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Draykon #2
Lokant
Once naught but a legend, the fearsome draykoni have returned to the Seven Realms. For Llandry Sanfaer, their coming changes everything - forever. Their story and hers are inextricably bound, and there’ll be no going back. For Lady Eva Glostrum, questions abound. Who are the enigmatic sorcerers who woke the slumbering draykoni? Their powers break the bounds of possibility. With one dead and one vanished - literally - there’s nothing to go on save a mysterious book, its cover marked with the strange word “Lokant.” As war builds between humankind and the draykoni, Eva and Llandry both must learn the truth about the white-haired witches. What do they have to do with Eva’s own heritage? And why does Llandry appear to be their primary target? The epic story begun in Draykon continues in more mystery, more magic, more suspense...
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2011
46 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte E. English
77 books353 followersEnglish both by name and nationality, Charlotte hasn’t permitted emigration to the Netherlands to change her essential Britishness. She writes colourful fantasy novels over copious quantities of tea, and rarely misses an opportunity to apologise for something. Spanning the spectrum from light to dark, her works include the Draykon Series, Modern Magick, The Malykant Mysteries and the Tales of Aylfenhame.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 2, 2016
Warning: contains major spoilers for book 1 of the series, 'Draykon'.
I really enjoyed the first book of the Draykon series. It had interesting characters, an unusual world and magic system, and that just-one-more-chapter style that makes even such a long book flow past very easily. This one, the second in the series, picks up not long after its predecessor ended, and is largely concerned with the fall-out from events in that book. Eva and Tren are trying to work out just what is going on, Llandry's father is trying to find her, and Llandry herself - well, more on Llandry in a moment.
I was a bit hazy on the details of the story so far, but there's enough information given to get even the most casual reader up to speed without infodumping. The setting is quite complicated - a series of seven realms, some of which are in permanent daylight, some in permanent night, and one is half and half, comprise a 'middle' world, and there are upper and lower worlds as well, which in some way occupy the same space as the middle world, but are very different. We don't see quite as much of the enchanting light-filled upper and threatening lower worlds in this book, which is a shame. Their constantly changing aspects and bizarre life forms fascinate me.
As always, it's the characters who make or break a book for me, and there's a particularly fine collection of them here. Llandry and her parents were a highlight of the first book, but the stars here are Eva and Tren, who provide both romantic interest and comic relief, as well as much of the action. Eva was difficult to like in the first book, being a little too composed, too competent, too contained for sympathy, and Tren seemed like a minor character, but both of them blossom here, and are a delightful pair. An honourable mention, too, for Rheas, Llandry's grandfather, who combines stubborn eccentricity with family affection in a delightfully unusual way. There are several new characters, too, amongst the Lokants of the title, about which I will say no more, to avoid spoilers. As before, the odd creatures from the upper and lower worlds prove to have their own quirky charms, although we see less of them in this book.
OK, here comes the big spoiler from book 1: at the end of it, Llandry was transformed into a draykon (a dragon, basically), and her delight in her new form, the contrast with her timid and all too human self, and her relationship with Pensould, the draykon revived at the end of book 1, are wonderful to read. Both of them have adjustments to make which are clearly not easy for them. She shows at one point that she's capable of very draykon anger, while he becomes noticeably more human as the book progresses. I am very much looking forward to finding out the conclusion of their story in book 3, to see where on the draykon/human spectrum they end up, and whether they end up together or not.
The story opens out a great deal in this book, and many things which mystified me in book 1 are explained, such as the full importance of the strange 'istore' material which Llandry found, and something of Llandry's own nature and the significance of it. We learned a lot about Eva, too. I found the Lokants and their abilities a little too convenient, but the explanation for it, and the way it relates to the known forms of magic (the split into sorcery and summoning abilities, for instance) is very clever, and elegantly done.
The pace seemed to be quite slow for much of the time - there was a great deal of Eva and Tren researching, for instance, and a certain amount of sitting around while one of the Lokants explains the backstory - but things hot up dramatically at the end and suddenly there's the threat of full-scale war looming. And then, rather abruptly, it ends. I suppose that's the sign of an enjoyable book, when you're so absorbed that the end comes as a surprise. I liked the way that, despite the action (and actually, there's plenty), the book is largely about people and their relationships. Llandry and Pensould, Llandry and her parents, her parents and her grandfather, Eva and Tren - all of these relationships are believable, and most of the characters are likeable, in their various ways, even the grumpy Rheas and the unevolved Pensould. I loved that Tren and Eva have only the slightest qualm about their age difference (she's thirteen years older than him); the difficulty is far more subtle and more unusual than that.
If I have a grumble, it's that the names are difficult to remember - people have first names, surnames and diminutives; there are multiple names for places, too. And none of the names are meaningful (to me, that is), which makes them hard to remember. But I'm at last beginning to get the hang of the seven realms (the wonderful map helped here), the daylands and darklands, and the upper and lower worlds, which I found confusing initially. As the second book in the series, it naturally loses a little freshness and originality, but it gains in the greater depth in the characters and in revealing more of the overall story. I enjoyed this perhaps more than the first, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the conclusion. A good four stars.
I really enjoyed the first book of the Draykon series. It had interesting characters, an unusual world and magic system, and that just-one-more-chapter style that makes even such a long book flow past very easily. This one, the second in the series, picks up not long after its predecessor ended, and is largely concerned with the fall-out from events in that book. Eva and Tren are trying to work out just what is going on, Llandry's father is trying to find her, and Llandry herself - well, more on Llandry in a moment.
I was a bit hazy on the details of the story so far, but there's enough information given to get even the most casual reader up to speed without infodumping. The setting is quite complicated - a series of seven realms, some of which are in permanent daylight, some in permanent night, and one is half and half, comprise a 'middle' world, and there are upper and lower worlds as well, which in some way occupy the same space as the middle world, but are very different. We don't see quite as much of the enchanting light-filled upper and threatening lower worlds in this book, which is a shame. Their constantly changing aspects and bizarre life forms fascinate me.
As always, it's the characters who make or break a book for me, and there's a particularly fine collection of them here. Llandry and her parents were a highlight of the first book, but the stars here are Eva and Tren, who provide both romantic interest and comic relief, as well as much of the action. Eva was difficult to like in the first book, being a little too composed, too competent, too contained for sympathy, and Tren seemed like a minor character, but both of them blossom here, and are a delightful pair. An honourable mention, too, for Rheas, Llandry's grandfather, who combines stubborn eccentricity with family affection in a delightfully unusual way. There are several new characters, too, amongst the Lokants of the title, about which I will say no more, to avoid spoilers. As before, the odd creatures from the upper and lower worlds prove to have their own quirky charms, although we see less of them in this book.
OK, here comes the big spoiler from book 1: at the end of it, Llandry was transformed into a draykon (a dragon, basically), and her delight in her new form, the contrast with her timid and all too human self, and her relationship with Pensould, the draykon revived at the end of book 1, are wonderful to read. Both of them have adjustments to make which are clearly not easy for them. She shows at one point that she's capable of very draykon anger, while he becomes noticeably more human as the book progresses. I am very much looking forward to finding out the conclusion of their story in book 3, to see where on the draykon/human spectrum they end up, and whether they end up together or not.
The story opens out a great deal in this book, and many things which mystified me in book 1 are explained, such as the full importance of the strange 'istore' material which Llandry found, and something of Llandry's own nature and the significance of it. We learned a lot about Eva, too. I found the Lokants and their abilities a little too convenient, but the explanation for it, and the way it relates to the known forms of magic (the split into sorcery and summoning abilities, for instance) is very clever, and elegantly done.
The pace seemed to be quite slow for much of the time - there was a great deal of Eva and Tren researching, for instance, and a certain amount of sitting around while one of the Lokants explains the backstory - but things hot up dramatically at the end and suddenly there's the threat of full-scale war looming. And then, rather abruptly, it ends. I suppose that's the sign of an enjoyable book, when you're so absorbed that the end comes as a surprise. I liked the way that, despite the action (and actually, there's plenty), the book is largely about people and their relationships. Llandry and Pensould, Llandry and her parents, her parents and her grandfather, Eva and Tren - all of these relationships are believable, and most of the characters are likeable, in their various ways, even the grumpy Rheas and the unevolved Pensould. I loved that Tren and Eva have only the slightest qualm about their age difference (she's thirteen years older than him); the difficulty is far more subtle and more unusual than that.
If I have a grumble, it's that the names are difficult to remember - people have first names, surnames and diminutives; there are multiple names for places, too. And none of the names are meaningful (to me, that is), which makes them hard to remember. But I'm at last beginning to get the hang of the seven realms (the wonderful map helped here), the daylands and darklands, and the upper and lower worlds, which I found confusing initially. As the second book in the series, it naturally loses a little freshness and originality, but it gains in the greater depth in the characters and in revealing more of the overall story. I enjoyed this perhaps more than the first, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the conclusion. A good four stars.
December 14, 2011
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I have made it clear both on twitter and on this site how much I really enjoyed Charlotte English's first book Draykon. I really felt that her first book was a great epic fantasy with some fantastic mystery elements in it, I even believe that people who have never tried out epic fantasy should do so with this book. My biggest concern with sequels is they are so hard to live up to the previous book if you feel in love with the first. I was truly so happy when I found that Lokant was a worthy follow up for Draykon.
The characters from Draykon all make appearances in Lokant, Llandry still taking a primary role, and Eva as well. At the end of Draykon the reader realizes so much more is going on that we previously believed, especially with Llandry becoming a draykon herself. This book does a fantastic job of letting the reader know more about the world while still maintaining a bit of mystery.
Llandry has found herself in a strange new world, and with a strange new man at her side who has proclaimed himself her mate. So much of this book is about Llandry coming into her own. She had a lot of character growth in Draykon, but in that book she was only a human, and now she is so much more than that. Now she has to find a place for herself in this world, while also trying to unravel the mystery of the people behind the scheme to unleash the draykon. It's really fun to follow Llandry in this book, because even though she is so different than before, it is clear that she is more herself in this book.
I also took more of a liking to Eva in this book than I did in the last. It isn't that I didn't like Eva in the previous book, but rather I didn't form a big bond with her emotionally. This was not the case in Lokant, I very much started to form a bond with her. And even more so I came to understand her a little more.
Part of the reason I really enjoy these books is that there is a huge mystery going on within them. The first book introduced draykon through the "stone" istore. And just when you thought the mystery had been solved, it turns out it was only the set up for a larger mystery. The amount of detail and thought that English has put into these book is astounding. For her to continue these books with such intricacy only shows how much forethought she has as a writer, and how much work had to be done to plot the serious out. She is a master at revealing just enough to the reader to want them to know more about what comes next, but never keeping the reader so much in the dark that the reader feels like they are missing out.
I really enjoyed the new group of Lokants, mainly because these group of people seriously open up the possibilities within the world, in ways I could not imagine in the first. I enjoyed getting to know how was really behind the events of the previous books, not just who was behind them, but their motivations, and then trying to figure out what the endgame is.
There is a bit more of a romantic element in this book, but only slightly. I have to say I appreciate that what romance in this book has taken time to build up to and felt very organic when it was introduced.
If I had to pick one thing I didn't like about the book, or rather something I missed that was in the previous book but was lacking in this book, was the absence of the animals in this book. Sigwide was still in the book, but he was not a consistent companion to Llandry as in the previous book. And less was made of summoning and the various types of animals in the world (although there were a few instances in the book). That being said their absence wasn't hugely felt, the plot was fast moving, and you never felt like you were missing out on something.
Once again, I am going to give English another "great" rating. I think this is a great follow up, and I can tell she worked hard on this book to make sure it was a great follow up. I of course recommend everyone read Draykon first, but once you finish with Draykon you should most definitely pick up a copy of Lokant and get to reading it!
I have made it clear both on twitter and on this site how much I really enjoyed Charlotte English's first book Draykon. I really felt that her first book was a great epic fantasy with some fantastic mystery elements in it, I even believe that people who have never tried out epic fantasy should do so with this book. My biggest concern with sequels is they are so hard to live up to the previous book if you feel in love with the first. I was truly so happy when I found that Lokant was a worthy follow up for Draykon.
The characters from Draykon all make appearances in Lokant, Llandry still taking a primary role, and Eva as well. At the end of Draykon the reader realizes so much more is going on that we previously believed, especially with Llandry becoming a draykon herself. This book does a fantastic job of letting the reader know more about the world while still maintaining a bit of mystery.
Llandry has found herself in a strange new world, and with a strange new man at her side who has proclaimed himself her mate. So much of this book is about Llandry coming into her own. She had a lot of character growth in Draykon, but in that book she was only a human, and now she is so much more than that. Now she has to find a place for herself in this world, while also trying to unravel the mystery of the people behind the scheme to unleash the draykon. It's really fun to follow Llandry in this book, because even though she is so different than before, it is clear that she is more herself in this book.
I also took more of a liking to Eva in this book than I did in the last. It isn't that I didn't like Eva in the previous book, but rather I didn't form a big bond with her emotionally. This was not the case in Lokant, I very much started to form a bond with her. And even more so I came to understand her a little more.
Part of the reason I really enjoy these books is that there is a huge mystery going on within them. The first book introduced draykon through the "stone" istore. And just when you thought the mystery had been solved, it turns out it was only the set up for a larger mystery. The amount of detail and thought that English has put into these book is astounding. For her to continue these books with such intricacy only shows how much forethought she has as a writer, and how much work had to be done to plot the serious out. She is a master at revealing just enough to the reader to want them to know more about what comes next, but never keeping the reader so much in the dark that the reader feels like they are missing out.
I really enjoyed the new group of Lokants, mainly because these group of people seriously open up the possibilities within the world, in ways I could not imagine in the first. I enjoyed getting to know how was really behind the events of the previous books, not just who was behind them, but their motivations, and then trying to figure out what the endgame is.
There is a bit more of a romantic element in this book, but only slightly. I have to say I appreciate that what romance in this book has taken time to build up to and felt very organic when it was introduced.
If I had to pick one thing I didn't like about the book, or rather something I missed that was in the previous book but was lacking in this book, was the absence of the animals in this book. Sigwide was still in the book, but he was not a consistent companion to Llandry as in the previous book. And less was made of summoning and the various types of animals in the world (although there were a few instances in the book). That being said their absence wasn't hugely felt, the plot was fast moving, and you never felt like you were missing out on something.
Once again, I am going to give English another "great" rating. I think this is a great follow up, and I can tell she worked hard on this book to make sure it was a great follow up. I of course recommend everyone read Draykon first, but once you finish with Draykon you should most definitely pick up a copy of Lokant and get to reading it!
April 2, 2015
Things are getting clearer. Plenty more to be explained though.
I like this magic : the Draykons's and the Lokants's. New and original. Also, Kryas is a believable villain As for Llyandry, well, she still annoys me (although there's not much of her in this book). I only hope she'll get, say, mature eventually *shrug*
I like this magic : the Draykons's and the Lokants's. New and original. Also, Kryas is a believable villain As for Llyandry, well, she still annoys me (although there's not much of her in this book). I only hope she'll get, say, mature eventually *shrug*
March 3, 2012
Charlotte English has done a fantastic job with her second book in the Draykon series. The first book featured two main points of view and an assortment of interesting ancillary characters. In Lokant, many more characters have points of view, and there are lots of new characters added, but since the reader is already familiar with the setting, this is decidedly a bonus. The action here is even more quickly paced and the stakes higher. The plot literally pulls you along.
Llandry is coming to terms with her remarkable transformation at the end of the last book while navigating a strange new sort of relationship with Pensould, a male draykon and my favorite new character, who is wonderfully written: fierce, possessive, loving, strong, a mix of alien and animal thinking. Meanwhile Lady Eva Glostrum is trying to figure out two mysteries: what's going on with the draykon and what's going on with her heart. She's engaged to marry a man who looks like a perfect match on paper, but she's drawn to Tren, the much younger sorcerer she got to know so well in the last book's adventures. And she's increasingly worried about not just the draykon but about the very fabric of her world - and her own strangely alien heritage. As another reviewer noted, there is a distinct introduction of sci fi elements here and it works. The Lokant reminded me vaguely of Time Lords from the Doctor Who universe. I'm eager to learn more about them.
Overall, I found this book to be less confusing than the first, even though lots of new concepts, characters, and complexities are introduced. My familiarity with the setting has increased, but I also think that English's ability to clearly describe what is happening has improved. The writing is outstanding and the characters are well drawn. I can't wait to read more.
Llandry is coming to terms with her remarkable transformation at the end of the last book while navigating a strange new sort of relationship with Pensould, a male draykon and my favorite new character, who is wonderfully written: fierce, possessive, loving, strong, a mix of alien and animal thinking. Meanwhile Lady Eva Glostrum is trying to figure out two mysteries: what's going on with the draykon and what's going on with her heart. She's engaged to marry a man who looks like a perfect match on paper, but she's drawn to Tren, the much younger sorcerer she got to know so well in the last book's adventures. And she's increasingly worried about not just the draykon but about the very fabric of her world - and her own strangely alien heritage. As another reviewer noted, there is a distinct introduction of sci fi elements here and it works. The Lokant reminded me vaguely of Time Lords from the Doctor Who universe. I'm eager to learn more about them.
Overall, I found this book to be less confusing than the first, even though lots of new concepts, characters, and complexities are introduced. My familiarity with the setting has increased, but I also think that English's ability to clearly describe what is happening has improved. The writing is outstanding and the characters are well drawn. I can't wait to read more.
March 5, 2019
Like Draykon, Lokant kept my attention and kept me turning pages long into the night when I should have been asleep instead. There's much to love here, including a good deal more exposition than the first book which answers many of the questions raised. I especially enjoyed the characterization of Eva, as this book is split more evenly between her point of view and Llandry's, and we learn so much more about Lady Glostrum's motivations and character. I also appreciate how the romance scenes are a natural part of the story, not shoehorned in. This story is so broad in scope that it would be easy to gloss over romance for most of the story and then when it arrived it would seem oddly out of place, but Charlotte has avoided this by making it feel real, with little threads throughout the first book coming into fruition in the second. And the action scenes are well paced and keeps the book moving forward.
The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is something I consider major: there's not a conflict and resolution. This feels like the second book of five, with a lot of exposition and action but no real resolution. The book ends in the middle of the conflict, and honestly I don't mean that in a good way. It just feels like it should have gone on another three or four chapters to clean up the mess it left us with. I understand leaving the reader wanting more, but I would have appreciated a bit more plot. While there are many sub-plots, it doesn't feel like there is a single main plot, and the final conflict of this book is brought on suddenly and then left to dangle in the unknown. While this worked for Lost season one, I don't think it quite works here. Fortunately I already have Orlind and can resume right away, and if you read all three books as one large volume you might not even notice. But thinking of other "one story in three parts" style books, I have to think of The Lord of the Rings which did it so well: what if instead of ending where he did, Tolkien instead ended The Two Towers with the Battle of Helm's Deep unfinished? In Tolkien we see a shining example of a sub-plot to the overarching story which is resolved, thus making the book feel whole on its own while also being part of a greater whole. But I feel like Lokant is not so much a story, as it is a description of how the characters from the story Draykon arrived at the place of the story Orlind.
This is overly harsh, and I really liked Lokant a lot and would recommend it if you enjoyed Draykon. But it did leave me feeling like "wait, that's it? Seriously?" which is not what I want to feel when I finish any book, even the second part of a series. Lokant gives readers a lot of information we've been wanting about the world of Draykon and its characters, but not a lot else story-wise.
The only reason I gave this four stars instead of five is something I consider major: there's not a conflict and resolution. This feels like the second book of five, with a lot of exposition and action but no real resolution. The book ends in the middle of the conflict, and honestly I don't mean that in a good way. It just feels like it should have gone on another three or four chapters to clean up the mess it left us with. I understand leaving the reader wanting more, but I would have appreciated a bit more plot. While there are many sub-plots, it doesn't feel like there is a single main plot, and the final conflict of this book is brought on suddenly and then left to dangle in the unknown. While this worked for Lost season one, I don't think it quite works here. Fortunately I already have Orlind and can resume right away, and if you read all three books as one large volume you might not even notice. But thinking of other "one story in three parts" style books, I have to think of The Lord of the Rings which did it so well: what if instead of ending where he did, Tolkien instead ended The Two Towers with the Battle of Helm's Deep unfinished? In Tolkien we see a shining example of a sub-plot to the overarching story which is resolved, thus making the book feel whole on its own while also being part of a greater whole. But I feel like Lokant is not so much a story, as it is a description of how the characters from the story Draykon arrived at the place of the story Orlind.
This is overly harsh, and I really liked Lokant a lot and would recommend it if you enjoyed Draykon. But it did leave me feeling like "wait, that's it? Seriously?" which is not what I want to feel when I finish any book, even the second part of a series. Lokant gives readers a lot of information we've been wanting about the world of Draykon and its characters, but not a lot else story-wise.
March 4, 2024
There's something about Charlotte E. English's writing that I find so enjoyable to dive into.
This is the second book in the Draykon Trilogy. It kicks-off almost immediately after the previous book ended and while it does follow some characters we've come to know and love, mainly Llandry & Eva, we also get all knew PoVs adding both more mystery and depth to the world English has created. What the book does best is the fantastic world, or rather universe, building! The world we were introduced to in the first book, Draykon, is imbued with such a classic fae-inspired fairytale with such a strong sense of jamais vu (familiar yet unfamiliar). The descriptions of the world, creatures, and people that inhabit them feel so effortlessly fantastical and continue to be so throughout this novel. We do get even more reveals at the same time as being introduced to all knew mysteries within the world.
The characters are so easily likeable, each having their own distinct thoughts and feelings, which we're given glimpses into during their PoV chapters. While not all characters are in perfect moral alignment, you're able to truly appreciate and empathise with them all throughout.
Personally, this series is fast becoming my go-to comfort read as some how, even if the topics are darkly nuanced, I still find myself able to cosy up under a warm blanket and feel fully soothed by the act of reading this.
This book lacks the 5 star rating as I personally didn't find the storyline and pacing as strong in this instalment, even if I loved almost everything else about it.
This is the second book in the Draykon Trilogy. It kicks-off almost immediately after the previous book ended and while it does follow some characters we've come to know and love, mainly Llandry & Eva, we also get all knew PoVs adding both more mystery and depth to the world English has created. What the book does best is the fantastic world, or rather universe, building! The world we were introduced to in the first book, Draykon, is imbued with such a classic fae-inspired fairytale with such a strong sense of jamais vu (familiar yet unfamiliar). The descriptions of the world, creatures, and people that inhabit them feel so effortlessly fantastical and continue to be so throughout this novel. We do get even more reveals at the same time as being introduced to all knew mysteries within the world.
The characters are so easily likeable, each having their own distinct thoughts and feelings, which we're given glimpses into during their PoV chapters. While not all characters are in perfect moral alignment, you're able to truly appreciate and empathise with them all throughout.
Personally, this series is fast becoming my go-to comfort read as some how, even if the topics are darkly nuanced, I still find myself able to cosy up under a warm blanket and feel fully soothed by the act of reading this.
This book lacks the 5 star rating as I personally didn't find the storyline and pacing as strong in this instalment, even if I loved almost everything else about it.
July 5, 2022
I enjoyed the story, primarily because the writing was a pleasure to read. This book addressed much of the mystery behind this fantasy world, which was my primary interest in the series. Therefore I am quite satisfied with the ending of this book and doubt I will continue the series (even though Eva is a fantastic character and I would like to read more about her, it's still not worth reading through everyone else also).
June 10, 2018
Much as I enjoyed the first book this one is not for me. I may have waited too long between books because the setting material and central mystery that kept me involved in the other book were missing here. This one is a straight romance and is not holding my interest.
September 10, 2018
4.5 stars. Good sequel
January 6, 2024
Definitely a book two but full of lovely characters. I love the world building in this series.
January 17, 2014
Continues the story begun in Draykon, and I am still intrigued, though I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as its predecessor.
First, the good: the style is clear and straightforward, the world-building is strong, and some of the characterizations are enjoyable. At this point in the story -- since I know that the character arcs for this series will cover all three novels -- Eva is my favorite of the heroines. Her sexual mores may bother some readers; since I tend to be pretty conservative myself when it comes to sex, I can understand where they're coming from. (Eva approaches sex in a manner not dissimilar to Inspector Abigail Irene from New Amsterdam.) Yet I admire her sophistication, her maturity (she's in her late thirties), and her sense of humor, as well as her developing magical powers, and I sympathize with her when the truth of her relationships with others is called into question. Where I once found her romance with Tren a little off-putting, I'm actually liking it; despite their age difference, they strike me as two people who genuinely enjoy each other's company.
But I had some issues this go-around.
1) While the first volume confines itself to two points of view, Eva's and Llandry's, I counted as many as eight points of view in this one. Granted, this is a sign that the story's canvas is broadening, which could be considered a good thing. But I found myself getting frustrated at the frequent shifting from one plot to another, perhaps because I found some point-of-view characters and their stories significantly more intriguing than others.
2) This book does pass the Bechdel Test, but except for Llandry and her mother, it seems, no two females in this story really get along. Almost every time two female characters share a scene, the meowing is audible. Eva and Llandry both spend most of their time interacting with males; when Llandry finally encounters another female draykon, surprise! She turns out to be Pure Evil.
3) The feminist in me also balks when I think over the book and realize that as interesting as the female characters might be, in this volume they don't actually DO anything. Every time they step in to take significant action, they make a botch of it. Men do all the saving, all the rescuing; even Eva, ostensibly the most capable of them, is reduced to a damsel in distress toward the end, and it's telling that Llandry, supposedly so much stronger and more powerful here than in the previous volume, ends this novel in a coma, having tried and failed to save her mother's life. In the end, they both have to be saved by their male-folk. My hope is that the third volume, Orlind, will fix this problem, and we'll see the heroines emerge at last as truly powerful and capable, and they'll get to do some saving rather than being saved. I'm intrigued enough by the story not to give up hope.
First, the good: the style is clear and straightforward, the world-building is strong, and some of the characterizations are enjoyable. At this point in the story -- since I know that the character arcs for this series will cover all three novels -- Eva is my favorite of the heroines. Her sexual mores may bother some readers; since I tend to be pretty conservative myself when it comes to sex, I can understand where they're coming from. (Eva approaches sex in a manner not dissimilar to Inspector Abigail Irene from New Amsterdam.) Yet I admire her sophistication, her maturity (she's in her late thirties), and her sense of humor, as well as her developing magical powers, and I sympathize with her when the truth of her relationships with others is called into question. Where I once found her romance with Tren a little off-putting, I'm actually liking it; despite their age difference, they strike me as two people who genuinely enjoy each other's company.
But I had some issues this go-around.
1) While the first volume confines itself to two points of view, Eva's and Llandry's, I counted as many as eight points of view in this one. Granted, this is a sign that the story's canvas is broadening, which could be considered a good thing. But I found myself getting frustrated at the frequent shifting from one plot to another, perhaps because I found some point-of-view characters and their stories significantly more intriguing than others.
2) This book does pass the Bechdel Test, but except for Llandry and her mother, it seems, no two females in this story really get along. Almost every time two female characters share a scene, the meowing is audible. Eva and Llandry both spend most of their time interacting with males; when Llandry finally encounters another female draykon, surprise! She turns out to be Pure Evil.
3) The feminist in me also balks when I think over the book and realize that as interesting as the female characters might be, in this volume they don't actually DO anything. Every time they step in to take significant action, they make a botch of it. Men do all the saving, all the rescuing; even Eva, ostensibly the most capable of them, is reduced to a damsel in distress toward the end, and it's telling that Llandry, supposedly so much stronger and more powerful here than in the previous volume, ends this novel in a coma, having tried and failed to save her mother's life. In the end, they both have to be saved by their male-folk. My hope is that the third volume, Orlind, will fix this problem, and we'll see the heroines emerge at last as truly powerful and capable, and they'll get to do some saving rather than being saved. I'm intrigued enough by the story not to give up hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2015
This is the second book in the Draykon series and I absolutely loved the first. I’m just ashamed it’s taken me so long to get round to reading this one..
So we are back in the wonderful world of the Seven Realms and the troubles revolving around Llandry Sanfaer who discovered a mysterious stone which has caused so many problems. The Draykon are an ancient race long thought extinct.. not any more….
Charlotte builds perfectly on from the established characters and events of the first book but so much more is added, more characters to enjoy and we get to know a lot more about the Draykoni history. Things start to piece together in places and you can see the big picture starting to form.
This book was a great chance for the author to work on the character development and it paid off big time.. we see the relationship between Tren and Eva develop. The storyline that unfolds for these two was brilliant.. frustrating and brilliant.. You just want to bang their heads together. What made it so go is you get to see things from each prospective which makes it easier to understand why they act the way they do.
One of the things I like the most about Charlotte’s stories is she isn’t scared of making a reader work, names and places you have to pronounce that make your brain work.. It’s not dumbed down. She also has a great way of making the characters personality come out in her writing, for example whenever you read a passage where Eva is talking you can always detect the slight superiority she has about herself. This makes it great to read as you can actually imagine the conversation happening rather than just reading the words… it makes reading it more fun.
The best addition to the book is Pensould, a Draykon, I won’t spoil him for you but his no nonsense approach has left me hoping he plays a bit part in the next book.
The other character I really enjoyed is named Krays, who gives fresh life to the tale and lots more mystery.. This man has motives we don’t fully understand and I can’t wait to get to grips with book 3 to find out more about him.
It’s very hard to write a review for this book as I don’t want to give anything away but if you like fantasy & mystery this is the series for you. This is exactly what I want from a fantasy book.
Ok.. if you haven’t heard of the Draykon series I urge you to have a look on Amazon.. It’s first book is free so why not give it a go?
What I did was read the first book then purchased the box set of 3 books, it offers better value and is definitely worth it.
Charlotte has solidified her place as a favourite author of mine so look out in 2016 for more reviews of her work :)
So we are back in the wonderful world of the Seven Realms and the troubles revolving around Llandry Sanfaer who discovered a mysterious stone which has caused so many problems. The Draykon are an ancient race long thought extinct.. not any more….
Charlotte builds perfectly on from the established characters and events of the first book but so much more is added, more characters to enjoy and we get to know a lot more about the Draykoni history. Things start to piece together in places and you can see the big picture starting to form.
This book was a great chance for the author to work on the character development and it paid off big time.. we see the relationship between Tren and Eva develop. The storyline that unfolds for these two was brilliant.. frustrating and brilliant.. You just want to bang their heads together. What made it so go is you get to see things from each prospective which makes it easier to understand why they act the way they do.
One of the things I like the most about Charlotte’s stories is she isn’t scared of making a reader work, names and places you have to pronounce that make your brain work.. It’s not dumbed down. She also has a great way of making the characters personality come out in her writing, for example whenever you read a passage where Eva is talking you can always detect the slight superiority she has about herself. This makes it great to read as you can actually imagine the conversation happening rather than just reading the words… it makes reading it more fun.
The best addition to the book is Pensould, a Draykon, I won’t spoil him for you but his no nonsense approach has left me hoping he plays a bit part in the next book.
The other character I really enjoyed is named Krays, who gives fresh life to the tale and lots more mystery.. This man has motives we don’t fully understand and I can’t wait to get to grips with book 3 to find out more about him.
It’s very hard to write a review for this book as I don’t want to give anything away but if you like fantasy & mystery this is the series for you. This is exactly what I want from a fantasy book.
Ok.. if you haven’t heard of the Draykon series I urge you to have a look on Amazon.. It’s first book is free so why not give it a go?
What I did was read the first book then purchased the box set of 3 books, it offers better value and is definitely worth it.
Charlotte has solidified her place as a favourite author of mine so look out in 2016 for more reviews of her work :)
June 21, 2012
Llandry was learning that when two stubborn old men were placed into the same room together, their individual stubbornness not only doubled but increased tenfold
Draykon once again fly the skies of the Seven Realms. War is building. Llandry is being chased by a white-haired sorcerer while Eva is trying to find out how her own heritage ties into who the Lokants are and what they want. Will there be peace again in the Seven Realms, or will warring factions destroy what was once these quiet lands?
Picking up where the first book left off, Lokant dives right back into the thick of things. The characters are given no time for reprieve, forced to set off almost at once to answer questions burning in their own minds. Llandry now has to figure out not just her new form, but also Pensould - the awoken Draykon that proclaims her his mate. Eva and Tren's relationship also comes to a test as Eva's wedding approaches but she finds her heart not in it. All the while, war is building between rival Lokants with the Draykon picking sides - and the humans are caught in between.
The details of the world are just as vivid as the first book, masterfully woven together to create a real sense of the different places the characters travel. The magic is evolving, changing as the characters learn to interact with it in ways they hadn't thought of before, yet it is still as integral to their beings as it was before.
Riveting and full of new (and old) characters to love, Lokant keeps the action, mysteries and even a bit of romance building until the very end.
Draykon once again fly the skies of the Seven Realms. War is building. Llandry is being chased by a white-haired sorcerer while Eva is trying to find out how her own heritage ties into who the Lokants are and what they want. Will there be peace again in the Seven Realms, or will warring factions destroy what was once these quiet lands?
Picking up where the first book left off, Lokant dives right back into the thick of things. The characters are given no time for reprieve, forced to set off almost at once to answer questions burning in their own minds. Llandry now has to figure out not just her new form, but also Pensould - the awoken Draykon that proclaims her his mate. Eva and Tren's relationship also comes to a test as Eva's wedding approaches but she finds her heart not in it. All the while, war is building between rival Lokants with the Draykon picking sides - and the humans are caught in between.
The details of the world are just as vivid as the first book, masterfully woven together to create a real sense of the different places the characters travel. The magic is evolving, changing as the characters learn to interact with it in ways they hadn't thought of before, yet it is still as integral to their beings as it was before.
Riveting and full of new (and old) characters to love, Lokant keeps the action, mysteries and even a bit of romance building until the very end.
July 22, 2012
Lokant is the second book in the Draykon series. It follows directly on from where the first book, Draykon, left off. We get to know more about Llandry, the draykons and the relationship between Eva and Tren. But the mystery also deepens as well. There was some kind of link between Draykons and humanity in the past which is gradually revealed through the book and there is also a mystery surrounding a scheming sect which wants to get its hands on the Draykon bone (and Llandry) for some dark, as yet unknown purpose.
The writing, pace and characterization were all very good. It’s an original and enjoyable story that I found difficult to put down. Miss English is a very talented writer who manages to make her worlds seem very real and convincing. Her world building is complex. There are several different realms: the Uppers, Lowers and the middle realm where humans live. In the human world, half is always in darkness whilst half is always in light. Add to this the complex mixing of scientific and magical systems and it could all get a bit confusing as to which world you’re in and the strange rules that govern each. But it doesn’t get confusing. The author handles the story in such a way that it all fits together seamlessly.
I really enjoyed Lokant and would highly recommend it. I give it four bookworms.
April 8, 2014
This book has an interesting plot behind it, but the actual scenes aren't gripping. I've thought hard about this and it's not because the writing is poor. She's a crisp writer with no wasted words and the characters are endearing and fun. But the great majority of the story is the characters taking about what's going on. The scenes when action dominates are gripping, but they come far and few between.
Key evidence: when a section ends I usually want to put the book down and do something else, rather than hunger to keep reading.
Maybe it's a style thing--I don't usually find interpersonal "small" dramas very gripping. But it's clear that for me the scenes chosen for the story often emphasize the conversation and breeze over the actions.
I am reading the final book in the trilogy, because as I said, the plot--the unique world, magic, and the ultimate mystery driving the characters--is great. I want to find out what's really going on.
Key evidence: when a section ends I usually want to put the book down and do something else, rather than hunger to keep reading.
Maybe it's a style thing--I don't usually find interpersonal "small" dramas very gripping. But it's clear that for me the scenes chosen for the story often emphasize the conversation and breeze over the actions.
I am reading the final book in the trilogy, because as I said, the plot--the unique world, magic, and the ultimate mystery driving the characters--is great. I want to find out what's really going on.
February 10, 2012
The sequel to the first book by new author Charlotte English (yes, she's my sister - no, that isn't why this book gets a good review...) Lokant continues the story started in Draykon, following the further adventures of Llandry Sanfaer, Eva Glostrum and a whole host of supporting characters, including the adorable Sigwide! The mystery thickens with the addition of the mysterious Lokants, who are meddlers on a grand degree. The writing is engaging and lively, the plot is intriguing and has some unusual twists and turns, and the characters are endearing. I'll most definitely be reading the last of the series as soon as it is available!
November 22, 2014
My favourite book of the month! Absolutely loved it..gripping from start to finish. I read a review somewhere saying these books had "barbie" plots, couldn't disagree more. I really really enjoyed this second book, It finishes exactly wear the first ends and really does tap in to your imagination. You understand allot more about the characters and find yourself being swept away in the mysteries. I love the growing relationship between Eva and Tren and really enjoy the sense of humour the author has given him...found myself giggling throughout the book at his antiquics!! Fab..now if you will excuse me, I have book 3 to read!! ;)
March 8, 2015
This is the second novel in the Draykon series, and continues shortly after the previous book left off. I love the unique set-up of the Draykon worlds, and the plot keeps me turning page after page, but probably my favourite thing about these books is the cast of believable, determined, flawed-yet-lovable characters. In Lokant we meet a number of intriguing new characters, and there are further adventures for old favourites. If you loved Draykon (book 1) half as much as I did, I think you'll find this a worthy successor.
June 2, 2012
"Lokant" by Charlotte English is the second installment to the Draykon series. Llandry becomes a Draykon, helps bring another back from the big sleep and begins to learn more about her heritage. The two major forms of magic start a merging trend that interests Lady Eva as well as others. Mankind starts taking a closer look at how the world became like it is. This book is layered, complicated and deep. Once you pick it up...you can't put it down. The author's writing style is eloquent, fluid and a pleasure to read. I can't say enough good things about this book!
October 21, 2015
The plot is beginning to come together. Characters are beginning to show their position in the story and their views are becoming intertwined. As a reader I found it took a lot of necessary time to develop a mental image of the realms and keep them separated. The character transitions were well placed, and coherent, but this book needs to be read without gaps. Toward the end of this book the key characters are becoming more involved and being pulled together...but what can they do, what will they do?
February 19, 2012
I loved coming back to this world. I loved meeting old characters that I came to like and it was interesting to meet new ones. Again I was very much impressed by the worlds that exist there, the history, the creatures, the characters, their heritage and abilities. I'm looking forward to the next part!
April 21, 2013
intriguing developement in the plot from the first book. much more action and explanations of the chatacters, which was sorely needed. i particulary enjoy the character of eva, who is the polar opposite of the sniviling llandry.
fast paced read, beliveable immersion into a fantastc world, altogether a delightful romp.
fast paced read, beliveable immersion into a fantastc world, altogether a delightful romp.
November 27, 2016
Good as the first
I was pleased that this book was as good as I had hoped after reading the reviews. Looking forward to the next and last book in this series. It does leave you hanging. And I don't like that. I think it's a gimmick to sell more books. I miss completed stories.
I was pleased that this book was as good as I had hoped after reading the reviews. Looking forward to the next and last book in this series. It does leave you hanging. And I don't like that. I think it's a gimmick to sell more books. I miss completed stories.
February 15, 2012
A good read but I wish authors would warn readers that a book is part of an ongoing story not a complete book!
May 4, 2013
This is really getting my attention, love the way that the different worlds are used Can't wait to read the next part.
September 26, 2013
Stayed right with the first book - no lapse. Keep me on wanting to ready more.
December 2, 2013
Great Second installment. some mysteries solved others discovered.
April 15, 2024
Third time through or thereabouts since it came out a decade decade ago.
Yes, it's that good.
Yes, it's that good.
September 11, 2015
Pure enjoyment
I have found this series so far to be enchanting. The characters are well developed and the plot is interesting.
Can't wait for the next book !
I have found this series so far to be enchanting. The characters are well developed and the plot is interesting.
Can't wait for the next book !
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