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The Memory of Flames #5
Dragon Queen
Before dragons laid waste to man's empire, the fearsome monsters were used for war and gifts of surpassing wealth to buy favour in constant political battles. The Dragon Queen was notorious then. Now she is a prisoner. But no-one is more dangerous than when caged.
641 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2013
11 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Deas
29 books183 followersStephen Deas is an engineer in the aerospace industry, working on communications and imaging technology in the defence sector. He is married with two children and lives near Writtle in Essex.
Also writes as Nathan Hawke and S.J. Deas.
Also writes as Nathan Hawke and S.J. Deas.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 20, 2015
Now we're talking. This is Joe Abercrombie (but less depressing) crossed with Raymond Feist. Stephen Deas has sorted his story problems from the first three books, still has the best and most scary dragons ever, and has introduced an entire new scale of epic-ness to the series. I'm so glad I plowed through the couple of 'Meh' installments earlier in the series because they laid the groundwork for something great. I still hold that it was far too much groundwork and most of it was unnecessary, but still, I think it was worth the wait.
June 11, 2014
Review from Fixed on Fantasy.
I've been a big fan of Deas' previous works, especially the Memory of Flames sequence, yet it took me some time to get around this this one, what is essentially book five.
As a brief overview, the original trilogy was brutal and razor sharp - fantastic! The sequel, The Black Mausoleum however, fell extremely short for me ... it was slow, uninteresting and lacking the flair of its prequels. Deas' until now separate Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogy was a story cut from a different cloth, still great until the final book, which ended quite disappointingly.
In Dragon Queen, Deas manages to fuse the two series into one, through the common link we have all previously been wondering about, the Taiytekai. We see the return of characters from both the Memory of Flames series and the Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogy such as Berren, Zafir and Bellepheros, set primarily now in the world of the Taiytekai.
In short, Dragon Queen a masterpiece of fantasy and easily Deas' best work to date.
After The Black Mausoleum, I was despairing for the fate of this series as it appeared to be running out of fuel. Dragon Queen almost completely abandons the story arc from its prequel and instead goes back in time to follow characters we thought dead and lost - and thank goodness for that!
The cast of this novel is unsurprisingly great - fleshed-out characters and meticulous world building being two of Deas' greatest strengths. Grand Master Alchemist Bellepheros' disappearance in the original trilogy seems somewhat unremarkable and unresolved and to be honest I can't even remember the supposed fate of Speaker Zafir, but Deas has obviously had sneaky plans up his sleeve from the beginning. As two of our new protagonists we finally see the world of the Taiytekai and it is so much more than we could have imagined. Zafir is a real standout and is surely up there with some of fantasy's feistiest and most powerful women. She reminds me of a crueler Daenerys Targaryen.
Berren the Crowntaker, Bloody Judge of Tethis (as we are constantly reminded) also takes a leading role as Deas finds a way to fuse the two worlds (and many others) in a way I was not expecting. As events unfold, Berren or 'Crazy Mad' moves drastically away from the character we once knew, alongside his new found comrade Tuuran, once an Adamantine Man, now a slave to to Taiytekai. Dragon Queen begins the next part of Berren's story that I thought was abandoned so despairingly at the end of his trilogy, making it all worthwhile in the end.
When I first saw it coming I was skeptical about fusing these worlds together and initially predicted it would patchy and questionable. What is now clear is that Deas must have planned this all along. Not only do the characters, histories, magic systems and more start coming together in a cleverly engineered way, there are obscure references from both sequences that are only now becoming clear, such as Saffran Kuy's prophecy about Berren ... "Dragons for one of you. Queens for both! An empress!" Deas has transformed this collection of trilogies into one kick ass series with some serious weight behind it.
Tekai'Tarr, the world of the Taiytekai is shown in incredible detail - it's physical environment, architecture, political structure, social structure, science, magic systems, recent and ancient history all unfold within Dragon Queen with masterful care. We also get another dose of Deas' unique take on dragons - one of the best I have encountered.
One of my (only) criticisms from the Memory of Flames trilogy was that it was all over so quickly. In Dragon Queen, Deas now paces himself to give a story that is just as fiery and fast paced, but also one we can really sink our teeth into without having protagonists killed off left, right and centre. This installment also answers a lot of questions, but continues to create more in some great foreshadowing and obscure building of suspense.
I can honestly not think of a single criticism of this book.
For other readers I would definitely recommend that you read both the Memory of Flames and Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogies before starting Dragon Queen, but that The Black Mausoleum is largely irrelevant and unnecessary at this point (but who knows when that will change). It is possible to enter the series at the point, but if you're like me you'll be disappointed and frustrated at missing all the references, of which there are many.
I can't wait for the next installment, The Splintered Gods and luckily I don't have to - it's being released in just eight days and I have it on pre-order!
I've been a big fan of Deas' previous works, especially the Memory of Flames sequence, yet it took me some time to get around this this one, what is essentially book five.
As a brief overview, the original trilogy was brutal and razor sharp - fantastic! The sequel, The Black Mausoleum however, fell extremely short for me ... it was slow, uninteresting and lacking the flair of its prequels. Deas' until now separate Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogy was a story cut from a different cloth, still great until the final book, which ended quite disappointingly.
In Dragon Queen, Deas manages to fuse the two series into one, through the common link we have all previously been wondering about, the Taiytekai. We see the return of characters from both the Memory of Flames series and the Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogy such as Berren, Zafir and Bellepheros, set primarily now in the world of the Taiytekai.
In short, Dragon Queen a masterpiece of fantasy and easily Deas' best work to date.
After The Black Mausoleum, I was despairing for the fate of this series as it appeared to be running out of fuel. Dragon Queen almost completely abandons the story arc from its prequel and instead goes back in time to follow characters we thought dead and lost - and thank goodness for that!
The cast of this novel is unsurprisingly great - fleshed-out characters and meticulous world building being two of Deas' greatest strengths. Grand Master Alchemist Bellepheros' disappearance in the original trilogy seems somewhat unremarkable and unresolved and to be honest I can't even remember the supposed fate of Speaker Zafir, but Deas has obviously had sneaky plans up his sleeve from the beginning. As two of our new protagonists we finally see the world of the Taiytekai and it is so much more than we could have imagined. Zafir is a real standout and is surely up there with some of fantasy's feistiest and most powerful women. She reminds me of a crueler Daenerys Targaryen.
Berren the Crowntaker, Bloody Judge of Tethis (as we are constantly reminded) also takes a leading role as Deas finds a way to fuse the two worlds (and many others) in a way I was not expecting. As events unfold, Berren or 'Crazy Mad' moves drastically away from the character we once knew, alongside his new found comrade Tuuran, once an Adamantine Man, now a slave to to Taiytekai. Dragon Queen begins the next part of Berren's story that I thought was abandoned so despairingly at the end of his trilogy, making it all worthwhile in the end.
When I first saw it coming I was skeptical about fusing these worlds together and initially predicted it would patchy and questionable. What is now clear is that Deas must have planned this all along. Not only do the characters, histories, magic systems and more start coming together in a cleverly engineered way, there are obscure references from both sequences that are only now becoming clear, such as Saffran Kuy's prophecy about Berren ... "Dragons for one of you. Queens for both! An empress!" Deas has transformed this collection of trilogies into one kick ass series with some serious weight behind it.
Tekai'Tarr, the world of the Taiytekai is shown in incredible detail - it's physical environment, architecture, political structure, social structure, science, magic systems, recent and ancient history all unfold within Dragon Queen with masterful care. We also get another dose of Deas' unique take on dragons - one of the best I have encountered.
One of my (only) criticisms from the Memory of Flames trilogy was that it was all over so quickly. In Dragon Queen, Deas now paces himself to give a story that is just as fiery and fast paced, but also one we can really sink our teeth into without having protagonists killed off left, right and centre. This installment also answers a lot of questions, but continues to create more in some great foreshadowing and obscure building of suspense.
I can honestly not think of a single criticism of this book.
For other readers I would definitely recommend that you read both the Memory of Flames and Thief-Taker's Apprentice trilogies before starting Dragon Queen, but that The Black Mausoleum is largely irrelevant and unnecessary at this point (but who knows when that will change). It is possible to enter the series at the point, but if you're like me you'll be disappointed and frustrated at missing all the references, of which there are many.
I can't wait for the next installment, The Splintered Gods and luckily I don't have to - it's being released in just eight days and I have it on pre-order!
March 14, 2014
This fifth Memory of Flames novel is almost twice as long as the others, which comes with its own problems. It also integrates the main character from the Thieftaker series, as well as building on events from the original three Memory of Flames books. It's also mostly set in the land of the Taiytakei. This means that there is a whole lot to set up and let come to fruition in one novel.
As a consequence, the book feels a bit slow to start up, and characters are often not seen for long stretches of time, which sometimes makes it feel like you're reading several books at once. However, the storylines do merge, and the final act of the novel is nothing but pageturner.
Learning about the Taiytakei is amazing. Though they are ridiculously opulent, and everything seems to be made of glass and gold (where do they get so much gold?), though it does actually have a reason. It was also rather interesting to read about dark-skinned people silently ruling the world and relying on slave neighbour for most of their work.
At the beginning of the book there is a warning of a scene of sexual violence, which caught my interest, but also meant that I kept thinking "is this scene it?" The scene itself is brutal, but not very graphic, and there is a strange lack of victimisation, which gives some insights into certain personality traits of a main character. Overall, it was a very well-handled scene, despite its brutal content.
Speaking of brutal content, it's good to see more of the Elemental Men, as well as learn more about how dragons work. And the final battle in the book really pulls you into the streets to fight alongside the protagonists.
Having read The Black Mausoleum, though, I was expecting Skyrie to have moved further along that storyline, but that was sadly not the case, though this book does bring some utterly new insight into his character.
Dragon Queen also gives you more glimpses into the mythical past, the Silver King, the creation of dragons, the impending rise of the Black Moon, and the warlock's evil plans, though none of them are revealed in full. Do I still have to explain how excited I am for the next book?
As a consequence, the book feels a bit slow to start up, and characters are often not seen for long stretches of time, which sometimes makes it feel like you're reading several books at once. However, the storylines do merge, and the final act of the novel is nothing but pageturner.
Learning about the Taiytakei is amazing. Though they are ridiculously opulent, and everything seems to be made of glass and gold (where do they get so much gold?), though it does actually have a reason. It was also rather interesting to read about dark-skinned people silently ruling the world and relying on slave neighbour for most of their work.
At the beginning of the book there is a warning of a scene of sexual violence, which caught my interest, but also meant that I kept thinking "is this scene it?" The scene itself is brutal, but not very graphic, and there is a strange lack of victimisation, which gives some insights into certain personality traits of a main character. Overall, it was a very well-handled scene, despite its brutal content.
Speaking of brutal content, it's good to see more of the Elemental Men, as well as learn more about how dragons work. And the final battle in the book really pulls you into the streets to fight alongside the protagonists.
Having read The Black Mausoleum, though, I was expecting Skyrie to have moved further along that storyline, but that was sadly not the case, though this book does bring some utterly new insight into his character.
Dragon Queen also gives you more glimpses into the mythical past, the Silver King, the creation of dragons, the impending rise of the Black Moon, and the warlock's evil plans, though none of them are revealed in full. Do I still have to explain how excited I am for the next book?
September 15, 2017
"The Taiytakei thought they were so grand and so elegant, so full of arrogant poise and perhaps they were, but where was their fire?"
Is anything enough to stop a dragon? The puny achievements of civilisation have made men arrogant. "‘Men are more terrible than dragons,’ said Bellepheros, although he knew it wasn't true." And there are whole worlds out there to destroy.
Captured grand-master alchemist Bellepheros has been taken by the Taiytakei across the sea of storms to their far-away land parted from his own by a veil between dimensions which only they can navigate. They have no dragons. And they want him to build them an eyrie for those they will steal. Despite Bellepheros' warning which verge on begging: "'Because they are a plague to ruin worlds. But I see you for what you are – you're like a dragon-king, believing yourself master of everything around you.'", the sea lord has brought dragons and the only way to save the world is to keep them tame. "Is an alchemist ever free? No. We enslave one another, monster and man." He is intellectually seduced by the enchantress Chay-Liang, a Taiytakei scientist of glass and gold recalling the marvels of the Arabian peninsula during the dark ages. Something alien to the pagan barbarity of the dragon alchemist. "‘Blood is life. What are you, if you don't understand this?’" "‘A blood-mage uses the blood of others. Usually without their consent. An alchemist uses his own.'" Bellepheros is diligent and competent, but he is also being manipulated by the calculating Baros Tsen T'Varr, a smooth asexual Taiytakei politician who sees the dragons as an escape from debt. "'Challenges to the intellect do give a little pepper to a life of pleasurable hedonism and mild over-indulgence, eh?'" "In his head he gave himself a sarcastic round of applause." Bellepheros has his heart in the right place, but he is barely able to control dragons on the verge of wakefulness despite his potions, and that is before the war is ready to begin ... "'Victory is to be better than what you overthrow.’"
We are also treated to the return of Berren from the thief-taker series, ensorcelled into a body not his own which harbours the black moon. "How they were the same. And that road led to a dark place of icy cold where he wasn't who he believed with all his might that he must be . . . " He is himself yet not himself, rocked and broken as he was after Tasahre's death. "Or maybe the sunburst marks of the sun priests. The thought came with a trail of wistful regret strung out like gossamer behind it, lingering." "Wars cost money and the men of the queensguard had picked the wrong side. Exactly his own words but now he saw how hollow and cold they were." Constant action seems to be all that is keeping him from a psychological breakdown. I still feel wracked by Berren's loss of innocent and purity."What would you make of me now, Master Sy? All those years you spent hunting after the man who took your kingdom, and now here I am embarked upon the same, far away from home just like you were, chasing after warlocks as you once did. But it's not a kingdom I'm after." I plead for him to take the Black Moon in hand.
And Berren is not the only returning character ...
"No one deserved to be set upon by that monster and the murderously deranged slave who sat on its back."
I couldn't agree more, Chay-Liang.
"she wondered how easy it would be to make a little device on the dragon bitch's helm to make her head explode when no one was looking. Very easy, that was the answer. Very easy indeed."
I could help! I know loads about flammable chemicals!
Yes, that's right, Zafir is back. "she lifted her eyes and went to war." The Taiytakei didn't kill but have taken her across the sea as a slave to ride their stolen dragons. Zafir is as erratic and vicious as ever, with the sudden violent reversals of a penned animal. "Smiled at them, met their eyes one by one and took that fear and doubt and curled a fist around it and squeezed it until it was something else. Anticipation. Hunger." I was interested by Deas' proposed explanation for her mania, or borderline personality disorder, as a result of being raped by her father as a child. But I found the magnitude of her mental instability didn't match up with her moments of clarity and exceptional people-reading. Also, her constant flaunting of her sexuality made me extremely uncomfortable as she sought out her old trauma again and again. "And they talked, and as they did, she made sure to draw his gaze with her hands to her breasts, to her hips, to all the parts of her that every man she'd ever met stared at with their blunt hungry eyes." She has gone beyond madness into self-destruction. "sometimes there came a point where punishment didn't matter any more." On Diamon Eye's back, a suicidal slave who feels protected by the raw carnage around her, Zafir does gain some majesty. I can only hope for her sake as well as my discomfort that she is broken apart on the dragon's back before another man breaks her. "A sense of completeness filled her as if the dragon had shown her, finally, something she'd been struggling to see for half her life."
"Yes, it was magnificent, and yes, it did. Sorcery beyond anything she'd ever imagined, beyond even the strange wonders left by the Silver King in the bowels of the palace where she had been born. Yet at the same time what she saw was a pall of smoke, the gleaming glass smashed to shards, the gold running in molten rivers while a hundred dragons circled overhead and the sky filled with flames."
The setting is marvellous, even if there isn't going to be much of it left now that Zafir has arrived. Deas has merged the relatively advanced technology of China and the Middle East into a magical landscape of glass and gold, a gunpowder-driven science fantasy. "made of glass tinged with gold and woven with wire." Takei'Tarr, home of the Taiytakei and separated by the dimensions into another world, is a technocracy without religion. "Long ago the Elemental Men had come down from Mount Solence. They'd fallen on the squabbling coast of Takei'Tarr and cut away the old sorceries and religions in a swathe of blood and fire. It had been a necessary thing, an act of mercy to save this piece of the now-broken world from another cataclysm." "'Was us who took those away from them. Like burning out the badness. Hurts when the brand comes but best in the long run. It's all mathematics, geometry and astronomy now.'" It is the Elemental Men who keep the dark ages at bay on this far-removed continent. "'when those who rule drop our fragile world amid their squabbles, our purpose is to catch it before it smashes.'"
A fine balance. Which might well have been irrevocable shattered with tooth and claw by the arrival of the dragons, who now, just in case they weren't awesome enough already, eat magic. "‘There's a reason why there are no Elemental Men in the realms, no enchanters, no artificers, no navigators, no sorcerers, no warlocks, no arcane priests, mages or whatever else they like to call themselves. The dragons . . . they eat their power. They drain it from the world.'" All Hail the dragons!
I really enjoyed the book, but it is twice the length of Deas' others in the series and set before the end of The Memory of Flames, which reduces the sense of urgency and leads to a lot of repetition in the narratives as different characters marvel at Takei'Tarr for the first time. I think that by removing overlap between narratives the book would have been a lot smoother to read. Also, the focus on the internal Taiyetakei politics, especially when minor characters about to die were given their own point of view chapters was a bit much for me. I would have preferred a prequel book about politics, so that Dragon Queen could focus on the, well, the dragons. How can you concentrate of on two new characters vying for status when you've got this going on? "Men? No. Their hair was long and white. They wore armour that glittered and gleamed as though made of pure polished silver, shaped and faceted like the eyes of an insect. Their faces were those of young men, handsome and strong, fast but pale as the dead, and their eyes . . . their eyes were the colour of fresh blood and as old as the world." I'm sure none of this will be a problem in the sequels. It also didn't help that I guessed Berren and Zafir were back in The Black Mauseleum, even though they were not mentioned by name, so I didn't feel the same degree of peril for them.
Not that I should be complaining. I mean, the end of the worlds is coming. "'You did this, it said. You broke the world. You tore it to pieces. Yes . . . . . . our kind and yours. And then you pieced it back together again and plastered over the cracks, imperfect and doomed to fail.'" Silence has been doing some detective work in the afterlife. "A more dragon-like question, filled with an acceptance that all must inevitably end. How long?"
Also, I always felt that there was quite a bit of alchemist in me, but I think this confirms it beyond a shadow of a doubt:
"If she thought he could be bought through his vices then she might as well know what they were. ‘Books.'"
So true.
Is anything enough to stop a dragon? The puny achievements of civilisation have made men arrogant. "‘Men are more terrible than dragons,’ said Bellepheros, although he knew it wasn't true." And there are whole worlds out there to destroy.
Captured grand-master alchemist Bellepheros has been taken by the Taiytakei across the sea of storms to their far-away land parted from his own by a veil between dimensions which only they can navigate. They have no dragons. And they want him to build them an eyrie for those they will steal. Despite Bellepheros' warning which verge on begging: "'Because they are a plague to ruin worlds. But I see you for what you are – you're like a dragon-king, believing yourself master of everything around you.'", the sea lord has brought dragons and the only way to save the world is to keep them tame. "Is an alchemist ever free? No. We enslave one another, monster and man." He is intellectually seduced by the enchantress Chay-Liang, a Taiytakei scientist of glass and gold recalling the marvels of the Arabian peninsula during the dark ages. Something alien to the pagan barbarity of the dragon alchemist. "‘Blood is life. What are you, if you don't understand this?’" "‘A blood-mage uses the blood of others. Usually without their consent. An alchemist uses his own.'" Bellepheros is diligent and competent, but he is also being manipulated by the calculating Baros Tsen T'Varr, a smooth asexual Taiytakei politician who sees the dragons as an escape from debt. "'Challenges to the intellect do give a little pepper to a life of pleasurable hedonism and mild over-indulgence, eh?'" "In his head he gave himself a sarcastic round of applause." Bellepheros has his heart in the right place, but he is barely able to control dragons on the verge of wakefulness despite his potions, and that is before the war is ready to begin ... "'Victory is to be better than what you overthrow.’"
We are also treated to the return of Berren from the thief-taker series, ensorcelled into a body not his own which harbours the black moon. "How they were the same. And that road led to a dark place of icy cold where he wasn't who he believed with all his might that he must be . . . " He is himself yet not himself, rocked and broken as he was after Tasahre's death. "Or maybe the sunburst marks of the sun priests. The thought came with a trail of wistful regret strung out like gossamer behind it, lingering." "Wars cost money and the men of the queensguard had picked the wrong side. Exactly his own words but now he saw how hollow and cold they were." Constant action seems to be all that is keeping him from a psychological breakdown. I still feel wracked by Berren's loss of innocent and purity."What would you make of me now, Master Sy? All those years you spent hunting after the man who took your kingdom, and now here I am embarked upon the same, far away from home just like you were, chasing after warlocks as you once did. But it's not a kingdom I'm after." I plead for him to take the Black Moon in hand.
And Berren is not the only returning character ...
"No one deserved to be set upon by that monster and the murderously deranged slave who sat on its back."
I couldn't agree more, Chay-Liang.
"she wondered how easy it would be to make a little device on the dragon bitch's helm to make her head explode when no one was looking. Very easy, that was the answer. Very easy indeed."
I could help! I know loads about flammable chemicals!
Yes, that's right, Zafir is back. "she lifted her eyes and went to war." The Taiytakei didn't kill but have taken her across the sea as a slave to ride their stolen dragons. Zafir is as erratic and vicious as ever, with the sudden violent reversals of a penned animal. "Smiled at them, met their eyes one by one and took that fear and doubt and curled a fist around it and squeezed it until it was something else. Anticipation. Hunger." I was interested by Deas' proposed explanation for her mania, or borderline personality disorder, as a result of being raped by her father as a child. But I found the magnitude of her mental instability didn't match up with her moments of clarity and exceptional people-reading. Also, her constant flaunting of her sexuality made me extremely uncomfortable as she sought out her old trauma again and again. "And they talked, and as they did, she made sure to draw his gaze with her hands to her breasts, to her hips, to all the parts of her that every man she'd ever met stared at with their blunt hungry eyes." She has gone beyond madness into self-destruction. "sometimes there came a point where punishment didn't matter any more." On Diamon Eye's back, a suicidal slave who feels protected by the raw carnage around her, Zafir does gain some majesty. I can only hope for her sake as well as my discomfort that she is broken apart on the dragon's back before another man breaks her. "A sense of completeness filled her as if the dragon had shown her, finally, something she'd been struggling to see for half her life."
"Yes, it was magnificent, and yes, it did. Sorcery beyond anything she'd ever imagined, beyond even the strange wonders left by the Silver King in the bowels of the palace where she had been born. Yet at the same time what she saw was a pall of smoke, the gleaming glass smashed to shards, the gold running in molten rivers while a hundred dragons circled overhead and the sky filled with flames."
The setting is marvellous, even if there isn't going to be much of it left now that Zafir has arrived. Deas has merged the relatively advanced technology of China and the Middle East into a magical landscape of glass and gold, a gunpowder-driven science fantasy. "made of glass tinged with gold and woven with wire." Takei'Tarr, home of the Taiytakei and separated by the dimensions into another world, is a technocracy without religion. "Long ago the Elemental Men had come down from Mount Solence. They'd fallen on the squabbling coast of Takei'Tarr and cut away the old sorceries and religions in a swathe of blood and fire. It had been a necessary thing, an act of mercy to save this piece of the now-broken world from another cataclysm." "'Was us who took those away from them. Like burning out the badness. Hurts when the brand comes but best in the long run. It's all mathematics, geometry and astronomy now.'" It is the Elemental Men who keep the dark ages at bay on this far-removed continent. "'when those who rule drop our fragile world amid their squabbles, our purpose is to catch it before it smashes.'"
A fine balance. Which might well have been irrevocable shattered with tooth and claw by the arrival of the dragons, who now, just in case they weren't awesome enough already, eat magic. "‘There's a reason why there are no Elemental Men in the realms, no enchanters, no artificers, no navigators, no sorcerers, no warlocks, no arcane priests, mages or whatever else they like to call themselves. The dragons . . . they eat their power. They drain it from the world.'" All Hail the dragons!
I really enjoyed the book, but it is twice the length of Deas' others in the series and set before the end of The Memory of Flames, which reduces the sense of urgency and leads to a lot of repetition in the narratives as different characters marvel at Takei'Tarr for the first time. I think that by removing overlap between narratives the book would have been a lot smoother to read. Also, the focus on the internal Taiyetakei politics, especially when minor characters about to die were given their own point of view chapters was a bit much for me. I would have preferred a prequel book about politics, so that Dragon Queen could focus on the, well, the dragons. How can you concentrate of on two new characters vying for status when you've got this going on? "Men? No. Their hair was long and white. They wore armour that glittered and gleamed as though made of pure polished silver, shaped and faceted like the eyes of an insect. Their faces were those of young men, handsome and strong, fast but pale as the dead, and their eyes . . . their eyes were the colour of fresh blood and as old as the world." I'm sure none of this will be a problem in the sequels. It also didn't help that I guessed Berren and Zafir were back in The Black Mauseleum, even though they were not mentioned by name, so I didn't feel the same degree of peril for them.
Not that I should be complaining. I mean, the end of the worlds is coming. "'You did this, it said. You broke the world. You tore it to pieces. Yes . . . . . . our kind and yours. And then you pieced it back together again and plastered over the cracks, imperfect and doomed to fail.'" Silence has been doing some detective work in the afterlife. "A more dragon-like question, filled with an acceptance that all must inevitably end. How long?"
Also, I always felt that there was quite a bit of alchemist in me, but I think this confirms it beyond a shadow of a doubt:
"If she thought he could be bought through his vices then she might as well know what they were. ‘Books.'"
So true.
August 10, 2023
This author was unknown to me, but it's epic fantasy, so what's not to like?
An immersive tale with great world-building and memorable characters. It's full of political intrigue and power-plays.
The beginning was a little jarring because it jumped around in the timeline. In retrospect, I realise it was the author's way of setting up for the main events, so I can give him a pass for that.
I love the concept of Elemental Men who can turn into air, water, stone, etc. Yes, the question was raised in the story about the existence of Elemental Women, but no straight answer was given.
I thought the titular Dragon Queen would turn out to be a female dragon, but no, she's a dragon rider who sort of controls the majestic dragon and directs him to do what he's best at - burning things and wrecking things.
Since this is a Book 1, the ending is obviously left open. I'd be interested in continuing the series and exploring other works by this author.
An immersive tale with great world-building and memorable characters. It's full of political intrigue and power-plays.
The beginning was a little jarring because it jumped around in the timeline. In retrospect, I realise it was the author's way of setting up for the main events, so I can give him a pass for that.
I love the concept of Elemental Men who can turn into air, water, stone, etc. Yes, the question was raised in the story about the existence of Elemental Women, but no straight answer was given.
I thought the titular Dragon Queen would turn out to be a female dragon, but no, she's a dragon rider who sort of controls the majestic dragon and directs him to do what he's best at - burning things and wrecking things.
Since this is a Book 1, the ending is obviously left open. I'd be interested in continuing the series and exploring other works by this author.
May 12, 2017
I just loved the dragons in this and I love the interweaving of the two previous series in thiis world. I haven't read the two previous series but I felt there was enough explained to cover the major plot points explored in those so I don't feel like I'm missing out on much.
Great, complex characters and stunning battle scenes. I can't wait to dive into The Splintered Gods next.
Great, complex characters and stunning battle scenes. I can't wait to dive into The Splintered Gods next.
November 14, 2017
Took me awhile to get into this picked it up and put it down more than a few times. Slow start but finally the parts started coming together, for me anyway, around pages 230 or so...
October 9, 2018
Confusing
Decent book but tended to drag a bit, strayed from the rest of the books and it was hard to read
Decent book but tended to drag a bit, strayed from the rest of the books and it was hard to read
April 16, 2014
First, I would like to thank the folks at Gollancz for sending me a copy of this book to review, which I intend to do impartially, of course. Since this is the first book I’ve read in either the Memory of Flames or the Thief-Taker series, I was in a good position to test the claim that it is a standalone novel.
So first, I really really liked this book. To get the very minor negatives out of the way, I think I would have been less confused about a few things if I had read any/ all of the previous books. Since there was no “what has gone before” section, I went to Goodreads reviews of the earlier books to find out as much as I could about the Dragon Queen and the Bloody Judge. I think I would have appreciated a one-page genealogy (family tree) of the sort one sees at the beginning of historical novels about the Kings and Queens of England. I would have liked a map (or maps). But I think you can read and enjoy this book without any of these extras.
Have I mentioned that I really liked this book? The main characters are multidimensional, complete with pasts that shaped and motivated them, and present situations that give them obstacles to attack head on, find ways around, or rise above. There are too many to describe them all so I will talk about my favorites. I like that Bellepheros is not a teenager trying to find himself. He is a world weary Alchemist, trying to make the best of a bad situation. He finds purpose and meaning in doing the job he was trained for, albeit under different circumstances. Chay-Liang is a delight, a professional Enchantress who is intelligent and as open-minded as her culture will allow. Zafir, the titular Dragon Queen (and rider) is what her world has made her. She is intriguing, damaged and dangerous yet always true to her own values. Both women are strong and complex characters. There are other major characters, who no doubt some of you will like better than the ones I picked to describe. There are warrior types, sailors and priests. They all are products of their cultures, and we learn enough about these cultures (rules about how to act properly in various situations, what to wear, etc.) to understand for the most part what drives their decisions.
So that brings me to world-building. This is a fascinating “world” with several geopolitical units and more than one level of existence. There is a dark passage requiring long voyages and special technology to traverse. There are several kinds of magic. There is the gold-and-glass Taiytakei technology, an intriguing blend of what must be science but seems like magic. There is the hierarchical Taiytakei social structure and economy, of which slavery is an integral part. Taiytakei clothing reflects social status, as clothing often does. Color is used to signal profession and rank (slaves wear - and often are - white); hair is allowed to grow and braided to the ground to show status; feathered capes mean wealth and indicate position. The origins and culture of the Thief-taker lands of Berren and Skyrie also are given attention, although this material is less detailed, and seems less exotic than the Taiytakei material. (There are many hints of civilizations and events that have gone before, but this is where I get confused and wonder whether I would know more if I had read the earlier books. Who are these grey men, anyway?).
And then there are the dragons, the focal point of Zafir’s existence and of her Adamantine culture of origin. These are fierce and angry creatures that do not willingly befriend or serve the people they call the little ones. The history and complexity of this relationship alone is worth the reading of this book (series).
I’ve tried not to spoil anything, which means I have not said much about the plot. The storyline involves political vision, ambition and intrigue; it involves personal growth for some, and tragedy for some (not necessarily mutually exclusive). A lot is resolved in the mad dash last 100 pages of the book, but a lot is left for the next book. Or our imaginations. I don’t want to say more because I want to avoid revealing things that should be surprises. I look forward to reading more about this world. From the other reviews I’ve read, each book is better than the last, so maybe I’ll move forward instead of back. Because I really want to know what happens next.
So first, I really really liked this book. To get the very minor negatives out of the way, I think I would have been less confused about a few things if I had read any/ all of the previous books. Since there was no “what has gone before” section, I went to Goodreads reviews of the earlier books to find out as much as I could about the Dragon Queen and the Bloody Judge. I think I would have appreciated a one-page genealogy (family tree) of the sort one sees at the beginning of historical novels about the Kings and Queens of England. I would have liked a map (or maps). But I think you can read and enjoy this book without any of these extras.
Have I mentioned that I really liked this book? The main characters are multidimensional, complete with pasts that shaped and motivated them, and present situations that give them obstacles to attack head on, find ways around, or rise above. There are too many to describe them all so I will talk about my favorites. I like that Bellepheros is not a teenager trying to find himself. He is a world weary Alchemist, trying to make the best of a bad situation. He finds purpose and meaning in doing the job he was trained for, albeit under different circumstances. Chay-Liang is a delight, a professional Enchantress who is intelligent and as open-minded as her culture will allow. Zafir, the titular Dragon Queen (and rider) is what her world has made her. She is intriguing, damaged and dangerous yet always true to her own values. Both women are strong and complex characters. There are other major characters, who no doubt some of you will like better than the ones I picked to describe. There are warrior types, sailors and priests. They all are products of their cultures, and we learn enough about these cultures (rules about how to act properly in various situations, what to wear, etc.) to understand for the most part what drives their decisions.
So that brings me to world-building. This is a fascinating “world” with several geopolitical units and more than one level of existence. There is a dark passage requiring long voyages and special technology to traverse. There are several kinds of magic. There is the gold-and-glass Taiytakei technology, an intriguing blend of what must be science but seems like magic. There is the hierarchical Taiytakei social structure and economy, of which slavery is an integral part. Taiytakei clothing reflects social status, as clothing often does. Color is used to signal profession and rank (slaves wear - and often are - white); hair is allowed to grow and braided to the ground to show status; feathered capes mean wealth and indicate position. The origins and culture of the Thief-taker lands of Berren and Skyrie also are given attention, although this material is less detailed, and seems less exotic than the Taiytakei material. (There are many hints of civilizations and events that have gone before, but this is where I get confused and wonder whether I would know more if I had read the earlier books. Who are these grey men, anyway?).
And then there are the dragons, the focal point of Zafir’s existence and of her Adamantine culture of origin. These are fierce and angry creatures that do not willingly befriend or serve the people they call the little ones. The history and complexity of this relationship alone is worth the reading of this book (series).
I’ve tried not to spoil anything, which means I have not said much about the plot. The storyline involves political vision, ambition and intrigue; it involves personal growth for some, and tragedy for some (not necessarily mutually exclusive). A lot is resolved in the mad dash last 100 pages of the book, but a lot is left for the next book. Or our imaginations. I don’t want to say more because I want to avoid revealing things that should be surprises. I look forward to reading more about this world. From the other reviews I’ve read, each book is better than the last, so maybe I’ll move forward instead of back. Because I really want to know what happens next.
August 3, 2016
First I should make clear that i haven't read any of the two preceding series, which converge here in this book - so there was a lot to pick up on, and this sometimes got in the way.
I was just getting settled into the world when we're taken through a wormhole thingy to the Taiytekai world. The story settles here. There was an awful lot of love spent on the glass ships and architecture, and there's a lovely John Carter-esque 'savage foreigner in awe of alien tech' kind of vibe. World building is somewhat blinkered in favour of these glass structures, so i was left wondering at the wider world and its populace - but i think this is intended as the first in another series, so this may develop in later books.
The book is told from multiple POV, and the characters were generally well drawn - Bellophoros is an interesting choice of lead early on as an older, more cautious kind of geezer. Zafir was a good character even though i didn't actually like her - a kind of unhinged young Malificent - but it made perfect sense that you'd have to be some sort of lunatic to be a dragon rider. I wasn't keen on The Watcher - who felt like a bit of a plot tool at times - and was a bit lost as to his place in the Taiytekai hierarchy.
The Berren/Skyrie thing was intriguing - i liked the concept of two beings trapped in one body, but not having read any of the preceding books, i didn't know whether or not i was supposed to understand who both of these people were already. I enjoyed the cantankerous relationship between Tuuran and Berren/Skyrie but i felt a little let down by the end of the book as this storyline just kind of meanders throughout, and doesn't really come to a satisfying conclusion. One for the next book i suppose.
Even though we don't get any action with them till the end, i very much enjoyed the portrayal of Dragons - there are one or two innovative touches, such as the re-incarnation cycle, and the way that the Dragons have been historically subjugated - all of this was fascinating and - made me want to read the previous books. This is a classy portrayal of Dragons. They really come across as ominous, malevolent, godlike bastards, and the tension created by the aforementioned subjugation being so tenuous (particularly on their dodgy importation into the Taiytekai world) is palpable. The brooding menace of the Dragon Diamond Eye builds and builds and is what kept me going to the end of the book. The assault at the end is a treat (even if i wasn't entirely sure what was happening politically). If you like fire and smashing glass, read this book to the end.
For my tastes, I thought the book was too long. Generally i have to say i was bugged by a sense of not knowing how much was an unfolding mystery and how much I was supposed to have already picked up from the previous series. And yet, the Dragons and their history were so well alluded to, that i found myself wishing i'd started with The Adamantine Palace. In fact, i might very well well do that.
I was just getting settled into the world when we're taken through a wormhole thingy to the Taiytekai world. The story settles here. There was an awful lot of love spent on the glass ships and architecture, and there's a lovely John Carter-esque 'savage foreigner in awe of alien tech' kind of vibe. World building is somewhat blinkered in favour of these glass structures, so i was left wondering at the wider world and its populace - but i think this is intended as the first in another series, so this may develop in later books.
The book is told from multiple POV, and the characters were generally well drawn - Bellophoros is an interesting choice of lead early on as an older, more cautious kind of geezer. Zafir was a good character even though i didn't actually like her - a kind of unhinged young Malificent - but it made perfect sense that you'd have to be some sort of lunatic to be a dragon rider. I wasn't keen on The Watcher - who felt like a bit of a plot tool at times - and was a bit lost as to his place in the Taiytekai hierarchy.
The Berren/Skyrie thing was intriguing - i liked the concept of two beings trapped in one body, but not having read any of the preceding books, i didn't know whether or not i was supposed to understand who both of these people were already. I enjoyed the cantankerous relationship between Tuuran and Berren/Skyrie but i felt a little let down by the end of the book as this storyline just kind of meanders throughout, and doesn't really come to a satisfying conclusion. One for the next book i suppose.
Even though we don't get any action with them till the end, i very much enjoyed the portrayal of Dragons - there are one or two innovative touches, such as the re-incarnation cycle, and the way that the Dragons have been historically subjugated - all of this was fascinating and - made me want to read the previous books. This is a classy portrayal of Dragons. They really come across as ominous, malevolent, godlike bastards, and the tension created by the aforementioned subjugation being so tenuous (particularly on their dodgy importation into the Taiytekai world) is palpable. The brooding menace of the Dragon Diamond Eye builds and builds and is what kept me going to the end of the book. The assault at the end is a treat (even if i wasn't entirely sure what was happening politically). If you like fire and smashing glass, read this book to the end.
For my tastes, I thought the book was too long. Generally i have to say i was bugged by a sense of not knowing how much was an unfolding mystery and how much I was supposed to have already picked up from the previous series. And yet, the Dragons and their history were so well alluded to, that i found myself wishing i'd started with The Adamantine Palace. In fact, i might very well well do that.
December 19, 2013
What an excellent story/series. I would like to give this 4.5 stars but I can't with the current ratings system. At least I don't know how to give a half star anyways.
I have to commend Mr. Deas. To pull two completely separate worlds into one single book and take it to the level he did. This ranks up there IMO with the last Wheel of Time book that Sanderson wrote. This should have been one of the books nominated for the end of the year.
Berren, Skyrie, The Bloody Judge, Zafir, Bellepheros, Baros T'Se T'Varr, Diamond Eye, Turaan, and don't Silence. The Elemental Men, the SIlver Kings, the Picker, WOW! What excellent characters! The growth for Berren from the Thief Taker's Series is unbelievable. The maturuty and depth of writing from Deas. Zafir and her hard shell that takes an interesting in the book. Bellepheros and the issues he faces throughout the story.
I mean, how can you tie in 6 different books, write the Black Mausoleum, then the Dragon Queen!
Flat out, one of the best books I have read all year long. Bits and pieces are tied together extremely well and the world building and character relationships and how they change are excellent. There is a lot of action but the end of the book is insane. It flat out moves and is extremely fast paced.
Sometimes I find myself talking about the book with a buddy to figure some things out. There are a lot of themes or not so hidden topics that become extremely important. Or you have that HA moment when something is tied together or revealed.
You should really read the Thief Taker Series first and then the Order of the Scales series before reading Black Mausoleum or Dragon Queen. But as Deas says on his website, the Black Mausoleum and Dragon can be read as stand alone books. But by reading the other two series first, everything is tied together very nicely. The best part, there should be another book coming!
Seriously, Deas matures as a writer throughout all 8 books. They get better and better as you go on.
As I stated before, the books are very difficult to get in the states. But ebooks should be readily available from B&N and Amazon. Good luck and enjoy. What a ride so far!
I have to commend Mr. Deas. To pull two completely separate worlds into one single book and take it to the level he did. This ranks up there IMO with the last Wheel of Time book that Sanderson wrote. This should have been one of the books nominated for the end of the year.
Berren, Skyrie, The Bloody Judge, Zafir, Bellepheros, Baros T'Se T'Varr, Diamond Eye, Turaan, and don't Silence. The Elemental Men, the SIlver Kings, the Picker, WOW! What excellent characters! The growth for Berren from the Thief Taker's Series is unbelievable. The maturuty and depth of writing from Deas. Zafir and her hard shell that takes an interesting in the book. Bellepheros and the issues he faces throughout the story.
I mean, how can you tie in 6 different books, write the Black Mausoleum, then the Dragon Queen!
Flat out, one of the best books I have read all year long. Bits and pieces are tied together extremely well and the world building and character relationships and how they change are excellent. There is a lot of action but the end of the book is insane. It flat out moves and is extremely fast paced.
Sometimes I find myself talking about the book with a buddy to figure some things out. There are a lot of themes or not so hidden topics that become extremely important. Or you have that HA moment when something is tied together or revealed.
You should really read the Thief Taker Series first and then the Order of the Scales series before reading Black Mausoleum or Dragon Queen. But as Deas says on his website, the Black Mausoleum and Dragon can be read as stand alone books. But by reading the other two series first, everything is tied together very nicely. The best part, there should be another book coming!
Seriously, Deas matures as a writer throughout all 8 books. They get better and better as you go on.
As I stated before, the books are very difficult to get in the states. But ebooks should be readily available from B&N and Amazon. Good luck and enjoy. What a ride so far!
January 11, 2014
I'm so torn on this one. I've read everything Mr. Deas has written, both his series, and I've loved both his dragons and his thief-taker's apprentice equally. But in the Dragon Queen, he attempts to meld both stories together, and it's as if one of his great scaly beasts has at last bitten off more than it can chew. While the thick tome comes in at well over 600 pages, the plot jumps between story lines too frequently for us to get hooked on any particular character. And in any event, there really aren't any likable characters on which to get hooked. Berren has become a one beat revenge machine, full or sound and fury, signifying nothing much for us, his long time fans. As has Turron, his Adamantine Man cum slave friend. And so it goes. No character really establishes him or herself as our hero, or anti-hero. The overly long tale just slogs along through various political machinations and infighting between the enigmatic Tayetaki from the East.
I will say, however, that the plot takes a welcome turn in the last 100 pages or so toward the sort of lively tale we've come to expect from Mr. Deas. In the final act, the Dragon Queen finally unleashes her ire and her dragon on a Tayetaki city, and the results are all we've come to expect from and enjoy in a Deas novel. Once the action is finally under way, things begin to get interesting as the intersecting paths of our two stories finally, well, intersect. But the ending is somewhat hazy and lacking, especially given the investment it takes to reach it.
I struggled as to whether to give Dragon Queen four stars - because the writing and world building is really very good in several segments, or two stars - because it really is far too long and slow in several others. Hence the three star rating. Dragon Queen has not put me off Deas' worlds in the least, however, allow me make that perfectly clear. I very much look forward to reading the next, hopefully more steam-lined installment.
I will say, however, that the plot takes a welcome turn in the last 100 pages or so toward the sort of lively tale we've come to expect from Mr. Deas. In the final act, the Dragon Queen finally unleashes her ire and her dragon on a Tayetaki city, and the results are all we've come to expect from and enjoy in a Deas novel. Once the action is finally under way, things begin to get interesting as the intersecting paths of our two stories finally, well, intersect. But the ending is somewhat hazy and lacking, especially given the investment it takes to reach it.
I struggled as to whether to give Dragon Queen four stars - because the writing and world building is really very good in several segments, or two stars - because it really is far too long and slow in several others. Hence the three star rating. Dragon Queen has not put me off Deas' worlds in the least, however, allow me make that perfectly clear. I very much look forward to reading the next, hopefully more steam-lined installment.
November 9, 2020
EDIT EDIT: I keep coming back to this instalment in particular - I'd love to see a Netflix version and was amusing myself casting the Brave New World cast in it (Lenina as Zafir obvs, Henry as Jehal, colour blind casting and more women alchemists). It just ticks my boxes. More of you need to read this.
EDIT: I am sooo pissed off with Game of Thrones I've come back to my comfort read.
If you like black humour (the only sort us Brits do), dragons destroying stuff (and who amongst us can say we don't?) and actual realistic female characters who even talk to other women about normal stuff now and again (the men are also pretty good and not total dicks) then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.
#mysteriouslynotabestseller
Before the dragon realms burnt in the fires of woken dragons the powerful Taiytakai managed to capture an alchemist, a dragon rider, eggs and a dragon and transport them across the storm dark to their homeland. We, the gleeful readers, get to watch the mayhem unfold as once again common sense loses to greed and stupidity.
I just love everything about this book. The characters are utterly believable and relatable. The women are all realistic and important to the plot as women, not just as surrogate blokes. The realms get a back story and the world building expands. And the dragons are fabulous. Deas does not disappoint with the big set piece where the Taiytakai finally appreciate what a colossal mistake they've made. Just wonderful.
EDIT: I am sooo pissed off with Game of Thrones I've come back to my comfort read.
If you like black humour (the only sort us Brits do), dragons destroying stuff (and who amongst us can say we don't?) and actual realistic female characters who even talk to other women about normal stuff now and again (the men are also pretty good and not total dicks) then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.
#mysteriouslynotabestseller
Before the dragon realms burnt in the fires of woken dragons the powerful Taiytakai managed to capture an alchemist, a dragon rider, eggs and a dragon and transport them across the storm dark to their homeland. We, the gleeful readers, get to watch the mayhem unfold as once again common sense loses to greed and stupidity.
I just love everything about this book. The characters are utterly believable and relatable. The women are all realistic and important to the plot as women, not just as surrogate blokes. The realms get a back story and the world building expands. And the dragons are fabulous. Deas does not disappoint with the big set piece where the Taiytakai finally appreciate what a colossal mistake they've made. Just wonderful.
May 26, 2015
In which some characters are wrenched from a world that Deas has already destroyed, and proceed to start plotting the downfall of the new one they find themselves in.
That's right, the dragons are loose in the multiverse.
Not really too much to say here. Deas spends a lot of time building the world of the Taiytakei - a grand world of skyscrapers, goldnglass zeppelins, cannons and magic wands and Machiavellian political intrigue - and then shows what might happen to such a place when you introduce elements from a far rougher world of violence and blood magic, monsters and murder. By the end of the book it does not look good for civilisation.
The problem for me coming into this - and I didn't know until after I'd finished - is that this is book 5 of Deas' dragon books, but also book 4 of his thief-taker series, of which I had read the first one and abandoned it as completely unmemorable. So yeah, I missed some stuff here, but kudos to Deas for merging his two streams in a clever way. Pethaps I'll have to go back and read those missing novels.
Anyway, this one is rated R for violence, more violence,sexual violence, adult themes and scary scenes. 3.5/5
That's right, the dragons are loose in the multiverse.
Not really too much to say here. Deas spends a lot of time building the world of the Taiytakei - a grand world of skyscrapers, goldnglass zeppelins, cannons and magic wands and Machiavellian political intrigue - and then shows what might happen to such a place when you introduce elements from a far rougher world of violence and blood magic, monsters and murder. By the end of the book it does not look good for civilisation.
The problem for me coming into this - and I didn't know until after I'd finished - is that this is book 5 of Deas' dragon books, but also book 4 of his thief-taker series, of which I had read the first one and abandoned it as completely unmemorable. So yeah, I missed some stuff here, but kudos to Deas for merging his two streams in a clever way. Pethaps I'll have to go back and read those missing novels.
Anyway, this one is rated R for violence, more violence,sexual violence, adult themes and scary scenes. 3.5/5
September 20, 2014
Beginning of the followup series to The Memory of Flames (& to a somewhat lesser extent, the Thief Taker's Apprentice). Very rich writing. Incorporates elements of the previous series while expanding world to the extent that it could be a series in it's own right. The homeland of the Taiytakei with it's mystical technology is different that I would have expected from the allusions to it in earlier books, the mystical technology they use almost feels like something out of steampunk or even an alien civilisation in a space opera. This is coupled with a political interplay that is reminiscent of the various Dragon Kings & Queens of the Memory of Flames. It's a book that takes time to read, but very rewarding.
January 17, 2016
The pace is finally picking up. Stephen has created a rich world, or web of worlds, and filled it with mystery and history. We don't know what to feel about any of the main players. Not one of them is a good person, although the simplicity of the adamantine man may or may not make him likeable. At times, i really wanted that dragon to just burn it all down. And when he did, more secrets and clues and hints were revealed. The plot may seem vaguely straight by the end, but there's so much more introduced in previous novels that are ignored while we focus on the dragon queen. Where is this going? And can i have some more, please.
April 7, 2019
I bought this book expecting it was the 1st book in the Silver Kings series, not realizing it is actually also the 5th book of the Memory of Flames (which also collided with another series, the Thief Taker), thus I was a bit overwhelm with all the characters & all the things that have been going on..
But this does not at all dissuage me to keep on reading, because the characthers & the story is very very interesting.. and those dragons, now, this is how to write a book about dragons.. they are fierce, powerful, dangerous, intelligent and mythical.. oh how I love them.. Can't wait to read the next volume!
But this does not at all dissuage me to keep on reading, because the characthers & the story is very very interesting.. and those dragons, now, this is how to write a book about dragons.. they are fierce, powerful, dangerous, intelligent and mythical.. oh how I love them.. Can't wait to read the next volume!
February 29, 2020
This is the first Deas book I have read. I got it because I wanted to read something that had dragons in it, and the book certainly didn't disappoint me in that. The dragons are awesome. The rest of the world, too, is fascinating – the worldbuilding seems thorough. Deas' writing style is vivid, quite flowing and enjoyable. When it comes to the characters though, they mostly didn't speak to me much – meaning I personally did not find much to relate to in their psychology, and so I didn't connect as much with the book as I could have – or so I feel. Others will feel differently. Hence my three stars do not have to mean three stars for you.
December 17, 2013
Very enjoyable, but sometimes struggled to follow why a character was doing something when it seemed I'd almost missed a chapter explaining why this was occurring or exactly how the politics were working. Luckily I had read most of the previous books (not the Berren books) so for the most part remembered the history to which the characters referred, but otherwise think this would have been more confusing. Unfortunately Crazy Mad's story was bit difficult to follow what was happening. Still, a reason to go and read those now, eh?
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July 20, 2015This book is obviously not the first even though it is the first of this series. I'm going to have to go back and reread this once I've read the other series first... as it was, I started out confused and remained confused throughout the book. I wish there had been a little notice in the beginning of the book that I should have read the other series first.
September 7, 2016
I bought this book from clearance and cost slightly over $1. No harm if it sucks but surprisingly I found it quite interesting. Will follow his next book..
December 28, 2024
Again I love fantasy books but this I found long winded and didn't enjoy this book at all.
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