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Wake the Dragon #3
Боги і дракони
Ставши правителем Співдружності, молодий конаґ Мандан опиняється в повній залежності від свого Хороброго Уто, одержимого війною помсти проти ішаранців.
В той же час Кловус, верховний жрець Ішари, прибравши всю владу до своїх рук після замаху на емпру Ілуріс, збирає військові сили для завоювання Співдружності. Та чим більше він намагається направити увагу вірян на зовнішнього ворога, тим з більшими труднощами стикається у себе в Ішарі.
Королі Адан та Колланан, відчувши на собі, яку смертельну небезпеку становлять Люті, намагаються врятувати своїх людей і підготуватися до вирішальної битви Лютих між собою та з драконом Оссусом, наслідком чого може стати повне знищення людської раси.
Для протистояння таким силам потрібні всі людські ресурси, потрібне єднання заради виживання у нерівній битві. Але як цього досягти, коли брат іде проти брата, а сліпа жага помсти та влади затуляє здоровий глузд і веде до загибелі?
Тож зустрічайте завершення політично насиченої пригоди з мечами, чаклунством, жагою помсти та пізнанням невідомого у людських стосунках.
В той же час Кловус, верховний жрець Ішари, прибравши всю владу до своїх рук після замаху на емпру Ілуріс, збирає військові сили для завоювання Співдружності. Та чим більше він намагається направити увагу вірян на зовнішнього ворога, тим з більшими труднощами стикається у себе в Ішарі.
Королі Адан та Колланан, відчувши на собі, яку смертельну небезпеку становлять Люті, намагаються врятувати своїх людей і підготуватися до вирішальної битви Лютих між собою та з драконом Оссусом, наслідком чого може стати повне знищення людської раси.
Для протистояння таким силам потрібні всі людські ресурси, потрібне єднання заради виживання у нерівній битві. Але як цього досягти, коли брат іде проти брата, а сліпа жага помсти та влади затуляє здоровий глузд і веде до загибелі?
Тож зустрічайте завершення політично насиченої пригоди з мечами, чаклунством, жагою помсти та пізнанням невідомого у людських стосунках.
632 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2022
21 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,037 books3,102 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 16, 2022
The Wake of the Dragon Series comes to an incredible conclusion in this thrilling final installment. So few fantasy readers have read this book, and it is a real shame, because this is some of the best written Fantasy yet!...with some minor flaws.
I need to get some of my nitpicks out of the way first. The first portion of the book, roughly 150 pages, is incredibly slow. Kevin J. Anderson spends much of this time rehashing the events of the first two books. While this is really important in other huge book series like Wheel of Time or the Cosmere, it feels unnecessary here. Kevin's writing felt boring during this section and I really worried about the rest of the book. This portion is probably the weakest portion of any of the books in the series.
However, once the exposition is out of the way, the book cranks up substantially and becomes an epic story, where all the various plotlines are interweaving and coming together. The last 150 pages alone are pure action adventure and I sped through them trying to find out what would happen. After so few Dragons in the first two books, I was worried that this book would be a letdown in that regard. But this conclusion is anything but a letdown, as Kevin Anderson fully delivers on all of the promises of the series.
There were several standout characters in this book. Thon, the Wreth who has lost his memory took an excellent spot in the center stage of the finale and it was awesome. He had some great character growth. Likewise, I really enjoyed reading about Birch, who has spent most of the trilogy as the Frost Wreths' Prisoner. The Brava Elliel was also very well written in this installment. I have to be vague for spoilers, but she goes through quite a big character transformation.
I thought that the storyline in Ishara was largely unnecessary in this book, and could have been easily been cut in half. Much of it, even through the halfway point of the book felt like a rehash of the previous book(s). Anderson could have cut 50-70 pages from that storyline and it still would have had the same impact, but wouldn't have slown down the story.
I mentioned it in my reviews of Spine of the Dragon and Vengewar, but it must be said here: This series really is Game of Thrones LITE. This series has all the political intrigue and a rich history like Westeros, but this series does not have the language or rampant sexuality like in A Song of Ice and Fire. While the books aren't as long, aren't as complex, nor as elevated in the language and writing, this trilogy represents what Fantasy writers should do: Finish their works. This book is an amazing conclusion that perfectly wraps up the series, and Kevin Anderson finished the whole thing in a matter of months, and finished the trilogy in less than 4 years. I wish more attention would be given to this series than to ASOIAF.
Overall, this is an excellent novel. The first portion is the weakest of the series, but it is more than made up for in the conclusion. This ending truly is epic in all the best ways. It's GOT meets How to Train Your Dragon meets Star Wars Rebels(If you've read the book, you'll probably be able to make that connection). I love this series and am so glad that I picked it up on a whim when I met Mr. Anderson in 2019. Excellent job. This book gets a 9.2 out of 10!
I need to get some of my nitpicks out of the way first. The first portion of the book, roughly 150 pages, is incredibly slow. Kevin J. Anderson spends much of this time rehashing the events of the first two books. While this is really important in other huge book series like Wheel of Time or the Cosmere, it feels unnecessary here. Kevin's writing felt boring during this section and I really worried about the rest of the book. This portion is probably the weakest portion of any of the books in the series.
However, once the exposition is out of the way, the book cranks up substantially and becomes an epic story, where all the various plotlines are interweaving and coming together. The last 150 pages alone are pure action adventure and I sped through them trying to find out what would happen. After so few Dragons in the first two books, I was worried that this book would be a letdown in that regard. But this conclusion is anything but a letdown, as Kevin Anderson fully delivers on all of the promises of the series.
There were several standout characters in this book. Thon, the Wreth who has lost his memory took an excellent spot in the center stage of the finale and it was awesome. He had some great character growth. Likewise, I really enjoyed reading about Birch, who has spent most of the trilogy as the Frost Wreths' Prisoner. The Brava Elliel was also very well written in this installment. I have to be vague for spoilers, but she goes through quite a big character transformation.
I thought that the storyline in Ishara was largely unnecessary in this book, and could have been easily been cut in half. Much of it, even through the halfway point of the book felt like a rehash of the previous book(s). Anderson could have cut 50-70 pages from that storyline and it still would have had the same impact, but wouldn't have slown down the story.
I mentioned it in my reviews of Spine of the Dragon and Vengewar, but it must be said here: This series really is Game of Thrones LITE. This series has all the political intrigue and a rich history like Westeros, but this series does not have the language or rampant sexuality like in A Song of Ice and Fire. While the books aren't as long, aren't as complex, nor as elevated in the language and writing, this trilogy represents what Fantasy writers should do: Finish their works. This book is an amazing conclusion that perfectly wraps up the series, and Kevin Anderson finished the whole thing in a matter of months, and finished the trilogy in less than 4 years. I wish more attention would be given to this series than to ASOIAF.
Overall, this is an excellent novel. The first portion is the weakest of the series, but it is more than made up for in the conclusion. This ending truly is epic in all the best ways. It's GOT meets How to Train Your Dragon meets Star Wars Rebels(If you've read the book, you'll probably be able to make that connection). I love this series and am so glad that I picked it up on a whim when I met Mr. Anderson in 2019. Excellent job. This book gets a 9.2 out of 10!
May 31, 2022
Excellent
I give this 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last 150 pages were sooooooo good!
Twist and turns, in a grand scale, with an ending that satisfied me!
Great World building, with exquisite characters you love or really hate!!!
I give this 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The last 150 pages were sooooooo good!
Twist and turns, in a grand scale, with an ending that satisfied me!
Great World building, with exquisite characters you love or really hate!!!
April 20, 2022
Wow! What a book!! Fantastic is all I can say! I was hooked from the first chapter.
March 29, 2022
‘Gods And Dragons’ is book three in the ‘Wake The Dragon’ series, so you need to read ‘Spine Of The Dragon’ and ‘Vengewar’ before getting on to this one or it will make no sense. This is the dramatic conclusion that brings all the various plot threads to a head and gives you that cathartic resolution you need.
Some background information first. The god Kur created the planet ages ago and also made the wreths, a race of powerful warriors and sorcerers. Then he discovered a flaw in his creation and put all the hate and evil into the form of a dragon called Ossus, which he buried under a chain of mountains, though there still seems to be quite enough hatred and evil left in his world. The god Kur then commanded the wreth to destroy the dragon and left, promising to come back when they had done it. The wreth split into two factions, desert sandwreths and northern frostwreths, then warred among themselves. During this war, the sandwreths created humans to be servants, soldiers and slaves. After a great battle, all the wreths vanished for two thousand years, so the humans left behind assumed they had just wiped each other out. They and the dragon were legends when the story began in book one.
Meanwhile, humans have risen to create a mediaeval civilisation with castles and cities, trade and tariffs, warriors and war. Among the best warriors are Bravas with half-wreth blood, carefully conserved by breeding, who have some magical ability. They all dress in dashing black outfits and have a warrior code, strictly enforced. There are also Utauks, a tribe of wandering traders who are accepted everywhere and have good information networks.
The wreth wars drained the land of magic, but intrepid settlers went to another continent a while back and founded a new nation, Ishara. There is still magic in Ishara and, by blood and belief, they can create powerful godlings and, unfortunately, a priesthood to organise the process.
In book one, Priestlord Klovus took control of Ishara and launched a war against the Commonwealth. His evil counterpart is Utho, a Brava who successfully schemes to make the Commonwealth make war on Ishara. Meanwhile, sensible good guys King Adan Starfall of Suderra and King Kollanan of Norterra are concerned with stopping the wreths. But the Konag of the Commonwealth is a weakling dominated by Utho and doesn’t believe in wreths, not having seen them. He is gathering all his forces to attack Ishara. Meanwhile, one wreth queen is determined to wake the dragon Ossuss and kill him, fulfilling the task demanded by the god Kur long ago. Of course, the great dragon might destroy the whole world. What a mess!
There’s a lot of movement with armies marching everywhere. The frostwreths in the north are heading south to force the desert sandwreths to join them in fighting Ossus. King Kollanan marches south to join Aden Starfall, king of Suderra, on a raid to rescue human prisoners enslaved by the sandwreths . His army marches east to Ostrerra to depose Konag Mandan. Utho sets off with a large fleet to attack Ishara and the Isharans have sent a large fleet to attack the Commonwealth.
Apart from military matters, there is magic. Thon is a powerful creature who looks like a wreth. He was found in a mountain, left there in suspended animation for centuries, but can’t remember who he is or his purpose. Is he the god Kur? Then there are ska, reptilian birds who usually hunt alone but some are bonded with Utauks. They are behaving strangely. What are they really?
Anderson’s characters are not subtly drawn, being either heroes or villains. The good guys are King Aden Starfall, his uncle King Kollanan, his Utauk wife Penda, her father Hale Orr and their various friends and relatives. The bad guys are Priestlord Klovus in Ishara, Konag Mandan and Utho in the Commonwealth. The wreths are nasty but have their own agenda and aren’t very interested in humans, except to step on them if they don’t cooperate.
Minor criticisms: characters do foolish things just to keep the plot moving. There is no earthly reason why Queen Penda should accompany her troops on a mission against the sandwreths, let alone take her new-born baby along. King Kollanan goes off single-handedly to confront a giant wreth army to rescue his grandson, which in normal circumstances would just mean a futile death. The wreths have been built up as powerful, dangerous warriors but turn out to be pretty useless, chopped down as easily as any human enemy, admittedly with magic enhanced weapons. Bravas are half-breed wreth/humans but seem able to knock down pureblood wreths like ninepins. The wreths are disappointing villains.
Anderson’s prose is workmanlike and does the job. A character strokes his black beard and fondles his mighty war hammer and stretches his muscular arms so you get a description of him built into the scene. A simile may be added. I get the impression of a painting by numbers approach but it works. No single character is explored in depth because they don’t have any but there are so many of them charging about that action sustains the narrative. Anderson uses the classic multiple viewpoints changing every chapter approach to leave one in a crisis and go on to another then come back later. It keeps you reading.
Literary types may groan but this is what the people want. Bestsellers have strong stories, straightforward characters and clear, plain prose. Anderson has all that and, as Brandon Sanderson says in a back of the book blurb, he is ‘one of the best plotters in the business’. That talent and the sheer amount of organisation and day-to-day slog that goes into making these 500-page blockbusters makes him worthy of respect. What’s more, I enjoyed it. ‘Gods And Dragons’ is a neat conclusion to the trilogy with everything you could want from such a book and will distract you pleasantly for several days from the woes of the real world.
Some background information first. The god Kur created the planet ages ago and also made the wreths, a race of powerful warriors and sorcerers. Then he discovered a flaw in his creation and put all the hate and evil into the form of a dragon called Ossus, which he buried under a chain of mountains, though there still seems to be quite enough hatred and evil left in his world. The god Kur then commanded the wreth to destroy the dragon and left, promising to come back when they had done it. The wreth split into two factions, desert sandwreths and northern frostwreths, then warred among themselves. During this war, the sandwreths created humans to be servants, soldiers and slaves. After a great battle, all the wreths vanished for two thousand years, so the humans left behind assumed they had just wiped each other out. They and the dragon were legends when the story began in book one.
Meanwhile, humans have risen to create a mediaeval civilisation with castles and cities, trade and tariffs, warriors and war. Among the best warriors are Bravas with half-wreth blood, carefully conserved by breeding, who have some magical ability. They all dress in dashing black outfits and have a warrior code, strictly enforced. There are also Utauks, a tribe of wandering traders who are accepted everywhere and have good information networks.
The wreth wars drained the land of magic, but intrepid settlers went to another continent a while back and founded a new nation, Ishara. There is still magic in Ishara and, by blood and belief, they can create powerful godlings and, unfortunately, a priesthood to organise the process.
In book one, Priestlord Klovus took control of Ishara and launched a war against the Commonwealth. His evil counterpart is Utho, a Brava who successfully schemes to make the Commonwealth make war on Ishara. Meanwhile, sensible good guys King Adan Starfall of Suderra and King Kollanan of Norterra are concerned with stopping the wreths. But the Konag of the Commonwealth is a weakling dominated by Utho and doesn’t believe in wreths, not having seen them. He is gathering all his forces to attack Ishara. Meanwhile, one wreth queen is determined to wake the dragon Ossuss and kill him, fulfilling the task demanded by the god Kur long ago. Of course, the great dragon might destroy the whole world. What a mess!
There’s a lot of movement with armies marching everywhere. The frostwreths in the north are heading south to force the desert sandwreths to join them in fighting Ossus. King Kollanan marches south to join Aden Starfall, king of Suderra, on a raid to rescue human prisoners enslaved by the sandwreths . His army marches east to Ostrerra to depose Konag Mandan. Utho sets off with a large fleet to attack Ishara and the Isharans have sent a large fleet to attack the Commonwealth.
Apart from military matters, there is magic. Thon is a powerful creature who looks like a wreth. He was found in a mountain, left there in suspended animation for centuries, but can’t remember who he is or his purpose. Is he the god Kur? Then there are ska, reptilian birds who usually hunt alone but some are bonded with Utauks. They are behaving strangely. What are they really?
Anderson’s characters are not subtly drawn, being either heroes or villains. The good guys are King Aden Starfall, his uncle King Kollanan, his Utauk wife Penda, her father Hale Orr and their various friends and relatives. The bad guys are Priestlord Klovus in Ishara, Konag Mandan and Utho in the Commonwealth. The wreths are nasty but have their own agenda and aren’t very interested in humans, except to step on them if they don’t cooperate.
Minor criticisms: characters do foolish things just to keep the plot moving. There is no earthly reason why Queen Penda should accompany her troops on a mission against the sandwreths, let alone take her new-born baby along. King Kollanan goes off single-handedly to confront a giant wreth army to rescue his grandson, which in normal circumstances would just mean a futile death. The wreths have been built up as powerful, dangerous warriors but turn out to be pretty useless, chopped down as easily as any human enemy, admittedly with magic enhanced weapons. Bravas are half-breed wreth/humans but seem able to knock down pureblood wreths like ninepins. The wreths are disappointing villains.
Anderson’s prose is workmanlike and does the job. A character strokes his black beard and fondles his mighty war hammer and stretches his muscular arms so you get a description of him built into the scene. A simile may be added. I get the impression of a painting by numbers approach but it works. No single character is explored in depth because they don’t have any but there are so many of them charging about that action sustains the narrative. Anderson uses the classic multiple viewpoints changing every chapter approach to leave one in a crisis and go on to another then come back later. It keeps you reading.
Literary types may groan but this is what the people want. Bestsellers have strong stories, straightforward characters and clear, plain prose. Anderson has all that and, as Brandon Sanderson says in a back of the book blurb, he is ‘one of the best plotters in the business’. That talent and the sheer amount of organisation and day-to-day slog that goes into making these 500-page blockbusters makes him worthy of respect. What’s more, I enjoyed it. ‘Gods And Dragons’ is a neat conclusion to the trilogy with everything you could want from such a book and will distract you pleasantly for several days from the woes of the real world.
January 14, 2022
The entire Wake the Dragon series feels safe and almost generic, and the closing book is really no different. Many of the story notes feel predictible, and there's nothing really surprising. Characters don't feel like they are anything special. Is this a satisfying ending to the series? Sure. Is it a series I'd recommend? No, I can't say I would. It's a fine cookie cutter fantasy series that never really feels like it's breaking new ground, but that's also not doing anything particularly poorly. It's a fluff series and the ending really confirms that.
March 8, 2022
A weak finale
This series reminded me of a Game of Thrones a bit(TV show). Not in its scale or overall quality of the writing but in its rush to a finish. Whole storylines were abruptly ended (Magda for instance). And the ending was rushed and sudden, it lacked nuance and clarity. Characters made inexplicable choices, often just going off on their own for little reason to their deaths quite often. It was never a great world build but it was interesting and a fun read. The last book was a bit of a slog
This series reminded me of a Game of Thrones a bit(TV show). Not in its scale or overall quality of the writing but in its rush to a finish. Whole storylines were abruptly ended (Magda for instance). And the ending was rushed and sudden, it lacked nuance and clarity. Characters made inexplicable choices, often just going off on their own for little reason to their deaths quite often. It was never a great world build but it was interesting and a fun read. The last book was a bit of a slog
March 20, 2022
Full disclosure: I was given a copy of the manuscript to read this book early so I could write this review to share on the book's release day.
I make no point in hiding that I have been a fan of Kevin J Anderson's writing for many years, ever since I discovered him through my love of Star Wars. If you have not read his Saga of Seven Suns and Saga of Shadows series you're doing yourself a disservice. But that's not why we're here! Let's discuss the conclusion to the Wake the Dragon trilogy: Gods and Dragons.
Gods and Dragons is an epic finale, with all the plots boiling over and spilling into one gigantic mess. Characters will cross paths, fight battles, forge alliances, and there may even be dragons! If you haven't read the first two books (and why haven't you?) it's a fantasy adventure set on a different planet where the legends of yore have returned to life - throwing the human world out of balance - as they try to fulfill the age-old wishes of their god. The story is spread across two continents with many factions, heroes, villains, and everyday folk just trying to survive. Each chapter jumps to the perspective of a different character, allowing you to see the action from a variety of viewpoints, or to know what's happening on the other side of the world.
As the end to a trilogy, I walked away very satisfied. I was sad when some characters didn't make it to the end (and maybe a little glad when others didn't make it either), but it was done in a way that made sense and to raise the stakes, driving the other characters onwards to their destinies. I appreciate that the story has a beginning, middle, and end, but the world is expansive enough that it could be returned to in the future. Fingers crossed that we do!
If you enjoy sprawling fantasy sagas, complex characters, or intricate story threads, run, don't walk to your nearest Internet device and order yourself the Wake the Dragon trilogy. You won't regret it!
I make no point in hiding that I have been a fan of Kevin J Anderson's writing for many years, ever since I discovered him through my love of Star Wars. If you have not read his Saga of Seven Suns and Saga of Shadows series you're doing yourself a disservice. But that's not why we're here! Let's discuss the conclusion to the Wake the Dragon trilogy: Gods and Dragons.
Gods and Dragons is an epic finale, with all the plots boiling over and spilling into one gigantic mess. Characters will cross paths, fight battles, forge alliances, and there may even be dragons! If you haven't read the first two books (and why haven't you?) it's a fantasy adventure set on a different planet where the legends of yore have returned to life - throwing the human world out of balance - as they try to fulfill the age-old wishes of their god. The story is spread across two continents with many factions, heroes, villains, and everyday folk just trying to survive. Each chapter jumps to the perspective of a different character, allowing you to see the action from a variety of viewpoints, or to know what's happening on the other side of the world.
As the end to a trilogy, I walked away very satisfied. I was sad when some characters didn't make it to the end (and maybe a little glad when others didn't make it either), but it was done in a way that made sense and to raise the stakes, driving the other characters onwards to their destinies. I appreciate that the story has a beginning, middle, and end, but the world is expansive enough that it could be returned to in the future. Fingers crossed that we do!
If you enjoy sprawling fantasy sagas, complex characters, or intricate story threads, run, don't walk to your nearest Internet device and order yourself the Wake the Dragon trilogy. You won't regret it!
July 23, 2023
Okay, so here’s the thing. We spend 300 pages leading up to this monumental battle, and then it’s over in 50 pages. The pacing was off. The author bounces around with his characters, some only getting a page of a “chapter” at a time. The plot is incredible, and I adored a few of the characters. But reading this was a chore, and I am glad it’s over.
March 27, 2022
Each king / leader decisions... I am thankful the series is over and I will never look at the series again.
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
January 6, 2022
While I definitely enjoyed this installment more than the second book, I think I am going to stop reading the series. I'm not that interested and I don't really care about most of the characters.
January 23, 2022
This book could only be described as one thing "Irritating". Bad guys are the only smart people in the entire book, they of course get away with any and everything, inflict far greater damage, and their punishment is never equal to their crimes.....not even close. The good guys are absolutely infuriating with their bad decisions, ridiculous bluster (I'm looking at you Cole the Hammer), and downright ineptitude. The bad guys are certainly reprehensible, but at least they are calculating, driven, smart, opportunistic, and relentless. For an ancient people that allegedly created humans, the "Refs" are even more gullible than the Good guys, who are INCREDIBLY nieve....bordering on STUPID. The power of the Refs seems to change based on what's going on at the time. In some chapters the Refs are all-powerful, in others, they are getting their heads split open by mere humans. KJA, please make up your mind if they are going to be Gods to humans or equals. I am a fan of Kevin J. Anderson, and it pains me to judge this series so harshly, but for a series that started out with great promise, the end leaves quite a bit to be desired. At least for me, it does.
October 29, 2021
GODS AND DRAGONS by Kevin J. Anderson
This is the sequel to Venge War. Anderson ambitiously has a story that covers two continents, an island of contention, multiple civilizations, and a variety of rulers. Balance is the theme. Without balance the world malfunctions.
The Werth both Sand and Frost continue to charge toward their destiny of destroying the world dragon. In the meantime, Utho, driven by revenge, turns the human story participants on their ear.
Two empires on a collision course and two villains, Utho and Klovus, seeking to use hatred to drive their own agendas.
This is a complex series but well worth reading.
This is the sequel to Venge War. Anderson ambitiously has a story that covers two continents, an island of contention, multiple civilizations, and a variety of rulers. Balance is the theme. Without balance the world malfunctions.
The Werth both Sand and Frost continue to charge toward their destiny of destroying the world dragon. In the meantime, Utho, driven by revenge, turns the human story participants on their ear.
Two empires on a collision course and two villains, Utho and Klovus, seeking to use hatred to drive their own agendas.
This is a complex series but well worth reading.
January 11, 2022
Gods and Dragons
by Kevin J. Anderson
All the secrets are coming out. First the betrayals that began to be unraveled in Vengewar are becoming widely known. The Commonweath is in a civil war, Ishara is in a Civil war, and the Wreths are learning that humans can not be disregarded. Its a dynamic draw to the conclusion of the series. Everything is laid out in the book. With epic battles, magic and sword play, and godlings. Its all coming to a head, and the aftermath will change our understanding of the World.
A great book, a thrilling conclusion to an elaborate serpentine tangle gods, dragons, and the humans who face them.
December 17, 2022
I've really been putting off a review because I can't decide what I think!
I think all the bases were covered at the end. The right people died, the right people lived, but I still feel vaguely unsatisfied. It was a good conclusion, but I wanted something else out of it.
It's like when you go to your friend's for dinner and they always serve an amazing cheesecake and you're so excited, then one night you get there and instead of delicious cheesecake it's a fantastic pie. Like, it's still good, but it's not what you were wanting based on past experiences.
Still good, but slightly unsatisfied for some reason.
I think all the bases were covered at the end. The right people died, the right people lived, but I still feel vaguely unsatisfied. It was a good conclusion, but I wanted something else out of it.
It's like when you go to your friend's for dinner and they always serve an amazing cheesecake and you're so excited, then one night you get there and instead of delicious cheesecake it's a fantastic pie. Like, it's still good, but it's not what you were wanting based on past experiences.
Still good, but slightly unsatisfied for some reason.
May 31, 2023
I love reading Anderson!
'Saga' was awesome and new, and of course all the Dune novels. Great job.
'Wake the Dragon'.....I have to be honest: cool ideas and concepts, but poor execution.
The first novel was good, but the second took me months to finish because it was bad. And the 3rd?
I could only read 29 pages before it put me to sleep.
Anderson has a huge bibliography, but this series had me feeling that it was churned out quickly, and didn't have the feeling of his previous books. Had the same feeling with the follow-up trilogy to 'Saga'....
Will I read his next book?
Yes.
And the ones after that?
Totally.
'Saga' was awesome and new, and of course all the Dune novels. Great job.
'Wake the Dragon'.....I have to be honest: cool ideas and concepts, but poor execution.
The first novel was good, but the second took me months to finish because it was bad. And the 3rd?
I could only read 29 pages before it put me to sleep.
Anderson has a huge bibliography, but this series had me feeling that it was churned out quickly, and didn't have the feeling of his previous books. Had the same feeling with the follow-up trilogy to 'Saga'....
Will I read his next book?
Yes.
And the ones after that?
Totally.
October 24, 2024
I had some problems with this series. Especially after the second book. I just felt that the author was juggling too many story lines that just didn’t seem plausible to have them all join together for a climatic ending. I was kind of correct. As the third book went on I just didn’t see how it would work out and it made reading the book kind of a chore. I originally was going to rate this two stars, but I bumped it up to three as I ended up enjoying the ending. There were still a lot of things and story lines that I just don’t think were necessary and I’m sure if this was going to be turned in to a movie they would end up on the cutting room floor.
January 15, 2022
This book was a struggle to read and grasp. I didn’t realize that it was the third book in a complicated series with multiple individuals, races and continents. Perhaps reading the first two would help, but based on just the struggle to follow the action and the fact that the characters did not appeal to me I will not pursue the series.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.
September 2, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the Wake the Dragon Trilogy by Kevin J. Anderson! As an audiobook listener, I found it to be the perfect companion during my work hours and while doing chores around the house. The captivating storytelling and Anderson's skillful writing kept me hooked from beginning to end.
What stood out to me the most was the author's ability to bring dragons to life in such a vivid and awe-inspiring way. The descriptions were so immersive that I could almost feel the heat of their breath and hear the beating of their wings. Anderson's passion for dragons truly shines through in his writing, and I couldn't help but share in that love.
Each book in the trilogy was well-crafted, with a seamless flow of events and well-developed characters. The world-building was exceptional, and I found myself completely engrossed in the fantastical realms and the epic battles that unfolded. The pacing was just right, keeping me engaged and eager to find out what would happen next.
Overall, the Wake the Dragon Trilogy is a must-read for any dragon enthusiast or fantasy lover. Kevin J. Anderson's talent as a writer is evident throughout all three books, and his ability to transport readers into a world filled with these majestic creatures is truly commendable. I can't recommend this trilogy enough and eagerly await more works from this talented author
December 28, 2023
The finale of the trilogy was tremendous. I wish that the previous books had been as good. Cover to cover action.
The 3 kingdoms are ruled by 2 good, honorable men, and one spoiled, petulant child in a king's body. The wreths are divided into two separate clans, sand wreths and frost wreths, who are fated to defeat the dragon, but are too focused on their hatred of one another.
Somehow, some way they must all find common ground to have any hope of ending the dragon, who symbolizes all the evil in the world.
The 3 kingdoms are ruled by 2 good, honorable men, and one spoiled, petulant child in a king's body. The wreths are divided into two separate clans, sand wreths and frost wreths, who are fated to defeat the dragon, but are too focused on their hatred of one another.
Somehow, some way they must all find common ground to have any hope of ending the dragon, who symbolizes all the evil in the world.
January 11, 2022
Great wrap up to a series!
When I get to the end of a series, I want the story to give me an "ooh" feeling. This one did. I saw what happened to characters I'd followed for hundreds of pages. Pieces came together in a really satisfying way, and the end was magical.
Intrigue, betrayals, battles, magic, all made a really satisfying end to a journey I greatly enjoyed.
I received an advance copy to read.
When I get to the end of a series, I want the story to give me an "ooh" feeling. This one did. I saw what happened to characters I'd followed for hundreds of pages. Pieces came together in a really satisfying way, and the end was magical.
Intrigue, betrayals, battles, magic, all made a really satisfying end to a journey I greatly enjoyed.
I received an advance copy to read.
February 2, 2022
I loved this trilogy - I loved this book. It's a lot of momentum building, followed by jam packed action, back to momentum, back to action, and in a very Return of the King style, approximately 30 pages of epilogue to tie things up. Maybe not quite the way I envisioned the end, but this is a trilogy that can powerfully tackle vengeance, hatred, differences, and hope. This is a beautiful conclusion to an excellent world of diverse characters.
May 15, 2022
This book wraps up a trilogy that seemed almost impossible to wrap up in one novel at the end of the last book. Anderson manages to tie up a lot of loose ends quickly, setting up fairly nonstop action for the final third of the book. Everything worked but I don’t know but I feel like I wanted something more from the wreth on wreth battle. That said the book was an entertaining read. The series itself trying to think of comparisons but it felt bith Goodkinesque as well as a bit Tad Williamsy.
November 17, 2023
Enemies abound in the third and final installment of this epic fantasy series. Gods (and godlings), dragons, priest lords, a few kings, an empress, a couple queens of ancient master races... and it seems all of them want to fight one another. The fantasy world strains one's ability to suspend disbelief, and the characters are a bit too uncomplicated to be believable, but the pacing is good.
February 9, 2022
Fantastic conclusion to an awesome story. Great characters, great writing, can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this trilogy. This is a true example of can't wait to finish to see what happens, and then bummed that I'm done and have to leave this world.
January 18, 2022
Gods and Dragons is a five-star novel. The novel was as awesome as expected and it didn't disappoint at all.
January 24, 2022
Powerful dragons are awoken that can destroy the world amidst intercontinental wars.
February 6, 2022
This was an excellent series and an excellent last book.
March 8, 2022
Good ending. COmplicated tie up.
April 7, 2022
Great Battles and action aplenty!
November 12, 2022
Loved this trilogy
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