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The Shadow War Saga #1
Dragon Speaker
Everyone knows this story: an unlikely young hero is chosen by divine providence to save the world from a terrible evil.
Except Keriya Nameless is crippled, without the ability to wield magic—in fact, she's the only person who doesn't have powers of her own. The god who chose her is a mysterious dragon with a knack for exploiting loopholes in rules. Oh, and that terrible evil the world needs to be saved from? Maybe it’s not quite as evil as everyone says.
As Keriya ventures into the magical realm of Allentria, she learns things aren't black-and-white, and not everything is what it appears to be. Her quest would test the courage of even the bravest hero, and as the chosen Dragon Speaker, she quickly learns she's at the center of an age-old war . . .
A war that will decide the fate of everything.
Except Keriya Nameless is crippled, without the ability to wield magic—in fact, she's the only person who doesn't have powers of her own. The god who chose her is a mysterious dragon with a knack for exploiting loopholes in rules. Oh, and that terrible evil the world needs to be saved from? Maybe it’s not quite as evil as everyone says.
As Keriya ventures into the magical realm of Allentria, she learns things aren't black-and-white, and not everything is what it appears to be. Her quest would test the courage of even the bravest hero, and as the chosen Dragon Speaker, she quickly learns she's at the center of an age-old war . . .
A war that will decide the fate of everything.
366 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2016
163 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Elana A. Mugdan
10 books121 followersJust a dragon stuck in a human costume. Neutral Good on my best days, Chaotic Evil on my worst.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 6, 2026
Keriya Nameless lives in a world where she constantly feels boxed in - there's so much she wants to do, but very little that she is
"I didn't choose to start this, but I'm choosing to finish it."
The village elders state she cannot ever become a full member of their village because she's:
And so, on the eve of the Ceremony of Choice, Keriya forces the elder's hand and secures herself a spot.
"the only person ever to be born without magic, and that alone makes you [Keriya] unworthy..."
She races off into the forest with the rest of her age group, bound and determined to survive the trials and bring back glory.
And then she dies.
Sort of.
Turns out that the village gods are real, and Shivnath, the dragon goddess, takes notice of young Keriya.
And Keriya, while young and naive is not that young and naive.
"You are an interesting creature...I've decided that having you dead is unacceptable."
And so, she is told the story of Necrover - a terrible man who is ready to sweep his great evil across the land once more - and that she (Keriya) (the Nameless) (the Magicless) is a Dragon Speaker.
"I've read enough stories to know where this is going...you need me to fight..."
Only one problem.
She doesn't have a dragon.
With little more than a whisper and a prayer, Keriya sets off (technically, she's chased out by her torch-and-pitchfork armed villages) - after all , if someone has to save the world, it might as well be her.
In short - yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!
"He sensed something terrible and foul, something far worse than anything they had yet encountered.
Keriya was in mortal danger."
This book has everything I was looking for - adventure, drama, intrigue, humor (I could go on...)
The world, Allentria, was fairly well-done. I particularly enjoyed the magic system - it had a slightly Avatar (the last Airbender) feel with the elemental magic but Dragon Speaker was unique enough to stand on its own.
I was a little thrown by the "witch thing" (Keriya is thrown out of her village due to witch accusations... but they can all do magic...? Ah well)
The characters were well done - which can be difficult given the sheer number of them!
But the author introduced each of the five main characters slowly, giving the audience enough time to adjust to the ever-growing party. (Thank goodness!)
I absolutely loved the slightly-bumbling-and-definitely-foul-mouthed secondary characters - how can you not smile when you come upon quotes like this?!
And (of course) my favorite character was the dragon, Thorion.
"You bloody tronkin' rotter! You fungus-brained son of a trollop!"
I am an absolute sucker for any book that has a dragon in it, and this one did not disappoint.
Dragons (in this world) are emotionless and apathetically cruel unless they bond with a person (and are thus humanized).
Thorion, even in his cruelest and wildest state, had such a hilarious deadpan that I spent much of my time wishing he had more page space.
Though, to be fair, the entire book's sense of humor was really on point.
"Wisdom dictates that it is inadvisable to deal with humans."
I had a blast reading this - it was refreshing and fun. I cannot wait to see what the author writes next!
"Whoever decorated this place had really nailed the 'imminent doom' motif."
With thanks to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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October 5, 2018
4.5 AMAZING STARS!
Dragon Speaker is one of those books with a very complicating beginning because of the introduction of the world and the magic system that the author has created,and sometimes it was really hard to follow(maybe for me,since I read it everyday for 2 weeks after 10 hours of studying medicine per day),but once you read the first 100 pages,it's impossible to stop then.
I really enjoyed it.It's a high fantasy novel,and everyone who knows me,knows for sure that I am a sucker for high fantasy.The world is amazing,the geography,the characters are so beautifully described,you can't help but imagine it all.I don't know why it gave me a Jurassic World meet Shannara Chronicles vibe.
I won't describe the story since I always end up spoiling it,and believe me you want to read this without being spoiled.All I will say is that it is a story about being yourself and always believing in yourself,a story of friendship and trust and determination.
I wanna thank the author for providing me a copy of this book for a honest review.
I recommend this book to every fantasy lover out there.Read it,you'll have so much fun doing it.
October 2, 2019
3.5 ★★★✬✩ for the hungry dragon
⤐ Overall.
I felt like I knew what I was getting into; A fantasy epos with dragons, magicians and a strong heroine. The beginning of the book even gave me The Name of the Wind-vibes. But the almost comic self-irony Kvothe offers the reader and makes this series so amazing in my eyes doesn't quite find its roots here. In general, this was still a great adventure but the heroine is pretty exhausting. I wouldn't quite use the word annoying as I really felt her motivations and point of view but a little appreciation for her fellow adventurers wouldn't have hurt anybody. I did, however, highly enjoy the dragon-myth Elana creates in her story: wise, low on the emotions-department, and irritating. I just loved it and really liked the relationship between the main character Keriya and "her" dragon Thorion.
In general, I would say the story building needs a bit more practice because it felt a bit disruptive at times. I would have also liked to experience more of the wielding of magic itself.
⤐ Whats happening.
Keriya, seen as a cripple by others and also herself, is born without magical powers and is thus highly surprised she sees the Dragon god Shivnath in a vision. The good gifts her with a part of her own power that Keriya can only access when the time arrives and only for that one time. Keriya is supposed to find the last remaining dragon to protect him from the dark magician Necrovar, who she will have to fight with the borrowed godly power.
Without any chance to prepare herself for the quest ahead, she needs to flee to Allentria with two unlikely companions: her best friend Fletcher and the powerful but prideful Roxanne. Both luck and a will to fight make it possible for them to actually find the dragon. It is at this point that I really had to laugh out loud and applaud Elana for breaking with the typical stereotype of dragons.
What people expect when they hear the word dragon:
What they actually get:
It's not so much the character of the examples above but rather the size. The minute it says Keriya is able to carry Thorion around on her shoulder, I just couldn't help but picture a wise and somewhat detached Mushu. I also liked how clearly it is depicted how all kinds of parties want to instrumentalise her the second she is the companion of a dragon. I feel like this is a point often missed out on in many hero-stories: The moment you have power and show it, your surrounding will want to take advantage of it. And sometimes, it is quite pressuring to have all these expectations sitting on your shoulders, especially when:
One of my favourite elements of this story is the constant but yet glorious banter between Effrax and the feisty Roxanne, which can be summed up in this:
I see my past self during arguments with ex-boyfriends and I can only say: Gurl, I feel you, I really do.
I also laughed out loud at this:
That's exactly the conversion I would expect to lead with misogynist assholes when the "try to do better" and absolutely do not bother but at least didn't do worse.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 3,5*
pace = 4*
plot development = 3,5*
characters = 4*
enjoyability = 3* (it was hard sometimes to push through.
insightfulness = 3*
_____________________
This eArc was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
This book is for you if… you enjoy multiple points of view, 3rs person narration, dragons, don't equate size with skills and are not easily annoyed by teenager quarrels.
⤐ Overall.
I felt like I knew what I was getting into; A fantasy epos with dragons, magicians and a strong heroine. The beginning of the book even gave me The Name of the Wind-vibes. But the almost comic self-irony Kvothe offers the reader and makes this series so amazing in my eyes doesn't quite find its roots here. In general, this was still a great adventure but the heroine is pretty exhausting. I wouldn't quite use the word annoying as I really felt her motivations and point of view but a little appreciation for her fellow adventurers wouldn't have hurt anybody. I did, however, highly enjoy the dragon-myth Elana creates in her story: wise, low on the emotions-department, and irritating. I just loved it and really liked the relationship between the main character Keriya and "her" dragon Thorion.
In general, I would say the story building needs a bit more practice because it felt a bit disruptive at times. I would have also liked to experience more of the wielding of magic itself.
⤐ Whats happening.
Keriya, seen as a cripple by others and also herself, is born without magical powers and is thus highly surprised she sees the Dragon god Shivnath in a vision. The good gifts her with a part of her own power that Keriya can only access when the time arrives and only for that one time. Keriya is supposed to find the last remaining dragon to protect him from the dark magician Necrovar, who she will have to fight with the borrowed godly power.
Without any chance to prepare herself for the quest ahead, she needs to flee to Allentria with two unlikely companions: her best friend Fletcher and the powerful but prideful Roxanne. Both luck and a will to fight make it possible for them to actually find the dragon. It is at this point that I really had to laugh out loud and applaud Elana for breaking with the typical stereotype of dragons.
What people expect when they hear the word dragon:
What they actually get:
It's not so much the character of the examples above but rather the size. The minute it says Keriya is able to carry Thorion around on her shoulder, I just couldn't help but picture a wise and somewhat detached Mushu. I also liked how clearly it is depicted how all kinds of parties want to instrumentalise her the second she is the companion of a dragon. I feel like this is a point often missed out on in many hero-stories: The moment you have power and show it, your surrounding will want to take advantage of it. And sometimes, it is quite pressuring to have all these expectations sitting on your shoulders, especially when:
"It wouldn't hurt to have another person helping us look for the dragon, would it?" she asked. Especially, since I won't be able to summon it, added the tiny voice in her head
One of my favourite elements of this story is the constant but yet glorious banter between Effrax and the feisty Roxanne, which can be summed up in this:
Anything he wanted, she had decided she was against.
I see my past self during arguments with ex-boyfriends and I can only say: Gurl, I feel you, I really do.
I also laughed out loud at this:
"Ein't I done a good job for you in this past month?"
"You've done passably mediocre job", Thanthflame says flatly.
That's exactly the conversion I would expect to lead with misogynist assholes when the "try to do better" and absolutely do not bother but at least didn't do worse.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 3,5*
pace = 4*
plot development = 3,5*
characters = 4*
enjoyability = 3* (it was hard sometimes to push through.
insightfulness = 3*
_____________________
This eArc was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
November 16, 2016
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Please Note: I received a free copy of Dragon Speaker from it’s author Elana A. Mugdan in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way, and all thoughts expressed are solely my own.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a high-fantasy novel. And when I say a long time, I mean a looooong time. I’m pretty sure the last one I read was Eragon, and, well, that was the book that started my love of reading. So yeah, it’s been a while.
Let me just start by saying that I am in absolute awe of the world that Elana has built here. I applaud the amount of work and imagination that has gone into bringing the whole story to life. It’s very obvious that both the world and the story have been born from something that the author is very passionate about. It’s hard not to fall in love, because there is just so much depth and complexity to it. But it’s that complexity that took away from the novel. Well, at least for me, anyway.
Keriya Nameless was born into a world filled with magic wielders with no magic of her own. Coupled with her otherworldly appearance, she has always been labeled as unworthy of a place within her village. On the day that the children set out to become a part of their society, she sets out to prove them wrong. All she wants is to prove that she belongs, but little does she know that her world is about to change in more ways than she could possibly imagine.
After a run-in with the goddess Shivnath, Keriya is chosen by the mighty being to find and protect the world’s last living dragon. It is up to her to keep the dragon from the hands of the countless others who want to use the dragon’s power for their own. With two reluctant sidekicks by her side, Keriya is forced to leave her home, and set out on a quest that will throw her right into the middle of an age-old war.
It's with this novel that I've discovered that perhaps high-fantasy just isn't for me. Now, I’m a real sucker for books set around epic quests and adventures, so I was upset that when I first started reading this book, I actually had to put it down after the first 80 pages or so. On my first attempt, I struggled and struggled to make sense of everything that was being thrown at me, from the vastness and history of the world itself, to the magic system of its inhabitants. It just became a little too much for me to handle, and it was a month before I managed to pick it back up again…
When I did return, I was completely immersed in both the world and the story. Having that break really did benefit me, because knowing just how complex everything was, gave me a a chance to mentally better prepare myself. In saying that though, I still suffered from a lot of confusion, but I was able to follow everything more clearly than I originally had.
The magic system was easy enough to understand for the most part.The system is elemental-based, and some people can control certain threads of the elements (just think of the benders from Avatar: the Last Airbender).
But then the magic did go deeper than that, and I wish that a lot more of it had been explained. Perhaps it will be in the later novels. I’m still not sure that I have a complete understanding of the war that plays a big part in this story, but I think that I could easily continue the series with no more than a few minor mishaps.
It might be worth mentioning here that when I was nearly finished with the book, I discovered just how much of an idiot I really am. So, sometimes I flick towards the end of the book to see roughly how many pages I have left to read, and that’s when I found it.
THE DAMN GLOSSARY.
I mean, to my defence, pretty much all of the books that I read don't come with either a glossary nor a contents page. And I don't like it when books come with a contents page, because I feel that chapter titles give away spoilers. But anyway, so much of my confusion would have been obliterated if I had even thought to check! Of course, by this point it was no help to me because I was so close to the end. So here's a helpful hint if you plan on reading this novel: KEEP THE GLOSSARY TABBED.
Confusion aside, one of the things that I adore most about this novel is the character development, and how each of the side characters were just as important to the story as Keriya herself. They all had their own flaws and quirks, and I loved seeing each character grow into themselves as their stories progressed.
Overall, I really enjoyed Dragon Speaker, despite the mishaps I faced along the way. Although my final rating is only 3 stars, I don’t want anyone to be put off by it. I didn’t rate it any higher than purely because of my experience alone. Had I not taken a month-long hiatus from this book, I probably would have upped the rating to 4 stars.
I can’t wait to see where this story is heading to next.
March 14, 2019
“To be different is a marker of greatness; but if you do not embrace it, you will be neither different nor great.”
Meet Keriya Nameless, a crippled orphan girl. She's not your average female hero MC. When a god, an old powerful dragon, chose her to be a Dragon Speaker and banish evil from the world, she's not sure she can complete the task because she doesn't have the ability to wield magic. Her quest demand she must go to a place that she believes is a wasteland, cross through the sacred mountain, and fight foul creatures. It will take not only bravery but also loyalty, patience, and trust. As she confronts her enemy, she learns she's at the center of an age-old war.
When you put your trust in dragons, I believe you will not be hurt or betrayed.
Have you ever picked up a book knowing very little about the story or even nothing at all? The only reason I picked up this book in the first place was that I spotted a dragon on the cover and the word 'dragon' on its title. Well, for me that was enough reason for someone to read a book, right? I chose this without knowing anything except the blurb but aside from that, nothing. So, even though I was expecting something great, I didn't dare to put it higher than that. But holy guacamole, what I got was MIND BLOWING.
Believe me when I said Dragon Speaker is different from other YA books that are currently trending right now. To sum it up, this is what you'll get: DRAGON, full-packed adventure and action, awesome world-building, great characters development, fantastic quotes, friendship and a very little brush of romance. Sounds intriguing? Then I recommend you to read it. Yes, you don't need to read my review until the end because basically, it will contain most of the things from this book and I'm afraid I'll spoil something accidentally. But if you still want to read my thoughts on this one then go ahead and brace yourself because it's going to be a long wild ride.
“Though you may think you wish to disappear, perhaps all you really want is to be found.”
First, let's talk about the plot, the writing, and the world-building. Okay, when I read the first few chapters I was surprised by how fast the pace was. I feel like there were some plot holes in the beginning and the feeling didn't sit well with me. I don't mind with the fast-paced story but this one was like a super speed car; one time you were standing on the start line, ready to explore the road ahead but then suddenly you're already moving fast and missed the view. But because of the pace, I could pass unnecessary scenes and jump forward to where the real story began. After a while, I adjusted with the how fast this book was going and I was enjoying it! The plot was well-structured, it gave a little in the beginning but then it grew bigger and better. I loved it.
I liked how Mugdan wrote it in third person POV, it was fun for me seeing the story from different eyes. She did an amazing job of distinguishing each character's perspective so I instantly knew when the POV changed and easily followed the story. There is the kind of books who has a lot of POVs but it didn't truly add anything to the story and only make the book feel longer. But this book was nothing like that. The different POV was only made me understand the characters better and saw important scenes where the MC wasn't present. The writing was great, enjoyable, and there were so many good quotes.
“It is trust, rather than courage, that is the opposite of fear.”
The world-building was jaw-dropping. You may not see it in the beginning but when you finished, you'll see that this book contained more than you think. There were magic and Allentria was divided into three kingdom based on the magic its people wield; Erastate (air), Fironem (fire), and Galantasa (water). When I say magic, yes, you could expect many magic battle scenes but when I say kingdom, I'm sorry but no, you can't expect complicated and stressful political intrigue. Yes, there were rulers who were likely hiding and plotting something but in this book there was no further explanation about it. The kingdoms sounded very interesting and I wished I could know and see more of their cultures.
CHARACTERIZATION
Keriya, a girl with no magic and no parents. From that you can guess that she was abused mentally and physically by society. She was trying hard to prove herself to the point where she became annoying and it frustrated me.
“Heroes don’t need help. I’ll get us over the mountains by myself.”
I appreciated her spirit but because of that she often forgot that others also have their own purpose and feelings. She hurt her friends and became arrogant, she only thought about herself.
“I earned the right to be respected when Shivnath gave me this quest. Who are you to talk? You haven’t helped. You haven’t done anything.”
But, as her quest went, she changed from a stubborn and selfish girl into a strong and great friend. I really loved how her character developed.
“You are an idiot but so am I. I’d never have gotten this far without you. You stuck with me from the beginning, from all the way back in Aeria. You were there when everyone else hated me. And I never thanked you.”
Thorion, a young dragon that escaped Etherworld and now being hunted down by Necrovar. From the moment he appeared, I knew that he's my favorite. The first time, he was emotionless, as any dragon supposed to be. So it was funny to read his interactions with Keriya while he also learning new things from her.
“If trust is what it means to accept help from another creature based on the belief that he or she will be useful to me, then yes, I trust you.”
Because of the time Thorion spent with Keriya and her friends, he changed from emotionless and stoic to brave and would fight anyone who hurt his friends even though he was small compared to normal size dragon due to his young age.
Thorion felt something rising within him and he opened his mouth. For the first time in his young life, he let loose a roar— not the yip of a pup nor the shrieks of a crackling, but a true dragon roar, a sound that had struck fear and reverence into the hearts of mortals in ages long past.
Roxanne, a daughter from one of the elders who wanted to be free from her abusing father. She used to be surrounded with high-level people who treated her well because of her father's status so at the beginning I found her whining and complaining most of the time.
“I’m done doing what people tell me.”
But underneath that, Roxanne was brave and independent though she might be hard to approach. Along the road, she warmed up with people around her. She became stronger and learning to care about others. She is another one of my favorite characters.
“I don’t have to like a person to respect them . And what you did for Thorion . . . I respect that. You put his welfare before your own— before everyone’s, really— but . . . well, we should all be so lucky to have someone like you.”
Fletcher, a boy from a low caste family. Because of the circumstances, he befriended Keriya. They were great friends because Fletcher willingly followed her journey even though he has very little magic. He found himself was no help because every time danger came, he couldn't do anything even though he wanted to. At first, I saw him as a scared little boy but he was actually a good person.
Through all the hardships he felt along the journey, Fletcher became strong and brave without losing his good morals. I was surprised by his development but I liked it.
He was the good one, the person who always did the ethical thing, the moral compass.
Maxton, heir to the Sky Throne. Like the usual royals, he has charms and the good look. I found his character pretty bland. There was nothing about him that interest me.
“Get some rest. We have a long journey ahead of us. It will be an adventure fit for the storybooks.”
Effrax, a bastard son of King of Fironem. He was a spy and joined Keriya's quest only because he doesn't want his people to suffer so he wanted to help to destroyed Necrovar. My first impression of him was he seemed like a fun person to be around, no kidding, even I didn't know of his true intentions were.
“I should think that’s rather obvious. I’m spying on you. I do have a nasty habit of that, you know.”
He was funny, stealthy, and a great fighter. He changed from an outcast to a part of the group. He proved himself by fighting alongside them.
He’d paid little attention to Effrax before that moment, and most of the attention he had paid had been negative, for Keriya distrusted him. Yet Effrax had just saved his life.
Sebaris, heir to the Coral Throne of Kingdom Galantasa. As a princess, Seba has a duty to fulfill but she wanted to choose her own path.
She was merely to be a princess, and one day, a queen—a figurehead who would be seen and never heard. She was to sit by her husband’s side and bear him children, and ultimately she would die and be forgotten, having never done anything substantive in her life.
She was strong-willed, smart, with a hint of a princess's attitude. Well, yeah it made her a little bit annoying but I think there's actually more about her that has yet revealed in this book.
The story might be about a teenager (around 14-year-old) who was on the journey to defeat evil and save the world. But this book is more than that.
It is about how you embraced every flaw in yourself and found a way to wear it proudly.
It is about how you should follow your dreams and fight for it.
It is about arguing and fighting with friends but still stand by each other no matter what.
It is about turning your weaknesses into something that gives you power.
It is about a hero with mistakes, imperfections, and who have been cast out by society but still fight for people's lives.
“Do not fear the shadows, fear the monsters that hide in them.”
Overall, Dragon Speaker was an amazing book and I'm glad to read it. Sure, there were some minors but the greater things outshine them. If you managed to read my review until this part where you read this sentence, I supposed you can decide whether this is your type of book or not but I still recommend you to check it out. Book 2, Dragon Child, hit the shelves in May. I can't wait!
November 17, 2018
This book had all the facets that I love.
Dragons - check☑️
Dragon speaker - check☑️
Bond between them - check☑️
Magic wielder - check☑️
Good vs evil - check☑️
Underdog heroes - check☑️
A fab villain - check☑️
A Goddess with secrets - check☑️
Worldbuilding - check☑️
Fast pace - check☑️
The book took me a long time to read, almost 4 days or so. The book was the cumulation of the author's brilliant imagination. There were some serious magic and politics in place. Elana Mugdan used the basic concept of good vs evil and dragons and dragon speakers and their bond and magic to write a story that could work in a 3D movie.
The politics and the landscapes of the regions were well detailed. The backstory was that each region/king wanted the dragon and the dragon speaker for their own benefits too. Till the shadowbeasts and the dark lord Necrovar tried to come in power. But the main character Keriya had no magic in her, she had been selected by the goddess to fight the evil Lord and given some hidden magic which could be wielded only at times of strife.
She had to go on a quest to find the dragon and bond with him and save him. Her village mates were forced to join her due to circumstances.. This unlikely, unfriendly gang set out from their village and met other mercenary men, kings, princesses, spies, evil beings, shadowbeasts, bogspectre.
The book had the potential to be so much more because the trellis of plot was fantastic. The author just had to allow the vines to crawl slowly over them. But that didn't happen. The characters were introduced at rapid speed, the magic and its rules were thrown on to my face along with the politics of the land without giving me time to assimilate and imagine how this land would be.
Action was great, the magic per se had me wanting some of my own... The dragon Thorian was the cutest, he was a tiny dragon who came into picture perched on main character. He met the rest of the gang and he was totally confused. And I could just identify with him. I was too!!
The 2 main niggles, the main character Keriya whined and had this vision of grandeur, to be a hero walking down the street with people praising her, that she grated on my nerves. She hardly did anything in preparation for that. She was rude and very unfriendly. I wished she would grow up in the entire book. And there were soooooo many characters that not only the dragon, even I got confused. I gave up trying to keep them in line.
The rest of the book was great, if I didn't think too much or try to understand the subtle sub plots. There were too many to decipher. So an enjoyable book overall. Thorian the dragon stole my heart and now I want a dragon too..
Dragons - check☑️
Dragon speaker - check☑️
Bond between them - check☑️
Magic wielder - check☑️
Good vs evil - check☑️
Underdog heroes - check☑️
A fab villain - check☑️
A Goddess with secrets - check☑️
Worldbuilding - check☑️
Fast pace - check☑️
The book took me a long time to read, almost 4 days or so. The book was the cumulation of the author's brilliant imagination. There were some serious magic and politics in place. Elana Mugdan used the basic concept of good vs evil and dragons and dragon speakers and their bond and magic to write a story that could work in a 3D movie.
The politics and the landscapes of the regions were well detailed. The backstory was that each region/king wanted the dragon and the dragon speaker for their own benefits too. Till the shadowbeasts and the dark lord Necrovar tried to come in power. But the main character Keriya had no magic in her, she had been selected by the goddess to fight the evil Lord and given some hidden magic which could be wielded only at times of strife.
She had to go on a quest to find the dragon and bond with him and save him. Her village mates were forced to join her due to circumstances.. This unlikely, unfriendly gang set out from their village and met other mercenary men, kings, princesses, spies, evil beings, shadowbeasts, bogspectre.
The book had the potential to be so much more because the trellis of plot was fantastic. The author just had to allow the vines to crawl slowly over them. But that didn't happen. The characters were introduced at rapid speed, the magic and its rules were thrown on to my face along with the politics of the land without giving me time to assimilate and imagine how this land would be.
Action was great, the magic per se had me wanting some of my own... The dragon Thorian was the cutest, he was a tiny dragon who came into picture perched on main character. He met the rest of the gang and he was totally confused. And I could just identify with him. I was too!!
The 2 main niggles, the main character Keriya whined and had this vision of grandeur, to be a hero walking down the street with people praising her, that she grated on my nerves. She hardly did anything in preparation for that. She was rude and very unfriendly. I wished she would grow up in the entire book. And there were soooooo many characters that not only the dragon, even I got confused. I gave up trying to keep them in line.
The rest of the book was great, if I didn't think too much or try to understand the subtle sub plots. There were too many to decipher. So an enjoyable book overall. Thorian the dragon stole my heart and now I want a dragon too..
November 24, 2018
Well, this was quite a find! I was approached and befriended by the author (via Goodreads) and got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (Thank you, Elana) And I really enjoyed it! I'm going to give it a 5-star rating.
The book has a nice cover and is well presented and well written. It has maps and it has nice little Dragon-pics heading the chapters. It also has a glossary at the end and a little bit of information about the author. NG (neutral-good) on good days and CE (chaotic-evil) on bad days Dragon-mad-lady. Those of you who play D&D will be familiar with the alignments.
I would probably class this as YA, which is fine by me as I like fantasy that is aimed at young people; it reminds me of when I was young. lol. There are some good, strong female characters to get your teeth into here. There are princes and princesses and kings. There are a number of young people who are competing with one another for superiority. Some are likable and some less so. Some are well-equipped to deal with life; whereas others are without magic and are frowned upon. It has an interesting magic-system and the usual mixture of good and evil. And, above all other things, it has Dragons!
Overall I don't see how anyone could dislike this book. If you are a fan of a gentler form of fantasy (perhaps you want something lighter after reading Grimdark) then you would be well advised to give this book a try.
£2.99 for a Kindle copy is very reasonable and you can pick up Elana A Mugdan's short story 'The Champion's Squire' free at the moment too! I shall happily check out other books written by this author in the future.
Thanks for reading.
The book has a nice cover and is well presented and well written. It has maps and it has nice little Dragon-pics heading the chapters. It also has a glossary at the end and a little bit of information about the author. NG (neutral-good) on good days and CE (chaotic-evil) on bad days Dragon-mad-lady. Those of you who play D&D will be familiar with the alignments.
I would probably class this as YA, which is fine by me as I like fantasy that is aimed at young people; it reminds me of when I was young. lol. There are some good, strong female characters to get your teeth into here. There are princes and princesses and kings. There are a number of young people who are competing with one another for superiority. Some are likable and some less so. Some are well-equipped to deal with life; whereas others are without magic and are frowned upon. It has an interesting magic-system and the usual mixture of good and evil. And, above all other things, it has Dragons!
Overall I don't see how anyone could dislike this book. If you are a fan of a gentler form of fantasy (perhaps you want something lighter after reading Grimdark) then you would be well advised to give this book a try.
£2.99 for a Kindle copy is very reasonable and you can pick up Elana A Mugdan's short story 'The Champion's Squire' free at the moment too! I shall happily check out other books written by this author in the future.
Thanks for reading.
July 14, 2019
I wrote this book and I think it's pretty cool
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2019
This is the first time I've read a book where the main character is crippled---in a fantasy story! And it really impressed me. Though, there was so much drama within, but I see it was worth it when it comes to character development. And you not only have to see the main character that's struggling; the people that Keriya would stumble upon or are friends with have something in common.
Most of them feel like they want to be a part of something, but they were either not sure or have felt like an outcast.
I do hope the series will turn out great in the end. I do want to keep reading it, because there's so much more I want to know from reading the series. There's so many plot twists and suspense that makes me want to read more! And I hope all of you out there will give this series a chance.
Keep writing, Elana! This is by far the best that you have written!
Most of them feel like they want to be a part of something, but they were either not sure or have felt like an outcast.
I do hope the series will turn out great in the end. I do want to keep reading it, because there's so much more I want to know from reading the series. There's so many plot twists and suspense that makes me want to read more! And I hope all of you out there will give this series a chance.
Keep writing, Elana! This is by far the best that you have written!
January 21, 2019
The author send me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Elana :) ) . Please note that this did not affect my opinions in anyway and all thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own.
4.5 Stars from me (its on the upper side, so its going on the 5-star shelf, because in short, I greatly enjoyed this book)
So - I Enjoyed this book. - that's an understatement, I Enjoyed this book a lot! I had meant to pick it up the moment the author had send it to me, and I'm sad it took me a little while - but I got here in the end.
This book had a lot of things I like. A fast paced & easy to read story of good vs. evil featuring Elemental magic, a great villain, mysterious gods, plot twists ... I'm forgetting something here - oh yea, right, did I mention it has DRAGONS????
Honestly this book was the pick-me-up I needed right now. I needed something that was just simply fun - lately I've been reading a lot of good books, but a lot of them have a lot of them are very heavy - this is just fun and light. Its, to put it simply, an adventure book. Its a fun ride, you are hooked from the very beginning and, at least for me, I very quickly found myself wanting to keep reading it as much as I could.
I found all the characters to be relatable in some way. They had their own issues & personal struggles to overcome. Throughout the story we got to see the POV of several different characters all of which really felt fleshed out and unique and they were all very different characters and all developed in different ways. At the end of the day I enjoyed reading from all of the different perspectives, even those of the bad guys.
The reason I reduced my rating by a .5 star is because of 2 reasons - first, sometimes the novel got a little confusing, there were times where I wasn't really sure what was going on, and had to flip back to see if I missed something. The second was that our main character Keriya is described as "crippled" because she is unable to use magic, and is apparently the only one who is completely unable to do magic - however it is never shown why this is actually a bad thing in her society? Granted we spend a very short time we spend in Aeria, however from what we saw of the people, not a lot of magic was performed.
That being said both of these are small details - and do not let them deter you from picking up this book. Like I said before, its such a fun book, and I think any lover of fantasy would greatly enjoy, if not love, this book.
Also that ending - where is book 2 when you need it T_T
4.5 Stars from me (its on the upper side, so its going on the 5-star shelf, because in short, I greatly enjoyed this book)
So - I Enjoyed this book. - that's an understatement, I Enjoyed this book a lot! I had meant to pick it up the moment the author had send it to me, and I'm sad it took me a little while - but I got here in the end.
This book had a lot of things I like. A fast paced & easy to read story of good vs. evil featuring Elemental magic, a great villain, mysterious gods, plot twists ... I'm forgetting something here - oh yea, right, did I mention it has DRAGONS????
Honestly this book was the pick-me-up I needed right now. I needed something that was just simply fun - lately I've been reading a lot of good books, but a lot of them have a lot of them are very heavy - this is just fun and light. Its, to put it simply, an adventure book. Its a fun ride, you are hooked from the very beginning and, at least for me, I very quickly found myself wanting to keep reading it as much as I could.
I found all the characters to be relatable in some way. They had their own issues & personal struggles to overcome. Throughout the story we got to see the POV of several different characters all of which really felt fleshed out and unique and they were all very different characters and all developed in different ways. At the end of the day I enjoyed reading from all of the different perspectives, even those of the bad guys.
The reason I reduced my rating by a .5 star is because of 2 reasons - first, sometimes the novel got a little confusing, there were times where I wasn't really sure what was going on, and had to flip back to see if I missed something. The second was that our main character Keriya is described as "crippled" because she is unable to use magic, and is apparently the only one who is completely unable to do magic - however it is never shown why this is actually a bad thing in her society? Granted we spend a very short time we spend in Aeria, however from what we saw of the people, not a lot of magic was performed.
That being said both of these are small details - and do not let them deter you from picking up this book. Like I said before, its such a fun book, and I think any lover of fantasy would greatly enjoy, if not love, this book.
Also that ending - where is book 2 when you need it T_T
April 10, 2017
Actual Rating: 4.5
*Thank you to the author for providing me a free review copy! This review is my full and honest opinion.*
In a world where everyone is a magic wielder, Keriya Nameless stands out as the only one who doesn't have any magical powers. She knows she has to prove herself, and when the goddess Shivnath chooses her to save the world's last dragon, Keriya knows she can't mess up.
But of course, that dragon is in high demand and Keriya struggles to keep it safe from everyone who wants to use it for their own gain.
Before she knows it, she's caught in the middle of an ancient war - one that will decide the future of everything Keriya holds dear.
This was definitely an exciting read! I'm normally not into "high fantasy" because the worlds are extremely confusing for me to wrap my head around, but Dragon Speaker was clear and interesting, despite the specialized language and unfamiliar world.
I was a little confused in the beginning, but it did catch on and I was actually really drawn into the story. The writing style was good and engaging - it wasn't particularly mind-blowing or anything, but it was definitely interesting and allowed the story to progress along well.
The plot was definitely twisted and interesting, and props to the author for creating so many complicated unique settings - I felt like a vast part of this story's success was how well thought out the setting was: geography, landscapes, fauna...I felt like everything was very complete and I definitely got an extremely clear picture of the world I was reading about.
The characters in this story was extremely strong as well. There was visible character development throughout the book not only in the main character but in the side characters as well, and I felt as though I was very connected to the characters after accompanying them on the entire journey.
Mugdan accomplished a very powerful dynamic between various characters, which I think is one of the book's strongest aspects; although the story takes place in an imagined, fantasy, world, the characters themselves and their interactions with one another were very realistic, which allowed me to feel not only like they were real people, but also that they belonged and each had their roles to play.
Overall, I'd say that this was definitely worth the read! Great plot, great characters - I'm very excited to read book two!
*Thank you to the author for providing me a free review copy! This review is my full and honest opinion.*
In a world where everyone is a magic wielder, Keriya Nameless stands out as the only one who doesn't have any magical powers. She knows she has to prove herself, and when the goddess Shivnath chooses her to save the world's last dragon, Keriya knows she can't mess up.
But of course, that dragon is in high demand and Keriya struggles to keep it safe from everyone who wants to use it for their own gain.
Before she knows it, she's caught in the middle of an ancient war - one that will decide the future of everything Keriya holds dear.
This was definitely an exciting read! I'm normally not into "high fantasy" because the worlds are extremely confusing for me to wrap my head around, but Dragon Speaker was clear and interesting, despite the specialized language and unfamiliar world.
I was a little confused in the beginning, but it did catch on and I was actually really drawn into the story. The writing style was good and engaging - it wasn't particularly mind-blowing or anything, but it was definitely interesting and allowed the story to progress along well.
The plot was definitely twisted and interesting, and props to the author for creating so many complicated unique settings - I felt like a vast part of this story's success was how well thought out the setting was: geography, landscapes, fauna...I felt like everything was very complete and I definitely got an extremely clear picture of the world I was reading about.
The characters in this story was extremely strong as well. There was visible character development throughout the book not only in the main character but in the side characters as well, and I felt as though I was very connected to the characters after accompanying them on the entire journey.
Mugdan accomplished a very powerful dynamic between various characters, which I think is one of the book's strongest aspects; although the story takes place in an imagined, fantasy, world, the characters themselves and their interactions with one another were very realistic, which allowed me to feel not only like they were real people, but also that they belonged and each had their roles to play.
Overall, I'd say that this was definitely worth the read! Great plot, great characters - I'm very excited to read book two!
November 9, 2018
Loved that this book took me into a new world - kept me captive - and left me wanting more. One of my top 5 of 2018.
December 8, 2018
4.5!! Now I am not in the habit of giving spoilers so my reviews may seem a bit broad. However, I must say that with any new series a world has to be built. This involves a TON of thought process and finding ways to mesh things in. Magic! Nuff said. I must admit the character evolvement was nice as well. It is also clear to see that there is plenty of room for growth in the series. Some of the scenes and things that happened were a bit random, as though they were setups that didn't play out in this book but might later on. But that's to be expected with a series. About the only downside for me is the fact that the main character is pretty abrasive throughout the whole book. Which I understand is part of the growth and storyline. However sometimes I rolled my eyes and was thinking "really? Again?" But that is totally a personal opinion. To summarize: a very fun book and large world build. Somewhat random events and a bit fast paced. But a great evening or for fun read. All in all a good story!
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
May 10, 2016
Dragon Speaker is without doubt one of the most captivating fantasy tales I've ever read. Each character within the book battles with universal themes such as politics, family loyalty and morality as they search for acceptance in a world on the verge of war.
Life is never black and white, and this is mirrored beautifully in the book through the eyes of our heroine - 14-year-old Keriya Nameless - whose mission it is to find the world's last remaining dragon and bring it to her God, the great Lord Shivnath. However, as she begins to bond with the being, she is forced to question the agenda of all those around her, wondering if she can trust anyone at all.
A stunning debut novel that draws comparisons to The Hunger Games as well as Philip Pullman's epic fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials. If you enjoy such books then this is not be be missed, and Elana A. Mugdan is most certainly a writer you need to look out for.
Life is never black and white, and this is mirrored beautifully in the book through the eyes of our heroine - 14-year-old Keriya Nameless - whose mission it is to find the world's last remaining dragon and bring it to her God, the great Lord Shivnath. However, as she begins to bond with the being, she is forced to question the agenda of all those around her, wondering if she can trust anyone at all.
A stunning debut novel that draws comparisons to The Hunger Games as well as Philip Pullman's epic fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials. If you enjoy such books then this is not be be missed, and Elana A. Mugdan is most certainly a writer you need to look out for.
May 29, 2017
Fast-paced fantasy fun. the author has an amazing imagination and has created an incredibly detailed world and convincing characters. Impressive stuff!
November 13, 2018
Short, but a bit dramatical protagonist. Need more character development. Waiting for the next book.
October 30, 2016
Born in Aeria, Keriya Nameless, has basically been ignored all her life. Her mother died at childbirth and with no man who claimed her as his daughter Keriya remained nameless. In Aeria the people have magical abilities. Keriya has none and therefore she is seen as unworthy. Every year there is a Ceremony of Choice. This ceremony will show the persons who participate which profession they'll have after they return to the village. If they don't return their life will be a sacrifice for the goddess.
Before people can participate in this ceremony the Elders must find them worthy first. Keriya is eavesdropping when the Elders are naming the worthy children. Keriya is not one of them. She interrupts the meeting and tries to get the Elders to change their mind. It works, Keriya is also placed to take part in the ceremony. A lot of people are not happy about this and the Elders think that Keriya will never make it back to the village alive. Will she succeed?
Keriya is a young girl who has always felt that she's not good enough. She rebels against the Elders of Aeria and this often results in punishment. All Keriya wants is to be heard and seen. My heart ached for her, because all she is craving is love and attention. When the goddess Shivnath chooses Keriya as the one to save the last living dragon she finally has a chance to make people see that she's worthy after all. She has to flee her village and she has to grow up quickly to fulfill her quest. I liked to read about how well she was adapting to her new life. Keriya is smart and at times still naïve. That's expected of a young girl who has never been outside of the village she grew up in. Even though it's difficult to see Keriya as a heroine in the beginning she turns out to be the perfect choice after all.
Elana Mugdan has created a mesmerizing magical world. She has a great imagination and this shows in the characters and their customs. Elana Mugdan is also a filmmaker and I think it's because of this she manages to make the story come alive so well. I could visualize it without any problems and loved the vivid descriptions. I could also easily picture Keriya's journey and the people she has to deal with. On Elana Mugdan's website there are images of the characters and their world, which made it even more real for me. Dragon Speaker is new and refreshing. I love it that this story is so unique. Elana Mugdan's amazing book made me a fan of her fabulous fantasy world.
Before people can participate in this ceremony the Elders must find them worthy first. Keriya is eavesdropping when the Elders are naming the worthy children. Keriya is not one of them. She interrupts the meeting and tries to get the Elders to change their mind. It works, Keriya is also placed to take part in the ceremony. A lot of people are not happy about this and the Elders think that Keriya will never make it back to the village alive. Will she succeed?
Keriya is a young girl who has always felt that she's not good enough. She rebels against the Elders of Aeria and this often results in punishment. All Keriya wants is to be heard and seen. My heart ached for her, because all she is craving is love and attention. When the goddess Shivnath chooses Keriya as the one to save the last living dragon she finally has a chance to make people see that she's worthy after all. She has to flee her village and she has to grow up quickly to fulfill her quest. I liked to read about how well she was adapting to her new life. Keriya is smart and at times still naïve. That's expected of a young girl who has never been outside of the village she grew up in. Even though it's difficult to see Keriya as a heroine in the beginning she turns out to be the perfect choice after all.
Elana Mugdan has created a mesmerizing magical world. She has a great imagination and this shows in the characters and their customs. Elana Mugdan is also a filmmaker and I think it's because of this she manages to make the story come alive so well. I could visualize it without any problems and loved the vivid descriptions. I could also easily picture Keriya's journey and the people she has to deal with. On Elana Mugdan's website there are images of the characters and their world, which made it even more real for me. Dragon Speaker is new and refreshing. I love it that this story is so unique. Elana Mugdan's amazing book made me a fan of her fabulous fantasy world.
June 2, 2016
I was lucky enough to read this novel before it was published, and all I can say is, WOW! There are so many amazing characters, themes, and storylines, I don't know where to start! A big reason why I loved this book is because of the theme of nature. One of the characters is a girl who can speak to animals, and although this is a power we see in a lot of fantasy literature, it still appeared new and fresh in Dragon Speaker, giving us a unique view of the power and the way it works. And regarding magical animals...well! If you love dragons, you absolutely MUST read this book! It's rare to see dragons as main characters, and not cast as monsters or villains. This novel treats dragons with respect and love, just as it treats all its characters. Here we see a new spin on these legendary creatures as well, giving them unique powers we haven't ever seen before. For fans of the Eragon series, or the Dragonriders of Pern series, and yes even the Song of Ice and Fire series, you will enjoy this book!
Another reason I loved this book is because each individual character has their own distinct personality and purpose in the story. This was important to me because I don't like when characters get put into a story and end up not really doing anything. But everyone in Dragon Speaker has their own storyline, and Elana Mugdan does a brilliant job keeping up with all of them. As an audience member, I felt connected, I really cared about what they were going through and I always wanted to turn the page, and get to the next chapter to find out what happens. Some moments really stand out in my head as being beautifully realistic. Even in a fantasy world filled with magic, these characters are all real and you can relate with them.
5/5 stars, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction and magic! If you love to see a complete and beautiful world with rules, and magic that follows the rules of that universe, then Dragon Speaker is 100% not to be missed!
Another reason I loved this book is because each individual character has their own distinct personality and purpose in the story. This was important to me because I don't like when characters get put into a story and end up not really doing anything. But everyone in Dragon Speaker has their own storyline, and Elana Mugdan does a brilliant job keeping up with all of them. As an audience member, I felt connected, I really cared about what they were going through and I always wanted to turn the page, and get to the next chapter to find out what happens. Some moments really stand out in my head as being beautifully realistic. Even in a fantasy world filled with magic, these characters are all real and you can relate with them.
5/5 stars, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction and magic! If you love to see a complete and beautiful world with rules, and magic that follows the rules of that universe, then Dragon Speaker is 100% not to be missed!
April 2, 2023
Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan is a very imaginative debut novel. The characters are captivating as well as thought out. The world that Elana created feels as if it could be real. The story's pace isn't too fast or too slow. Dragon Speaker has plenty of action and character development. It's a perfect opening to The Shadow War Saga.
This could easily become a success in novel form and in movie form if Elana so chooses to allow Dragon Speaker to be translated into film.
This could easily become a success in novel form and in movie form if Elana so chooses to allow Dragon Speaker to be translated into film.
November 26, 2018
+Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Elana!
THE WORLD: It's a complex fantasy world based on different kingdoms and species. And by species I mean there are humans, dragons, half-dragon gods, demons, etc. In this world, called Allentria, magic exists and humans have access to it, basically everyone can wield magic but there are some limitations as in some people can control water, others earth, others fire... it's like benders in Avatar. Also, there is good magic and bad magic that must coexist in equilibrium and if it's not met then the world is chaos and war erupts. The book places us after one of those terrible wars where "the bad" was stopped but not definitely defeated.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Keriya Nameless, a 14 year old orphan girl who can't wield magic. Which is very rare, she's the only one who can't wield any magic in Aeria (her village) and she's mocked/despised for it. Her best friend is a boy named Fletcher Earengale who's not very powerful either, he can only do very weak magic thus he also had it tough growing up. In the goddess' ceremony Keriya has a vision where the dragon-goddess Shivnath chooses her as the hero, the one who will save them all from Necrovar, the evil magical creature who almost destroyed them in the last war. Keriya is granted magical powers and must find the only dragon left in their world, Thorion Sveltorious. Along the way we encounter other characters such as Maxton Windharte, Roxanne Fleuridae, and Effrax Nameless. There are many characters, be prepared.
ROMANCE: Hints to a future romance perhaps.
GOOD: Even though the world is a complex fantasy one it was surprisingly easy to understand. I didn't have any problems to understand the intrinsic politics, the situation of the world, or the various creatures that exist there. It was well explained + we also have a glossary at the end which always helps! The characters' dynamics were messy but in a good way, they were realistic. They weren't ideal and the characters were very selfish which is realistic for 14 year olds. I liked that very much.
I was also enchanted by the dragons, the dragon-gods, and their battles. It reminded me of one of my favorite fantasy series, The Inheritance Cycle.
BAD: The characters are very immature and specially Keriya is pretty annoying. She's very entitled and has delusions of grandeur... since she's always been ridiculed she wants to prove herself and be the hero everyone will love. It's an understandable wish. However, she doesn't appreciate those who stuck by her side and who helped her at all. She has a long way and has to mature a notch which I hope to see in the next books. Development is always appreciated.
Other than that I hope to see more background too and overall learn about the epic war, the land laws, the politics...
OVERALL: 4 stars. It was definitely an enjoyable read, with a world-building which was complex but surprisingly easy to pick up. A bit introductory with immature main characters but this is the first book of a saga and the main characters are barely 14 year old kids so nothing shocking there. If you're up for an Eragon meets Lord of the Rings YA read this is your book!
—P.S. I Love That Book!
THE WORLD: It's a complex fantasy world based on different kingdoms and species. And by species I mean there are humans, dragons, half-dragon gods, demons, etc. In this world, called Allentria, magic exists and humans have access to it, basically everyone can wield magic but there are some limitations as in some people can control water, others earth, others fire... it's like benders in Avatar. Also, there is good magic and bad magic that must coexist in equilibrium and if it's not met then the world is chaos and war erupts. The book places us after one of those terrible wars where "the bad" was stopped but not definitely defeated.
CHARACTERS: The main character is Keriya Nameless, a 14 year old orphan girl who can't wield magic. Which is very rare, she's the only one who can't wield any magic in Aeria (her village) and she's mocked/despised for it. Her best friend is a boy named Fletcher Earengale who's not very powerful either, he can only do very weak magic thus he also had it tough growing up. In the goddess' ceremony Keriya has a vision where the dragon-goddess Shivnath chooses her as the hero, the one who will save them all from Necrovar, the evil magical creature who almost destroyed them in the last war. Keriya is granted magical powers and must find the only dragon left in their world, Thorion Sveltorious. Along the way we encounter other characters such as Maxton Windharte, Roxanne Fleuridae, and Effrax Nameless. There are many characters, be prepared.
ROMANCE: Hints to a future romance perhaps.
GOOD: Even though the world is a complex fantasy one it was surprisingly easy to understand. I didn't have any problems to understand the intrinsic politics, the situation of the world, or the various creatures that exist there. It was well explained + we also have a glossary at the end which always helps! The characters' dynamics were messy but in a good way, they were realistic. They weren't ideal and the characters were very selfish which is realistic for 14 year olds. I liked that very much.
I was also enchanted by the dragons, the dragon-gods, and their battles. It reminded me of one of my favorite fantasy series, The Inheritance Cycle.
BAD: The characters are very immature and specially Keriya is pretty annoying. She's very entitled and has delusions of grandeur... since she's always been ridiculed she wants to prove herself and be the hero everyone will love. It's an understandable wish. However, she doesn't appreciate those who stuck by her side and who helped her at all. She has a long way and has to mature a notch which I hope to see in the next books. Development is always appreciated.
Other than that I hope to see more background too and overall learn about the epic war, the land laws, the politics...
OVERALL: 4 stars. It was definitely an enjoyable read, with a world-building which was complex but surprisingly easy to pick up. A bit introductory with immature main characters but this is the first book of a saga and the main characters are barely 14 year old kids so nothing shocking there. If you're up for an Eragon meets Lord of the Rings YA read this is your book!
—P.S. I Love That Book!
November 21, 2018
3.5 stars
Keriya is an outsider in a secluded land, born without magic surrounded by magic wielders. Her heritage is unknown, making her an orphan. She was raised by a healer who taught her magic she could never wield. Many children are selected in her homeland to go through the Ceremony of Choice where they are to wander in the forest for seven days and hope they receive a vision of their destined profession. Keriya was not chosen to participate in the ceremony due to her lack of magic, but she was determined to participate and would not take no for an answer. Little did she know, participating in this ceremony would change her life completely.
Dragon Speaker is a story of magic, dragons, and learning to trust in oneself and make a choice.
Although the pace was very fast, moreso in the beginning (which is why it lost stars), I enjoyed Dragon Speaker. Keriya learns to trust in herself and to make tough decisions, and that being a hero involves work and sacrifice.
I recommend Dragon Speaker to those who enjoy stories involving magic, dragons, good vs. evil, and coming of age.
Keriya is an outsider in a secluded land, born without magic surrounded by magic wielders. Her heritage is unknown, making her an orphan. She was raised by a healer who taught her magic she could never wield. Many children are selected in her homeland to go through the Ceremony of Choice where they are to wander in the forest for seven days and hope they receive a vision of their destined profession. Keriya was not chosen to participate in the ceremony due to her lack of magic, but she was determined to participate and would not take no for an answer. Little did she know, participating in this ceremony would change her life completely.
Dragon Speaker is a story of magic, dragons, and learning to trust in oneself and make a choice.
Although the pace was very fast, moreso in the beginning (which is why it lost stars), I enjoyed Dragon Speaker. Keriya learns to trust in herself and to make tough decisions, and that being a hero involves work and sacrifice.
I recommend Dragon Speaker to those who enjoy stories involving magic, dragons, good vs. evil, and coming of age.
December 11, 2018
This is a relatively standard YA adventure plot-wise, but has immensely strong characters. Every major character (and more than a few of the minor ones) experiences significant development over the course of the story. I found myself disliking a few of them at first, but came to love all of them as the story progressed (with one exception).
The dragon/s are handled very well; Thorion is a charming character and hopefully we'll see a lot more of him (including the chapters from his PoV) over the course of the series.
I would like to delve deeper into the world in the later books. As is typical of a first series novel, much of the world is mentioned but little is delved into and actually explored, which goes double for the arch-enemy of the series.
The editing and formatting is very well done. I wouldn't have believed this was an indie novel if I hadn't known.
The dragon/s are handled very well; Thorion is a charming character and hopefully we'll see a lot more of him (including the chapters from his PoV) over the course of the series.
I would like to delve deeper into the world in the later books. As is typical of a first series novel, much of the world is mentioned but little is delved into and actually explored, which goes double for the arch-enemy of the series.
The editing and formatting is very well done. I wouldn't have believed this was an indie novel if I hadn't known.
March 5, 2019
Starts out slow and the world building is a bit chaotic and confusing at times, but once you get into it the pace picks up and it’s an entertaining read. Characters well written, strong and interesting. The story was good and original. Well worth a look.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
November 17, 2019
The Best Indie Book I've Read
This is one of those books where I had to ask myself, "How did a Big 5 publisher not snap this up?" This book is truly a hidden gem. The writing style was smooth and natural and had a beautiful flow. It was well edited, with very few errors (a pet peeve of mine with many indie books).
The world was vivid, and the characters were fleshed out extremely well. Even the more minor, supporting characters had unique voices and personalities, rather than feeling like they were simply there as a framework for Keriya. I adored Thorion, and the child-like qualities he had while still remaining very much a dragon.
Honestly, I usually approach indie and self-published books with low expectations. But this book completely blew me away. The rest of this author's books will definitely be on my Christmas list.
This is one of those books where I had to ask myself, "How did a Big 5 publisher not snap this up?" This book is truly a hidden gem. The writing style was smooth and natural and had a beautiful flow. It was well edited, with very few errors (a pet peeve of mine with many indie books).
The world was vivid, and the characters were fleshed out extremely well. Even the more minor, supporting characters had unique voices and personalities, rather than feeling like they were simply there as a framework for Keriya. I adored Thorion, and the child-like qualities he had while still remaining very much a dragon.
Honestly, I usually approach indie and self-published books with low expectations. But this book completely blew me away. The rest of this author's books will definitely be on my Christmas list.
November 19, 2019
Really good world building and an interesting take on dragons!
April 9, 2019
An ARC was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, let me start by saying that the world building in this book is amazing! The effort that was put into the world-building of this book is clearly shown. It's very obvious that the author worked hard planning this and is very passionate about her work. There's so much complexity to the universe in this book.
The book is packed with action and adventure. It's got great character development as well. I love how Keriya sets out to prove her village wrong. It's also got some sweet friendship moments as well as some romance.
Most of all, the world building is amazing. The plot is also very well structured and fast-paced.
The protagonist, Keriya Nameless frustrated me at first, but I grew to like her. As she went on her journey, she changed from an overly stubborn and selfish girl to a strong and caring friend and protagonist.
Overall, it was a great book and an interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, let me start by saying that the world building in this book is amazing! The effort that was put into the world-building of this book is clearly shown. It's very obvious that the author worked hard planning this and is very passionate about her work. There's so much complexity to the universe in this book.
The book is packed with action and adventure. It's got great character development as well. I love how Keriya sets out to prove her village wrong. It's also got some sweet friendship moments as well as some romance.
Most of all, the world building is amazing. The plot is also very well structured and fast-paced.
The protagonist, Keriya Nameless frustrated me at first, but I grew to like her. As she went on her journey, she changed from an overly stubborn and selfish girl to a strong and caring friend and protagonist.
Overall, it was a great book and an interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will start by saying that the writing in the novel is fine, and I noticed no glaring editorial mistakes.
That said, the novel had some glaring flaws that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The main one being that the heroine of the novel has no agency until almost two thirds of the way through the novel. She is acted upon and views the action, but is seldom able to influence events through her own actions.
The second issue was that the novel kept shoehorning the plot into the heroic quest, even when it made no sense. Why would a kingdom about the face its imminent demise send only the heir to the throne along on a dangerous mission instead of sending an entire battalion of elite troops? Why would an imperial military service not act to purge traitors in their midst as soon as discovered? Why are all the questers that join members of the nobility?
The third issue I had was in the worldbuilding. In a fantasy like this where politics and magic combine, there should be more revelation of the politics and the magic system. Why does Roxanne get suddenly more powerful, but Fletcher doesn't? Why do rocks thrown at ethereal creatures sometimes destroy them and sometimes pass through harmlessly? What are tiers? Why do creatures that have successfully possessed others for millenia suddenly fail? What is the political situation of the various kingdoms and why are they acting the way they are in the little we see?
Overall, the book kept me engaged enough to finish, but the world and the characters were not compelling enough to encourage me to continue the series.
I will start by saying that the writing in the novel is fine, and I noticed no glaring editorial mistakes.
That said, the novel had some glaring flaws that detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The main one being that the heroine of the novel has no agency until almost two thirds of the way through the novel. She is acted upon and views the action, but is seldom able to influence events through her own actions.
The second issue was that the novel kept shoehorning the plot into the heroic quest, even when it made no sense. Why would a kingdom about the face its imminent demise send only the heir to the throne along on a dangerous mission instead of sending an entire battalion of elite troops? Why would an imperial military service not act to purge traitors in their midst as soon as discovered? Why are all the questers that join members of the nobility?
The third issue I had was in the worldbuilding. In a fantasy like this where politics and magic combine, there should be more revelation of the politics and the magic system. Why does Roxanne get suddenly more powerful, but Fletcher doesn't? Why do rocks thrown at ethereal creatures sometimes destroy them and sometimes pass through harmlessly? What are tiers? Why do creatures that have successfully possessed others for millenia suddenly fail? What is the political situation of the various kingdoms and why are they acting the way they are in the little we see?
Overall, the book kept me engaged enough to finish, but the world and the characters were not compelling enough to encourage me to continue the series.
September 26, 2023
Dragon Speaker is the first book in The Shadow War Saga, and we have DRAGONS, people!!! You know how I love me a dragon, and Thorion is just perfect. I want him for myself, which sucks because he's already bonded with Keriya, and he's fictional! Still, you know what I mean!
This is classed as young adult, but to be honest, I think 'some' young adults might be a bit confused as this world is complex, to say the least. Personally, I loved it, but then I'm as far from a young adult as you can get!
Keriya is fourteen and hasn't had an easy time of it. Her village is superstitious, to say the least, and she has no magic, which makes her lower than low to them. When she goes on her vision quest, she is helped by Shivnath, their Dragon God. Shivnath tells Keriya what she must do, but gives no clues as to how to do it. This leads to an amazing story as Keriya tries to figure out who she can trust, and what she should do. She is helped by Fletcher, her best friend, and Roxanne, someone who got dragged into it by accident. It was great to see these relationships change and alter as the story went on.
There are romantic elements to this story, but it definitely takes second place behind the main part of the story. Plus, she's FOURTEEN!!! This was an amazing story that I devoured, and I can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 21, 2019
This is classed as young adult, but to be honest, I think 'some' young adults might be a bit confused as this world is complex, to say the least. Personally, I loved it, but then I'm as far from a young adult as you can get!
Keriya is fourteen and hasn't had an easy time of it. Her village is superstitious, to say the least, and she has no magic, which makes her lower than low to them. When she goes on her vision quest, she is helped by Shivnath, their Dragon God. Shivnath tells Keriya what she must do, but gives no clues as to how to do it. This leads to an amazing story as Keriya tries to figure out who she can trust, and what she should do. She is helped by Fletcher, her best friend, and Roxanne, someone who got dragged into it by accident. It was great to see these relationships change and alter as the story went on.
There are romantic elements to this story, but it definitely takes second place behind the main part of the story. Plus, she's FOURTEEN!!! This was an amazing story that I devoured, and I can't wait to read more. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 21, 2019
August 17, 2016
There's nothing quite so difficult as telling a good friend you didn't enjoy her book.
Thank God that's not how I felt.
For me, a book is all about the journey it takes you on. And Dragon Speaker takes you on a thrilling journey indeed: over foreboding mountain ranges, across open countryside, through medieval cities and towns, and into the heart of the forest. It's a journey filled with magics of all forms, both good and evil, a journey of heroes, of villains...of DRAGONS. The characters take on a life of their own, and as happens with any excellent story, you forget that you are not a part of it. The conflict, the hope, the quest, the secrets—they all become real. Needless to say, I fell into the I-can't-put-this-down daze.
The world of Selaras and its inhabitants have captivated my imagination to a level that only a remarkably well written story could. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fantasy lover, and also to quite a few people who are not. I am anxious to continue the journey with Keriya, Thorion, and the rest as they continue their quest throughout the saga!
Thank God that's not how I felt.
For me, a book is all about the journey it takes you on. And Dragon Speaker takes you on a thrilling journey indeed: over foreboding mountain ranges, across open countryside, through medieval cities and towns, and into the heart of the forest. It's a journey filled with magics of all forms, both good and evil, a journey of heroes, of villains...of DRAGONS. The characters take on a life of their own, and as happens with any excellent story, you forget that you are not a part of it. The conflict, the hope, the quest, the secrets—they all become real. Needless to say, I fell into the I-can't-put-this-down daze.
The world of Selaras and its inhabitants have captivated my imagination to a level that only a remarkably well written story could. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fantasy lover, and also to quite a few people who are not. I am anxious to continue the journey with Keriya, Thorion, and the rest as they continue their quest throughout the saga!
February 26, 2018
While it took me a chapter or two to get used to the very rich and in depth universe Mugdan has built, once I understood how her world works I could not stop reading this book. The characters are believable and smart, with well written interactions throughout. I particularly liked the portrayel of dragons in this book, which I felt was the most unique rendering of them I have come across. As a reminder to other readers, there is a glossary and index in the back that you can reference if you ever need a reminder of what a particular term means or who a person is. The world is very extensive and full of colorful and vibrant characters that I found very memorable, but for some people you may find that you need a quick reminder of who's who.
I also loved the magic system in this world. Everyone has magic (except for Keriya who is a cripple and has no magic of her own) and the magic rules are dependent on things like energy, time, knowing how to weave a certain spell, etc. I really liked how the system made sense and the author took time to explain things to you.
I also loved the magic system in this world. Everyone has magic (except for Keriya who is a cripple and has no magic of her own) and the magic rules are dependent on things like energy, time, knowing how to weave a certain spell, etc. I really liked how the system made sense and the author took time to explain things to you.
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