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The Dragon Nimbus #1
The Glass Dragon: The Dragon Nimbus #1
Magic provides peace and prosperity in Coronnan. Dragons are the source of magic.
So why is someone killing the dragons?
Jaylor has been given his journeyman magician’s quest to “Go see an invisible dragon,” by his mentor, Senior Magician Baamin. He dutifully throws magic spells to transport objects, communicate over long distances, and overhear secret thoughts. But he cannot explain to his professors at the University of Magicians how he does it. He fails miserably when he joins in the communal spells that allows the University to impose ethics and morality on any single (rogue) magician. He is considered the least likely to succeed in this vital task to find and protect the last breeding female in the Nimbus of Dragons.
His quest takes him to a remote corner of the land where he stumbles across a young and frightened witch, Brevelan. She has been driven out of several villages. She saved a man’s life, but had to leave him crippled, she helped a woman through a dangerous labor and delivery, but the child is female, not the male the father desired. The crops succumbed to drought so it must be her fault.
Together, she and Jaylor forge a new form of magic that helps them find the dragon. But are they strong enough to stop the rogue magician determined to bring down the kingdom for his own personal power and destroy communal magic once and for all?
And why has the dragon protected and nurtured a curious golden wolf that clings to Brevelan and protects her from their mutual enemy?
So why is someone killing the dragons?
Jaylor has been given his journeyman magician’s quest to “Go see an invisible dragon,” by his mentor, Senior Magician Baamin. He dutifully throws magic spells to transport objects, communicate over long distances, and overhear secret thoughts. But he cannot explain to his professors at the University of Magicians how he does it. He fails miserably when he joins in the communal spells that allows the University to impose ethics and morality on any single (rogue) magician. He is considered the least likely to succeed in this vital task to find and protect the last breeding female in the Nimbus of Dragons.
His quest takes him to a remote corner of the land where he stumbles across a young and frightened witch, Brevelan. She has been driven out of several villages. She saved a man’s life, but had to leave him crippled, she helped a woman through a dangerous labor and delivery, but the child is female, not the male the father desired. The crops succumbed to drought so it must be her fault.
Together, she and Jaylor forge a new form of magic that helps them find the dragon. But are they strong enough to stop the rogue magician determined to bring down the kingdom for his own personal power and destroy communal magic once and for all?
And why has the dragon protected and nurtured a curious golden wolf that clings to Brevelan and protects her from their mutual enemy?
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1994
25 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read
About the author
Irene Radford
127 books135 followersAlso uses C.F. Bentley, Phyllis Irene Radford, Julia Verne St. John, Rachel Atwood, Phyllis Ames, P. Irene Radford and P.R. Frost.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 11, 2014
I read this book when I was a teenager back when it was a new release. Recently, I realized I couldn't remember much about it, but I had a longing to read it again to see if I liked it now any more or less than I did back then, or rather, for as much as I can remember I liked it, anyway.
One thing that should be made clear about this book is that it is a work of adult fantasy and is not meant for children. I've noticed a lot of complaints regarding that, although I didn't think much of it myself when I was 13. I was used to adult fantasy, however, so it didn't shock me. If you're NOT used to adult fantasy, avoid this book and try something from the young adult section instead. Well, if you have a serious problem with adult content like sex, alcohol use, and even drugs, that is. If you don't mind that, then by all means, give the book a shot!
Sadly, the book does show its age. I don't think something like this would pass a publisher's acceptance standards anymore. It isn't HORRIBLE, but the writing is, for lack of a better way to describe it, childish. I feel as if I'm reading the work of a teenager rather than that of a woman who was 44 at the time of this book's release.
The romance is hilariously campy. It's about as bad as your standard mass-produced romance novel. Brevelan and Jaylor's relationship happens so fast that I couldn't help but think of how romance and falling in love happens in Disney movies. They just met, but they're totally in love! I get that teenaged vibe again. This really isn't how mature adults would approach that sort of thing.
The editing is horrible. That's no fault of the author exactly. I'm very disappointed that a reputable fantasy/sci-fi publishing company like DAW would ever allow for this level of incompetence in editing! There were typographical errors all over the place, including misplaced quotation marks, misplaced and misused punctuation marks, misspelled words, and incorrectly used words. Sometimes, even names of characters were spelled incorrectly! Wow, DAW, way to drop the ball there, guys!
The writing style was juvenile, but I did still like the plot idea and the delivery worked out pretty well. With the book being as fast to read as it is helped keep the story going at a good pace. As I mentioned, though, the book is old (released in 1994), and there seems to have been different standards at the time for what was publishable, so I chalk up the campiness to a sign of those times as much as anything else.
Decent book. I'd have rated it 2.5 stars if Goodreads allowed for that because of the childish writing, but as that isn't available, I'm giving it 3 stars.
One thing that should be made clear about this book is that it is a work of adult fantasy and is not meant for children. I've noticed a lot of complaints regarding that, although I didn't think much of it myself when I was 13. I was used to adult fantasy, however, so it didn't shock me. If you're NOT used to adult fantasy, avoid this book and try something from the young adult section instead. Well, if you have a serious problem with adult content like sex, alcohol use, and even drugs, that is. If you don't mind that, then by all means, give the book a shot!
Sadly, the book does show its age. I don't think something like this would pass a publisher's acceptance standards anymore. It isn't HORRIBLE, but the writing is, for lack of a better way to describe it, childish. I feel as if I'm reading the work of a teenager rather than that of a woman who was 44 at the time of this book's release.
The romance is hilariously campy. It's about as bad as your standard mass-produced romance novel. Brevelan and Jaylor's relationship happens so fast that I couldn't help but think of how romance and falling in love happens in Disney movies. They just met, but they're totally in love! I get that teenaged vibe again. This really isn't how mature adults would approach that sort of thing.
The editing is horrible. That's no fault of the author exactly. I'm very disappointed that a reputable fantasy/sci-fi publishing company like DAW would ever allow for this level of incompetence in editing! There were typographical errors all over the place, including misplaced quotation marks, misplaced and misused punctuation marks, misspelled words, and incorrectly used words. Sometimes, even names of characters were spelled incorrectly! Wow, DAW, way to drop the ball there, guys!
The writing style was juvenile, but I did still like the plot idea and the delivery worked out pretty well. With the book being as fast to read as it is helped keep the story going at a good pace. As I mentioned, though, the book is old (released in 1994), and there seems to have been different standards at the time for what was publishable, so I chalk up the campiness to a sign of those times as much as anything else.
Decent book. I'd have rated it 2.5 stars if Goodreads allowed for that because of the childish writing, but as that isn't available, I'm giving it 3 stars.
October 16, 2023
Read for the 2023 PopSugar reading challenge. This is "A book you bought in an independent bookstore." If you ever find yourself on the Big Island of Hawaii, browse the shelves of Kona Bay Books and see what odd secondhand things you might find for yourself. I decided I'd grab a fantasy book I'd never once heard of and this one leapt out at me. The story of the acquisition of the book was ultimately more interesting than the book itself, which is unfortunate for me since I bought a collected volume that also included this book's (first) two sequels.
If there was a television show or movie whose script dictated (or even another book whose plot dictated) that a main character was a novelist working on a fantasy book, with small excerpts of a hazy idea shared periodically through the show/movie/book, only no one involved wanted to actually go to the trouble of making this book-within-a-book anything close to a fully-formed fantasy novel or even plot for one, and then someone else tried to actually write that novel based on what was in the show, the result would probably be this forgotten artifact from the mid-1990s.
I had never heard of it before for good reason. It's not good. Without even getting into its character choices and plot decisions, this is a rare book that feels like it fails on the technical level of writing. In a choice that I found unusual and off-putting, we are periodically given glimpses into the mind of the antagonist (whose identity is, initially, not known) through a few basic paragraphs in italics, in which the antagonist is thinking conveniently clearly about his plans for world domination and how to achieve it. It's like the author couldn't even manage to write out scenes of mustache-twirling evil and just settled for these bits.
Ideas that at a high level have potential to be interesting are around in the plot. There is a country that has been effectively stagnant for three centuries as it has been watched over by dragons and magic that is fueled by dragons. It's warded off its external potential enemies by shutting them out and has quashed any magic that does not come from the dragons. Yet it is, at the outset, a kingdom in turmoil, as peasants have been hunting young dragons in recent years for unknown reasons, the king is in declining health as he has literally linked his life to the thriving of the dragons and they are no longer doing so, and to make matters worse, the prince and heir to the throne has gone missing.
Things are so desperate that even the main character Jaylor, a journeyman magician who is not well liked by his superiors for his lack of discipline with the dragon magic, is sent out to find... something. Those who have never read a book before might be surprised when he discovers the plot. Those who have read many books might be surprised when Jaylor's magic requires him to be celibate but he's also extremely horny for like every woman he's ever encountered, such that when he meets the other main character, a witch named Brevalan, he tries to make himself stay away from her less he be tempted. It is not actually that hard to not be a gross weirdo towards a woman! Brevalan is a woman who fled an abusive marriage with her husband dead. She talks to animals in a very Disney princess kind of way. This includes the obligatory cat that seems to have a human-like intelligence, and a wolf who it turns out does have human-like intelligence.
Every now and again, life requires me to be out and about on Sunday evenings. There is a radio station within range that uses Sunday nights to play Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from some random past year. It's fascinating hearing like, song #36 on a lot of these random countdowns because they sound extremely 80s but they did not survive in cultural memory in any way and they kind of aren't very good. They still counted as top 40 hits but if you only made it as high as #36, what's that worth? Probably not much. Reading this book was equivalent of getting the #36 radio song, except for fantasy novels in 1994.
If there was a television show or movie whose script dictated (or even another book whose plot dictated) that a main character was a novelist working on a fantasy book, with small excerpts of a hazy idea shared periodically through the show/movie/book, only no one involved wanted to actually go to the trouble of making this book-within-a-book anything close to a fully-formed fantasy novel or even plot for one, and then someone else tried to actually write that novel based on what was in the show, the result would probably be this forgotten artifact from the mid-1990s.
I had never heard of it before for good reason. It's not good. Without even getting into its character choices and plot decisions, this is a rare book that feels like it fails on the technical level of writing. In a choice that I found unusual and off-putting, we are periodically given glimpses into the mind of the antagonist (whose identity is, initially, not known) through a few basic paragraphs in italics, in which the antagonist is thinking conveniently clearly about his plans for world domination and how to achieve it. It's like the author couldn't even manage to write out scenes of mustache-twirling evil and just settled for these bits.
Ideas that at a high level have potential to be interesting are around in the plot. There is a country that has been effectively stagnant for three centuries as it has been watched over by dragons and magic that is fueled by dragons. It's warded off its external potential enemies by shutting them out and has quashed any magic that does not come from the dragons. Yet it is, at the outset, a kingdom in turmoil, as peasants have been hunting young dragons in recent years for unknown reasons, the king is in declining health as he has literally linked his life to the thriving of the dragons and they are no longer doing so, and to make matters worse, the prince and heir to the throne has gone missing.
Things are so desperate that even the main character Jaylor, a journeyman magician who is not well liked by his superiors for his lack of discipline with the dragon magic, is sent out to find... something. Those who have never read a book before might be surprised when he discovers the plot. Those who have read many books might be surprised when Jaylor's magic requires him to be celibate but he's also extremely horny for like every woman he's ever encountered, such that when he meets the other main character, a witch named Brevalan, he tries to make himself stay away from her less he be tempted. It is not actually that hard to not be a gross weirdo towards a woman! Brevalan is a woman who fled an abusive marriage with her husband dead. She talks to animals in a very Disney princess kind of way. This includes the obligatory cat that seems to have a human-like intelligence, and a wolf who it turns out does have human-like intelligence.
Every now and again, life requires me to be out and about on Sunday evenings. There is a radio station within range that uses Sunday nights to play Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from some random past year. It's fascinating hearing like, song #36 on a lot of these random countdowns because they sound extremely 80s but they did not survive in cultural memory in any way and they kind of aren't very good. They still counted as top 40 hits but if you only made it as high as #36, what's that worth? Probably not much. Reading this book was equivalent of getting the #36 radio song, except for fantasy novels in 1994.
June 24, 2012
Sigh. This was almost a really awesome fantasy book, but the sexual stuff just ruined it for me. If I want to read a trashy romance novel, there are plenty to choose from, but I wanted to read a fantasy book. Anyway, readers beware: there's lots of stuff about lust and sex in this book. There's also magic and dragons and other cool stuff. Anyway definitely not for kids or people like me who aren't interested in reading a book about the main characters' sexual urges.
August 24, 2009
I never finished this book because even though it was good there was content that I didn't need to read. I felt it was inappropriate for myself.
August 28, 2015
This was the first fantasy + romance (sortof...) book I had ever read. For middle school me, it was a revelation. I had recently dropped the classic literature binge for a sci-fi/sword and planet phase. I was only starting to allow myself back into the fairytales I loved as a kid (trying to retain that "bad ass reading nerd" thing), and this series was a godsend. The dragons are well done, the characters pleasantly complex - this is juvenile enough to appeal to me then, but sophisticated enough to be satisfying on a recent re-read. The 'romance' is nothing like you'd find in the proper fantasy-romance sub-genre, but it opened a whole new world of consensual not-just-physical interactions not really seen in, say, sword and planet or classical Russian literature! The content is not all friendly, though, and the writing is a bit simpler than might be passable in 2014 or 2015 books of the same category. The book didn't age as well as I would have hoped (e.g. it wasn't as magical and compelling as it was back then) but I'm keeping it at 5 stars because of the impact it had on me then in propelling me into what is now my primary genre and the fact that I did still enjoy it quite a bit on a 2nd go around.
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February 7, 2025Plenty of action with all the usual dragons, princes and magic I love :)
July 21, 2018
This is one of the few books I have read where you know you have things to do so you tell yourself okay just a few more sentences, a few more pages, a couple more chapters. Next thing you know you have finished the book!!! Loved it!
December 31, 2024
This book was a wild ride, damn. First 100 pages and i feel like i was high or something. After that the story picked up and everything started to make more sense. The threesome was a bit weird. I’m going to read other books from the series also.
July 18, 2025
I was having trouble wanting to pick this up. I was excited to read about a dragon, and it does have the dragon, a wolf, a cat, a magician, and a strong woman with a past. Everything you could want, but there was mention of men’s work, woman’s work, and she is in hiding because maybe her husband who abused her? I went 100 pages in and it’s just not grabbing my attention. As an inherited book it’s time to let someone else enjoy it.
August 18, 2021
I Love this book! My husband even said it was good, and he's picky about his books! The Dragon became quite endearing to me. It's a wonderful story woven in a web of pure magic! Bradford tells the story as if she were right there, watching it all! It would make a Great Movie!
I love the different ways the author makes use of Dragon lore and communication. Gives it an air of historical context that keeps it grounded just enough for the readers to consider the possibilities of the true existence of Dragons even if its only in our dreams!
If you love dragons, get this book and Keep it for a blue, rainy day, when you need to dream again.💜
I love the different ways the author makes use of Dragon lore and communication. Gives it an air of historical context that keeps it grounded just enough for the readers to consider the possibilities of the true existence of Dragons even if its only in our dreams!
If you love dragons, get this book and Keep it for a blue, rainy day, when you need to dream again.💜
August 7, 2009
This was a good read. The characters were not as well developed as they could have been but the storyline was interesting enough to keep me reading. I will read the next in the series and also look into picking up some of the authors other books as well.
December 12, 2022
This book was going pretty well. I feel like it would have been very appropriate YA. That is until the threesome happened. I had to read it a couple times because it was a bit ambiguous, but I am pretty sure it happened, even though it makes no sense. For context this book is romantic fantasy, and has all the requisite tropes with this one notable exception. The author decides to go for a love triangle. Ok. the first problem is that one of the people in the love triangle has been a wolf for a while. I'll buy that the person who was previously transformed into a wolf(Roy) thinks he is in love with the women who took care of him in his wolf form. However, there is little indication that the main female character (Brevelan) loves this guy in the romantic sense because it did not have time to develop. After the threesome happens, boom! She loves both characters equally, and she just. can't. choose. She should love Roy like how you would love your dog because that is the relationship they had. Meanwhile, Brevelan and Jaylor's relationship is more developed because Jaylor wasn't a dog for most of it. Not to mention the fact that their love is prophesied/ given the stamp of approval by the resident dragon. This isn't an equilateral triangle so much as it is scalene. So Jaylor and Roy are friends, they are not attracted to each other romantically, but they both want to bang the same girl, fine. My issue is that Roy took advantage of the situation because Jaylor was off doing a magic thing, Jaylor wakes up, and threesome ensues. It just didn't feel in character for Jaylor not to get jealous or hurt that Roy decided to have sex with Brevelan while he was ostensibly in a coma/dying. It doesn't make sense that Brevelan doesn't feel guilty or something for going to another man for comfort while the man she is in love with is in a magic coma.The conflict was circumvented because the author split the baby in half. This threesome is meant to make the situation all hunky dory so that the quest can occur with less infighting, but at the end Brevelan clearly chooses Jaylor while telling Roy she loves him; it is a deus ex machina. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't set up a love triangle without the inevitable conflict that should occur as a result of the love triangle. That is the whole point of a love triangle from a narrative utility standpoint. This could have easily been fixed if the pacing was better so that characters could develop more, or if there were some sort of indication that Jaylor and Roy also had romantic feelings towards each other as well as Brevelan, making it a polyamorous relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
I thought this book was really interesting. I enjoyed the magic system, world and characters, though I did feel at times that this book fell back into common tropes. There’s an ambiguous love triangle, some oddly sexual descriptions and depictions of women here or there, stuff I would expect from YA but less so from high fantasy.
I think overall this book was a fun read, and it wasn’t pretending to be anything it wasn’t so I was able to just lose myself in this wacky fantasy world with magical trees and dragons.
I was most attached to the characters, particularly Jaylor and Baamin, I really want to know more about how magic works (particularly rogue magic), and what the lore is behind this fantasy world.
***SPOILERS***
Some of the plot points are a little vague, however. I am still a bit confused where this concept of magic from blue lines within the earth came from and how Lord Krej vanished after the climax. It seems like Krej was just kept alive and mysteriously disappeared (which I can’t find where that’s actually mentioned in the text), so that the conflict with him as an antagonist continues. I’m not sure either about the love triangle between Jaylor, Brevelan, and Darville, either. It reads weird when Jaylor comes out of his tambootie leaf induced magical coma and wakes up naked next to Brevelan and Darville? Like, did they have a three-way or something? That’s what I initially thought because it mentions after the whole ordeal that the three of them are closer together so I was thinking okay maybe they’re a throuple now, but that notion dissolved after the tension between Darville and Jaylor over Brevelan returned.
***END SPOILERS***
Something I thought weird about the magic system is how magicians aren’t supposed to sleep with women until they’ve developed their magic more? Doesn’t seem like it makes sense, at all, nor has it been explained in the book as to why, so that also feels like it was just set up for unnecessary conflict. Also paints a weird heteronormative narrative, but alright, I guess.
If you like fantasy and are looking for something to read, I would recommend this book. It’s no LOTR, and it will certainly leave you with more questions than answers, but I did have a good time overall and I’m looking forwards to the next book.
I think overall this book was a fun read, and it wasn’t pretending to be anything it wasn’t so I was able to just lose myself in this wacky fantasy world with magical trees and dragons.
I was most attached to the characters, particularly Jaylor and Baamin, I really want to know more about how magic works (particularly rogue magic), and what the lore is behind this fantasy world.
***SPOILERS***
Some of the plot points are a little vague, however. I am still a bit confused where this concept of magic from blue lines within the earth came from and how Lord Krej vanished after the climax. It seems like Krej was just kept alive and mysteriously disappeared (which I can’t find where that’s actually mentioned in the text), so that the conflict with him as an antagonist continues. I’m not sure either about the love triangle between Jaylor, Brevelan, and Darville, either. It reads weird when Jaylor comes out of his tambootie leaf induced magical coma and wakes up naked next to Brevelan and Darville? Like, did they have a three-way or something? That’s what I initially thought because it mentions after the whole ordeal that the three of them are closer together so I was thinking okay maybe they’re a throuple now, but that notion dissolved after the tension between Darville and Jaylor over Brevelan returned.
***END SPOILERS***
Something I thought weird about the magic system is how magicians aren’t supposed to sleep with women until they’ve developed their magic more? Doesn’t seem like it makes sense, at all, nor has it been explained in the book as to why, so that also feels like it was just set up for unnecessary conflict. Also paints a weird heteronormative narrative, but alright, I guess.
If you like fantasy and are looking for something to read, I would recommend this book. It’s no LOTR, and it will certainly leave you with more questions than answers, but I did have a good time overall and I’m looking forwards to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
This book is a rather standard fantasy adventure, aimed towards adults, and except for hints of an interesting magic system, doesn't seem to have much going for it. The characters are flat and pretty standard, and the plot seems to be a series of conspiracies that eventually connect, coupled with a halfhearted attempt at a love story that makes most romcom relationships look well-paced and reasonable. The prose and descriptions are good enough, but that's just not enough to carry the story.
I started this interested enough in the magic systems and the fact that the main character Jaylor would be using his own taste of that, and I still felt like this was probably the most interesting part of the book. In this world, magic comes from dragons (as in, they produce it in some way) and so their disappearance means that there is less magic and fewer people able to use it. However, the book has several overlapping plots, including disappearing dragons, a kidnapped prince, Jaylor's question to find a dragon and/or the prince, and the witchwoman Brevalan and relationship past as well as her parentage. Altogether, the book fell into many tropes and couldn't rise for me above ordinary; about halfway through, I began skimming. Unfortunately I didn't miss the part where Jaylor is drugged by wandering gypsies who want to.... um... forcibly breed with him to promote a new generation of magicians.
So, I can't really say I recommend this book.
I started this interested enough in the magic systems and the fact that the main character Jaylor would be using his own taste of that, and I still felt like this was probably the most interesting part of the book. In this world, magic comes from dragons (as in, they produce it in some way) and so their disappearance means that there is less magic and fewer people able to use it. However, the book has several overlapping plots, including disappearing dragons, a kidnapped prince, Jaylor's question to find a dragon and/or the prince, and the witchwoman Brevalan and relationship past as well as her parentage. Altogether, the book fell into many tropes and couldn't rise for me above ordinary; about halfway through, I began skimming. Unfortunately I didn't miss the part where Jaylor is drugged by wandering gypsies who want to.... um... forcibly breed with him to promote a new generation of magicians.
So, I can't really say I recommend this book.
February 7, 2021
A good, classic fantasy. Good vs. Evil, dragons, transformations, magic, and wholesome love triangle...or maybe a love oval.
Trigger Warning: Abuse, Rape
pg 283-285 - Flashback to a brutal attempted rape on wedding night.
Trigger Warning: Cats/Dogs, animals, Harm
-The cat, Mica, is awesome, strong, and mysterious. She lives, but does get hurt, but recovers quickly.
-They fight a sabor-tooth cat, it escapes.
-Darville is a human transformed into a wolf. He is injured several times, but recovers.
-An unnamed dog gets kicked, but is fine.
-A pet rabbit is found dead.
-The dragon, Shayla, is turned to glass, revived, but loses 1 of her 12 unborn babies.
-Many other animals have been transformed into statues but are revived and they escape.
Trigger Warning: Abuse, Rape
pg 283-285 - Flashback to a brutal attempted rape on wedding night.
Trigger Warning: Cats/Dogs, animals, Harm
-The cat, Mica, is awesome, strong, and mysterious. She lives, but does get hurt, but recovers quickly.
-They fight a sabor-tooth cat, it escapes.
-Darville is a human transformed into a wolf. He is injured several times, but recovers.
-An unnamed dog gets kicked, but is fine.
-A pet rabbit is found dead.
-The dragon, Shayla, is turned to glass, revived, but loses 1 of her 12 unborn babies.
-Many other animals have been transformed into statues but are revived and they escape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
Meh. The first half of the book was decent. But when the love aspects popped up, I put the book down and didn't pick it back up for three days. The intertwined emotions and repetitions of all of them sharing feelings and jealousy was very cringe. When I picked it back up a couple days ago, I had to skim to finish it.
It's not my cup of tea and I'm donating it.
My favorite characters were the cat (Mica) the dragon (Shayla) and Baamin and Boy.
The concept is interesting, magic coming specifically from dragons, and a separate magic coming from a grid is great. But I won't be reading this again. And as it's the first Irene Radford book I've read, I may not give any of her other books a try.
It's not my cup of tea and I'm donating it.
My favorite characters were the cat (Mica) the dragon (Shayla) and Baamin and Boy.
The concept is interesting, magic coming specifically from dragons, and a separate magic coming from a grid is great. But I won't be reading this again. And as it's the first Irene Radford book I've read, I may not give any of her other books a try.
September 7, 2019
7/10
A few too many overused fantasy elements, but still, there was enough originality to salvage this story.
Overused elements: the untried and not very promising magician, the power-hungry evil lord, the elderly bound-by-tradition mentor, the feckless prince
More original elements: 2 systems of magic, the loving and empathetic threesome (Darville, Brevelan, and Jaylor), the role of vegetarianism, the strange cat
There are still a lot of unexplained elements, including the whole political system, the backstory of the magical border, the role of the Stargods and Simurgh, and the cat! Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in this series.
A few too many overused fantasy elements, but still, there was enough originality to salvage this story.
Overused elements: the untried and not very promising magician, the power-hungry evil lord, the elderly bound-by-tradition mentor, the feckless prince
More original elements: 2 systems of magic, the loving and empathetic threesome (Darville, Brevelan, and Jaylor), the role of vegetarianism, the strange cat
There are still a lot of unexplained elements, including the whole political system, the backstory of the magical border, the role of the Stargods and Simurgh, and the cat! Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more in this series.
November 1, 2020
I did not finish this book.
This book was not for me. I read 40%, then skimmed the rest, reading the occasional scene in full here and there.
I would recommend this book if you like traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy. This book reminded me of generic fantasy fiction from the 80s, though this one is poorly edited.
On a personal level, I was not at all attached to the characters or to the plot. I think the author did a good job with her story, though, and it will satisfy those that love the old-school, traditional fantasy genre. It was just unfortunate her editor fell asleep while working.
This book was not for me. I read 40%, then skimmed the rest, reading the occasional scene in full here and there.
I would recommend this book if you like traditional sword-and-sorcery fantasy. This book reminded me of generic fantasy fiction from the 80s, though this one is poorly edited.
On a personal level, I was not at all attached to the characters or to the plot. I think the author did a good job with her story, though, and it will satisfy those that love the old-school, traditional fantasy genre. It was just unfortunate her editor fell asleep while working.
August 3, 2025
I genuinely loved this. I picked this book up second hand in a thrift bookstore and am so glad I took the chance. This "old-school" fantasy is rife with world building and care for the rules of the magical system. I love the element of song and music that is linked with the magic; it feels reminiscent of Tolkien's writing style. I greatly enjoyed this and look forward to locating the rest of the series.
March 10, 2022
Childhood throwback. I spent months trying to figure out the name of this series. Doesn’t quite live up to my memory. Mostly bad editing? There are lines about plot bits which did not happen elsewhere. Competing magic systems is fun though, and the cartoonish villain. Average genre fiction, with a twist of nostalgia since this series is part of what pushed me off on a lifelong love of fantasy.
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December 3, 2025I could not get into this. I made it about a third of the way through. Between the weird racism about 'gypsy' people, and the way women's bodies and any sexual content seemed like they were written by a horny 70 year old man, I was struggling. When the male lead told the female lead that there was something missing in her that only a man could fix I was like... "I'm out."
January 27, 2018
It was excruciating trying to follow this story. I'm sure there's a solid idea in there somewhere, but I couldn't find it. The world-building was okay, but the characters and plot lacked sense and substance. I have the next 2 books in the series on hand, but they're all going in the giveaway box.
June 19, 2019
It's been so long since I originally read this book, I forgot how much I enjoy it. Pretty sure I first got it when I was in 5th grade or something like that because I loved dragons then, and I feel like it's still just as good as it was then.
April 2, 2018
Brilliant.
December 28, 2022
Hate Jaylor or whatever his name is.......
July 8, 2023
I thought it was going to be an easy, almost silly read since it was written back in 1994. Super cringe at the forced characters and their relationships. Just weird and unfortunate.
did-not-finish-or-start
October 27, 2023DNS 10/37/23
June 16, 2025
loving the random throuple subplot. kind of a meh one for me
February 16, 2017
This book has a lot of strengths, including innovative magic system, captivating characters, an awesome cat, romance, and an intriguing plot.
The pacing is a little uneven at times, and I could have done without the villain's asides, since they didn't add to the plot or character development.
Overall a page turner that has me craving the next story.
The pacing is a little uneven at times, and I could have done without the villain's asides, since they didn't add to the plot or character development.
Overall a page turner that has me craving the next story.
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