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The Demon-Bound #1
Dragon's Tongue
Alaric Braidwine, young mageborn bard in training, has no idea that he's about to become part of a legend. Traveling to Dun Gealach to learn magecraft under the Council of Mageborn, he finds himself drawn into a fiendish plot by a blood mage who wants to be a god.
- GenresFantasy
Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Laura J. Underwood
56 books23 followersLaura J. Underwood is the author of numerous short stories in the field of fantastic fiction which have appeared in such publications as Marion Zimmer Bradley’s FANTASY Magazine, SWORD AND SORCERESS, LOW PORT, TURN THE OTHER CHICK, Adventures of Sword & Sorcery, SUCH A PRETTY FACE, CATFANTASTIC, BUBBAS OF THE APOCALYPSE, FOUR BUBBAS OF THE APOCALYPSE, INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF BUBBAS and many others. She is a born and raised East Tennessee, and has found much inspiration while hiking her native mountains as well as from her travels through England and Scotland. By day, she is a librarian, and her fields of expertise range from Scottish folklore and fencing to playing harp. She is, in fact, the owner of the original Glynnanis who has appeared in a number of her tales that were collected together in MAGIC'S SONG: TALES OF THE HARPER MAGE (Wildside Press 2003). Her novels include ARD MAGISTER (Yard Dog Press 2002), CHRONICLES OF THE LAST WAR (Yard Dog Press 2004) and DRAGON'S TONGUE (Meisha Merlin 2006) THE HOUNDS OF ARDAGH (Five Star Press 2006) and THE LUNARI MASK (Yard Dog Press 2008)
In spite of rumors started by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, Laura does not have a multitude of children like Harriet Beecher Stowe, nor does she live in a house full of cats. There is, in fact, only one Gato Bobo (he of the few brain cells) whom she keeps around because cats truly are fun toys...
In spite of rumors started by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, Laura does not have a multitude of children like Harriet Beecher Stowe, nor does she live in a house full of cats. There is, in fact, only one Gato Bobo (he of the few brain cells) whom she keeps around because cats truly are fun toys...
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 6, 2013
Dragon’s Tongue is a book that has not been published traditionally in the UK as yet, although it is available on the Kindle. This is a shame because it is a very enjoyable read and I will probably looking out the sequel at some point in the future.
As far of these things go it is a standard fantasy, but with the authors own spin on the traditional formula. Drawing on celtic mythology and a European/British feel to the accents, it tells the story of Alaric a young man who has a talent as a Bard, and this is all he longs to be, until magic comes alive in him and he discovers he is going to have to learn that side of his nature... This opens up a wider world, but also one of danger, demons and so much more.
The story is well written, becoming more engaging as it goes on, with some strong characters that you soon engage with, unless it is those that you just want to slap, either for their outright evil nature, or their blinkered world view that is so unable to bend that it causes nearly as much trouble as the evil forces.
For a book that has an almost epic feel, and indeed there is the world saving quest at the heart of it, it is nicely played out on the small scale, with very few characters outside of the main ones. This gives it a lot more intimate feel allowing you to appreciate and like/loathe those characters as the story unfolds. It also means that it carries the story faster. As events build to a climax things go very quickly indeed, without them being bogged down with what a supporting cast is doing.
Of the main characters there is not one weak one, all coming across well. Worth a note is the demon Vagner who grows and changes throughout the story, until you feel you would be sorry to see him go.
Although the story is brought to an end, there is still a cliffhanger to carry you forward to the next novel, and a good enough one to make you want to read it!
The writing itself, to me at least, started off slightly clumsily in places, but it soon settles down, driving the book through to the end. Well worth a read.
As far of these things go it is a standard fantasy, but with the authors own spin on the traditional formula. Drawing on celtic mythology and a European/British feel to the accents, it tells the story of Alaric a young man who has a talent as a Bard, and this is all he longs to be, until magic comes alive in him and he discovers he is going to have to learn that side of his nature... This opens up a wider world, but also one of danger, demons and so much more.
The story is well written, becoming more engaging as it goes on, with some strong characters that you soon engage with, unless it is those that you just want to slap, either for their outright evil nature, or their blinkered world view that is so unable to bend that it causes nearly as much trouble as the evil forces.
For a book that has an almost epic feel, and indeed there is the world saving quest at the heart of it, it is nicely played out on the small scale, with very few characters outside of the main ones. This gives it a lot more intimate feel allowing you to appreciate and like/loathe those characters as the story unfolds. It also means that it carries the story faster. As events build to a climax things go very quickly indeed, without them being bogged down with what a supporting cast is doing.
Of the main characters there is not one weak one, all coming across well. Worth a note is the demon Vagner who grows and changes throughout the story, until you feel you would be sorry to see him go.
Although the story is brought to an end, there is still a cliffhanger to carry you forward to the next novel, and a good enough one to make you want to read it!
The writing itself, to me at least, started off slightly clumsily in places, but it soon settles down, driving the book through to the end. Well worth a read.
September 24, 2007
Loved this book! The humor was dry and original. The story line was exciting and progressed at a good pace. There was minimal artificial "tying up of strings" and plenty of interesting background material.
I loved the whole concept and I am excited to get the next book in the series to see how it progresses.
I loved the whole concept and I am excited to get the next book in the series to see how it progresses.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews