What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragon Temple Saga #3
Das Gift der Drachen
Die Kultsaga über die Macht von Rache und Liebe
In einer Welt, in der Frauen grausam unterdrückt werden, ist Zarq das Unmögliche gelungen: Sie ist die erste Herrscherin über einen der mächtigen Drachentempel. Ihre Feinde mussten sich der außergewöhnlichen Gabe der jungen Frau beugen, doch jenseits der Tempelmauern lauert eine tödliche Gefahr.
Nach „Auf dunklen Schwingen“ und „Im Bann des Feuers“ der Höhepunkt in Janine Cross’ erotischer Dark-Fantasy-Saga.
Gefährlich, dunkel, erotisch – Janine Cross ist die Königin der Dark Fantasy.
In einer Welt, in der Frauen grausam unterdrückt werden, ist Zarq das Unmögliche gelungen: Sie ist die erste Herrscherin über einen der mächtigen Drachentempel. Ihre Feinde mussten sich der außergewöhnlichen Gabe der jungen Frau beugen, doch jenseits der Tempelmauern lauert eine tödliche Gefahr.
Nach „Auf dunklen Schwingen“ und „Im Bann des Feuers“ der Höhepunkt in Janine Cross’ erotischer Dark-Fantasy-Saga.
Gefährlich, dunkel, erotisch – Janine Cross ist die Königin der Dark Fantasy.
510 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
9 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Janine Cross
5 books27 followersJanine Cross backpacked through the Middle East when she was 18; she milked cows in Israel, sailed down the Nile with a couple of Dutch girls in Egypt, and skinny-dipped around various isles in Greece.
She then bicycled through Asia and the South Pacific, taking one year just to cycle through Australia. Several years and 24,000 kms later, she returned to her hometown of North Vancouver, Canada. Since then, she has competed in martial arts and dabbled in bellydance, rockclimbing, and real estate investments.
She's worked in a chocolate factory and a veterinary hospital, was the president of a writers' association for three years, and helped start a private school. She has two children.
Touched by Venom was voted one of Library Journal's Five Best SF & F Fantasy Books of 2005.
She also writes under the pseudonym Paulette Crosse
She then bicycled through Asia and the South Pacific, taking one year just to cycle through Australia. Several years and 24,000 kms later, she returned to her hometown of North Vancouver, Canada. Since then, she has competed in martial arts and dabbled in bellydance, rockclimbing, and real estate investments.
She's worked in a chocolate factory and a veterinary hospital, was the president of a writers' association for three years, and helped start a private school. She has two children.
Touched by Venom was voted one of Library Journal's Five Best SF & F Fantasy Books of 2005.
She also writes under the pseudonym Paulette Crosse
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 2, 2016
April 13th 2013
Reading this as young as I was, it was my first exposure to something like this, and this story will truly stick with me for the rest of my life.
EDIT: August 23rd 2014
okay lemme get back to this book.
I recently took out all three and read them once again back-to-back in three days.
and dear lord, this series was just as amazing as the last time.
Reading this as young as I was, it was my first exposure to something like this, and this story will truly stick with me for the rest of my life.
EDIT: August 23rd 2014
okay lemme get back to this book.
I recently took out all three and read them once again back-to-back in three days.
and dear lord, this series was just as amazing as the last time.
May 24, 2011
I had a very difficult time writing this review, trying to figure out what to say. This is an interesting book gives you no information. It’s not a “bad” book or a “good” book, but a very different one. Janine Cross’s world building is above excellence, as is her characterization. She touches on difficult subjects of religion, politics, drug abuse, physical abuse, rape, prejudice—just about every evil problem that exists and does so with skill.
But technique aside, I didn’t care for the book. First of all, it is so obviously a sequel—something I rail about often. When you start reading the book, you’re starting in the middle of the story, not beginning a new story. If you haven’t read the other books in the series you’re going to be lost. Though the story does finish, it is still only part of a story. Also, the book is dark in the extreme. If you’re looking for the typical dragon story, don’t look here. This one is disturbingly brutal in subject and portrayal. Though technically well-written, I did not enjoy reading the book. It ends well as everything appears to be tied up, but that doesn’t make the reading any easier. Plus the difficult terminology had me stopping many times as I tried to figure out what was being said. Once you’ve stopped the reader, you’ve lost him or her—which is what happened to me many times. I’d get frustrated with the reading, put it down, and not go back for several days.
So, my recommendation is this: If you’ve read the other books in this series, definitely get this one in order to finish the story. If you enjoyed them, you’ll probably enjoy this one. But, if you haven’t read the other books, beware of this one as it is dark, brutal, and definitely not your standard dragon fantasy story.
March 30, 2014
It may be liked and appreciated by many readers, but for me Janine Cross' Dragon Temple series is an example of what I myself seriously dislike in literature; the following review therefore reflects a very subjective and personal opinion. The characters are supposed to make us either pity them (thus the author describes in minute details their - usually sexual in nature - humiliation and degradation) or hate them (and thus, the author depicts, once again in a detailed way, the cruel and evil acts - usually sexual in nature - that they committ or allow to be committed by their subordinates. The line between describing atrocities to provoke the outrage of the reader and describing them to provide a thrill and tillitation is often very fine - and, in my opinion, the autor crosses (pun intended) it more than once in the series. While her concept of the fantasy world is original and could be a great assett, the narrative as such sometimes seems less than logical in its development; great themes that the author wants to discuss (racism, sexism, misogyny, exploitation, class differences, distribution of wealth in the world, the treatment of animals, colonialism) overburden the thin plot. The third book is better, in my opinion, than the previous two, but still deserves - from me, as a result of my own personal opinion - one star, because you cannot give none.
November 9, 2015
This book is the last in a trilogy that was a decent read, but one that I am not likely to read again or add to my personal library.
Janine Cross created a vivid and interesting world that is a little different than other fantasy worlds with dragons. No elves, dwarves or other fantasy creatures appear in this world. Thankfully, no sparkling vampires either, or I would have tossed this book in the recycling bin.
Other than the rampant lesbianism and bestiality, this is a decent story about a young woman from the bottom of the class structure attempting to better her life and the life of others. Zarq is subjected to nearly all the evils that can befall a woman - female circumcision, sexism, classism, and racism.
I felt some empathy for Zarq's lover Jotan who chose her addiction to dragon venom over a life with Zarq. Despite that Jotan and Zarq were from the polar opposites of the class system, they had a meaningful relationship shortened in the last book by Jotan's violent suicide.
If you are looking for light, fluffy, full of rainbows and unicorns fantasy - this isn't it. There is no happy ever after ending, and if you have to have a Disney-esq ending - skip this book. I like dark fantasy having read Tanith Lee for years. Janine Cross is no Tanith Lee, nor even a close second, but her writing was good enough to entertain me through three books.
Janine Cross created a vivid and interesting world that is a little different than other fantasy worlds with dragons. No elves, dwarves or other fantasy creatures appear in this world. Thankfully, no sparkling vampires either, or I would have tossed this book in the recycling bin.
Other than the rampant lesbianism and bestiality, this is a decent story about a young woman from the bottom of the class structure attempting to better her life and the life of others. Zarq is subjected to nearly all the evils that can befall a woman - female circumcision, sexism, classism, and racism.
I felt some empathy for Zarq's lover Jotan who chose her addiction to dragon venom over a life with Zarq. Despite that Jotan and Zarq were from the polar opposites of the class system, they had a meaningful relationship shortened in the last book by Jotan's violent suicide.
If you are looking for light, fluffy, full of rainbows and unicorns fantasy - this isn't it. There is no happy ever after ending, and if you have to have a Disney-esq ending - skip this book. I like dark fantasy having read Tanith Lee for years. Janine Cross is no Tanith Lee, nor even a close second, but her writing was good enough to entertain me through three books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2008
A warning: If you're looking for some escapist fare a la a Pratchett novel, these 3 volumes are definitely not for you. Zarq's world is viciously misanthropic/misogynistic and our protagonist suffers degradation, rape and genital mutilation among other tortures before she succeeds in throwing off the tyranny of the Dragon Temple.
I think Cross is a pretty good writer with potential. The difficulty I have with giving this trilogy 3 stars is two-fold. One, I think she overplays the humiliation the character suffers; Zarq is constantly falling into a horrid situation, enduring it, only to fall into another horrid situation. In isolation each of these set pieces is well written but, strung together, they are "overkill."
Two, as often happens, the ending comes much too quickly, and depends upon the usual trope of a prophesied messiah figure saving the good guys. It is, admittedly, a personal bias but I've grown to dislike fiction where "fate" actually does rule the world and the good guys can't lose. On the plus side in Cross's world, however, the "good guys" aren't really that "good," and Zarq clearly recognizes when all is said and done that she's not living in a Utopia where evil, injustice, etc., have been eliminated.
I think Cross is a pretty good writer with potential. The difficulty I have with giving this trilogy 3 stars is two-fold. One, I think she overplays the humiliation the character suffers; Zarq is constantly falling into a horrid situation, enduring it, only to fall into another horrid situation. In isolation each of these set pieces is well written but, strung together, they are "overkill."
Two, as often happens, the ending comes much too quickly, and depends upon the usual trope of a prophesied messiah figure saving the good guys. It is, admittedly, a personal bias but I've grown to dislike fiction where "fate" actually does rule the world and the good guys can't lose. On the plus side in Cross's world, however, the "good guys" aren't really that "good," and Zarq clearly recognizes when all is said and done that she's not living in a Utopia where evil, injustice, etc., have been eliminated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2013
The writing continues lush and beautiful, the plot complex, and the protagonist believably flawed without being so idiotic that you come to dislike her altogether. I want to read more by this author!!
Favorite quotes:
"I was going to war. It seemed surreal... surreal but terrifyingly true. Like the way a nightmare can leave one unsettled for days, the residue of the unreal viscerally impressive and impossible to shake, affecting how one views every moment..." (p 310)
"People's beliefs and wants vary for a myriad of reasons: upbringing, status, health, perceived needs. Culture, personal quirks, family foibles. Fears. Boundaries. Experiences or lack thereof. People react strongly and uniquely to situations for all the above reasons, and emotions are triggered. And so people disagree and disagree vehemently.
"Life is change. Growth is optional. One must choose wisely." (p. 351-2)
Favorite quotes:
"I was going to war. It seemed surreal... surreal but terrifyingly true. Like the way a nightmare can leave one unsettled for days, the residue of the unreal viscerally impressive and impossible to shake, affecting how one views every moment..." (p 310)
"People's beliefs and wants vary for a myriad of reasons: upbringing, status, health, perceived needs. Culture, personal quirks, family foibles. Fears. Boundaries. Experiences or lack thereof. People react strongly and uniquely to situations for all the above reasons, and emotions are triggered. And so people disagree and disagree vehemently.
"Life is change. Growth is optional. One must choose wisely." (p. 351-2)
July 18, 2013
A satisfying last book with an alright ending! There isn't as much X-rated stuff in here as compared to the first two books, thank god. I'm a bit disappointed in how the venom as addiction issue was addressed in the end, am happy that Zarq embraced who she really was, but am also let down somewhat by the revelations of the plotline and side characters. Ah well, it is still a good book despite the morbid themes and made for a nice read although lacking the hook it initially had in the first two books.
August 27, 2015
Messy.
I liked the entire trilogy more for its potential. This last book felt rushed, like it needed another edit and rewrite.
That being said, I'm glad I read this book and this trilogy. While sometimes graphic, it was nothing like watching Game of Thrones. I'm always happy to read an author who doesn't want to impress people at the sake of their own work. I just wish she'd... managed her time before deadlines better? I'm not sure how I'd go about recommending these books/this book.
I liked the entire trilogy more for its potential. This last book felt rushed, like it needed another edit and rewrite.
That being said, I'm glad I read this book and this trilogy. While sometimes graphic, it was nothing like watching Game of Thrones. I'm always happy to read an author who doesn't want to impress people at the sake of their own work. I just wish she'd... managed her time before deadlines better? I'm not sure how I'd go about recommending these books/this book.
January 20, 2010
OK, enough of the Djimbi ex machina. I was hoping she could do a little something more for the dragons, but at least there was a nifty creature at the end. Poor Zarq, she never does get away from the crazy mom. I had a hard time keeping track of the creepy men, but at least the storyline was never very predictable (though improbable, but then - it's a fantasy about dragons!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 3, 2010Cool book
August 4, 2011
Worse than even the second one. The first one was the only semi-good one.
July 4, 2012
Too bad book three meant is was all over. Thoroughly enjoyed this series.
November 10, 2016
Rarely don't finish books but god what a slog trying to get through this...for months. Nope, sorry, I give up.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews