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The Reemergence #1
Tesser: A Dragon Among Us
From the creator of Elmoryn, and the author of the smash hit horror epic Adrian's Undead Diary...
Welcome to Tesser: A Dragon Among Us, the first Reemergence Novel.
Imagine for a moment that you are a Dragon. A creature of unimaginable power, unending intelligence and strength, and you've just woken from ten thousand years of slumber. Worse yet, you've awoken underneath a city; Boston, an alien and strange place that defies everything you've ever known.
Your last memories were of primordial forests, erupting volcanoes sculpting a developing world, faeries, witches, vampires, krakens, and monsters that feared where you turned your eyes.
But all that is gone. Humans, only barely coming into their own in the world from your memory, have taken over. They have erected cities made of stone and steel erupting from the earth like stalagmites reaching for the high blue sky, and developed sciences that have overshadowed even the glory of old magic.
This was not the way it was supposed to be.
Meet Tesser, the Dragon. He who walks in any form, and flies the skies free of fear.
A Dragon Among Us is Tesser's story. Walk with him as he learns the human way, and discovers the dark truth about why magic has really faded from the world he calls home.
And just maybe, humanity will remember why dragons were most noble, and most savage creatures again.
Welcome to The Reemergence.
Tesser: A Dragon Among Us is a mythical journey into urban fantasy. Set in the modern day but filled with elements of wonder and magic, it is sure to please enthusiasts of both action, adventure, and romance.
Welcome to Tesser: A Dragon Among Us, the first Reemergence Novel.
Imagine for a moment that you are a Dragon. A creature of unimaginable power, unending intelligence and strength, and you've just woken from ten thousand years of slumber. Worse yet, you've awoken underneath a city; Boston, an alien and strange place that defies everything you've ever known.
Your last memories were of primordial forests, erupting volcanoes sculpting a developing world, faeries, witches, vampires, krakens, and monsters that feared where you turned your eyes.
But all that is gone. Humans, only barely coming into their own in the world from your memory, have taken over. They have erected cities made of stone and steel erupting from the earth like stalagmites reaching for the high blue sky, and developed sciences that have overshadowed even the glory of old magic.
This was not the way it was supposed to be.
Meet Tesser, the Dragon. He who walks in any form, and flies the skies free of fear.
A Dragon Among Us is Tesser's story. Walk with him as he learns the human way, and discovers the dark truth about why magic has really faded from the world he calls home.
And just maybe, humanity will remember why dragons were most noble, and most savage creatures again.
Welcome to The Reemergence.
Tesser: A Dragon Among Us is a mythical journey into urban fantasy. Set in the modern day but filled with elements of wonder and magic, it is sure to please enthusiasts of both action, adventure, and romance.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2014
199 people are currently reading
983 people want to read
About the author
Chris Philbrook
80 books443 followers About Chris Philbrook
I am the creator and author of Tesser: A Dragon Among Us as well as Elmoryn's The Kinless Trilogy, Colony Lost, Adrian's Undead Diary and the Darkness of Diggory Finch.
I've gone to a LOT of college. I've got a Business degree as well as a Psychology degree, and I've done the full program at the school of hard knocks. I've been a printing press operator, bouncer, purchasing agent, bodyguard, customer service representative, mental health counselor, and more. I can write about weird shit because I've done weird shit. Trust me.
I call the wonderful state of New Hampshire my home, but I love to travel. I love to read, write, play role playing games, miniatures games, video games, and Magic: The Gathering. When I find the time to be active, I like to hike, play basketball, and play football. I am married to a wonderful woman, and together we have two wonderful daughters.
I am the creator and author of Tesser: A Dragon Among Us as well as Elmoryn's The Kinless Trilogy, Colony Lost, Adrian's Undead Diary and the Darkness of Diggory Finch.
I've gone to a LOT of college. I've got a Business degree as well as a Psychology degree, and I've done the full program at the school of hard knocks. I've been a printing press operator, bouncer, purchasing agent, bodyguard, customer service representative, mental health counselor, and more. I can write about weird shit because I've done weird shit. Trust me.
I call the wonderful state of New Hampshire my home, but I love to travel. I love to read, write, play role playing games, miniatures games, video games, and Magic: The Gathering. When I find the time to be active, I like to hike, play basketball, and play football. I am married to a wonderful woman, and together we have two wonderful daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
May 6, 2016
I like dragon books, what can I say? So when I see a new book about dragons, I'm fairly inclined to pick it up.
Unfortunately this book was a complete disappointment. The premise is that a dragon wakes up in a modern day world where there are mages and magic, suddenly increasing the amount of magic in the world. The dragon goes around as a human.
I only made it through the first 75 pages before I decided the book didn't seem like it was going to get any better - and honestly, 75 pages in, I should have started to see more plot progression. Not worth any more of time, so I dropped it.
My major problems with the book (besides that it has so many useless scenes that don't push the plot or character development forward), lies mainly in characterization. Holy moly, Tesser is like a male version of Bella from Twilight. That is definitely not a compliment. Basically, this incredibly old, wise dragon becomes a super hottie with gold eyes that goes around flirting with girls and saving them from rapists and being the center of newspaper attention for the first 75 pages. Uhhhh yeah. Now, I don't know any dragons personally so I guess I can't speak for them, but look at this line from the book:
Tesser smiled seductively. "Good evening, ladies. Enjoy the food."
Yeah, I can't stand this "dragon". He has a modern sensibility on par with humanity (which is weird, considering he's a dragon and he's been sleeping for ages), he thinks about the attractiveness of another species (?!), he makes commentary on social issues like rape and cussing and alcohol ["many humans act like assholes when they drink [hard liquor]. Some nights, it seems like all of them are assholes"]. Just no. I cannot swallow this version of a re-awakened dragon. Maybe you can. I just can't.
My notes from this book sum up what I think about this book:
"This book needs some serious editing. It includes too many mundane actions that don't advance the plot."
"What the hell. He's a dragon and he goes around rating how attractive women are? What the hell is a dragon? He's just like a horny, confused teenage male with a ton of power. Stop these crap wandering scenes and get on with the plot. I want more magic and less random hot-stranger-gets dropped into a town."
That is all. One star. I really didn't like this book. But who knows? Maybe you can get over the issues I had with the book. I wouldn't recommend reading it though.
Unfortunately this book was a complete disappointment. The premise is that a dragon wakes up in a modern day world where there are mages and magic, suddenly increasing the amount of magic in the world. The dragon goes around as a human.
I only made it through the first 75 pages before I decided the book didn't seem like it was going to get any better - and honestly, 75 pages in, I should have started to see more plot progression. Not worth any more of time, so I dropped it.
My major problems with the book (besides that it has so many useless scenes that don't push the plot or character development forward), lies mainly in characterization. Holy moly, Tesser is like a male version of Bella from Twilight. That is definitely not a compliment. Basically, this incredibly old, wise dragon becomes a super hottie with gold eyes that goes around flirting with girls and saving them from rapists and being the center of newspaper attention for the first 75 pages. Uhhhh yeah. Now, I don't know any dragons personally so I guess I can't speak for them, but look at this line from the book:
Tesser smiled seductively. "Good evening, ladies. Enjoy the food."
Yeah, I can't stand this "dragon". He has a modern sensibility on par with humanity (which is weird, considering he's a dragon and he's been sleeping for ages), he thinks about the attractiveness of another species (?!), he makes commentary on social issues like rape and cussing and alcohol ["many humans act like assholes when they drink [hard liquor]. Some nights, it seems like all of them are assholes"]. Just no. I cannot swallow this version of a re-awakened dragon. Maybe you can. I just can't.
My notes from this book sum up what I think about this book:
"This book needs some serious editing. It includes too many mundane actions that don't advance the plot."
"What the hell. He's a dragon and he goes around rating how attractive women are? What the hell is a dragon? He's just like a horny, confused teenage male with a ton of power. Stop these crap wandering scenes and get on with the plot. I want more magic and less random hot-stranger-gets dropped into a town."
That is all. One star. I really didn't like this book. But who knows? Maybe you can get over the issues I had with the book. I wouldn't recommend reading it though.
August 1, 2017
A great start to a series. A gorgeous man is caught on camera coming to the aid of a woman being assaulted. The only problem with this is is that he is stark naked, the clip goes viral. Trying to figure out what century it is this poor shape shifting dragon is awake and lost in a city he does not know. As the story goes along we learn that there are seven dragons, each has a duty to an earthly power that they must maintain in order to keep the balance of the world. I really enjoyed this original inventive story and the narration helped bring these relatable characters to life.
June 3, 2015
Eh. The first part was generally interesting, but the second part was over the top absurd. Maybe I should have magically transformed into a teenage boy before reading it. I probably would have been more appreciative.
August 6, 2016
I could not write something better, which is why I don't write. Basically a male power fantasy. If that's your kind of brain candy, this'll do the trick, otherwise, avoid.
April 10, 2014
Gotta be the first.
I honestly think this is my finest novel. I love the setting, the characters, the dialogue, and the love story that comes out of nowhere, and yet seems to fit in just right.
I sincerely hope that Tesser becomes the beginning of a wonderful literary experience for my readers, as well as myself.
World, enjoy.
I honestly think this is my finest novel. I love the setting, the characters, the dialogue, and the love story that comes out of nowhere, and yet seems to fit in just right.
I sincerely hope that Tesser becomes the beginning of a wonderful literary experience for my readers, as well as myself.
World, enjoy.
March 8, 2016
In the first 10-15 minutes of listening to this book, I had the sinking feeling I wasn't going to enjoy it. But I had received the audio book in exchange for an honest review so I knew I would listen to the whole book even if it took me a month to get through it.
My initial reaction was SO WRONG. The book became so entertaining it only took me 2 days to listen to the audio!! The characters were well developed and the authors description of the settings made you feel like you were there watching the story unfold.
I enjoyed all the characters but the characterization of the seven dragons was extraordinary. The author expounded on the peculiarities, brawn and vulnerabilities of each one transforming them into fascinating characters.
The perspicuous narration added an extra layer to the reading experience. Each character, and dragon, had a distinctive voice that well matched the personality created by the author.
If you are looking for a fantasy that will go beyond the boundaries of reality I recommend you read Tesser.
My initial reaction was SO WRONG. The book became so entertaining it only took me 2 days to listen to the audio!! The characters were well developed and the authors description of the settings made you feel like you were there watching the story unfold.
I enjoyed all the characters but the characterization of the seven dragons was extraordinary. The author expounded on the peculiarities, brawn and vulnerabilities of each one transforming them into fascinating characters.
The perspicuous narration added an extra layer to the reading experience. Each character, and dragon, had a distinctive voice that well matched the personality created by the author.
If you are looking for a fantasy that will go beyond the boundaries of reality I recommend you read Tesser.
July 18, 2017
The prologue was okay, but then it went WAAAAAY downhill from there. The female characters were so one dimensional that it made me wonder whether the author even respects women at all.
July 23, 2014
I would have liked to give the book 4 stars but the writing style and poor editing makes it only 3.
The story itself was very enjoyable but it could have been written better. I found the writing style took away from what was ultimately a creative tale.
Still, if you enjoy supernatural fantasies, I would recommend this story!
********************
I wanted to expand this review just a bit. I read the Kindle version and the editing was not so great. Character names were often mixed up & clearly incorrectly used. It was enough to be distracting from the story.
For some reason also, the overall writing style didn't appeal to me. It just seemed unclear in many places, as though the descriptions meant to clarify certain details ended up making things convoluted rather than clear.
That being said, I did enjoy the story. I mean, who doesn't like dragons!?
And these dragons weren't just giant flying lizards...these were intelligent, magical beings who could pretty much be & do anything!
I enjoyed the origin story behind the dragons too. It is definitely a different kind a tale and not what one would expect in a story of dragons. It's magical and entertaining for sure!
So, I would give the book 3.5-stars overall. The story definitely rates 4-stars; just the execution rates 3-stars.
Hopefully, if there are more books to come in a series, the author and editors can improve on those things. However, I think I would enjoy continuing to read about this world and these characters in future incarnations!
The story itself was very enjoyable but it could have been written better. I found the writing style took away from what was ultimately a creative tale.
Still, if you enjoy supernatural fantasies, I would recommend this story!
********************
I wanted to expand this review just a bit. I read the Kindle version and the editing was not so great. Character names were often mixed up & clearly incorrectly used. It was enough to be distracting from the story.
For some reason also, the overall writing style didn't appeal to me. It just seemed unclear in many places, as though the descriptions meant to clarify certain details ended up making things convoluted rather than clear.
That being said, I did enjoy the story. I mean, who doesn't like dragons!?
And these dragons weren't just giant flying lizards...these were intelligent, magical beings who could pretty much be & do anything!
I enjoyed the origin story behind the dragons too. It is definitely a different kind a tale and not what one would expect in a story of dragons. It's magical and entertaining for sure!
So, I would give the book 3.5-stars overall. The story definitely rates 4-stars; just the execution rates 3-stars.
Hopefully, if there are more books to come in a series, the author and editors can improve on those things. However, I think I would enjoy continuing to read about this world and these characters in future incarnations!
August 4, 2016
Having a hard time rating this. The premise was good and there were genuinely great moments in the writing. Unfortunately, there were more squirm and wince moments.. Resorting to bad caricature for the Brit Professor, Cosmo Magazine stereotypes about women - though some of the conversations between the two female leads were fairly accurate. A protagonist who is sort of "fifty shades of dragon" and two underdeveloped male sidekicks. Abe, who tries way to hard with the pop culture references - don't we all have a Deadmau5 teeshirt? - and way over the top F-bomb dropping. Liked the Canadian reference though. Henry aka: Spoon - whatever happened to his wife? The prose becomes really ponderous in places and some overuse of a thesaurus makes for a few amusing moments ie: "the pinnacle of the staircase".
I could barely wait to finish it and at the same time did enjoy some passages... Kind of like when you're stuck at the cottage and the only thing to read is your Great Grandma's collection of Jean Plaidy novels...
I could barely wait to finish it and at the same time did enjoy some passages... Kind of like when you're stuck at the cottage and the only thing to read is your Great Grandma's collection of Jean Plaidy novels...
October 25, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Tesser: A Dragon Among Us. What a great story!
Tesser is a dragon who awakens under present day Boston. He's been asleep for a VERY long time.
Not only is he a dragon, but he can shape shift into any form he wishes.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't tell you any more.
I will tell you that I truly enjoyed this book.
I hope that Chris Philbrook will write some more stories about Tesser. I just finished the book and I am craving more.
Thank you Chris Philbrook!
Tesser is a dragon who awakens under present day Boston. He's been asleep for a VERY long time.
Not only is he a dragon, but he can shape shift into any form he wishes.
I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't tell you any more.
I will tell you that I truly enjoyed this book.
I hope that Chris Philbrook will write some more stories about Tesser. I just finished the book and I am craving more.
Thank you Chris Philbrook!
September 6, 2016
Couldn't do it. 5 chapters in, and the dragon was just annoying, the humans uninteresting, and while I'm sure it was supposed to be funny, stereotypes about Chinese food are pretty low brow humor. Moving on to a different book.
November 11, 2017
I believe I won this in a GoodReads giveaway.
I dropped this at 193 pages only because I know it's a 1 star. I could have finished reading it, but why waste time?
Trigger warning? Rape.
(I wasn't sure if I should include a trigger warning for rape, because all of the actions of the characters are so unbelievable that I don't think that the rape scene would trigger.)
Why I Recommend Bumping This DOWN On Your TBR: It starts off with Tesser saving a woman from being raped (while mansplaining to the reader about why rape is bad). All of the characters are unbelievable, but the female character Maddy especially. The author's personal voice and interests are heavily present in the narrative (though specific pop culture references) and make it distracting to read. I like how other reviewers have referred to this as a "male power fantasy".
Depending On Your Personal Preferences: For a "male power fantasy", it's surprisingly easy to read and engaging. I didn't feel offended as much as entertained in that "omg I can't believe what this person is writing" sort of a way. The narrative voice works for it, so I can understand how some readers are able to look past the issues.
I dropped this at 193 pages only because I know it's a 1 star. I could have finished reading it, but why waste time?
Trigger warning? Rape.
(I wasn't sure if I should include a trigger warning for rape, because all of the actions of the characters are so unbelievable that I don't think that the rape scene would trigger.)
Why I Recommend Bumping This DOWN On Your TBR: It starts off with Tesser saving a woman from being raped (while mansplaining to the reader about why rape is bad). All of the characters are unbelievable, but the female character Maddy especially. The author's personal voice and interests are heavily present in the narrative (though specific pop culture references) and make it distracting to read. I like how other reviewers have referred to this as a "male power fantasy".
Depending On Your Personal Preferences: For a "male power fantasy", it's surprisingly easy to read and engaging. I didn't feel offended as much as entertained in that "omg I can't believe what this person is writing" sort of a way. The narrative voice works for it, so I can understand how some readers are able to look past the issues.
April 24, 2014
Chris Philbrook has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He has a unique ability to draw the reader into his world, where you genuinely care for these characters. Tesser pulled me in from the first chapter and continued to hold me through the very end.
This is the story of magic returning to a mundane world. It's handled perfectly, so that not only is it plausible, but you find yourself hoping that it actually would happen. He doesn't shy away from it, there is no effort to keep it hidden or small scale. Tesser isn't a being who works well in secrecy. He's a freaking dragon.
Abe really steals the show, as a character in an ensemble cast, he really stood out to me. I suspect that others will say the same about other characters, and that's really the beauty of this novel. Everyone can find someone they identify with, every character is fully fleshed out and genuine throughout the book.
If you haven't read a fantasy novel, don't shy away from this one, it has none of the pretense so prevalent in modern fantasy writing. Buy this book!
This is the story of magic returning to a mundane world. It's handled perfectly, so that not only is it plausible, but you find yourself hoping that it actually would happen. He doesn't shy away from it, there is no effort to keep it hidden or small scale. Tesser isn't a being who works well in secrecy. He's a freaking dragon.
Abe really steals the show, as a character in an ensemble cast, he really stood out to me. I suspect that others will say the same about other characters, and that's really the beauty of this novel. Everyone can find someone they identify with, every character is fully fleshed out and genuine throughout the book.
If you haven't read a fantasy novel, don't shy away from this one, it has none of the pretense so prevalent in modern fantasy writing. Buy this book!
September 30, 2014
Man, this book brought back memories of Disney - I just had that feeling while reading it. Magic is brought back into the world with the rise of the Dragons; all the magical creatures are coming out to play.
When I finished this book, I felt like it was almost an origin story for the world this series will be taking place in. Magic is back, Dragons come out of hiding and other magical creatures are making themselves known. If the second book took place in the future I could almost see it starting with a "Once upon a time, when magic was non-existant...The world changed - with the coming of Dragons."
I saw some other reviewers say there was spelling mistakes galore, maybe the Kindle version I had was edited or I enjoyed it so much I didn't notice but I didn't see any errors.
Solid entry in what I hope to be a good series.
When I finished this book, I felt like it was almost an origin story for the world this series will be taking place in. Magic is back, Dragons come out of hiding and other magical creatures are making themselves known. If the second book took place in the future I could almost see it starting with a "Once upon a time, when magic was non-existant...The world changed - with the coming of Dragons."
I saw some other reviewers say there was spelling mistakes galore, maybe the Kindle version I had was edited or I enjoyed it so much I didn't notice but I didn't see any errors.
Solid entry in what I hope to be a good series.
April 18, 2014
This book has brought me back to a genre of reading I havent enjoyed in a very long time. Such a fantastic read.
Chris has created an outstanding mystical but real world. Filling it with characters and creatures of legend with such deep and relate-able personalities. Not to mention 'Tesser' is one bad ass mofo!
Very hard to put down! Read this book in only a couple of days and was sad to reach the final page! It will leave you anxious for the next slice of magical adventure. Wonderful story told by outstanding writing! Also, great fight scenes and pretty great love scenes.
I can't wait to continue reading this series Chris! Keep up the excellent work!
Chris has created an outstanding mystical but real world. Filling it with characters and creatures of legend with such deep and relate-able personalities. Not to mention 'Tesser' is one bad ass mofo!
Very hard to put down! Read this book in only a couple of days and was sad to reach the final page! It will leave you anxious for the next slice of magical adventure. Wonderful story told by outstanding writing! Also, great fight scenes and pretty great love scenes.
I can't wait to continue reading this series Chris! Keep up the excellent work!
August 6, 2016
It is a rare occurrence that I will befriend characters that I meet in books. Famous, classical writers have failed to make the character into someone that, if I were to meet them in life, I would consider a friend. Chris has done this three times. Three completely different books, with completely different story lines, that have all had at least five characters that I have fallen in love with. Whether its Gilbert, Malwynn, or Matty, they have all grown in the books into some truly amazing characters. Chris, please find a way to continue this series with these characters, as well as your other books.
June 4, 2014
Loved it! I am obsessed with horror, thriller, paranormal - but Dragons? Never in my life did I think I would enjoy a story with Dragons!
I swiped through this book on my ereader in less then 24 hours after buying it.
The story pulled me in with its modern setting, and endearing ways this millennia old dragon (shape shifted to human form) adapts to the language, technology and love/sex in modern America. Then how the world reacts to a dragon(s)...
There is much more to this story than a dragon adapting to modern life, but to explain it would be a complete spoiler. It's worth it though :) I'll definitely be re-reading it.
I swiped through this book on my ereader in less then 24 hours after buying it.
The story pulled me in with its modern setting, and endearing ways this millennia old dragon (shape shifted to human form) adapts to the language, technology and love/sex in modern America. Then how the world reacts to a dragon(s)...
There is much more to this story than a dragon adapting to modern life, but to explain it would be a complete spoiler. It's worth it though :) I'll definitely be re-reading it.
May 24, 2014
I have to admit that writing reviews is very hard for me. I have a hard time expressing in writing how I feel about a book, I want to convey how I really loved this book. I loved how easy it was to believe Tesser really exists. I loved how descriptive this author is; I felt like I soared above the clouds, or experienced new surroundings in which I had to learn how to adapt to blend in. I loved Matty and felt along with her in every circumstance.
A great book, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
A great book, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
October 8, 2014
Having read the first seven installments of Adrians Undead Diary by Chris Philbrook - I decided to give his fantasy novel about the Dragon Tesser a shot.
This turned out to be a really good surprise - Chris Philbrook can create worlds and characters that becomes very much alive and Tesser is a real charmer...
This turned out to be a really good surprise - Chris Philbrook can create worlds and characters that becomes very much alive and Tesser is a real charmer...
June 7, 2019
This story felt like a power trip, the premise was really fun and a unique idea. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.
September 14, 2017
A pleasant surprise. Well done, and with humor.
November 25, 2020
Terrible characterization of women
My main issue with this book was how it characterized women. There’s one scene where there’s this snippet of dialogue:
“Alexis leaned back in her chair near the opposite end of the table and whispered to Matty, "Hot, isn’t he? I would tear that man's suit off with my teeth." Matty leaned in and replied, "I'd fight you for the right."”
Those two women are being so creepy. Not to mention that they’re saying this to each other in a serious company meeting, talking about the CEO.
Let’s switch the genders. Two guys are sitting in the meeting room, and the female CEO walks in.
“”Alex leaned back in his chair near the opposite end of the table and whispered to Matthew, "Hot, isn’t she? I would tear that woman’s clothes off with my teeth." Matthew leaned in and replied, "I'd fight you for the right."”
I am cringing. These are supposed to be two people in a professional setting?
In addition to that, the writing in general about women is just bad. A woman nearly gets raped and is saved by the naked main character. After saving her the main character scents her “unconscious female arousal.” What in the world? Look, a woman who was just afraid for her life and is rescued by some random naked dude who uses extreme violence isn’t suddenly going to be wetting her panties. She’s going to be terrified that the naked dude chased the others off because he wanted to rape her instead.
And then there’s the misogyny that keeps on popping up in the story. People who are supposed to be likable, as far as I can tell from how the author writes them, suddenly spout out phrases that make you think they came straight from an incel chatroom.
Abe is searching for information about the main character. He’s contemplating where he should look. Suddenly inspiration strikes! He should investigate women that enjoy gossip and who often post it to social media. Who could that possibly be? Social media influencers? Busy bodies? Regular teenagers? Phone addicts? No. According to Abe, he should look for “College bitches.”
Aside from the absolute cringe I felt as a woman reading this book, the dialogue was very rough, and the characterizations inconsistent (i.e. aged wise wizard asking incredibly insensitive and insulting questions, like if the dragon engages in incest, of the ancient powerful dragon and then being absolutely shocked when the dragon gets ticked off at him).
The only reason this is 2 stars and not 1 star is because the premise of the story was so cool. But then the execution was absolutely bungled.
My main issue with this book was how it characterized women. There’s one scene where there’s this snippet of dialogue:
“Alexis leaned back in her chair near the opposite end of the table and whispered to Matty, "Hot, isn’t he? I would tear that man's suit off with my teeth." Matty leaned in and replied, "I'd fight you for the right."”
Those two women are being so creepy. Not to mention that they’re saying this to each other in a serious company meeting, talking about the CEO.
Let’s switch the genders. Two guys are sitting in the meeting room, and the female CEO walks in.
“”Alex leaned back in his chair near the opposite end of the table and whispered to Matthew, "Hot, isn’t she? I would tear that woman’s clothes off with my teeth." Matthew leaned in and replied, "I'd fight you for the right."”
I am cringing. These are supposed to be two people in a professional setting?
In addition to that, the writing in general about women is just bad. A woman nearly gets raped and is saved by the naked main character. After saving her the main character scents her “unconscious female arousal.” What in the world? Look, a woman who was just afraid for her life and is rescued by some random naked dude who uses extreme violence isn’t suddenly going to be wetting her panties. She’s going to be terrified that the naked dude chased the others off because he wanted to rape her instead.
And then there’s the misogyny that keeps on popping up in the story. People who are supposed to be likable, as far as I can tell from how the author writes them, suddenly spout out phrases that make you think they came straight from an incel chatroom.
Abe is searching for information about the main character. He’s contemplating where he should look. Suddenly inspiration strikes! He should investigate women that enjoy gossip and who often post it to social media. Who could that possibly be? Social media influencers? Busy bodies? Regular teenagers? Phone addicts? No. According to Abe, he should look for “College bitches.”
Aside from the absolute cringe I felt as a woman reading this book, the dialogue was very rough, and the characterizations inconsistent (i.e. aged wise wizard asking incredibly insensitive and insulting questions, like if the dragon engages in incest, of the ancient powerful dragon and then being absolutely shocked when the dragon gets ticked off at him).
The only reason this is 2 stars and not 1 star is because the premise of the story was so cool. But then the execution was absolutely bungled.
March 22, 2016
This rocked so much! I absolutely loved everything about it.
Tesser is one of 7 Dragons who are integral to the world, but Tesser has been asleep for generations and when he wakes, it's to find the world totally changed and the beings known as human have taken over. Magic is all but non existent and Dragons are creatures of lore. Tesser realises that not all is well with the world and one of his sisters is missing. He knows that he needs to find her before it's too late, all the while trying to fit in and learn all about this strange new world.
Tesser was such a hoot! He awakens to find the word totally changed, as the last thing he remembers is humans in animal pelts! Now he has to deal with all the advances humans have made and try to find his sister, the Dragon of magic. Much hilarity ensues as Tesser comes to terms with the language and advances in humans and technology. Along the way he meets an awesome nerdy apprentice and his magician master and a sweet and engaging love interest who captures his heart. I have to say that his conversation with her the first time was hilarious!! I laughed a lot when he told her about his multiple children and his multiple partners of every species!! Priceless ;)
The world building in this was amazing. I loved the idea of the 7 Dragons and their different reasons and abilities. I loved the lore of the world and the creepy Legion! But I particularly love the characters and the character development. Every single one grows so much throughout the story. This author has a way of making you care for every one of his characters and making you invested in what happens to them.
Overall, it's a fast paced and addictive read and one you won't want to put down. From it's well written and fun plot, to it's entertaining and engaging characters, Tesser is a must read! I NEED book 2 now!!!!
James Foster made a phenomenal Tesser. He really brought Tesser to life. His tone for him was perfect and really brought about the strength and nobility Tesser has. He also did an amazing job with the rest of the supporting characters. His voice was easy to listen to and he used the right inflections at the right time. I think I enjoyed this as much as I did because this narrator nailed the performance!
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
Tesser is one of 7 Dragons who are integral to the world, but Tesser has been asleep for generations and when he wakes, it's to find the world totally changed and the beings known as human have taken over. Magic is all but non existent and Dragons are creatures of lore. Tesser realises that not all is well with the world and one of his sisters is missing. He knows that he needs to find her before it's too late, all the while trying to fit in and learn all about this strange new world.
Tesser was such a hoot! He awakens to find the word totally changed, as the last thing he remembers is humans in animal pelts! Now he has to deal with all the advances humans have made and try to find his sister, the Dragon of magic. Much hilarity ensues as Tesser comes to terms with the language and advances in humans and technology. Along the way he meets an awesome nerdy apprentice and his magician master and a sweet and engaging love interest who captures his heart. I have to say that his conversation with her the first time was hilarious!! I laughed a lot when he told her about his multiple children and his multiple partners of every species!! Priceless ;)
The world building in this was amazing. I loved the idea of the 7 Dragons and their different reasons and abilities. I loved the lore of the world and the creepy Legion! But I particularly love the characters and the character development. Every single one grows so much throughout the story. This author has a way of making you care for every one of his characters and making you invested in what happens to them.
Overall, it's a fast paced and addictive read and one you won't want to put down. From it's well written and fun plot, to it's entertaining and engaging characters, Tesser is a must read! I NEED book 2 now!!!!
James Foster made a phenomenal Tesser. He really brought Tesser to life. His tone for him was perfect and really brought about the strength and nobility Tesser has. He also did an amazing job with the rest of the supporting characters. His voice was easy to listen to and he used the right inflections at the right time. I think I enjoyed this as much as I did because this narrator nailed the performance!
*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
February 28, 2016
I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine if everything you have ever read in a fairytale were true. If pixies, trolls and dragons were real...in this world, they are. Tesser is a dragon. He wakes up after being asleep for a very long time. And he wakes up in Boston.
Of course, if the things that are in the fairytales are true, there is also a "big bad". In this case, it is an evil corporation that is headed up by some sketchy characters. The CEO is a delusional trust fund baby who has been raised to believe that all of the evil brought about by the corporation is for the common good.
There are elements of this story that are done so well. The dragons are very well thought out. I loved their characters and how they related to the overall plot. The humans were interesting and the action scenes were good, but the love stories in the book were not. There was a whole lot of insta-love being thrown around here.
The thoughts and conversations from the female perspective were not realistic. At least from my perspective as a female. Sure, we go to clubs in order to blow off some steam after a rough week on the job, but it is rare to fall into relationships after a night at the bar. Especially if you and your bestie both find relationships on the same night in the same bar.
The "sexy times" are pretty explicit. Though I don't particularly mind that, I really think it narrows down the ages that should probably be reading the book. I think it really isn't suitable for young teens. Maybe 17+.
I would be interested in seeing how the series plays out, but can think of other authors in the genre that do the character interaction much better, like Thea Harrison. Her Elder Races series is pretty similar, but the contact between the characters seems more believable and not so rushed.
The narrator was good, but there were some spots where I had to crank up the volume to hear what the heck a character was saying. Then had to immediately turn it back down so I wasn't deafened. His accents were okay. I think I've been spoiled by some really good narrators like Oliver Wyman, Fred Berman and Holter Graham, because I couldn't help but think how much better the story would have been if any of them had voiced it.
Overall, it was good. I would probably pick up the next in the series.
Imagine if everything you have ever read in a fairytale were true. If pixies, trolls and dragons were real...in this world, they are. Tesser is a dragon. He wakes up after being asleep for a very long time. And he wakes up in Boston.
Of course, if the things that are in the fairytales are true, there is also a "big bad". In this case, it is an evil corporation that is headed up by some sketchy characters. The CEO is a delusional trust fund baby who has been raised to believe that all of the evil brought about by the corporation is for the common good.
There are elements of this story that are done so well. The dragons are very well thought out. I loved their characters and how they related to the overall plot. The humans were interesting and the action scenes were good, but the love stories in the book were not. There was a whole lot of insta-love being thrown around here.
The thoughts and conversations from the female perspective were not realistic. At least from my perspective as a female. Sure, we go to clubs in order to blow off some steam after a rough week on the job, but it is rare to fall into relationships after a night at the bar. Especially if you and your bestie both find relationships on the same night in the same bar.
The "sexy times" are pretty explicit. Though I don't particularly mind that, I really think it narrows down the ages that should probably be reading the book. I think it really isn't suitable for young teens. Maybe 17+.
I would be interested in seeing how the series plays out, but can think of other authors in the genre that do the character interaction much better, like Thea Harrison. Her Elder Races series is pretty similar, but the contact between the characters seems more believable and not so rushed.
The narrator was good, but there were some spots where I had to crank up the volume to hear what the heck a character was saying. Then had to immediately turn it back down so I wasn't deafened. His accents were okay. I think I've been spoiled by some really good narrators like Oliver Wyman, Fred Berman and Holter Graham, because I couldn't help but think how much better the story would have been if any of them had voiced it.
Overall, it was good. I would probably pick up the next in the series.
September 8, 2016
5 STARS!!!
A legend comes to life.
This book was a delight from beginning to end. Before I bought this book, I was almost put off by some recent low reviews on Amazon. But, hey a dragon slumbering under Boston? Who could resist? I couldn’t. And I am so glad.
Chris Philbrook has crafted an imaginative, tightly written urban fantasy. In his world the humans have been gently guided in their evolution, as has the whole of earth by some very powerful beings, but something is awry— magic is dwindling. Enter Tesser, an ancient shape-shifting dragon who wakes from a 20,000 year slumber to a very different world from the one he remembers. In his struggle to catch up, he learns the language from pop culture movies, makes some rather amusing faux pauxs, and a lot of very dangerous enemies. Tesser is a complex, very carefully well-drawn character, who deals with the foibles of humanity with compassion, wisdom and great determination which allows for clever social commentary and drama with plenty room for some irreverent humor. I found myself comparing it, quite favorably I might add, to the Iron Druid series and not just the humor, but Philbrook’s use of different pantheons and mythos while adhering to a strict code of rules defined in his tightly drawn plot.
As for those low reviews, I would say that perhaps they were offended by the books premise that dragons are the force that shaped and crafted all life, almost divine forces of nature on earth. To those people I would definitely not recommend this book. But to anyone else who loves a good, well written urban fantasy, science fantasy, or just great escapism, I highly recommend this book. I assure you, this is a book I'll be reading over and over again! Thank you, Chris Philbrook.
I also own the audio version and I must say that Jame's Foster nailed this performance in the audio version.
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
A legend comes to life.
This book was a delight from beginning to end. Before I bought this book, I was almost put off by some recent low reviews on Amazon. But, hey a dragon slumbering under Boston? Who could resist? I couldn’t. And I am so glad.
Chris Philbrook has crafted an imaginative, tightly written urban fantasy. In his world the humans have been gently guided in their evolution, as has the whole of earth by some very powerful beings, but something is awry— magic is dwindling. Enter Tesser, an ancient shape-shifting dragon who wakes from a 20,000 year slumber to a very different world from the one he remembers. In his struggle to catch up, he learns the language from pop culture movies, makes some rather amusing faux pauxs, and a lot of very dangerous enemies. Tesser is a complex, very carefully well-drawn character, who deals with the foibles of humanity with compassion, wisdom and great determination which allows for clever social commentary and drama with plenty room for some irreverent humor. I found myself comparing it, quite favorably I might add, to the Iron Druid series and not just the humor, but Philbrook’s use of different pantheons and mythos while adhering to a strict code of rules defined in his tightly drawn plot.
As for those low reviews, I would say that perhaps they were offended by the books premise that dragons are the force that shaped and crafted all life, almost divine forces of nature on earth. To those people I would definitely not recommend this book. But to anyone else who loves a good, well written urban fantasy, science fantasy, or just great escapism, I highly recommend this book. I assure you, this is a book I'll be reading over and over again! Thank you, Chris Philbrook.
I also own the audio version and I must say that Jame's Foster nailed this performance in the audio version.
MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
March 14, 2016
Tesser is an urban fantasy about an ancient dragon who wakes up beneath the city of Boston. There are seven dragons who are integral to the working of the world, one for each of the elements, a dragon of magic, a dragon of death, and Tesser, the dragon of life. Tesser has been sleeping for a few millenia, and when he awakes, his sister, the dragon of magic, is missing.
This was a fast-paced read with a great supporting cast. As Tesser learns about modern life, he meets a Boston police officer, two nerdy magicians, and his love interest, who works for a mysterious corporate project. We find out that the evil corporation, at the leadership of a demon named Legion, is keeping the dragon of magic captive and trying to corrupt the world. Tesser, along with his friends, has to defeat the demon and free his sister and now-pregnant girlfriend. The battle scenes at the end are pretty epic!
The best word to describe this book is fun. It is well written and thought-out, but doesn't take itself too seriously. It pokes a lot of fun at Tesser, as he learns about living in the 21st century, as well as the various secondary characters. The dragon's influence on the world, including Tesser's role in the evolution of species, was an interesting and unique twist. Though I had to suspend my disbelief a few times (really, the older sexy redhead falls for the nerdy magician's apprentice?) overall, I was pleased with the book. If you're a fan of urban fantasy and/or the city of Boston, give this one a try!
This was a fast-paced read with a great supporting cast. As Tesser learns about modern life, he meets a Boston police officer, two nerdy magicians, and his love interest, who works for a mysterious corporate project. We find out that the evil corporation, at the leadership of a demon named Legion, is keeping the dragon of magic captive and trying to corrupt the world. Tesser, along with his friends, has to defeat the demon and free his sister and now-pregnant girlfriend. The battle scenes at the end are pretty epic!
The best word to describe this book is fun. It is well written and thought-out, but doesn't take itself too seriously. It pokes a lot of fun at Tesser, as he learns about living in the 21st century, as well as the various secondary characters. The dragon's influence on the world, including Tesser's role in the evolution of species, was an interesting and unique twist. Though I had to suspend my disbelief a few times (really, the older sexy redhead falls for the nerdy magician's apprentice?) overall, I was pleased with the book. If you're a fan of urban fantasy and/or the city of Boston, give this one a try!
June 20, 2014
Vibrant storytelling, with an unusual protagonist...
Chris Philbrook’s Tesser introduces the reader to a world both mystical and recognizable. From Matty and Max, a couple who remain friends after a miscarriage has separated them, to an apprentice magician trying to reconcile magic and his cell phone, to the protagonist, who appears to be a shape-shifting dragon, Philbrook brings his collagist world alive quickly in the first few chapters. Each part of the puzzle is laid out with narrative ease and well-chosen imagery that endears us to each new character in turn.
The chapters are helpfully named, each for the character it follows. As the separate experiences become clearer and more developed, Philbrook starts placing connections between them until the world of the story is large and the plot is pleasingly convoluted.
Our protagonist Tesser starts by narrating a lyrical prologue with the simple first line “I am flying.” In a perspective that could all too easily turn to gimmick, I appreciate Philbrook’s simple word choice and visual bias in his embodiment of Tesser the dragon...
Read the full review here: http://www.towerbabel.com/library/113...
Chris Philbrook’s Tesser introduces the reader to a world both mystical and recognizable. From Matty and Max, a couple who remain friends after a miscarriage has separated them, to an apprentice magician trying to reconcile magic and his cell phone, to the protagonist, who appears to be a shape-shifting dragon, Philbrook brings his collagist world alive quickly in the first few chapters. Each part of the puzzle is laid out with narrative ease and well-chosen imagery that endears us to each new character in turn.
The chapters are helpfully named, each for the character it follows. As the separate experiences become clearer and more developed, Philbrook starts placing connections between them until the world of the story is large and the plot is pleasingly convoluted.
Our protagonist Tesser starts by narrating a lyrical prologue with the simple first line “I am flying.” In a perspective that could all too easily turn to gimmick, I appreciate Philbrook’s simple word choice and visual bias in his embodiment of Tesser the dragon...
Read the full review here: http://www.towerbabel.com/library/113...
May 18, 2016
Eh.
So I will admit that parts of this story were hilarious and fun and the opening was particularly strong and intriguing. Other parts were very much like, "Whoa what is happening," but not necessarily in a bad way.
But at the end of the day this was the most tired and 2-D fantasy story there is, because it was literally a "now we must save damsel in distress from the stronghold of a terrible foe" story that even included the main character not really knowing said woman but having claimed her as his own by impregnating her (even if she wasn't into that).
I was really skeptical when the first third of this book was so sex-obsessed in a juvenile kind of way (like not even interesting, just "let's talk about and think about sexing things all the time for no real reason") and I guess in retrospect since the whole pregnancy plot ended up being important that makes sense, but overall it was way too much like the classic and uninteresting fairy tale we all know about the damsel in distress that was dressed up pretty in a modern setting with a theoretically interesting mythology.
Don't really recommend, definitely won't be reading anything else by this author, but I will say that it was fun and I did enjoy the style, generally. Just not enough to make up for the story.
So I will admit that parts of this story were hilarious and fun and the opening was particularly strong and intriguing. Other parts were very much like, "Whoa what is happening," but not necessarily in a bad way.
But at the end of the day this was the most tired and 2-D fantasy story there is, because it was literally a "now we must save damsel in distress from the stronghold of a terrible foe" story that even included the main character not really knowing said woman but having claimed her as his own by impregnating her (even if she wasn't into that).
I was really skeptical when the first third of this book was so sex-obsessed in a juvenile kind of way (like not even interesting, just "let's talk about and think about sexing things all the time for no real reason") and I guess in retrospect since the whole pregnancy plot ended up being important that makes sense, but overall it was way too much like the classic and uninteresting fairy tale we all know about the damsel in distress that was dressed up pretty in a modern setting with a theoretically interesting mythology.
Don't really recommend, definitely won't be reading anything else by this author, but I will say that it was fun and I did enjoy the style, generally. Just not enough to make up for the story.
August 18, 2016
Meh it was a decent book. I did enjoy the plot. It was nothing earth-shattering and was sometimes super predictable, but it was entertaining. Unfortunately, the plot itself was weighed down by its lousy cast of characters. My feelings for them, sadly, ranged from intense dislike to intense apathy. Tesser was such an uppity special snowflake. The book would have been considerably better if he had had more fish-out-of water moments, instead of always just being so gosh-darn perfect and getting everything so quick, (despite having been asleep for, like, ever.) Those fish out-of-water moments were some of the most entertaining bits of the book. Abe was a self-centered prat whom I couldn't stand either.
Matty, her friend, and Doyle were more along the lines of boring stereotypes. The girls, in particular, felt like they were written by a teenage boy who was trying really hard to write a good female character, but had never actually met a woman, so all of his information about them came from old reruns of Sex in the City.
Still, it was kinda amusing. Maybe I'll listen to the sequel if I find it on sale.
Matty, her friend, and Doyle were more along the lines of boring stereotypes. The girls, in particular, felt like they were written by a teenage boy who was trying really hard to write a good female character, but had never actually met a woman, so all of his information about them came from old reruns of Sex in the City.
Still, it was kinda amusing. Maybe I'll listen to the sequel if I find it on sale.
November 10, 2018
Am excellent, magical story of dragons and magic and good over-coming evil. I recommend this story for everyone who likes fables and folklore and stories with happy endings, no matter how it gets there.
Tesser, a dragon, has come to earth, after being awakened from a very long sleep. Along with a few humans that are brave enough, he and his dragon family, and an old wizard, battle the Legions that have taken sublime control of human kind, in an attempt to bring wellness back to Earth.
This story was funny and dark and filled with love and goodness and is a perfect blend of magic and the need to live together regardless of genetics. (Quite an appropriate tale to be told in today's climate of division and separation and fear of what's different.)
5 stars all the way!
Tesser, a dragon, has come to earth, after being awakened from a very long sleep. Along with a few humans that are brave enough, he and his dragon family, and an old wizard, battle the Legions that have taken sublime control of human kind, in an attempt to bring wellness back to Earth.
This story was funny and dark and filled with love and goodness and is a perfect blend of magic and the need to live together regardless of genetics. (Quite an appropriate tale to be told in today's climate of division and separation and fear of what's different.)
5 stars all the way!
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