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Ballad of Sir Benfro #3
The Golden Cage
*Parts of the previous eBook edition of The Golden Cage have been removed from this edition and will be re-released in the fourth book in The Ballad of Benfro series: The Broken World* There's a new fantasy phenomenon for 2014 - The Golden Cage is the third enchanting tale in J. D. Oswald's epic fantasy series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro Queen Beulah is determined to have her war, despatching Inquisitor Melyn north, through the ancient forest to cross unseen into the land of her enemies. Battling the ever growing influence of Magog, Benfro struggles to resist the treacherous orders of the long dead Dragon Mage, a task made yet more difficult by the arrival of Errol in his forest refuge. His body broken, Errol is tormented by dreams of his beloved Martha, imprisoned in a Golden Cage. He has escaped from King Ballah's torture chamber but remains powerless to help her. Yet fate has united these two. Errol holds the key to halting Magog's influence, and Benfro has the skill to heal broken bones. Working together they might survive. Apart, they will surely perish, and all Gwlad with them. The Ballad of Sir Benfro is an utterly compelling and beautifully written new fantasy series from J.D. Oswald. Fans of the Inheritance Series and readers hooked to the world of George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series will love the magic of the Twin Kingdoms. The Golden Cage is the third book in the series, following Dreamwalker and The Rose Cord, which are also published as Penguin eBooks. *Please note that parts of the previous eBook edition of The Golden Cage have been removed from this edition and will be re-released in the fourth book in The Ballad of Benfro series: The Broken World* J. D. Oswald is the author of the epic fantasy series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro. Currently, Dreamwalker, The Rose Cord and The Golden Cage are all available as Penguin ebooks. He is also the author of the Detective Inspector McLean series of crime novels under the name James Oswald. In his spare time James runs a 350-acre livestock farm in North East Fife, where he raises pedigree Highland Cattle and New Zealand Romney Sheep. http://jamesoswald.co.uk
516 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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554 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 10, 2025
A bit more entertaining and less predictable than part two, but I notice my interest slipping a bit. Thankfully the books are about 300 pages, so not too long, so I will finish the series. I wonder when Melyn will propose to Frecknock.. and how many bad things can happen to Errol? Will this guy ever get a break?
April 3, 2017
3.5 stars, an enjoyable read, if somewhat slower than the 2nd book in the series, but still faster than the first. Worth reading for sure.
August 30, 2014
I thought this was the last book in a trilogy, but no. And I'm more than happy about that as the story deepens and deepens, driving you to read more and more and emphasising more with characters. This is fantastic stuff, fantasy of the highest calibre. The only negative is waiting for the author to finish the next instalment!
April 5, 2016
I don't know if it's just me but I feel like there weren't any mayor events in this books. To me it felt like one big build up to the next and last book. So I've got high expectations for that one. Because I missed a little excitement in this book, I got a bit bored and that made it kind of a slow read.
This wasn't my favorite book of the Balled of Sir Benfro series. The first book gave me the same feeling as this book gave me and I loved the second book, couldn't stop reading. So I'm hoping the same is going to happen with this one and the last book. It's a great story and I love it, don't get me wrong. I just think it wasn't necessary to write 4 books. It keeps me reading though and I keep wanting to get to know more about the things in this world and adventures of Benfro and Errol in perticular, so although this book wasn't my favorite of the series, I'm excited to start the next one.
This wasn't my favorite book of the Balled of Sir Benfro series. The first book gave me the same feeling as this book gave me and I loved the second book, couldn't stop reading. So I'm hoping the same is going to happen with this one and the last book. It's a great story and I love it, don't get me wrong. I just think it wasn't necessary to write 4 books. It keeps me reading though and I keep wanting to get to know more about the things in this world and adventures of Benfro and Errol in perticular, so although this book wasn't my favorite of the series, I'm excited to start the next one.
January 22, 2024
Awesome! Story is definitely picking up now.
January 29, 2017
Manchmal müssen Feinde zu Freunden werden, wenn sie von demselben Feind verfolgt werden. Im dritten Teil der Dreamwalker-Reihe von James D. Oswald muss Benfro lernen, dass Errol, obgleich ein Mensch, nicht sein Feind ist und sie nur gemeinsam gegen Melyn bestehen können.
Magogs Einfluss auf Benfro wird immer mächtiger, was Benfro immer unberechenbarer macht. Wann ist er noch er selbst und wann gewinnt der Geist des bösen Drachenmagiers die Überhand über ihn? Es fällt ihm schwer sich einzugestehen, dass Errol in der Tat der einzige ist, der ihm jetzt noch helfen kann, besonders dann, als Corwen der Magie Magogs erliegt. Inquisitor Melyn ist ihnen immer dichter auf den Fersen, als auf einmal ein wilder Drache erscheint, ein wahres Ungetüm, wie es die Welt seit Jahrhunderten nicht mehr gesehen hat. Es scheint, dass er aus der Parallelwelt Gogs stammt, die Benfros Vater gesucht hatte. Ebenjene Welt scheint auch die einzige Rettung für die letzten Drachen zu sein.
Sehr rasch fällt ins Auge, dass das Lektorat hier keine gute Arbeit leistete. Bereits in den ersten Bänden fielen gelegentlich kleine Fehler auf, hier jedoch häufen sie sich so sehr, dass sie störend wirken. Da werden immer wieder Kommata oder Anführungszeichen vergessen, ganze Wortgruppen wiederholen sich direkt hintereinander und Namen werden vertauscht. Für ein Buch, das bei einem namhaften Verlag erschienen ist, ist das keine Glanzleistung.
Inhaltlich ist dieses Mal jedoch nichts auszusetzen. Da jetzt auch noch eine zweite Welt ins Spiel kommt, trägt sie einiges zum Worldbuilding bei, das so wesentlich interessanter wird als noch in den Vorgängerteilen. Plötzlich sind Drachen in der Tat wieder eine Bedrohung sowohl für die Menschen als auch die letzten Drachen. Man fragt sich, wieso sie plötzlich auftauchen und wo sie her kommen. Das Buch wirft damit allerhand Fragen für die kommenden Bände auf und macht viel Lust auf sie.
Auch charakterlich tut sich einiges. Nachdem Beulah am Anfang der Reihe vor allem als skrupellose Königin gezeichnet wurde, die in erster Linie an ihrer eigenen Macht und weniger am Wohlergehen anderer interessiert ist, wandelt sich das zunehmend mit ihrer Liebe zu Clun. Er stammt eigentlich aus einfachen Verhältnissen, sie jedoch riskiert eine Menge, als sie ihn in den Adelsstand erhebt und ihn heiratet. Sie zeigt ihm gegenüber sogar sehr romantische Attitüden, was ihr mehr Vielschichtigkeit verleiht und sie als Charakter interessanter macht.
Auch mit Benfro und Errol geht es vor allem in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches spannend weiter. Magogs Einfluss auf Benfro wird immer dramatischer, gleichzeitig muss er aber lernen, Errol als Verbündeten anzusehen. Für sie gilt es herauszufinden, was es mit den fremden Drachen und der Welt, als der sie stammen, auf sich hat, da das womöglich ihre einzige Rettung ist. Dabei werde sie noch immer von Inquisitor Melyn verfolgt und sehen sich zahlreichen neuen Gefahren gegenüber. Das Buch endet vergleichbar mit Band eins mit einem gelungenen Cliffhanger, der dazu verleitet, sich sogleich Band 4 anzuschaffen.
Nachdem Band 1 und 2 durchaus gute, wenn auch nicht die allerbeste Unterhaltungsliteratur war, weist Band 3 eine deutliche Richtung nach oben auf. Er lässt die leichte Ernüchterung nach dem zweiten Teil rasch wieder vergessen und darauf hoffen, dass die Reihe sich einem packenden Finale entgegenneigt.
Mehr von mir auf meinem Blog: http://buchdrache.blogspot.de/
Magogs Einfluss auf Benfro wird immer mächtiger, was Benfro immer unberechenbarer macht. Wann ist er noch er selbst und wann gewinnt der Geist des bösen Drachenmagiers die Überhand über ihn? Es fällt ihm schwer sich einzugestehen, dass Errol in der Tat der einzige ist, der ihm jetzt noch helfen kann, besonders dann, als Corwen der Magie Magogs erliegt. Inquisitor Melyn ist ihnen immer dichter auf den Fersen, als auf einmal ein wilder Drache erscheint, ein wahres Ungetüm, wie es die Welt seit Jahrhunderten nicht mehr gesehen hat. Es scheint, dass er aus der Parallelwelt Gogs stammt, die Benfros Vater gesucht hatte. Ebenjene Welt scheint auch die einzige Rettung für die letzten Drachen zu sein.
Sehr rasch fällt ins Auge, dass das Lektorat hier keine gute Arbeit leistete. Bereits in den ersten Bänden fielen gelegentlich kleine Fehler auf, hier jedoch häufen sie sich so sehr, dass sie störend wirken. Da werden immer wieder Kommata oder Anführungszeichen vergessen, ganze Wortgruppen wiederholen sich direkt hintereinander und Namen werden vertauscht. Für ein Buch, das bei einem namhaften Verlag erschienen ist, ist das keine Glanzleistung.
Inhaltlich ist dieses Mal jedoch nichts auszusetzen. Da jetzt auch noch eine zweite Welt ins Spiel kommt, trägt sie einiges zum Worldbuilding bei, das so wesentlich interessanter wird als noch in den Vorgängerteilen. Plötzlich sind Drachen in der Tat wieder eine Bedrohung sowohl für die Menschen als auch die letzten Drachen. Man fragt sich, wieso sie plötzlich auftauchen und wo sie her kommen. Das Buch wirft damit allerhand Fragen für die kommenden Bände auf und macht viel Lust auf sie.
Auch charakterlich tut sich einiges. Nachdem Beulah am Anfang der Reihe vor allem als skrupellose Königin gezeichnet wurde, die in erster Linie an ihrer eigenen Macht und weniger am Wohlergehen anderer interessiert ist, wandelt sich das zunehmend mit ihrer Liebe zu Clun. Er stammt eigentlich aus einfachen Verhältnissen, sie jedoch riskiert eine Menge, als sie ihn in den Adelsstand erhebt und ihn heiratet. Sie zeigt ihm gegenüber sogar sehr romantische Attitüden, was ihr mehr Vielschichtigkeit verleiht und sie als Charakter interessanter macht.
Auch mit Benfro und Errol geht es vor allem in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches spannend weiter. Magogs Einfluss auf Benfro wird immer dramatischer, gleichzeitig muss er aber lernen, Errol als Verbündeten anzusehen. Für sie gilt es herauszufinden, was es mit den fremden Drachen und der Welt, als der sie stammen, auf sich hat, da das womöglich ihre einzige Rettung ist. Dabei werde sie noch immer von Inquisitor Melyn verfolgt und sehen sich zahlreichen neuen Gefahren gegenüber. Das Buch endet vergleichbar mit Band eins mit einem gelungenen Cliffhanger, der dazu verleitet, sich sogleich Band 4 anzuschaffen.
Nachdem Band 1 und 2 durchaus gute, wenn auch nicht die allerbeste Unterhaltungsliteratur war, weist Band 3 eine deutliche Richtung nach oben auf. Er lässt die leichte Ernüchterung nach dem zweiten Teil rasch wieder vergessen und darauf hoffen, dass die Reihe sich einem packenden Finale entgegenneigt.
Mehr von mir auf meinem Blog: http://buchdrache.blogspot.de/
July 30, 2016
this series just keeps getting better.
also, I love feeling vindicated. I'd suspected since book one that the shepherd was really just a dragon's memories, and this book made it pretty clear that's the case (even if it's not stated explicitly - I reckon that comes in the next book).
everything is getting more intense. what's going on with dafydd? we haven't heard from him for at least a hundred pages. usel and his motivations were so puzzling until all was revealed with a single expletive - that was wonderfully done! and wouldn't have been successful if not for the strategically placed infodumps throughout (by which i mean: the excerpts of academic and other writing by men and dragons alike, at the beginning of each chapter. I'm not quite sure I'm into that kind of handling infodumps, but there's no denying that it works (they're pretty cleverly disguised), and in this book they were placed well (in the previous two some could've been moved to better positions). honestly, the skill with which these books are written just keeps getting better, especially compared with the first book which was clunky and ham handed in comparison.
I find it especially enjoyable that melyn, who was genuinely terrifying in the first book, is proving to be an ignorant fool. still not somebody to be underestimated, but now there's a cloud above his head of impending doom that he doesn't see because of his ignorance. It delights me to no end. (for the record, I have a feeling frecknock isn't as compliant as she appears to be. I'm 99% certain that she's working melyn to her own advantage and that is also something that tickles me. excellent.)
ERROL. WHY SO STUPID. LOOK. YOU HAVE WORKED IT OUT. SURELY YOU HAVE. WHY. WHY WOULD YOU GO BY BALCH IN LLANWENNOG? THIS IS GOING TO BACKFIRE ON YOU. BADLY.
also, I love feeling vindicated. I'd suspected since book one that the shepherd was really just a dragon's memories, and this book made it pretty clear that's the case (even if it's not stated explicitly - I reckon that comes in the next book).
everything is getting more intense. what's going on with dafydd? we haven't heard from him for at least a hundred pages. usel and his motivations were so puzzling until all was revealed with a single expletive - that was wonderfully done! and wouldn't have been successful if not for the strategically placed infodumps throughout (by which i mean: the excerpts of academic and other writing by men and dragons alike, at the beginning of each chapter. I'm not quite sure I'm into that kind of handling infodumps, but there's no denying that it works (they're pretty cleverly disguised), and in this book they were placed well (in the previous two some could've been moved to better positions). honestly, the skill with which these books are written just keeps getting better, especially compared with the first book which was clunky and ham handed in comparison.
I find it especially enjoyable that melyn, who was genuinely terrifying in the first book, is proving to be an ignorant fool. still not somebody to be underestimated, but now there's a cloud above his head of impending doom that he doesn't see because of his ignorance. It delights me to no end. (for the record, I have a feeling frecknock isn't as compliant as she appears to be. I'm 99% certain that she's working melyn to her own advantage and that is also something that tickles me. excellent.)
ERROL. WHY SO STUPID. LOOK. YOU HAVE WORKED IT OUT. SURELY YOU HAVE. WHY. WHY WOULD YOU GO BY BALCH IN LLANWENNOG? THIS IS GOING TO BACKFIRE ON YOU. BADLY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2017
This is the third book in the series and has certainly lived up to my expectations. Faster paced than The Rose Cord, the character insights provided throughout the book help give further depth to characters you thought you already knew. The story keeps gracefully turning, just as you start to think you can see where the path is taking you.
Unlike some of the epic fantasy sagas, good as they are, I like the faster pace and smaller pool of key characters within Sir Benfro's tale - I don't find myself looking back in a 'who's this again?' way. Due to this, I'd recommend the series to all readers, not just fans of this genre.
My only disappointment is having to wait over a month for the next installment!!
Unlike some of the epic fantasy sagas, good as they are, I like the faster pace and smaller pool of key characters within Sir Benfro's tale - I don't find myself looking back in a 'who's this again?' way. Due to this, I'd recommend the series to all readers, not just fans of this genre.
My only disappointment is having to wait over a month for the next installment!!
September 22, 2016
I finally finished this book ! it took me a while to read it, not because it was bad, far from it! But I had not a lot of time to read... it made it even better because I did not rushed it.
I really enjoyed this book. And the ending just makes me want to read the next one so badly !!
I really enjoyed this book. And the ending just makes me want to read the next one so badly !!
January 30, 2016
amazing, but straight onto the next one as I can't leave the story with that ending...
August 14, 2020
The book starts out with rather flowery language (but done well) in the Prologue and soon sets up an almost cliché fantasy story; There's a priest, a dying princess and the birth of a prince who must be hidden among common people in true Arthurian fashion. It is very atmospheric and the Welsh basis for names of both people and places as well as for some story elements, including Grym lines and the story of Gog and Magog from Welsh folklore.
However, on the same day is the birth of a dragon. Some of the characters in the story are talking dragons who have a magical secret village. One of them is a healer whom the human characters go to. Oh and let's not forget that there was an eclipse on the day of these two births.
So having set up a human-dragon symbiosis, the story goes on with the death of an old dragon and a brilliant quote about the meaning of death, which you'll have to read to find out. There is slow world building and a little confusion in the early chapters where it isn't entirely clear about the relationship between the humans and the dragons, but this is soon rectified and fully explained. I did have the constant feeling that I'd missed something or should know who someone is when I didn't.
From there the story bounces between the exploits of Errol, the secret prince, and Benfro, the young dragon that men must not know about because it is forbidden for dragons to breed. Young dragons actually have games to practice learning how to avoid detection by humans, much of it based in magic.
We also get warrior priests and a little info dumping at the beginning of chapters. Overall I didn't think the flow was very good, yet the story held my interest anyway. My review copy still had a few typos jumping out, but presumably these will be corrected before the final release as well as some over use of commas that made some of the prose jerky.
In some ways the story line seemed contrived, yet there were some original elements like the dragons' spiritual essence being retained in their jewels. I had mixed feelings about the story. In some ways it was child-like with anthropomorphic dragons who hunt with bows and arrows and eat bread and cheese for lunch, in other ways it was a good fantasy story that an older fantasy fan could enjoy with a lot of magic and a set up that, well, could have led to an interesting connection between the prince and the young dragon had the story gone that far.
There were a few niggles; a country accent that wasn't quite right and a lack of mystery about who poisoned the princess, which is suddenly revealed in the story with no preliminary build up. The biggest one though is that it stops suddenly with the story unfinished. Obviously we are meant to buy the next book to continue.
I much prefer series stories to have resolution at the end of each story, but the writing was good for the most part and despite the niggles, I did enjoy it.
However, on the same day is the birth of a dragon. Some of the characters in the story are talking dragons who have a magical secret village. One of them is a healer whom the human characters go to. Oh and let's not forget that there was an eclipse on the day of these two births.
So having set up a human-dragon symbiosis, the story goes on with the death of an old dragon and a brilliant quote about the meaning of death, which you'll have to read to find out. There is slow world building and a little confusion in the early chapters where it isn't entirely clear about the relationship between the humans and the dragons, but this is soon rectified and fully explained. I did have the constant feeling that I'd missed something or should know who someone is when I didn't.
From there the story bounces between the exploits of Errol, the secret prince, and Benfro, the young dragon that men must not know about because it is forbidden for dragons to breed. Young dragons actually have games to practice learning how to avoid detection by humans, much of it based in magic.
We also get warrior priests and a little info dumping at the beginning of chapters. Overall I didn't think the flow was very good, yet the story held my interest anyway. My review copy still had a few typos jumping out, but presumably these will be corrected before the final release as well as some over use of commas that made some of the prose jerky.
In some ways the story line seemed contrived, yet there were some original elements like the dragons' spiritual essence being retained in their jewels. I had mixed feelings about the story. In some ways it was child-like with anthropomorphic dragons who hunt with bows and arrows and eat bread and cheese for lunch, in other ways it was a good fantasy story that an older fantasy fan could enjoy with a lot of magic and a set up that, well, could have led to an interesting connection between the prince and the young dragon had the story gone that far.
There were a few niggles; a country accent that wasn't quite right and a lack of mystery about who poisoned the princess, which is suddenly revealed in the story with no preliminary build up. The biggest one though is that it stops suddenly with the story unfinished. Obviously we are meant to buy the next book to continue.
I much prefer series stories to have resolution at the end of each story, but the writing was good for the most part and despite the niggles, I did enjoy it.
September 1, 2024
Pufff siguen siendo 2.5. No se que opinar la vd de este libro.
Siento que podría ponerle más porque está narrado de una forma preciosa y super especial. Se nota que el autor quiere dejarlo todo muy bien contado y de forma que enganche y transmita como toda esa misticidad del mundo y de cómo lo ven los dragones PERO cuenta una buena historia?
Alomejro estoy muy acostumbrado de la forma de las historias de Brandon y a sus finales pero es que siento otra vez que no ha pasado nada!!! Benfro y Errol siguen un poco igual aunque están más espabilados pero siento que se desaprovechan muchas cosas. Tiene momentos buenos y por ejemplo me encanta que Frecknock tenga más protagonismo o las cosas que puede llegar a hacer Clun, pero aún no termina de despegar necesito acción no que me digas por 50 vez que Magog está controlando a Benfro!! Dale más protagonismo a los dragones que aparecen de la nada, a los sueños de Errol o por lo menos que las distracciones que no dejas que esas cosas avancen sean más interesantes!
Punto número 1: el título del libro no tiene nada que ver con lo que pasa en el libro, no es nada relevante y sé que seguramente en el siguiente si lo sea porque lo usarías como título de este (más allá de que es lo único que has podido encontrar que te encaje como título místico y llamativo)
Punto número 2: introdujiste en el primero lo de ser Sonámbulo para no haberlo mencionado ni usado NUNCA MÁS nada 0 none, Benfro no ha usado eso otra vez en los dos libros que llevamos xd
Punto número 3: El lore del mundo me estaba pareciendo sublime pero chiquillo las pistas tienen que ser PISTAS!! SPOILERS: que el anillo del rey o de Melyn sea rojo y como que absorba vida al besarlo te da pistas que tú puedes conectar con que es una joya de dragón pero de ahí a que me digas que The Wolf es Gog descaradamente y que digas que el santuario de Magog tenga el mismo poder que el Dios del mundo xd mi niño no se te quedan dos libros dosifica o déjalo caer más sutilmente ahora ya poco me queda por descubrir del mundo es bastante fácil unir los puntos la vd
No se, voy a seguir leyendo porque para lo que me queda en el convento me cago dentro pero me ha decepciona un poco. Necesitaba un poco más de acción o de por lo menos respuestas claras que salgan de la boca de personajes importantes y den un giro a la historia no dejarlo caer tan vagamente y tan fácil de unir puntos. ALSO, las tramas políticas de la Reina y el príncipe del otro reino son SOPORÍFERAS
Siento que podría ponerle más porque está narrado de una forma preciosa y super especial. Se nota que el autor quiere dejarlo todo muy bien contado y de forma que enganche y transmita como toda esa misticidad del mundo y de cómo lo ven los dragones PERO cuenta una buena historia?
Alomejro estoy muy acostumbrado de la forma de las historias de Brandon y a sus finales pero es que siento otra vez que no ha pasado nada!!! Benfro y Errol siguen un poco igual aunque están más espabilados pero siento que se desaprovechan muchas cosas. Tiene momentos buenos y por ejemplo me encanta que Frecknock tenga más protagonismo o las cosas que puede llegar a hacer Clun, pero aún no termina de despegar necesito acción no que me digas por 50 vez que Magog está controlando a Benfro!! Dale más protagonismo a los dragones que aparecen de la nada, a los sueños de Errol o por lo menos que las distracciones que no dejas que esas cosas avancen sean más interesantes!
Punto número 1: el título del libro no tiene nada que ver con lo que pasa en el libro, no es nada relevante y sé que seguramente en el siguiente si lo sea porque lo usarías como título de este (más allá de que es lo único que has podido encontrar que te encaje como título místico y llamativo)
Punto número 2: introdujiste en el primero lo de ser Sonámbulo para no haberlo mencionado ni usado NUNCA MÁS nada 0 none, Benfro no ha usado eso otra vez en los dos libros que llevamos xd
Punto número 3: El lore del mundo me estaba pareciendo sublime pero chiquillo las pistas tienen que ser PISTAS!! SPOILERS: que el anillo del rey o de Melyn sea rojo y como que absorba vida al besarlo te da pistas que tú puedes conectar con que es una joya de dragón pero de ahí a que me digas que The Wolf es Gog descaradamente y que digas que el santuario de Magog tenga el mismo poder que el Dios del mundo xd mi niño no se te quedan dos libros dosifica o déjalo caer más sutilmente ahora ya poco me queda por descubrir del mundo es bastante fácil unir los puntos la vd
No se, voy a seguir leyendo porque para lo que me queda en el convento me cago dentro pero me ha decepciona un poco. Necesitaba un poco más de acción o de por lo menos respuestas claras que salgan de la boca de personajes importantes y den un giro a la historia no dejarlo caer tan vagamente y tan fácil de unir puntos. ALSO, las tramas políticas de la Reina y el príncipe del otro reino son SOPORÍFERAS
November 23, 2025
I'm not proud to admit but Ive had to fully DNF the series.
The first two books took me almost 3 months to read because the writing style and the prose do not flow at all.
It feels like the author really loves the dragon characters and how interesting he can make that world that the other characters feel left out. Yet still somehow feel more fleshed out than Benfro. I felt more emotionally attached to Errol because the story flow was great and the character devolpment felt natural. Every chapter of Benfros feels so forced, unnecessarily staggered and drawn out. Dancing around the actual point of the chapter without actually getting there. It felt like taking a two hour detour for a 10 minute journey and having the driver explain everything around you without any actual point, only to get you to where you needed to be feeling exhausted and completely disconnected.
2 stars is generous. I love the idea and themes of this story but the writing is not for me. I Wikipediad the rest of the plot and story and it is a good story. But it would've been better written by someone else.
The first two books took me almost 3 months to read because the writing style and the prose do not flow at all.
It feels like the author really loves the dragon characters and how interesting he can make that world that the other characters feel left out. Yet still somehow feel more fleshed out than Benfro. I felt more emotionally attached to Errol because the story flow was great and the character devolpment felt natural. Every chapter of Benfros feels so forced, unnecessarily staggered and drawn out. Dancing around the actual point of the chapter without actually getting there. It felt like taking a two hour detour for a 10 minute journey and having the driver explain everything around you without any actual point, only to get you to where you needed to be feeling exhausted and completely disconnected.
2 stars is generous. I love the idea and themes of this story but the writing is not for me. I Wikipediad the rest of the plot and story and it is a good story. But it would've been better written by someone else.
December 31, 2019
This series has a very interesting approach to building a world which is inhabited by dragons and humans and the magic system in it. Especially the way the author has created the dragons is fun and refreshing (i.e. they're not simply powerful and magical beings with little agency or character development). The different story lines are interesting, though I find the ones of the arguably main protagonists (Errol and Benfro) the least captivating. This mostly has to do with pacing, the story and the characters develop at an easy pace, which makes it seem natural but also.... slow. Though I enjoy the books and will continue reading them, they don't grip my attention and make me want to put everything down to read them.
May 9, 2017
If not for the incredible 'letdown' at the end, I'd have surely given this book 5 stars. Everything just felt so unjustified in the end, I couldn't help but to fuss for a while even after closing the book. Although it is refreshing to have such a large plot suddenly taking a turn, book 3 of the Ballad does feel like there's not a lot of character development. Momentarily I lost all motivation to continue reading the series, up until I realized what the events of Golden Cage may lead to. Book 4 is bound to satisfy some of my expectations regarding the storyline.
April 2, 2021
This was so good!! I loved seeing Errol and Benfro learn to get along and the trust and systems they built together to help each out, it was rather lovely. Inquisitor Melyn is really annoying me now but he's also a really interesting character, especially his views towards dragons and how they are changing from being with Frecknock. I feel really sorry for her,, I really want Melyn to die so she can escape, though she'd probably be killed anyway, but it would be interesting to see what would happen.
Either way, I'm excited to read the next books in the series :)))
Either way, I'm excited to read the next books in the series :)))
November 13, 2021
Brought the series as a package thankfully.
I am enjoying reading through the books as each seems to with a cliffhanger ending lol. Seems I’m going to read in order before coming to next adventure seems i am interested in finding out how the story ends.
It’s well written and flows nicely the characters are pressing well throughout the series even though Errol and benfro seem to take the worst beating this series lol. That does frustrate me a touch reading but such is the story to be honest ism hoping written beulah gets what she deserves…
Good read cheers mr oswald. 😀
I am enjoying reading through the books as each seems to with a cliffhanger ending lol. Seems I’m going to read in order before coming to next adventure seems i am interested in finding out how the story ends.
It’s well written and flows nicely the characters are pressing well throughout the series even though Errol and benfro seem to take the worst beating this series lol. That does frustrate me a touch reading but such is the story to be honest ism hoping written beulah gets what she deserves…
Good read cheers mr oswald. 😀
September 11, 2021
Again, really slow-paced. If I wouldn’t be so eager to see what will happen to the characters, I probably would have dropped it. But I am curious and excited to follow the journey, so I’m not dropping it.
I just bought the 4th book, and can’t wait to read it. Especially because it ended on such a cliffhanger! 😣
I just bought the 4th book, and can’t wait to read it. Especially because it ended on such a cliffhanger! 😣
March 8, 2019
Why are more people not reading about these dragons?! When I saw that James Oswald had not only written the brilliant McLean novels but also full on fantasy I couldn't get to them quickly enough. The tales of Benfro is simply wonderful, and the world he lives in is beautifully created.
July 13, 2020
Although it took me a while to feel really engulfed in the story, when I did quite liked the story telling. Especially further into the series I felt like the pace of the story picked up a bit and I felt more attracted towards reading the next chapter.
May 25, 2019
Another solid installment in a solid series.
July 3, 2019
Things are starting to pick up in this book! It was really good and I am still loving the series!
Excited to read the next!
Excited to read the next!
September 29, 2023
The positive point that has to be made is the built up mythology of the world of Gwlad!
May 27, 2024
Excellent continuation to the series!
August 5, 2024
One ambush too many. I am out.
February 13, 2025
Classic fantasy approach. Well-thought out. Love that it is dragons at the center of the story.
December 12, 2025
Fantastic series. I really gem that I am very pleased to have discovered. Can't wait to read the next one.
January 24, 2018
Another exciting installment from Oswald! The tone/pace of this book felt a little different to The Rose Cord (I felt like it had more in common with Dreamwalker) - I didn't rattle through it with as much urgency as The Rose Cord, but it still kept me riveted. I found Benfro and Errol's developing relationship - now that they have finally, properly met! - fascinating, especially the nuances caused by Benfro's prejudice against men.
I really enjoyed the uncomfortable development of Melyn and Frecknock's relationship: the fact that we get it entirely from his side (with a brief flashes from other points of view, such as Benfro, but never anything from Frecknock herself) leaves so many questions about her motives and reasoning. I always find Melyn's sections really enjoyable and gripping to read, much as I detest the man and his actions. Which is a testament to Oswald.
I also liked how skillfully a new thread was woven in, as we got to see events unfolding in Llanwennog through the eyes of Prince Dafydd. These bits could easily have been dull in comparison to the sections focused on characters we already know and like (or love to hate), but they really didn't come across that way for me. We were eased in, and the addition of Usel (and the question/revelation of his true allegiance!) helped with that I think.
Once again, Oswald's cliffhangers are killer - and none more so than on the final page!
I really enjoyed the uncomfortable development of Melyn and Frecknock's relationship: the fact that we get it entirely from his side (with a brief flashes from other points of view, such as Benfro, but never anything from Frecknock herself) leaves so many questions about her motives and reasoning. I always find Melyn's sections really enjoyable and gripping to read, much as I detest the man and his actions. Which is a testament to Oswald.
I also liked how skillfully a new thread was woven in, as we got to see events unfolding in Llanwennog through the eyes of Prince Dafydd. These bits could easily have been dull in comparison to the sections focused on characters we already know and like (or love to hate), but they really didn't come across that way for me. We were eased in, and the addition of Usel (and the question/revelation of his true allegiance!) helped with that I think.
Once again, Oswald's cliffhangers are killer - and none more so than on the final page!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2017
I really was into the story from the start. I've been waiting for the two main characters to come together for a book and a half, and since they have, the pace has gone up tremendously. It even motivated me to wake up early just so that I could read a chapter before going to work.
I had already read somewhere that the ending would make me want to immediately start the next one and ... that is in fact what I'll be doing. "The Broken World": here I come!
I had already read somewhere that the ending would make me want to immediately start the next one and ... that is in fact what I'll be doing. "The Broken World": here I come!
November 23, 2020
I have a Booktube channel! You can subscribe at Youtube.com/BensBlurb
So it took me almost a year to read this book because halfway through I got bored then distracted and then the magic of this book was almost lost forever...until January 2020.
You must understand that this is the 3rd book in a series of 5. It is the continuing story of a boy and a dragon and their fates intertwined.
For me this is an excellent young adult fantasy book. The magic system is well thought out and unique yet deep enough to be interesting and fun to see come to life.
The way Benfro and Errol interact with each is well developed. They are thrown together into situations where they need each other’s help thus forging a friendship that neither wanted initially but both depend upon.
For me the stand out relationship is that of Frecknock and Inquisitor Melyn. She fears him and he hates her but slowly they almost, like Benfro and Errol, rely on one another. He wants to use her but slowly she grows on him and her unnaturally unwavering loyalty.
I find my most interesting character to be Queen Beulah. A tyrant in her own right but with Clunn by her side she turns into an *almost* normal leader. I would have liked to see Clunn mentioning Errol even as an afterthought since they were brothers albeit step brothers but it’s as if he just forgot him.
The ending of the story is a huge cliff hanger and if I didn’t have tons of other books that needed reading, I would go out and buy #4 tomorrow. The set up for this story is huge. A stolen throne, a lost legacy and bitter rivalries and factions, devious men and tenacious royalty.
I just hope James Oswald writes more in the Twin Kingdoms!
So it took me almost a year to read this book because halfway through I got bored then distracted and then the magic of this book was almost lost forever...until January 2020.
You must understand that this is the 3rd book in a series of 5. It is the continuing story of a boy and a dragon and their fates intertwined.
For me this is an excellent young adult fantasy book. The magic system is well thought out and unique yet deep enough to be interesting and fun to see come to life.
The way Benfro and Errol interact with each is well developed. They are thrown together into situations where they need each other’s help thus forging a friendship that neither wanted initially but both depend upon.
For me the stand out relationship is that of Frecknock and Inquisitor Melyn. She fears him and he hates her but slowly they almost, like Benfro and Errol, rely on one another. He wants to use her but slowly she grows on him and her unnaturally unwavering loyalty.
I find my most interesting character to be Queen Beulah. A tyrant in her own right but with Clunn by her side she turns into an *almost* normal leader. I would have liked to see Clunn mentioning Errol even as an afterthought since they were brothers albeit step brothers but it’s as if he just forgot him.
The ending of the story is a huge cliff hanger and if I didn’t have tons of other books that needed reading, I would go out and buy #4 tomorrow. The set up for this story is huge. A stolen throne, a lost legacy and bitter rivalries and factions, devious men and tenacious royalty.
I just hope James Oswald writes more in the Twin Kingdoms!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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