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The Four Kingdoms #1
The Dragon Throne
‘You have only one part of the Summoning Ring,’ said the dragon to Fianna. ‘And neither the knowledge nor the strength to use it even if it were complete.’
Fianna is the only child of King Stannard and Queen Fiona, and has always expected to become the next Keeper of the Dragon Throne. She exiles herself from the court when her father decides to take a second wife. Recalled to Secondus castle after Stannard’s death, she has to contend with the split loyalties among the royal knights. In desperation, she agrees to summon the dragons to support her claim to the throne. Their challenge sends her to meet them in their Sacred Mountains.
In the woods of the unicorn herd, the Prancer loses his milk-brother to an attack by a dragon. He travels across the human kingdoms to seek the killer, discovering the complexities of human relationships and the delights of ale along the way.
They meet at the Sacred Mountains. And so begins a story of love, friendship — and betrayal.
Fianna is the only child of King Stannard and Queen Fiona, and has always expected to become the next Keeper of the Dragon Throne. She exiles herself from the court when her father decides to take a second wife. Recalled to Secondus castle after Stannard’s death, she has to contend with the split loyalties among the royal knights. In desperation, she agrees to summon the dragons to support her claim to the throne. Their challenge sends her to meet them in their Sacred Mountains.
In the woods of the unicorn herd, the Prancer loses his milk-brother to an attack by a dragon. He travels across the human kingdoms to seek the killer, discovering the complexities of human relationships and the delights of ale along the way.
They meet at the Sacred Mountains. And so begins a story of love, friendship — and betrayal.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2015
6 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Chrys Cymri
25 books282 followersPriest by day, writer at odd times of the day and night, I live with a small green parrot called Tilly because the upkeep for a dragon is beyond my current budget. Plus I’m responsible for making good any flame damage to church property. I love ‘Doctor Who’, landscape photography, single malt whisky, and my job, in no particular order. When I’m not looking after a small parish church in the Midlands (England) I like to go on far flung adventures to places like Peru, New Zealand, and North Korea.
Sign up to my newsletter and receive a subscriber exclusive story for free! Go to my website, www.chryscymri.com
You can read about my travels on www.travellinghopefully.co.uk
Sign up to my newsletter and receive a subscriber exclusive story for free! Go to my website, www.chryscymri.com
You can read about my travels on www.travellinghopefully.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 9, 2016
This is one of the best takes on dragons and unicorns that I've read in quite awhile. In the Dragon Throne, there are four kingdoms in a magical land that consists of dragons, unicorns, and two with humans. One of the human kingdom is aligned with dragons, and the other with unicorns. There have been wars, but recent times are peaceful. The story follows court intrigue during the making of a queen in the kingdom which sides with dragons. We learn that dragons can travel through time, which makes their actions quite puzzling. The queen befriends a unicorn, who is connected to the magic of the land and has powers of his own, such as the ability to heal.
More complications propel the story forward. Magic in the land is dying and the king of the third kingdom is to blame. How and what he is doing was an intriguing surprise as this fantasy is lifted to the realm of science fiction.
I quite enjoyed the characters. The dialogue was spot on, and the writing flowed well and was beautiful at appropriate times. There was a slight dip in the middle, but the pace quickened again once Fianna was crowned. This is the first of a series, so cliffhangers are expected. One unsatisfying dangling thread was the fading away of the antagonistic aunt when King Anton was introduced. I imagine we will be seeing more of her in the next installment. A promising start to a series which will engage those who appreciate a little sci/fi with their fantasy.
More complications propel the story forward. Magic in the land is dying and the king of the third kingdom is to blame. How and what he is doing was an intriguing surprise as this fantasy is lifted to the realm of science fiction.
I quite enjoyed the characters. The dialogue was spot on, and the writing flowed well and was beautiful at appropriate times. There was a slight dip in the middle, but the pace quickened again once Fianna was crowned. This is the first of a series, so cliffhangers are expected. One unsatisfying dangling thread was the fading away of the antagonistic aunt when King Anton was introduced. I imagine we will be seeing more of her in the next installment. A promising start to a series which will engage those who appreciate a little sci/fi with their fantasy.
February 4, 2016
Mehreen Ahmed's review
This is a tale of a self-imposed exiled princess and heir to the Dragon Throne. The writer Chrys Cymbri is but a master of story-telling, no less. A book pact with palace politics, intrigue, uprising tells all about the kingdom, its Kings and Queens of the exotic land of the Dragons. Driven by an ambition to win the throne, princess Fianna sets off on a mission of diplomacy. The complexity of the plot arises from this. Until she is able to achieve what she has put her heart on, she will not rest. And the tale runs its full course of wild fantasy, high imagination and a very vivid description of facts.
A must read.
This is a tale of a self-imposed exiled princess and heir to the Dragon Throne. The writer Chrys Cymbri is but a master of story-telling, no less. A book pact with palace politics, intrigue, uprising tells all about the kingdom, its Kings and Queens of the exotic land of the Dragons. Driven by an ambition to win the throne, princess Fianna sets off on a mission of diplomacy. The complexity of the plot arises from this. Until she is able to achieve what she has put her heart on, she will not rest. And the tale runs its full course of wild fantasy, high imagination and a very vivid description of facts.
A must read.
December 7, 2015
I've long been a fan of Chrys Cymri's previous two books, Dragons Can Only Rust and Dragon Reforged, so I was very pleased to check out this first book of her new duology.
The Land is divided into four kingdoms. The First Kingdom is a land of unicorns, guardians of truth; the Second that of dragons, beings of outward appearance and illusion; and the Third and Fourth are human lands, each owing fealty to one of the aforementioned. Beneath the feet of all, "the Land" itself is a living thing and the source of all magic in their world.
While still a child, Princess Fianna of the Fourth Kingdom runs away when her widowed father the king remarries, taking shelter with her estranged (and politically ambitious) aunt in the countryside. Her only friend there is the young pig-herder Deian, born with a strong connection to the Land and telepathy with its animals. Years pass, and as the now-teenaged Fianna settles into a rustic life and grows closer to Deian, word arrives suddenly that her father is dead and his widow pregnant. Fianna's aunt has raised her to covet the throne above all else, so she returns to solidify her claim; even while refusing to admit to herself that she's uncertain she wants it.
In the First Kingdom of the unicorns, the son of the lead stallion is the Prancer -- so called because he was born with the markings of both a Dancer and a Painter (in human parlance, a judge and a healer), leaving his future in either role uncertain. When his adoptive brother Storm is killed defending him from a dragon, he swears to track it down to retrieve the portion of Storm's horn embedded in its eye. This quest takes him through both human kingdoms.
I always appreciate a well-done depiction of a nonhumanoid society, and I particularly liked the story's depiction of an intelligent animal interacting with humans who never dispute that he is a civilized being. Indeed, because of the unicorns' magical abilities and invulnerability to mundane weapons, humans of the Third Kingdom regard them with awe, while those of the Fourth see them as enemies of their draconic patrons.
Fianna is a well-rounded depiction of someone who is clearly intelligent but not yet wise, and I like that so many issues are presented from her point of view without the author immediately stepping forward to indicate that she is wrong about something; her reaction to her father's remarriage is understandable for a child, but we initially see it entirely through her eyes -- and unfortunately for Fianna, she runs directly to her aunt, the one person who would actively encourage that viewpoint for her own ends. By mid-book, Fianna has put herself in a position where she can trust scarcely anyone around her -- until she crosses paths with the Prancer, prince of an enemy kingdom, and the two strike up a comradery, though one based in Fianna's part on false pretenses.
Looming over all is the fact that the Land's magical power is slowly dying. The only one with an inkling of why is the Third Kingdom's misanthropic King Anton, who has dedicated himself to studying and repairing strange mechanical artifacts from before the founding of the Four Kingdoms -- a time when legend says the three races were new to this world.
The most interesting thing about the dragons is that they appear to have the ability to casually travel through time at will, though they are restricted in what use they can make of this ability. No doubt this will be expanded upon in the sequel.
This is the first book in a duology, and I look forward to starting the second volume, The Unicorn Throne.
I expect fans of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series would greatly enjoy this.
The Land is divided into four kingdoms. The First Kingdom is a land of unicorns, guardians of truth; the Second that of dragons, beings of outward appearance and illusion; and the Third and Fourth are human lands, each owing fealty to one of the aforementioned. Beneath the feet of all, "the Land" itself is a living thing and the source of all magic in their world.
While still a child, Princess Fianna of the Fourth Kingdom runs away when her widowed father the king remarries, taking shelter with her estranged (and politically ambitious) aunt in the countryside. Her only friend there is the young pig-herder Deian, born with a strong connection to the Land and telepathy with its animals. Years pass, and as the now-teenaged Fianna settles into a rustic life and grows closer to Deian, word arrives suddenly that her father is dead and his widow pregnant. Fianna's aunt has raised her to covet the throne above all else, so she returns to solidify her claim; even while refusing to admit to herself that she's uncertain she wants it.
In the First Kingdom of the unicorns, the son of the lead stallion is the Prancer -- so called because he was born with the markings of both a Dancer and a Painter (in human parlance, a judge and a healer), leaving his future in either role uncertain. When his adoptive brother Storm is killed defending him from a dragon, he swears to track it down to retrieve the portion of Storm's horn embedded in its eye. This quest takes him through both human kingdoms.
I always appreciate a well-done depiction of a nonhumanoid society, and I particularly liked the story's depiction of an intelligent animal interacting with humans who never dispute that he is a civilized being. Indeed, because of the unicorns' magical abilities and invulnerability to mundane weapons, humans of the Third Kingdom regard them with awe, while those of the Fourth see them as enemies of their draconic patrons.
Fianna is a well-rounded depiction of someone who is clearly intelligent but not yet wise, and I like that so many issues are presented from her point of view without the author immediately stepping forward to indicate that she is wrong about something; her reaction to her father's remarriage is understandable for a child, but we initially see it entirely through her eyes -- and unfortunately for Fianna, she runs directly to her aunt, the one person who would actively encourage that viewpoint for her own ends. By mid-book, Fianna has put herself in a position where she can trust scarcely anyone around her -- until she crosses paths with the Prancer, prince of an enemy kingdom, and the two strike up a comradery, though one based in Fianna's part on false pretenses.
Looming over all is the fact that the Land's magical power is slowly dying. The only one with an inkling of why is the Third Kingdom's misanthropic King Anton, who has dedicated himself to studying and repairing strange mechanical artifacts from before the founding of the Four Kingdoms -- a time when legend says the three races were new to this world.
The most interesting thing about the dragons is that they appear to have the ability to casually travel through time at will, though they are restricted in what use they can make of this ability. No doubt this will be expanded upon in the sequel.
This is the first book in a duology, and I look forward to starting the second volume, The Unicorn Throne.
I expect fans of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series would greatly enjoy this.
January 16, 2016
First off, I have to say that I thought this to be a very well-written, polished story with great descriptions and narrative/dialogue. I like to consider my review through the eyes of the target audience, but I genuinely feel there is a little in this book for everyone, if you enjoy fantasy and have a little imagination that is...
The story centres around Fianna, the heir to her father's kingdom, though his new bride is expecting their son and a woman cannot inherit the throne if the King dies and a boy child lives... That is an interesting enough plot right there for me, but M/s Cymri throws in age-old alliances with a family of time-travelling dragons, a vengeful and antagonistic aunt who hungers for vengeance and power, political intrigue and jostling for position at court, and even some magical unicorns who will become central to the story and are supposed to be Fianna's and the dragon's enemies!!!
It all adds up to a wonderful ride which fans of fantasy will enjoy I am sure, especially as the novel is only part one of a two-part story which contains an interesting cliffhanger that will leave the reader begging for more.
So, why only 4 stars? Well, I wanted to give it 4.5 but 4 stars is an extremely good marking for a start. I merely thought it not quite worthy of a five because the pace of the first half of the novel was a little slow for me; I thoroughly enjoyed the parts involving Fianna, but not so the journey of The Prancer (the main unicorn) which I felt was a trifle laboured. That's personal taste I suppose and I have to admit that once Fianna was crowned/they actually met, the story quickened noticeably somewhere around that point and became a much more interesting/exciting read. Had the novel maintained that pace all the way through, it would have been 5 stars.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to fans of fantasy. I would encourage you to persevere with it if like me you like fast-paced stories. I believe you will not be disappointed. I also think the sequel should be fantastic, as the writer clearly has tremendous skill in both writing and editing.
The story centres around Fianna, the heir to her father's kingdom, though his new bride is expecting their son and a woman cannot inherit the throne if the King dies and a boy child lives... That is an interesting enough plot right there for me, but M/s Cymri throws in age-old alliances with a family of time-travelling dragons, a vengeful and antagonistic aunt who hungers for vengeance and power, political intrigue and jostling for position at court, and even some magical unicorns who will become central to the story and are supposed to be Fianna's and the dragon's enemies!!!
It all adds up to a wonderful ride which fans of fantasy will enjoy I am sure, especially as the novel is only part one of a two-part story which contains an interesting cliffhanger that will leave the reader begging for more.
So, why only 4 stars? Well, I wanted to give it 4.5 but 4 stars is an extremely good marking for a start. I merely thought it not quite worthy of a five because the pace of the first half of the novel was a little slow for me; I thoroughly enjoyed the parts involving Fianna, but not so the journey of The Prancer (the main unicorn) which I felt was a trifle laboured. That's personal taste I suppose and I have to admit that once Fianna was crowned/they actually met, the story quickened noticeably somewhere around that point and became a much more interesting/exciting read. Had the novel maintained that pace all the way through, it would have been 5 stars.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to fans of fantasy. I would encourage you to persevere with it if like me you like fast-paced stories. I believe you will not be disappointed. I also think the sequel should be fantastic, as the writer clearly has tremendous skill in both writing and editing.
December 28, 2015
This is a wonderful fantasy story for any age, and the ending will blow your mind! This is a wonderful fantasy story for any age, and the ending will blow your mind. The Dragon Throne follows Fianna, princess and heir to the dragon throne. We first meet her at the age of 11, a year after the death of her mother. Her father inadvertently threatens her position when he takes a new wife, bringing about the possibility that a new, male heir would be born. Fianna runs to her aunt's home, where she is taught the ways of the Dragon Throne, though her aunt's tutelage carries the bitterness of a firstborn woman who also lost the throne to her younger brother.We also follow The Prancer, a unicorn on a journey of honor as he seeks the dragon who killed his milk-brother. The Prancer is honest, determined, and witty, but his past is shrouded in mystery, and he bears the marks of both painter and dancer - positions usually bestowed to twins.Along the way Fianna makes friends with Deian, a boy who's connection with the land is unlike any other human's, but the land and her magic are dying.This is a beautiful fantasy turned sci-fi that strikes all my favorite chords - unicorns, dragons, princesses, and magic - without being cliche or predictable. The story ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger, but the author addresses enough of the story to satisfy the reader while leaving an incredible hunger to start the next book.This book comes highly recommended!
January 29, 2016
The Dragon throne
The story revolves around a young girl, Fianna, heir to the Dragon Throne of Secondus. She is born from the blood of Dragons. At the other end of the spectrum, the story revolves around, the Prancer, or Lord Unicorn as he is referred to in the the kingdom of Primus, by King Anton, born from Unicorn blood, and his followers. By some twist of fate, both Fianna and the Unicorn meet on her journey to get recognised by 'The Family' on the Sacred Mountain. The two quickly become friends after she tends to his wounds, after he is attacked making his way to the same place as she. His mission was to find the killer of his milk-brother, Storm. The two are supposed to be enemies, but aside their prejudices for one another.
The plot for this well written, well conceived tale is a mixture of Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the author has done well to combine the two. I found myself drawn into the story with every page turned. It got to the stage where I didn't want to have to put it down, but knew I had to, if only to sleep.
Everything about this story was done correctly, the structuring and flow were exceptional. The story, well thought out. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Fantasy Novels. It's definite must-read, and I will be keeping track of the story, as it closed on a cliffhanger style ending.
*I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review*
The story revolves around a young girl, Fianna, heir to the Dragon Throne of Secondus. She is born from the blood of Dragons. At the other end of the spectrum, the story revolves around, the Prancer, or Lord Unicorn as he is referred to in the the kingdom of Primus, by King Anton, born from Unicorn blood, and his followers. By some twist of fate, both Fianna and the Unicorn meet on her journey to get recognised by 'The Family' on the Sacred Mountain. The two quickly become friends after she tends to his wounds, after he is attacked making his way to the same place as she. His mission was to find the killer of his milk-brother, Storm. The two are supposed to be enemies, but aside their prejudices for one another.
The plot for this well written, well conceived tale is a mixture of Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the author has done well to combine the two. I found myself drawn into the story with every page turned. It got to the stage where I didn't want to have to put it down, but knew I had to, if only to sleep.
Everything about this story was done correctly, the structuring and flow were exceptional. The story, well thought out. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Fantasy Novels. It's definite must-read, and I will be keeping track of the story, as it closed on a cliffhanger style ending.
*I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review*
May 28, 2016
Book one of The Four Kingdoms series, The Dragon Throne, by Chrys Cymri can be described as the young adults Game of Thrones! I fell in love with the story and the magical characters created by Chrys Cymri. From the beginning, you are introduced to a fantastical world of adventure, friendship, and betrayal. The story is complex, but Cymri does a magnificent job of connecting all of the dots and not leaving any stone unturned.
The characters are well rounded and range from a young woman trying to find herself in order to help her kingdom to a magical Unicorn on a quest to seek vengeance for his lost friend to a family of powerful and cynical Dragons. Cymri has a way of creating characters you want to love and those you'll do nothing but root against from the moment you meet them.
This is a great summer read for young adults who love a fantastical adventure full of twists and turns. The one improvement I would love to see in the follow-ups would be the inclusion of a character key. This would simply add to the magnificence of the story and make the reading process a bit easier. Overall, Chrys Cymri has created a great series and I am excited to continue the story and see how our main protagonists overcome the danger lurking just around the corner!
http://novelideareviews.blogspot.com/...
The characters are well rounded and range from a young woman trying to find herself in order to help her kingdom to a magical Unicorn on a quest to seek vengeance for his lost friend to a family of powerful and cynical Dragons. Cymri has a way of creating characters you want to love and those you'll do nothing but root against from the moment you meet them.
This is a great summer read for young adults who love a fantastical adventure full of twists and turns. The one improvement I would love to see in the follow-ups would be the inclusion of a character key. This would simply add to the magnificence of the story and make the reading process a bit easier. Overall, Chrys Cymri has created a great series and I am excited to continue the story and see how our main protagonists overcome the danger lurking just around the corner!
http://novelideareviews.blogspot.com/...
April 17, 2018
In the woods of the unicorn herd, the Prancer, who has two colours on his flank. Unheard of in the unicorns, as each has a colour denoting their place in the herd. Prancer loses his milk-brother to an attack by a dragon. He takes an oath to retrieve part of his milk-brothers horn that was embedded in the eye of the dragon during the battle. Prancer leaves the safety of the woods and the herd to travel across the human kingdoms to seek the killer. He learns the complex ways of humans and their relationships, wondering if he’ll ever meet the red-haired human he dreamt of in his future telling.
Fianna is the only child of King Stannard and Queen Fiona, and she always expected to become the next Keeper of the Dragon Throne. When her mother dies her father mourns with her for only the customary time allowed. Then his friend brings his daughter to help run the castle who becomes his second wife. Fianna decides to stay away from the interloper by working in the castle stables. When Fianna realises her father’s new bride could bear another heir, she leaves Secondus, the town she loves to live with her aunt, who has her own reasons for teaching Fianna the intricate dealings of deceit and manipulation.
While living with her aunt Fianna meets and befriends a kindly pig herder who has a talent with animals and contact with the Earth. She meets a dragon with a part of a horn in its eye. The pig herder helps heal the dragon and Fianna takes the piece of unicorn horn. She is flattered when the pig herder asks her to wear his band, as a promise of marriage, but she dismisses him as she is a princess. The proposal comes on the day that Fianna discovers her father, King Stannard has died and her stepmother is near to giving birth, she must travel back to the castle where some guards are planning to take over the Kingdom. For her to take her rightful place she must summon the dragons to gain approval to take over the leadership of the kingdom.
While making the perilous journey to the Dragon’s mountain kingdom, Fianna comes across The Prancer who had been viciously attacked by trained unicorn hunting dogs. He is near to death, and although she is to be Keeper of the Dragon Throne, she helps heal the unicorn. Prancer is kind and honest and they become close friends and travel on together. Even though Fianna soon realised Prancer could be saved the arduous journey by her simply handing over the part of the unicorn horn he seeks, she keeps this knowledge from him.
I loved this book and could easily be a huge fan of urban fantasy if this is an example of that genre.
Fianna is the only child of King Stannard and Queen Fiona, and she always expected to become the next Keeper of the Dragon Throne. When her mother dies her father mourns with her for only the customary time allowed. Then his friend brings his daughter to help run the castle who becomes his second wife. Fianna decides to stay away from the interloper by working in the castle stables. When Fianna realises her father’s new bride could bear another heir, she leaves Secondus, the town she loves to live with her aunt, who has her own reasons for teaching Fianna the intricate dealings of deceit and manipulation.
While living with her aunt Fianna meets and befriends a kindly pig herder who has a talent with animals and contact with the Earth. She meets a dragon with a part of a horn in its eye. The pig herder helps heal the dragon and Fianna takes the piece of unicorn horn. She is flattered when the pig herder asks her to wear his band, as a promise of marriage, but she dismisses him as she is a princess. The proposal comes on the day that Fianna discovers her father, King Stannard has died and her stepmother is near to giving birth, she must travel back to the castle where some guards are planning to take over the Kingdom. For her to take her rightful place she must summon the dragons to gain approval to take over the leadership of the kingdom.
While making the perilous journey to the Dragon’s mountain kingdom, Fianna comes across The Prancer who had been viciously attacked by trained unicorn hunting dogs. He is near to death, and although she is to be Keeper of the Dragon Throne, she helps heal the unicorn. Prancer is kind and honest and they become close friends and travel on together. Even though Fianna soon realised Prancer could be saved the arduous journey by her simply handing over the part of the unicorn horn he seeks, she keeps this knowledge from him.
I loved this book and could easily be a huge fan of urban fantasy if this is an example of that genre.
March 20, 2017
Warrior-princess, farm boy and unicorn—all fantasy archetypes. Yet, in The Dragon Throne, the three point-of-view characters are anything but cliché. The author’s fine writing and world-building make their dilemmas real and urgent.
The characters are young, their moral compasses vacillating between what their societies expect and who they are inside. Their decisions are sometimes petty, sometimes noble, but always burdened with the knowledge that “…of those to whom much is given, much is required.”
I could quibble with some departures from equine physiology for the unicorn prince called The Prancer, but then, I’ve only known horses, and as The Prancer often remarks, “I am not a horse!” I could also wonder why a high-profile murder didn’t immediately launch a full-out hunt for the perpetrator. I’ll let those issues slide because I’m far more interested in how the story will progress. The final chapters of volume one of the series allude to tantalizing secrets yet to be revealed. I’m eager to read on.
The characters are young, their moral compasses vacillating between what their societies expect and who they are inside. Their decisions are sometimes petty, sometimes noble, but always burdened with the knowledge that “…of those to whom much is given, much is required.”
I could quibble with some departures from equine physiology for the unicorn prince called The Prancer, but then, I’ve only known horses, and as The Prancer often remarks, “I am not a horse!” I could also wonder why a high-profile murder didn’t immediately launch a full-out hunt for the perpetrator. I’ll let those issues slide because I’m far more interested in how the story will progress. The final chapters of volume one of the series allude to tantalizing secrets yet to be revealed. I’m eager to read on.
October 10, 2017
Someone else might like it
Takes too long for anything to happen. And there are so many things that don't fit, that probably will fit eventually, but it's taking its sweet time getting there...
Bored
Takes too long for anything to happen. And there are so many things that don't fit, that probably will fit eventually, but it's taking its sweet time getting there...
Bored
May 21, 2018
This is a fantasy story that turns partly into a sci-fi near the end.
contains a bit of everything but is probably aimed more at the young adult teenage readers. I kept wanting to tell the main character to grow up & get over herself.
contains a bit of everything but is probably aimed more at the young adult teenage readers. I kept wanting to tell the main character to grow up & get over herself.
January 22, 2022
I was sad when I finished Chrys Cymri’s Penny White series and mourned the loss of characters I had come to love. Then I found this book which is the first of her “Four Kingdoms” series, and I once again find myself enthralled with unicorns and dragons. Life is good 😁
April 7, 2019
What a wonderful story. Too bad it is cut up to make a series because I couldn't put it down.
August 16, 2021
Palace intrigue to the max. Unicorns and Dragons. Humans who swear allegiance to unicorns and dragons. Magic of several different types. Strange combination of all of the above.
The story took a real dark turn and I dropped it.
The story took a real dark turn and I dropped it.
October 25, 2024
I really liked it.
July 20, 2016
Having never read Chrys Cymri this book has confirmed for me I will be delving into the rest of her catalogue in the near future, but am immediately following it up with the sequel, The Unicorn Throne because I cannot let it rest from the end of this book!
The Dragon Throne has everything required of a fun fantasy adventure. Rival kingdoms, dragons and unicorns, ancient magics and those who wield it. Fianna, eleven years old, the heir presumptive, confident, a little-pig-headed, but who understands her place in life, is angered by her father's choice to remarry. Unwilling to submit to this intruding woman, Marissa, Fianna leaves the kingdom to live with her aunt, the bad blood between the king and his sister unending. Thus begins a tale of estrangement, and a battle for power when Fianna's claim is threatened further. Like I said, everything necessary for fantasy fun.
But the story delves so much more deeply and complex with the son of the unicorn leader, the Prancer, who leaves his herd for the human settlements, the simple pig-herder Deian, who Fianna becomes friends with, but stubbornly refuses to forge anything deeper, and the ominous red dragon, who starts a chain reaction with a heartbreaking decision early on, that unfolds slowly, and burns deeply throughout the book.
Then enter Anton, King of the Unicorn Throne, who socks the reader one right in the kisser with a twist you'd have to be a time-travelling dragon to see coming.
Fortunately, even this surprise isn't enough to sigh peacefully and set the story down. No! There is more, much more to come.
What is refreshing is that Fianna, though our hero, is not a prissy little princess. She is confident and resilient, determined, and makes a truckload of mistakes, influenced along the way by family she feels she can't refuse and loyals who offer better advice. She persists with her royal image on the surface, but as she grows up struggles to balance the intensifying conflicts in her life. I'm ecstatic to see where her story takes her from here.
Deian is her opposite, sweet and quiet. He has a connection to animals that seems to be a much deeper talent, and his best friend is a big grey dog called Alastair. His own journey is led by his severe loyalty to Fianna, their friendship in youth forged deep, and his inability to stray from the path subjects him to ridicule and hurt.
One of the best things is the Prancer - the son of the unicorn herd leader, the Dancer - whose mission takes him far from home, on an ale-tasting trip around the kingdoms. Yep, you heard it. Other stuff happens too, but an ale drinking unicorn is basically all I'd need to pick up this book.
I'm sold on the world. It's rich and vibrant, intriguing and I thought I knew what was going to happen until the POW moment, but now I don't. Even halfway through the second book I don't know. It keeps getting more amazing. I don't know how anyone could not be enchanted by this wonderful world Cymri has created, but it's certainly enriched my brain this year.
Brilliant indie author, absolutely worth every penny, certainly has a fan in me now.
The Dragon Throne has everything required of a fun fantasy adventure. Rival kingdoms, dragons and unicorns, ancient magics and those who wield it. Fianna, eleven years old, the heir presumptive, confident, a little-pig-headed, but who understands her place in life, is angered by her father's choice to remarry. Unwilling to submit to this intruding woman, Marissa, Fianna leaves the kingdom to live with her aunt, the bad blood between the king and his sister unending. Thus begins a tale of estrangement, and a battle for power when Fianna's claim is threatened further. Like I said, everything necessary for fantasy fun.
But the story delves so much more deeply and complex with the son of the unicorn leader, the Prancer, who leaves his herd for the human settlements, the simple pig-herder Deian, who Fianna becomes friends with, but stubbornly refuses to forge anything deeper, and the ominous red dragon, who starts a chain reaction with a heartbreaking decision early on, that unfolds slowly, and burns deeply throughout the book.
Then enter Anton, King of the Unicorn Throne, who socks the reader one right in the kisser with a twist you'd have to be a time-travelling dragon to see coming.
Fortunately, even this surprise isn't enough to sigh peacefully and set the story down. No! There is more, much more to come.
What is refreshing is that Fianna, though our hero, is not a prissy little princess. She is confident and resilient, determined, and makes a truckload of mistakes, influenced along the way by family she feels she can't refuse and loyals who offer better advice. She persists with her royal image on the surface, but as she grows up struggles to balance the intensifying conflicts in her life. I'm ecstatic to see where her story takes her from here.
Deian is her opposite, sweet and quiet. He has a connection to animals that seems to be a much deeper talent, and his best friend is a big grey dog called Alastair. His own journey is led by his severe loyalty to Fianna, their friendship in youth forged deep, and his inability to stray from the path subjects him to ridicule and hurt.
One of the best things is the Prancer - the son of the unicorn herd leader, the Dancer - whose mission takes him far from home, on an ale-tasting trip around the kingdoms. Yep, you heard it. Other stuff happens too, but an ale drinking unicorn is basically all I'd need to pick up this book.
I'm sold on the world. It's rich and vibrant, intriguing and I thought I knew what was going to happen until the POW moment, but now I don't. Even halfway through the second book I don't know. It keeps getting more amazing. I don't know how anyone could not be enchanted by this wonderful world Cymri has created, but it's certainly enriched my brain this year.
Brilliant indie author, absolutely worth every penny, certainly has a fan in me now.
May 29, 2016
The cover is just...all right. Out of curiosity I took a look at a few of the other covers the author had, and they seem to convey a better sense of wonder and scale. In this one, the knight and the dragon both seem to be nonchalantly looking at it each as if to say, 'yep, just another day on this mountain'. Plus the placement of whiteness is confusing. If it wasn't for the moon, I would have a sense they were in a tunnel somewhere. But like I said, there are better covers, including one in this very series.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The characterization and scenes are done very well and Fianna is a very likeable, albeit flawed protagonist. The interactions between her and Deian (a pig farmer) were the most enjoyable part. If the book had just been about their growing relationship from start to finish I would have easily been happy with that. The book also shifts into the viewpoint of Prancer the Unicorn, which is a slightly weaker story than Fianna's but still entertaining enough to read. And the idea of an ale-drinking unicorn is a very appealing one-although, I wish this was a quirk the unicorn develops instead of a time-honored tradition, but it is still a fun part of the novel.
Unfortunately, a lack of ending seems to be the biggest issue in The Dragon Throne. There are a lot of interesting plot threads set up, but will likely not be resolved until later in the series. Most fantasy books tend to clock in around 300 pages, so this one is a bit on the short side. I wish more time could have been spent resolving some plot threads, as we have an attempted assassination attempt, an actual successful assassination attempt, Fianna trying to prove herself to the dragons, an invitation to a rival Kingdom, and a twist that I am not going to spoil but will hope the author develops with caution in mind, and a few other plots as well. With any luck some of these will be resolved in the Unicorn Throne, which is the next book in the series.
Overall, it is a strong beginning with great characters, but readers may not be happy with the lack of conclusion. Hopefully this is not a growing trend with writers.
http://www.blackhavenreviews.com/2016...
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The characterization and scenes are done very well and Fianna is a very likeable, albeit flawed protagonist. The interactions between her and Deian (a pig farmer) were the most enjoyable part. If the book had just been about their growing relationship from start to finish I would have easily been happy with that. The book also shifts into the viewpoint of Prancer the Unicorn, which is a slightly weaker story than Fianna's but still entertaining enough to read. And the idea of an ale-drinking unicorn is a very appealing one-although, I wish this was a quirk the unicorn develops instead of a time-honored tradition, but it is still a fun part of the novel.
Unfortunately, a lack of ending seems to be the biggest issue in The Dragon Throne. There are a lot of interesting plot threads set up, but will likely not be resolved until later in the series. Most fantasy books tend to clock in around 300 pages, so this one is a bit on the short side. I wish more time could have been spent resolving some plot threads, as we have an attempted assassination attempt, an actual successful assassination attempt, Fianna trying to prove herself to the dragons, an invitation to a rival Kingdom, and a twist that I am not going to spoil but will hope the author develops with caution in mind, and a few other plots as well. With any luck some of these will be resolved in the Unicorn Throne, which is the next book in the series.
Overall, it is a strong beginning with great characters, but readers may not be happy with the lack of conclusion. Hopefully this is not a growing trend with writers.
http://www.blackhavenreviews.com/2016...
May 21, 2016
This the first of the Four Kingdoms books but I came to it second, after The Unicorn Throne. Although there is an on-going story thread which connects up the two (and, I presume, the whole series) and you can tell that the writer has an end-point at which she is aiming, each book is complete within itself, initiating and resolving a central storyline.
Fianna is the central character, feisty and angry, emotionally immature and yet destined to be queen. We watch her making mistakes, taking wrong decisions, justifying them as she goes with a rationale which is specious but understandable.
Prancer, a young Unicorn with identity issues, becomes her companion. He is a delightful mixture of gauche young adult, sampling the big wide world (including beer) for the first time, and a sensitive, instinctively spiritual being, in tune with the Land; he has an innate honesty and sense of what is right, the ideal foil and helper for Fianna.
The realm of the Four Kingdoms is brilliantly realised. The geography, politics, sociology and spiritual life of the people has real depth and substance. Unlike so many fantasy books, where the writer has to give reams of information, explanation and justification, here things are just as they are, clearly imagined and faultlessly written.
These books are an ideal read for young adults and adults and will read-aloud beautifully for younger children too.
Fianna is the central character, feisty and angry, emotionally immature and yet destined to be queen. We watch her making mistakes, taking wrong decisions, justifying them as she goes with a rationale which is specious but understandable.
Prancer, a young Unicorn with identity issues, becomes her companion. He is a delightful mixture of gauche young adult, sampling the big wide world (including beer) for the first time, and a sensitive, instinctively spiritual being, in tune with the Land; he has an innate honesty and sense of what is right, the ideal foil and helper for Fianna.
The realm of the Four Kingdoms is brilliantly realised. The geography, politics, sociology and spiritual life of the people has real depth and substance. Unlike so many fantasy books, where the writer has to give reams of information, explanation and justification, here things are just as they are, clearly imagined and faultlessly written.
These books are an ideal read for young adults and adults and will read-aloud beautifully for younger children too.
January 30, 2016
The Dragon Throne was an easy read, with good character development. I got to know all the characters well shortly after they were introduced. My only complaint was that it was a little unclear at the beginning that there were four kingdoms in this land that Chrys created. I was about a third of the way through the book before I realized I wasn't following that part clearly. However, a closer glance at the cover of the book revealed a subtitle: The Four Kingdoms Book One. Oops, looks like that's on me!
If you like fantastic stories, this one has all the necessary components: dragons, unicorns, and a few kingdoms almost on the brink of war. I'll be honest, at first I thought the unicorns were going to be a silly side story, but it really all tied together. Unlikely allies are made, strange discoveries await the characters, and it leaves the read satisfied but still curious as to what comes next.
Long story short - good fantasy story with mildly complicated plot lines that resolve this portion of the story while leaving you wanting to read more of these characters. The book has 212 pages and this busy working mom read it in a week. Chapters are long, but with those nice "space breaks" so you can pause in the middle of a chapter if you need to.
If you like fantastic stories, this one has all the necessary components: dragons, unicorns, and a few kingdoms almost on the brink of war. I'll be honest, at first I thought the unicorns were going to be a silly side story, but it really all tied together. Unlikely allies are made, strange discoveries await the characters, and it leaves the read satisfied but still curious as to what comes next.
Long story short - good fantasy story with mildly complicated plot lines that resolve this portion of the story while leaving you wanting to read more of these characters. The book has 212 pages and this busy working mom read it in a week. Chapters are long, but with those nice "space breaks" so you can pause in the middle of a chapter if you need to.
April 25, 2016
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
This was a slow moving book that really didn't take off until the 80% mark, just in time to try and hook readers for the following book in the series. For a novel that contained an assassination and three confrontations with a dragon there wasn't much action or anything of interest to draw the reader in. I also found that this novel seemed to borrow a lot from other works in the genres. Certain elements called to mind both the Pern series and The Derkholm duology by Diana Wynne Jones. There is also a scene at approximately the 80% mark which reminds me a great deal of a scene in the A Song of Fire and Ice series. I don't think any novel can truly be called original, but I prefer any connection to a previous work, especially such popular ones to be less obvious. Furthermore, the writing was quite rough in spots so even the semi-interesting bits were hampered by some oddly worded and structured sentences. I gave this book three stars, while I didn't enjoy it myself I could see the appeal.
This was a slow moving book that really didn't take off until the 80% mark, just in time to try and hook readers for the following book in the series. For a novel that contained an assassination and three confrontations with a dragon there wasn't much action or anything of interest to draw the reader in. I also found that this novel seemed to borrow a lot from other works in the genres. Certain elements called to mind both the Pern series and The Derkholm duology by Diana Wynne Jones. There is also a scene at approximately the 80% mark which reminds me a great deal of a scene in the A Song of Fire and Ice series. I don't think any novel can truly be called original, but I prefer any connection to a previous work, especially such popular ones to be less obvious. Furthermore, the writing was quite rough in spots so even the semi-interesting bits were hampered by some oddly worded and structured sentences. I gave this book three stars, while I didn't enjoy it myself I could see the appeal.
March 17, 2016
This is a well-written book that combines mythical dragons and unicorns. The plot moves along smoothly and there are elements of surprise along the way. In the beginning, chapters alternate between subplots within either the dragon kingdoms or the unicorn kingdoms, until the two meet in the form of Fianna, a human heir to the Dragon Throne and Prancer, a unicorn.
The humans and mythical creatures are believable and themes of loyalty, courage and love emerge. Equality and perseverance in the face of challenges and rejection are emphasized.
My only criticism is that the early unicorn kingdom chapters were not as engaging, the pace was a little slow and I felt myself wishing we'd get back to the dragon kingdom chapters. Once characters from the two kingdoms appeared together, I was fully engaged!
Enjoyable read that I recommend.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The humans and mythical creatures are believable and themes of loyalty, courage and love emerge. Equality and perseverance in the face of challenges and rejection are emphasized.
My only criticism is that the early unicorn kingdom chapters were not as engaging, the pace was a little slow and I felt myself wishing we'd get back to the dragon kingdom chapters. Once characters from the two kingdoms appeared together, I was fully engaged!
Enjoyable read that I recommend.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2016
I enjoyed reading The Dragon Throne, a well-written fantasy that follows the adventures and misadventures of Fianna, a young princess. I liked her, and felt compassion for her as she went through all she had to deal with. I liked her growing friendship with Deian. I enjoyed getting to know him. He was awesome, and I hope, hope that he will make a significant appearance in the next book! I liked the scenes with the unicorns, and learning about their culture. The Prancer I especially liked, and I enjoyed following him through his part of the story.
The book ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger leading into the next book. I enjoy fantasy, particularly well-written fantasy, and so I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book!
I received a copy of The Dragon Throne in exchange for an honest review.
The book ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger leading into the next book. I enjoy fantasy, particularly well-written fantasy, and so I am glad I had the opportunity to read this book!
I received a copy of The Dragon Throne in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, The Dragon Throne. Truthfully, while it started out as a fairly good, but standard Fantasy novel, the addition of the non human characters (don't want to give to much away) was a good and surprising twist. Even more so as you become aware of the political ins and outs of how all these Kingdoms interact. While this is the second book by Chrys Cymri I've read, the two stories don't have a lot in common, which I think shows the breadth of her talent.
All in all I was pleasantly surprised, this is a very good read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All in all I was pleasantly surprised, this is a very good read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2016
Fantasy and Sci-Fi all in one. This book is very interesting. The authors great descriptions kept me captive by this book. I could see the characters jump off the page. Dragons and magic are great to read about and I love a great story too! If you like Fantasy or want to read a book with dragons you need to check this one out! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
April 25, 2017
Fianna is a young girl, the only heir of King Stannard, destined to sit on the Dragon Throne at some point down the road. This certainty becomes hazy at best when the King takes a new wife with thoughts of having another child, a male heir which could trump Fianna's claim. Angered and upset, Fianna exiles herself and lives with her aunt until she returns 4 years later after her father's death to claim her throne. Along her journey to summon the dragons to support her claim, she comes across a unicorn, Prancer, who is on his own journey to face a dragon to avenge the death of his milk-brother.
For starters, the author writes very well. There was a great flow from page to page in the writing, and descriptive scenes helping the reader get into the world. However, there was too little action for my tastes, and lots of filler that seemed unimportant to the story. This book is already on the shorter side for fantasy, but I feel almost half could be cut out and not hamper the main story at all. The chapters seemed outrageously long, only 13 in the book. I believe the story could have been cut up better into smaller sections, especially given the low level of action. At times it was an effort to get through a chapter, as they seemed to drag on. And where were the dragons? I would have expected more involvement with the dragons. Perhaps in the next book? Their place in the book seemed unimportant and strange with very little interaction and a lot of questions left about who and what they really are.
The world building was good, the clash between kingdoms, and dragon and unicorns was interesting in itself, and had promise, but unfortunately the story did not deliver. There are a lot of plot lines left unresolved as this book came to a close. Too many for my liking. Nothing was resolved at the conclusion of the book. It felt like I finished part 1 of a book and not an entire novel. There was little action, not much of a rising action, and certainly no climax or resolution. I do not know how book 2 goes, and what is revealed, but I feel like much of this book could be cut, and then combined with book 2 in order to make one story that would potentially flow better than this as a stand alone novel.
I will not spoil one of the "twists," but I found it unexciting and overdone in this genre. And little was done with it other than simply mentioning it. It did nothing for me, not adding anything to the story (though I'm sure will down the road later in the series) but it seemed so out of place and took away from the read.
I wanted to like the book, the potential was there, there were fun engaging characters, a great flow in narrative, and the world building was down pretty well, but the book seemed incomplete at best. For that main reason, and the lack of action and loads of filler, I did not enjoy it, and find myself not really caring what happens in the rest of the series. I'm sure many lovers of fantasy could get behind this book and enjoy the series, but it's not for me.
For starters, the author writes very well. There was a great flow from page to page in the writing, and descriptive scenes helping the reader get into the world. However, there was too little action for my tastes, and lots of filler that seemed unimportant to the story. This book is already on the shorter side for fantasy, but I feel almost half could be cut out and not hamper the main story at all. The chapters seemed outrageously long, only 13 in the book. I believe the story could have been cut up better into smaller sections, especially given the low level of action. At times it was an effort to get through a chapter, as they seemed to drag on. And where were the dragons? I would have expected more involvement with the dragons. Perhaps in the next book? Their place in the book seemed unimportant and strange with very little interaction and a lot of questions left about who and what they really are.
The world building was good, the clash between kingdoms, and dragon and unicorns was interesting in itself, and had promise, but unfortunately the story did not deliver. There are a lot of plot lines left unresolved as this book came to a close. Too many for my liking. Nothing was resolved at the conclusion of the book. It felt like I finished part 1 of a book and not an entire novel. There was little action, not much of a rising action, and certainly no climax or resolution. I do not know how book 2 goes, and what is revealed, but I feel like much of this book could be cut, and then combined with book 2 in order to make one story that would potentially flow better than this as a stand alone novel.
I will not spoil one of the "twists," but I found it unexciting and overdone in this genre. And little was done with it other than simply mentioning it. It did nothing for me, not adding anything to the story (though I'm sure will down the road later in the series) but it seemed so out of place and took away from the read.
I wanted to like the book, the potential was there, there were fun engaging characters, a great flow in narrative, and the world building was down pretty well, but the book seemed incomplete at best. For that main reason, and the lack of action and loads of filler, I did not enjoy it, and find myself not really caring what happens in the rest of the series. I'm sure many lovers of fantasy could get behind this book and enjoy the series, but it's not for me.
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October 5, 2018Loved it!
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