enjoyed the futuristic journey part I took me on, the new age lifestyle and the mysterious detective Cyrus. He is not your average new Era guy, he seems like the kind who like living in the past. One thing is clear - Cyrus is a complex character and he is a lot more capable of emotions and attachment than his jaded counterparts.
Part II took me to a gritty, hair prickling journey of its own. We’re taken to the time where it all begin and as Cyrus tries to uncover the true gene of his client Benji MacDowell, things seem to be a lot more clear. The modified soldiers and the order they served – part II focuses on a pair of twin soldiers, Zia and Nur that seem to be different than the rest. They’re gifted with telepathic powers and human emotion. Here is the beginning of the revolt that busted the Order long ago. Here, we learn about this new fangled religion and genetic control and the possible father of Benji MacDowell.
She had me guessing till the end and the major plot twist in Part III! I did not see that coming. Zia was my favourite character and I felt his misery, his torment and his loneliness. I couldn’t help but feel sad the way things ended. Dragon’s Teeth is the kind of book that leaves you wondering, long after I finished the last page, I thought what if things hadn’t been this way. Would Zia and Senya be happy? Would they have survived the new Era?
I look forward to reading more from this author.
This review and a lot more can be found on Dining with the Muses
February 8, 2012
I am general not much of a Science fiction reader, tending more towards the paranormal, romance and erotica stories when I am in the mood for a good read, so I jumped into this one a bit blind, as they say.
I have to say, despite not really getting into the story or the genre as a whole, I did enjoy the read. The author did a great job of pulling me into the story unfolding and after a few chapters, I was able to really relax into the story being presented. I admit to never really identifying with the MC, but I don't blame the author for that one. The fault there is in my own desires when it comes to the genre of stories I truly enjoy and get wrapped up in.
The prose itself was well done and smooth, and the book lacked some of the basic editing issues that are prevelant in some of the smaller press offerings. That was a welcome surprise after some of the stories I have reviewed lately.
Certainly a book I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and mystery type novels. I will be looking for other titles from this author in genres I like a bit better, as I did enjoy the "voice" the story was written in.
I have to say, despite not really getting into the story or the genre as a whole, I did enjoy the read. The author did a great job of pulling me into the story unfolding and after a few chapters, I was able to really relax into the story being presented. I admit to never really identifying with the MC, but I don't blame the author for that one. The fault there is in my own desires when it comes to the genre of stories I truly enjoy and get wrapped up in.
The prose itself was well done and smooth, and the book lacked some of the basic editing issues that are prevelant in some of the smaller press offerings. That was a welcome surprise after some of the stories I have reviewed lately.
Certainly a book I would recommend to fans of sci-fi and mystery type novels. I will be looking for other titles from this author in genres I like a bit better, as I did enjoy the "voice" the story was written in.
September 29, 2013
If you want to see more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews! Also check back on August 11 for my tour stop including a repost of this review & an international giveaway for a copy of this book!
Before I start my review, I want to point out what literally my face looked like when I was reading the last pages of the book.
Wait. What. Just. Happened.
*mind blown*
Dragon’s Teeth is a perfect testimony as to why I sometimes venture into the more “Adult” side of fiction – although there’s more death, violence, and only a bit more explicit content, there’s so much more action and twists I wouldn’t expect.
This book is split into three parts – the present, where Detective Cyrus is hired to find the biological parents of a businessman named Benji MacDowell, scenes from 37 years ago that gives a lot more back story, and the present again, where a lot of truth and twists are revealed. Usually I find this format pretty frustrating, especially since a lot of content in the middle may have been skipped. However, in this case, I think this format particularly suits Dragon’s Teeth, and isn’t too confusing because of a different set of characters and setting. It also helped develop a lot of characters and implant a certain ending that I definitely didn’t expect.
The ending, which I keep on mentioning, is actually one of the biggest reasons why I rated this book so highly. I definitely didn’t see it coming, and after looking back, there were slight clues that could have led to it. The eventual loss at the end was also pretty sad for me, since the character really grew on to me, with his personality and huge sacrifices. It was as if once the truth came out, all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and practically exploded in my head. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but as I’m writing this review right now, that was how I felt.
The plot for me was a little slow in the beginning, but it definitely picked up near the middle / late portion of the first part. The mystery and science part of the book was well integrated, and it showed great signs of a dystopic world, which is always a must for me in dystopic fiction, although it's often forgotten. In the second part, there was a lot of action and emotion as well as sympathy on my part. Since it rewinds to thirty-seven years ago, you're introduced to a mostly new set of characters, although I felt I really connected to them as they developed and eventually connected to the "present" of the story.
Overall, The Dragon's Tooth is a fast-paced, cyberpunk novel that may start off slow, but will definitely pick up and shock you in the end. I would highly recommend it to sci-fi fans!
Before I start my review, I want to point out what literally my face looked like when I was reading the last pages of the book.
Wait. What. Just. Happened.
*mind blown*
Dragon’s Teeth is a perfect testimony as to why I sometimes venture into the more “Adult” side of fiction – although there’s more death, violence, and only a bit more explicit content, there’s so much more action and twists I wouldn’t expect.
This book is split into three parts – the present, where Detective Cyrus is hired to find the biological parents of a businessman named Benji MacDowell, scenes from 37 years ago that gives a lot more back story, and the present again, where a lot of truth and twists are revealed. Usually I find this format pretty frustrating, especially since a lot of content in the middle may have been skipped. However, in this case, I think this format particularly suits Dragon’s Teeth, and isn’t too confusing because of a different set of characters and setting. It also helped develop a lot of characters and implant a certain ending that I definitely didn’t expect.
The ending, which I keep on mentioning, is actually one of the biggest reasons why I rated this book so highly. I definitely didn’t see it coming, and after looking back, there were slight clues that could have led to it. The eventual loss at the end was also pretty sad for me, since the character really grew on to me, with his personality and huge sacrifices. It was as if once the truth came out, all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and practically exploded in my head. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but as I’m writing this review right now, that was how I felt.
The plot for me was a little slow in the beginning, but it definitely picked up near the middle / late portion of the first part. The mystery and science part of the book was well integrated, and it showed great signs of a dystopic world, which is always a must for me in dystopic fiction, although it's often forgotten. In the second part, there was a lot of action and emotion as well as sympathy on my part. Since it rewinds to thirty-seven years ago, you're introduced to a mostly new set of characters, although I felt I really connected to them as they developed and eventually connected to the "present" of the story.
Overall, The Dragon's Tooth is a fast-paced, cyberpunk novel that may start off slow, but will definitely pick up and shock you in the end. I would highly recommend it to sci-fi fans!
August 17, 2012
This book is set up in three parts with several POV's. The beginning was a slow start. I wasn't really connecting with the beginning characters. When I hit the back story, I was absolutely hooked. I found myself so engrossed that I had trouble putting my kindle down for the night. My heart literally was pumping so hard that I really couldn't wait until the next morning to start up again.
Cyrus is a detective that was hired by Benji wanting to know more about his parents. He was adopted and knew there was something different about him. Cyrus also decided it was best to follow Benji to find out more than what he divulged at their meeting. Smart move on his part.
In the back story, we learn there were soldiers bred to have the perfect body able to accept and carry out orders without hesitation. Two in particular, Kia and Nur, they were twins. They were allowed to both live ,even though twins were very rare in soldiers. These two proved to have a special bond and connection.
Nur, a female soldier, began developing and thinking on her own and acted out against the Order by disobeying a direct order as well as beating the crap out of her brother to prevent him from killing innocent women and children.
Nur was killed by the hands of her brother, Kia, a male soldier, At least this is the story the Enforcers pounded and tortured into his subconscious by very excessive and painful means of persuasion. Yes, I cringed.
Eventually the story reverts back to the present and again, the Author still held my interest and then some. I never had seen it coming. My heart was in overload.
I am not one for giving spoilers out. I do not like reading them in a review so I refuse to write too much that will totally give away the really awesome plot that is laid out in this story. I will admit that the ending had me trying to see if I had pages missing from my Kindle. The ending is definitely not what I expected at all and I loved it. However, there were several unanswered questions that left me without closure and I need closure... I beg for more Dragon's Teeth, please.......
This was a great Sci-fi/Dystopian read.
Cyrus is a detective that was hired by Benji wanting to know more about his parents. He was adopted and knew there was something different about him. Cyrus also decided it was best to follow Benji to find out more than what he divulged at their meeting. Smart move on his part.
In the back story, we learn there were soldiers bred to have the perfect body able to accept and carry out orders without hesitation. Two in particular, Kia and Nur, they were twins. They were allowed to both live ,even though twins were very rare in soldiers. These two proved to have a special bond and connection.
Nur, a female soldier, began developing and thinking on her own and acted out against the Order by disobeying a direct order as well as beating the crap out of her brother to prevent him from killing innocent women and children.
Nur was killed by the hands of her brother, Kia, a male soldier, At least this is the story the Enforcers pounded and tortured into his subconscious by very excessive and painful means of persuasion. Yes, I cringed.
Eventually the story reverts back to the present and again, the Author still held my interest and then some. I never had seen it coming. My heart was in overload.
I am not one for giving spoilers out. I do not like reading them in a review so I refuse to write too much that will totally give away the really awesome plot that is laid out in this story. I will admit that the ending had me trying to see if I had pages missing from my Kindle. The ending is definitely not what I expected at all and I loved it. However, there were several unanswered questions that left me without closure and I need closure... I beg for more Dragon's Teeth, please.......
This was a great Sci-fi/Dystopian read.
December 29, 2013
I loved this book. It was captivating and really enjoyable.
Well Done Suzanne!!
Well Done Suzanne!!
June 5, 2013
What do you get when you combine a dystopian setting with genetically enhanced soldiers, drug-trafficking and a cynical detective? Dragon's Teeth. Although the title of Suzanne Van Rooyen's debut novel may incite images of characters from a fantasy book, there are neither dragons nor elves between the pages. Instead, we are launched into a world of robots and synthetic food, where having imperfect genetics is a crime, plastic surgery is the norm and no one remembers what the sun feels like on their skin.
Read more of this review at Underground Book Reviews dot com.
Read more of this review at Underground Book Reviews dot com.
February 18, 2014
The book consist of three parts and I really liked the middle one but if I hadn't read Obscura burning and loved it I don't know if I'd pushed through the first part. It was very stylish noir piece but I couldn't get any feel to the protagonist. I think the structure was a bit problematic. It was a interesting book but I felt it didn't quite reached the heights it could have.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews