What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragon Gods #1
Gate of Air
Frayka must find and convince the dragon gods of the Far East to appease the gods of her Northland heritage. If she fails, her own Northlander gods will destroy all the mortals who once promised to worship them.
The Far East is a mysterious place of legend to Northlanders like Frayka. Only an old map can show her how to get there. Once she arrives, all of Frayka’s sensibilities put her in danger. And every dangerous turn delays her from finding the dragon gods whose help she so desperately needs.
Although Frayka looks like a Far Easterner, she is a powerful Northlander warrior who is quick to voice her thoughts. She is trained to fight and won’t hesitate to do so.
But everything about Frayka puts her in deadly peril in the Far East, where the laws are strict and the punishment cruel.
Especially when the one being punished is a woman.
The Far East is a mysterious place of legend to Northlanders like Frayka. Only an old map can show her how to get there. Once she arrives, all of Frayka’s sensibilities put her in danger. And every dangerous turn delays her from finding the dragon gods whose help she so desperately needs.
Although Frayka looks like a Far Easterner, she is a powerful Northlander warrior who is quick to voice her thoughts. She is trained to fight and won’t hesitate to do so.
But everything about Frayka puts her in deadly peril in the Far East, where the laws are strict and the punishment cruel.
Especially when the one being punished is a woman.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2017
247 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Resa Nelson
125 books115 followersResa Nelson is the author of the 4-book Dragonslayer series:
The Dragonslayer’s Sword
(nominated for the Nebula Award, finalist for the EPPIE Award),
The Iron Maiden
,
The Stone of Darkness
, and
The Dragon's Egg
. Her 4-book Dragonfly series takes place after the Dragonslayer series.
Her standalone novels include the mystery/thrillers All Of Us Were Sophie and Our Lady of the Absolute .
Resa has been selling short stories professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America), and she is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years as well as a regular contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
You can contact Resa at ContactResa@aol.com. Follow Resa on Twitter @ResaNelson.
Her standalone novels include the mystery/thrillers All Of Us Were Sophie and Our Lady of the Absolute .
Resa has been selling short stories professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America), and she is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years as well as a regular contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
You can contact Resa at ContactResa@aol.com. Follow Resa on Twitter @ResaNelson.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 12, 2017
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
A new series based on the same world as the Dragonslayer Saga, Frayka is tasked by the Northland gods to find the dragon gods of the Far East. With an old map in hand and the companionship of her new husband, she sets off not knowing how different her land is toward woman... As her and her foreign husband meet delay after delay Frayka feels abandoned by her portents which guided her so well in the past... will she ever be able to convince the dragon gods and save her people from the wrath of their Northland ones?
Historical Magical Realism
This started slow considering what I thought it was which is a dragon fueled adventure fantasy... About half way I realized the book was quite good but it WASN'T what I anticipated. In reality this reads like historical fiction with mythology and magic brought to life. A sort of magical realism if you would. And THAT it does VERY WELL!
The blurb isn't lying about what the book is about but leaves out some aspects of the premise:
-Multiple POVs with Frayka as simply the central protagonist. There is GranGran, an Emperor and a princess too! Actually I quite enjoyed this aspect of the story as Nelson is quite good at making the alternating POVs stand out as individual characters! I liked that there were two older POVs and two younger POVs as it showed the one trying to deal with the other...
-Central to the story are obstacles of culture clash! Frayka has been raised in a society where woman are honored for their role in society and expected to be open and straightforward. Where as the Far East is as backwards as you'd expect this medieval time period to be! Woman are second class citizens no better than slaves, mayhap even worse as they can't be bartered.
-For all the culture clash this is a story about three powerful female POVs as well as a female dragon god set in a world that makes it hard to be a woman! Despite the historical slant the story feels pertinent to what is going on in the world today.
-Family plays a huge part in the story... Frayka meets a long lost family member and has difficulties with Njall, her husband. Plus the emperor worries for the princess who has come of age to be married and can be treated in the same way as all of the women of his province! These relationships are well played in the story and have a powerful role in the culture clash...
Strong Prose with a Balanced Writing Style
The writing was quite good and made this book an easier read than you expect! It’s actually fun and reads like culture and I’m super enjoying it though our girl and her husband are a little dense! Most historical fiction is rather heavy and weaves all of the research that is being done into the story in mini-info dumps... BUT SUCH IS NOT THE CASE HERE!! The history IS THE WORLD and as such the plot arises quite naturally from said history. I felt like what was happening with the Emperor and his daughter meshed quite well with GranGran and Frayka.
GAH! This clothing description just gives you a brief taste of the detail as well as the simplicity of the writing...
Unexpected Direction Due to Cover
I admit the cover deceived me, giving me expectations that were out of context to what I got... that said I LOVE that green and yellow swirl and the ghostly smoke dragon! It's attractive and gives you a sense of the world building. While I would have preferred for the dragon god from the book to be illustrated on the cover with butterfly clothing and all BUT this is a great second best... and it goes quite well with the title of the book...
The title does totally fit the book but it also hints at one problem... there is more than one gate... 4 to be exact and so this is really one book split into 4 and it ends rather abruptly even if in the exact place you'd expect if you think about the title! I didn't hold the end against the book as the plot there was developed to a nice climax. But yeah everything is not solved and there are loose threads all over the place. As expected as that was I was a little peeved (unless I'm given the NEXT BOOK and then all is forgiven!)
As a reader I LOVED it!
History and mythological with a little magic. For female readers it will be quite compelling to delve into the issues of womanhood and how much of yourself you sacrifice to get what you need done. Be prepared to have your curiosity stirred up with unanswered questions and a need to know what happens with the princess and Frayka's task!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Premise & World Building
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cover & Title
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Development & Storycraft
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relationships
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Feelings
As a writer, I would have liked book one to NOT feel so much like setup for the world and the rest of the story. That means MORE development and better storycraft! One choice could have been to write the story less linear. Spacing out the time with her father and mother in her home town and on the boat with Nijall as backflashes. They could serve as a contrast to how Frayka was feeling in the present time with the circumstances she was in, in the Far East and think how good she had it back then. Another idea is to make the princess a full secondary character in the blurb and make this a pitched battle womano a womano! This would have naturally added some tension to the story and then book one finishing where it did would have felt more natural since it ends more on the princess than on success with Frayka's task.
BOTTOM LINE: Historical Far East fun with gods and goddesses!
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
A new series based on the same world as the Dragonslayer Saga, Frayka is tasked by the Northland gods to find the dragon gods of the Far East. With an old map in hand and the companionship of her new husband, she sets off not knowing how different her land is toward woman... As her and her foreign husband meet delay after delay Frayka feels abandoned by her portents which guided her so well in the past... will she ever be able to convince the dragon gods and save her people from the wrath of their Northland ones?
Historical Magical Realism
This started slow considering what I thought it was which is a dragon fueled adventure fantasy... About half way I realized the book was quite good but it WASN'T what I anticipated. In reality this reads like historical fiction with mythology and magic brought to life. A sort of magical realism if you would. And THAT it does VERY WELL!
The blurb isn't lying about what the book is about but leaves out some aspects of the premise:
-Multiple POVs with Frayka as simply the central protagonist. There is GranGran, an Emperor and a princess too! Actually I quite enjoyed this aspect of the story as Nelson is quite good at making the alternating POVs stand out as individual characters! I liked that there were two older POVs and two younger POVs as it showed the one trying to deal with the other...
-Central to the story are obstacles of culture clash! Frayka has been raised in a society where woman are honored for their role in society and expected to be open and straightforward. Where as the Far East is as backwards as you'd expect this medieval time period to be! Woman are second class citizens no better than slaves, mayhap even worse as they can't be bartered.
-For all the culture clash this is a story about three powerful female POVs as well as a female dragon god set in a world that makes it hard to be a woman! Despite the historical slant the story feels pertinent to what is going on in the world today.
-Family plays a huge part in the story... Frayka meets a long lost family member and has difficulties with Njall, her husband. Plus the emperor worries for the princess who has come of age to be married and can be treated in the same way as all of the women of his province! These relationships are well played in the story and have a powerful role in the culture clash...
Strong Prose with a Balanced Writing Style
The writing was quite good and made this book an easier read than you expect! It’s actually fun and reads like culture and I’m super enjoying it though our girl and her husband are a little dense! Most historical fiction is rather heavy and weaves all of the research that is being done into the story in mini-info dumps... BUT SUCH IS NOT THE CASE HERE!! The history IS THE WORLD and as such the plot arises quite naturally from said history. I felt like what was happening with the Emperor and his daughter meshed quite well with GranGran and Frayka.
GAH! This clothing description just gives you a brief taste of the detail as well as the simplicity of the writing...
"While Frayka peeled off her Northlander clothing, she folded each piece neatly and gazed at it with fondness. First she removed her jewelry: two large silver brooches pinning her layers of dresses together at each shoulder and the string of amber and silver beads that connected the brooches, all new and given to her by her father before she married Njall. A bright green coat embroidered with silvery thread."
Unexpected Direction Due to Cover
I admit the cover deceived me, giving me expectations that were out of context to what I got... that said I LOVE that green and yellow swirl and the ghostly smoke dragon! It's attractive and gives you a sense of the world building. While I would have preferred for the dragon god from the book to be illustrated on the cover with butterfly clothing and all BUT this is a great second best... and it goes quite well with the title of the book...
The title does totally fit the book but it also hints at one problem... there is more than one gate... 4 to be exact and so this is really one book split into 4 and it ends rather abruptly even if in the exact place you'd expect if you think about the title! I didn't hold the end against the book as the plot there was developed to a nice climax. But yeah everything is not solved and there are loose threads all over the place. As expected as that was I was a little peeved (unless I'm given the NEXT BOOK and then all is forgiven!)
As a reader I LOVED it!
History and mythological with a little magic. For female readers it will be quite compelling to delve into the issues of womanhood and how much of yourself you sacrifice to get what you need done. Be prepared to have your curiosity stirred up with unanswered questions and a need to know what happens with the princess and Frayka's task!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Premise & World Building
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Cover & Title
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Development & Storycraft
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relationships
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Feelings
As a writer, I would have liked book one to NOT feel so much like setup for the world and the rest of the story. That means MORE development and better storycraft! One choice could have been to write the story less linear. Spacing out the time with her father and mother in her home town and on the boat with Nijall as backflashes. They could serve as a contrast to how Frayka was feeling in the present time with the circumstances she was in, in the Far East and think how good she had it back then. Another idea is to make the princess a full secondary character in the blurb and make this a pitched battle womano a womano! This would have naturally added some tension to the story and then book one finishing where it did would have felt more natural since it ends more on the princess than on success with Frayka's task.
BOTTOM LINE: Historical Far East fun with gods and goddesses!
Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
June 18, 2017
the dragonslayer saga continues with a new heroine. Frayka is a northener with an easterner background and ties. She is forced to leave her homeland to search a mythic gate, trying she would find many more. An interesting world with Gods fighting and different cultures supporting different gods the narrative is intriguing and the fantasy setting goes deeper than the narration letting the reader imagine the depth of the world. Frayka is pushed by fate and cruel gods to her limits but she faces the challenges like a true northerner!
October 17, 2019
This book made me so frustrated!
The book started so abruptly I ended up checking if I didn’t start reading book number 2 or 3 in the series. Nothing is set up or explained, the reader literally has no reason to care for the romance of the main characters beyond that they’re supposed to be together and that’s it.
I thought the idea of fusing Scandinavian and Chinese elements interesting but everything was so awkwardly written and the plot had many convenient moments.
The book started so abruptly I ended up checking if I didn’t start reading book number 2 or 3 in the series. Nothing is set up or explained, the reader literally has no reason to care for the romance of the main characters beyond that they’re supposed to be together and that’s it.
I thought the idea of fusing Scandinavian and Chinese elements interesting but everything was so awkwardly written and the plot had many convenient moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2017
***This book was reviewed via XPresso Book Tours
Gate of Air follows the Northlander seer Frayka, who has been tasked by the Northland gods to make a peace with the dragon gods of the Far East. Frayka has Far East blood, and sees portents, a fact that makes other Northlanders wary of her. Now she must travel to the Far East and find the Gate of Air in order to meet the dragon gods. Along the way, she learns more about her family’s past, and her gift of portents.
I had high hopes for Gate of Air, given previous books by the author, especially since this is set in the same world. It just didn't work for me though. Frayka grated on my nerves too much. To have been tasked by the gods to broker a peace or face severe consequences not just for herself, but all of her people, Frayka acts very immature and impetuously. She does not take the time to weigh the effects of her actions and bemoans that everyone wants her to 'not be true to her nature’. There's a time to be true to oneself, and a time to reign that in for the greater good. As a main character, I found her rather lacking. It was disconcerting how Frayka didn't think she needed to adapt her behaviour in the Far East to follow the customs there, or that she considered it was okay to be brusque and impolite to her great grandmother, or others in positions of power and authority. There does not appear to be anything but her own sense of self-righteousness that makes her think she's better than others. Respect for elders, and authority, tends to be a part of most cultures, and the Northlanders do not seem against that.
I enjoyed the *concept* of the story, if not the self-centred temperament of the main character, and I found many of the other characters very compelling. TeaTree and GranGran were awesome. Emperor Po, Kikita, and Ti were neat too, though I was surprised by the turn Ti took. While I might not want to live in the Far East, I found the depth and detail of the culture, and its customs fascinating. I’ll give the next book a try, in the hopes that Frayka will mature, and for more of TeaTree and GranGran. And for more of the Far Eastern dragon gods!
📚📚📚
Gate of Air follows the Northlander seer Frayka, who has been tasked by the Northland gods to make a peace with the dragon gods of the Far East. Frayka has Far East blood, and sees portents, a fact that makes other Northlanders wary of her. Now she must travel to the Far East and find the Gate of Air in order to meet the dragon gods. Along the way, she learns more about her family’s past, and her gift of portents.
I had high hopes for Gate of Air, given previous books by the author, especially since this is set in the same world. It just didn't work for me though. Frayka grated on my nerves too much. To have been tasked by the gods to broker a peace or face severe consequences not just for herself, but all of her people, Frayka acts very immature and impetuously. She does not take the time to weigh the effects of her actions and bemoans that everyone wants her to 'not be true to her nature’. There's a time to be true to oneself, and a time to reign that in for the greater good. As a main character, I found her rather lacking. It was disconcerting how Frayka didn't think she needed to adapt her behaviour in the Far East to follow the customs there, or that she considered it was okay to be brusque and impolite to her great grandmother, or others in positions of power and authority. There does not appear to be anything but her own sense of self-righteousness that makes her think she's better than others. Respect for elders, and authority, tends to be a part of most cultures, and the Northlanders do not seem against that.
I enjoyed the *concept* of the story, if not the self-centred temperament of the main character, and I found many of the other characters very compelling. TeaTree and GranGran were awesome. Emperor Po, Kikita, and Ti were neat too, though I was surprised by the turn Ti took. While I might not want to live in the Far East, I found the depth and detail of the culture, and its customs fascinating. I’ll give the next book a try, in the hopes that Frayka will mature, and for more of TeaTree and GranGran. And for more of the Far Eastern dragon gods!
📚📚📚
July 29, 2017
I would like to thank the author for sending me a physical copy of this book. All opinions are of my own.
When I first caught a glimpse of this book through a newsletter, I just knew I had to read it.
- Asian mythology
- Dragons
- Gods
- Dragon Gods
- Asian characters
I couldn't have been more excited to received this book. This is my first time reading Resa Nelson's work, so I was a little unfamiliar with the world she had created. Perhaps reading her previous books might have made me more acquainted with the saga, but for newbie readers I would expect the author to give a more vivid description of the world she had created. There were no unnecessary info dump but I do wished the author had reintroduced new readers to the world and culture she had created for the Dragonslayer and Dragonfly series.
That aside, I enjoyed this first book so much. It was fast paced with a plucky heroine who tries to navigate herself in new customs and cultures as she tries to save her people. Sounds familiar? It was interesting to read about a character who was not just confused about her role, but at times, a little helpless.
What interested me even more was that we also get to learn about the laws of the Far East. Some left me gaping with disbelief; I was like what the heck kind of a place is this? Then, I remembered how many historical laws had been similar. I thought it was wonderful of Resa Nelson to add these in because it also focused on social issues in history. It limited our female characters in a way which made me eager to read more about how they plan to navigate themselves in such a constrained world.
A wonderful mix of history, magic, mythology, and a plot twist that I would not have guessed at all! This book reminded me so much of Avatar: The Last Airbender, especially Njall who I couldn't help imagining as Sokka. Easily sliding this book into one of my favorite fantasy series.
Visit my blog at Camillea Reads for more reviews and bookish posts
When I first caught a glimpse of this book through a newsletter, I just knew I had to read it.
- Asian mythology
- Dragons
- Gods
- Dragon Gods
- Asian characters
I couldn't have been more excited to received this book. This is my first time reading Resa Nelson's work, so I was a little unfamiliar with the world she had created. Perhaps reading her previous books might have made me more acquainted with the saga, but for newbie readers I would expect the author to give a more vivid description of the world she had created. There were no unnecessary info dump but I do wished the author had reintroduced new readers to the world and culture she had created for the Dragonslayer and Dragonfly series.
That aside, I enjoyed this first book so much. It was fast paced with a plucky heroine who tries to navigate herself in new customs and cultures as she tries to save her people. Sounds familiar? It was interesting to read about a character who was not just confused about her role, but at times, a little helpless.
What interested me even more was that we also get to learn about the laws of the Far East. Some left me gaping with disbelief; I was like what the heck kind of a place is this? Then, I remembered how many historical laws had been similar. I thought it was wonderful of Resa Nelson to add these in because it also focused on social issues in history. It limited our female characters in a way which made me eager to read more about how they plan to navigate themselves in such a constrained world.
A wonderful mix of history, magic, mythology, and a plot twist that I would not have guessed at all! This book reminded me so much of Avatar: The Last Airbender, especially Njall who I couldn't help imagining as Sokka. Easily sliding this book into one of my favorite fantasy series.
Visit my blog at Camillea Reads for more reviews and bookish posts
December 27, 2018
2 star
If it weren't for my guilt about low reviews without finishing the book, I wouldn't have gotten beyond the first chapter or two. It did improve some after that, but it wasn't really a satisfying read for me. I felt disconnected from the characters and intermittently annoyed at the writing. The early chapters are filled with info dumps and repetitive phrasing. It claims to be book one of a series, but it feels like a much later book and provides copious information in the form of extended dumps. A shame, as I feel like the characters and story had far more potential.
If it weren't for my guilt about low reviews without finishing the book, I wouldn't have gotten beyond the first chapter or two. It did improve some after that, but it wasn't really a satisfying read for me. I felt disconnected from the characters and intermittently annoyed at the writing. The early chapters are filled with info dumps and repetitive phrasing. It claims to be book one of a series, but it feels like a much later book and provides copious information in the form of extended dumps. A shame, as I feel like the characters and story had far more potential.
Read
January 14, 2020DNF at 25%.
July 12, 2019
I had this book on my kindle for quite a while, and I ended up reading it more out of random chance because I was traveling on the subway when I abruptly finished one book, and once the vehicle goes underground, my chances of reading a book during the long commute home would have gone nil. So pretty much this book was more of a pick something fast or else!
That said, this book's cover is simply gorgeous. Kudos to the designer for such an awesome cover!
Setting those two issues aside, this book is one of those cases where the overall story and ideas are quite good with an ancient Chinese esque society clashing against a more modern minded barbarian Anglo-Saxon culture. My main issues stem mostly due to the very sluggish start and the whole issue/non-issue about angry Northern gods.
Like many readers, I definitely prefer something interesting happening at the start of a book over a beginning with an alarm clock and a morning routine. In this story, our feisty female lead with chinese roots Frayka is traveling by boat alongside her blonde and blue eyed betrothed Njall to their home village. Why were they separated and wandering in the northern lands? The book doesn't offer a satisfying reason, only that some gods got angry at some other gods and obliterated most of the Northerner settlements long before the protagonists were born. We never really know why they were out on some yearlong adventure, or if their trip would have been important to begin with.
The only thing we are offered is the fact that Frayka was born with seer abilities and knew that Njall was destined to become her husband even though he teased and bullied her when they were kids. Apparently she was commanded by the Northern gods to locate the dragon gods of the Far East and make some amends (why don't they do this task?), or someone will kill everyone in Frayka's village. I think the book could have started with a huge bang with her suffering from one of her occasional trance like states while they are being urged to return home for some random reason that sounded plausible. Pretty much the minute they arrive, Frayka tells her dad about the haunting vision, and the newlyweds are setting off once again on a mission that initially seems absurd. We never really got a chance to see her home village in order to compare it with the sweltering rules and patriarchal society of Zansheen City. I also feel like the novel suffered greatly at first because I never connected much with the two protagonists or gotten to like them that much.
Luckily, once you pass the 40% point of the novel, the two heroes reach Zansheen and become bombarded big time with the culture shock of a country where women can be kidnapped by random guys (even if they are only little children), forced to marry the guy and be expected to mutilate their bodies in agony during the mourning period if their husband dies. Frayka's brash nature gets her into a lot of trouble because everyone assumes by her looks that she is supposed to be a meek and well behaved local.
I liked the supporting characters TeeTea (odd name indeed) and Emperor Po a lot. If one of them had been the protagonists, the book would have been much more limited plot wise because of their specific POVs, but I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more. Other characters seemed to behave in contradictory ways (Asu Chen didn't find Princess Ti's request to be kinda... odd?). Madam Po was funny in her own peculiar way.
Having visited China in real life (albeit I only know the uber modernized cities surrounding Shanghai), I know that bride stealing and foreign women abductions still happens even today in the southern regions. The victims either try to make the best out of living with a man without any documents or knowing the language, or decide to find the way to flee while being forced to leave behind any underage children that as Chinese citizens are always given custody to the father. I found this aspect of the Far East society to be both fascinating and very disturbing to read. If only the first third of the book had been as strong and interesting as the rest of the book, it could have been a really memorable read.
I am indeed at a conundrum. I didn't care too much about Frayka as a protagonist, but I am quite curious about where the story is heading. The novel indeed has a lot of faults, but if you are into ancient Chinese culture and wish to see the world from a very different pair of eyes, this book has those merits going in its favor. Enjoy!
That said, this book's cover is simply gorgeous. Kudos to the designer for such an awesome cover!
Setting those two issues aside, this book is one of those cases where the overall story and ideas are quite good with an ancient Chinese esque society clashing against a more modern minded barbarian Anglo-Saxon culture. My main issues stem mostly due to the very sluggish start and the whole issue/non-issue about angry Northern gods.
Like many readers, I definitely prefer something interesting happening at the start of a book over a beginning with an alarm clock and a morning routine. In this story, our feisty female lead with chinese roots Frayka is traveling by boat alongside her blonde and blue eyed betrothed Njall to their home village. Why were they separated and wandering in the northern lands? The book doesn't offer a satisfying reason, only that some gods got angry at some other gods and obliterated most of the Northerner settlements long before the protagonists were born. We never really know why they were out on some yearlong adventure, or if their trip would have been important to begin with.
The only thing we are offered is the fact that Frayka was born with seer abilities and knew that Njall was destined to become her husband even though he teased and bullied her when they were kids. Apparently she was commanded by the Northern gods to locate the dragon gods of the Far East and make some amends (why don't they do this task?), or someone will kill everyone in Frayka's village. I think the book could have started with a huge bang with her suffering from one of her occasional trance like states while they are being urged to return home for some random reason that sounded plausible. Pretty much the minute they arrive, Frayka tells her dad about the haunting vision, and the newlyweds are setting off once again on a mission that initially seems absurd. We never really got a chance to see her home village in order to compare it with the sweltering rules and patriarchal society of Zansheen City. I also feel like the novel suffered greatly at first because I never connected much with the two protagonists or gotten to like them that much.
Luckily, once you pass the 40% point of the novel, the two heroes reach Zansheen and become bombarded big time with the culture shock of a country where women can be kidnapped by random guys (even if they are only little children), forced to marry the guy and be expected to mutilate their bodies in agony during the mourning period if their husband dies. Frayka's brash nature gets her into a lot of trouble because everyone assumes by her looks that she is supposed to be a meek and well behaved local.
I liked the supporting characters TeeTea (odd name indeed) and Emperor Po a lot. If one of them had been the protagonists, the book would have been much more limited plot wise because of their specific POVs, but I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more. Other characters seemed to behave in contradictory ways (Asu Chen didn't find Princess Ti's request to be kinda... odd?). Madam Po was funny in her own peculiar way.
Having visited China in real life (albeit I only know the uber modernized cities surrounding Shanghai), I know that bride stealing and foreign women abductions still happens even today in the southern regions. The victims either try to make the best out of living with a man without any documents or knowing the language, or decide to find the way to flee while being forced to leave behind any underage children that as Chinese citizens are always given custody to the father. I found this aspect of the Far East society to be both fascinating and very disturbing to read. If only the first third of the book had been as strong and interesting as the rest of the book, it could have been a really memorable read.
I am indeed at a conundrum. I didn't care too much about Frayka as a protagonist, but I am quite curious about where the story is heading. The novel indeed has a lot of faults, but if you are into ancient Chinese culture and wish to see the world from a very different pair of eyes, this book has those merits going in its favor. Enjoy!
April 18, 2025
This was technically a reread for me, but it's been like seven or eight years since I read it and it felt like a newish story that slowly started to jog my memory.
Honestly, it's more of a 2.5 star book, but rounded up because Goodreads won't let me do half ratings.
The story has some legs and potential to be good, but I'm just not a fan of the author's writing style. As some have said, the story starts with no real explanation of why the main characters are in the situation they are in and the author expects you to just know, as of this were the second book in the series and not the first. Where's the set up?
The writing is extremely repetitive and the author over uses the word "portant" when explaining Freyka's visions to the point that it's nauseating. I used the FIND feature in my Kindle and it counted 76 times that or a variation of the word was used. The book itself is 228 pages, so if you do simple math, that word is used roughly once every three pages.
Also to continue with the repetitiveness, every chance she can get the author makes sure the reader is well aware that Freyka looks nothing like the Northlander people in her village who are "pale and white", but instead she has features of her Grandmother who was from the Far East.
If I'm understanding correctly, in our world Freyka and her people are essentially Vikings while her Grandmother would be considered Chinese. That's all fine and well, but when her Dad and some of the other elderly Northlanders speak they sound like Pirates. "Frayka! You be home at last!" for example is the first thing her Dad says to her when she arrives home from her initial voyage. It gets worse, trust me.
That being said, I like the theme and premise of the book which has me considering reading the other three in the series. My main reasoning is because they are free via Kindle Unlimited and the worst that could come from it would be a wasted month of reading. They'd definitely be towards the bottom of my TBR though for the year if I do continue.
Honestly, it's more of a 2.5 star book, but rounded up because Goodreads won't let me do half ratings.
The story has some legs and potential to be good, but I'm just not a fan of the author's writing style. As some have said, the story starts with no real explanation of why the main characters are in the situation they are in and the author expects you to just know, as of this were the second book in the series and not the first. Where's the set up?
The writing is extremely repetitive and the author over uses the word "portant" when explaining Freyka's visions to the point that it's nauseating. I used the FIND feature in my Kindle and it counted 76 times that or a variation of the word was used. The book itself is 228 pages, so if you do simple math, that word is used roughly once every three pages.
Also to continue with the repetitiveness, every chance she can get the author makes sure the reader is well aware that Freyka looks nothing like the Northlander people in her village who are "pale and white", but instead she has features of her Grandmother who was from the Far East.
If I'm understanding correctly, in our world Freyka and her people are essentially Vikings while her Grandmother would be considered Chinese. That's all fine and well, but when her Dad and some of the other elderly Northlanders speak they sound like Pirates. "Frayka! You be home at last!" for example is the first thing her Dad says to her when she arrives home from her initial voyage. It gets worse, trust me.
That being said, I like the theme and premise of the book which has me considering reading the other three in the series. My main reasoning is because they are free via Kindle Unlimited and the worst that could come from it would be a wasted month of reading. They'd definitely be towards the bottom of my TBR though for the year if I do continue.
February 15, 2023
Gate of Air is the first book in the Dragon Gods series by Resa Nelson. The Northland gods are not happy and have told Frayka that they will destroy everyone unless she can convince the dragon gods of the Far East to appease them.
A historical fantasy that is a mythology adventure with a bit of a coming-of-age story. This book excels at magical realism based on historical fiction without all of the info dumps. We mainly follow Frayka, our main character, but we also get other POVs along the way. The atmosphere is done well and the culture really shines through, especially when showing the differences between the two nations. There are a couple of twists to the story that are intriguing, making me want to pick up the next book.
The writing style is easy to read and the prose is done really well. The characters are written well even though you don’t always agree with their choices. The main character can seem a bit dense at times but I think that is the intention. GranGran, I don’t think there is anything you need to say about her except, hands down, the best character in the book! I absolutely loved her.
This first book lays the groundwork for the rest of the series and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.
A historical fantasy that is a mythology adventure with a bit of a coming-of-age story. This book excels at magical realism based on historical fiction without all of the info dumps. We mainly follow Frayka, our main character, but we also get other POVs along the way. The atmosphere is done well and the culture really shines through, especially when showing the differences between the two nations. There are a couple of twists to the story that are intriguing, making me want to pick up the next book.
The writing style is easy to read and the prose is done really well. The characters are written well even though you don’t always agree with their choices. The main character can seem a bit dense at times but I think that is the intention. GranGran, I don’t think there is anything you need to say about her except, hands down, the best character in the book! I absolutely loved her.
This first book lays the groundwork for the rest of the series and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here.
June 18, 2017
This story is another series based in the world of Dragon Slayer and Dragonfly series. I enjoyed the story itself as it showed the problems that can occur if you ignore the customs of the country you are in. It might help if I had read the other series first to get a better understanding of the world and the nuances of the story. But I could still enjoy the story and picked up what was going on easily. And I could easily laugh and groan about how Frayka and Njall thought it would be easy to visit the Far East in a supped up row boat. At least they understood it would be hard to find the Dragon Gods. I enjoyed everyone that Frayka and Njall met, especially GranGran. And I was totally surprised by how the book ended. Now I cannot wait to see what happens next. My honest review is - an enjoyable read that mixed history, magic, and gods into a story that makes you want to read the next book.
June 30, 2017
I got this book free from Instafreebie, and while reviews aren't necessarily demanded, I always oblige. Here are some things I didn't know about Gates of Air:
1. It's apparently Young Adult
2. It's part of a series.
If YA means no nookie and no swearing or gratuitous violence, it definitely fits the bill. I'm not averse to violence, but I tend to sleep through sex scenes. Even so, it was nice to see the book managed to avoid all those things yet hold my interest. The fact that I was 100 pages in before noticing on Goodreads that it was a series says a lot about the writing. That the author alluded to previous events without the irritating info dump many others churn out is a credit to her. Also, I never felt like I was missing out on anything crucial. The characters were likeable, and the plot moved along steadily with no mcguffins to make one go "hold on a minute!" Nicely done, and will appeal to most ages. Closer to 41/2 stars...
1. It's apparently Young Adult
2. It's part of a series.
If YA means no nookie and no swearing or gratuitous violence, it definitely fits the bill. I'm not averse to violence, but I tend to sleep through sex scenes. Even so, it was nice to see the book managed to avoid all those things yet hold my interest. The fact that I was 100 pages in before noticing on Goodreads that it was a series says a lot about the writing. That the author alluded to previous events without the irritating info dump many others churn out is a credit to her. Also, I never felt like I was missing out on anything crucial. The characters were likeable, and the plot moved along steadily with no mcguffins to make one go "hold on a minute!" Nicely done, and will appeal to most ages. Closer to 41/2 stars...
October 9, 2017
Resa Nelson has created an epic tale of two cultures colliding. The difficulties of women in society and the changing culture to protect those you love. Frayka is strong and independent but is still shown as soft and delicate. Her mission is filled with trials of all kinds and her greatest enemy is man.
You don’t realise how intense the story is until you are gripping your kindle and wondering if you will have your answers in this first of four books in the Dragon God Series. Between the gods and the politics of a new land you feel relief and then angst virtually at the same time. It reminded me of the slow burn of Earthsea Quartet. A sprawling tale with countless points of information working together to create, not just a world, but the realms that go with them.
The only thing for me was it sometimes seemed too bitty. There were areas I wanted more from but overall the story flowed and wandered in a direction that worked.
You don’t realise how intense the story is until you are gripping your kindle and wondering if you will have your answers in this first of four books in the Dragon God Series. Between the gods and the politics of a new land you feel relief and then angst virtually at the same time. It reminded me of the slow burn of Earthsea Quartet. A sprawling tale with countless points of information working together to create, not just a world, but the realms that go with them.
The only thing for me was it sometimes seemed too bitty. There were areas I wanted more from but overall the story flowed and wandered in a direction that worked.
July 11, 2022
This was a solid addition to fantasy quest literature. Frayka is a Northlander by nature and nurture. She has been taught to speak boldly, act decisively, and honor her visions. But when her visions tell her that she must travel to Far Eastern to meet with the dragon goddesses, she must set aside everything she has learned about her family, her way of life and her husband to survive.
This is the first of 4 books. The world building is a little heavy handed as often happens when setting up a series. Frayka is an interesting character but I found myself wanting to learn more about the back story of Gran Gran and Ti - the daughter of Emperor Po. It will be fun to watch their stories unfold in the next three books.
This is the first of 4 books. The world building is a little heavy handed as often happens when setting up a series. Frayka is an interesting character but I found myself wanting to learn more about the back story of Gran Gran and Ti - the daughter of Emperor Po. It will be fun to watch their stories unfold in the next three books.
March 1, 2022
Bringing you the Dragon Gods - First the God of Air. Of course you must traverse the Gate of Air to get there. Frayka is on a mission. She needs to save herself and the Northlanders. It is an ugly path she must follow. It is not for the faint of heart. A well written story with some very unpleasant details.
June 2, 2019
Engaging story
Nice continuation from the Dragonfly series. This Book leaves many questions to be answered in the next book. I'm looking forward to seeing if they are in the next book.
Nice continuation from the Dragonfly series. This Book leaves many questions to be answered in the next book. I'm looking forward to seeing if they are in the next book.
July 17, 2019
I didn’t close enough attention when I bought this book. Yes, it is book 1 of a 4 book series but also book 9 of a 16 book series. It was a good story & I liked the characters, I haven’t decided whether to continue reading this series.
December 15, 2019
Great Read
This is a great story that is full I'll of adventure, but easy to read . I liked the characters and found them easy to identify with. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
This is a great story that is full I'll of adventure, but easy to read . I liked the characters and found them easy to identify with. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
July 1, 2017
Interesting story with believable characters you'll fall n love with and an enjoyable read.
September 25, 2017
Review Oct 2nd!
May 3, 2019
Quit at page 41 of 305. Poorly written, starts in the middle of something, very childish.
August 27, 2019
So much better than what I was expecting, a quick read and page turner.
February 11, 2020
Once again I have found a good book in this story. I found it hard to put it down until the end.
June 17, 2017
It is such a great book I can't believe how Resa was able to make characters so appealing in such a short amount of time.
I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone who likes a good action novel this book is filled with frills and excitement
once you pick it up you can't stop reading
I would without a doubt recommend it to anyone who likes a good action novel this book is filled with frills and excitement
once you pick it up you can't stop reading
July 5, 2024
I have read other books by this author and like this one never fail to disappoint. I was engrossed from the beginning to the end. What’s going to happen in book two I wonder. Recommended listen.
February 27, 2024
The first of an excellent series.
I originally read and reviewed Gate of Air in November of 2021 at which point I set a goal that I’m now in the process of fulfilling. That goal was stated in my original review of this book that is included below. I am on the last series in the Dragon Slayer/Dragon Gods series having now listened to them in their chronological order.
*****
I have become addicted to reading Resa Nelson’s stores/series and the Dragon Gods series is the latest that I’m feeding that addiction. In this case Following Frayka on her quest to convince the Dragon Gods to appease the Northlander Gods was like getting reacquainted with several characters/old friends who populate her other series. As I get time my goal is to not only read all Resa’s series, but to reread them in the chronological order of the story lines. Considering I rarely ever reread books, this is a must accomplish task/goal I have set for myself simply because these stories are so enjoyable.
*****
Listening to this story roughly two years later has allowed me to not only enjoy it once again, but to pick out things that weren’t apparent to me when I was reading this story. Furthermore, since I had not previously read any of Resa’s series in chronological order I had no appreciation for how each series tied into the next. Now understanding Frayka’s origin and her relationship with Greeta and Pengzi Po this story was so much more entertaining than my initial reading. Of course, Resa’s narration of her own story adds so much since she is intimately familiar with each character and their individual stories.
Updated 2/25/2024
I originally read and reviewed Gate of Air in November of 2021 at which point I set a goal that I’m now in the process of fulfilling. That goal was stated in my original review of this book that is included below. I am on the last series in the Dragon Slayer/Dragon Gods series having now listened to them in their chronological order.
*****
I have become addicted to reading Resa Nelson’s stores/series and the Dragon Gods series is the latest that I’m feeding that addiction. In this case Following Frayka on her quest to convince the Dragon Gods to appease the Northlander Gods was like getting reacquainted with several characters/old friends who populate her other series. As I get time my goal is to not only read all Resa’s series, but to reread them in the chronological order of the story lines. Considering I rarely ever reread books, this is a must accomplish task/goal I have set for myself simply because these stories are so enjoyable.
*****
Listening to this story roughly two years later has allowed me to not only enjoy it once again, but to pick out things that weren’t apparent to me when I was reading this story. Furthermore, since I had not previously read any of Resa’s series in chronological order I had no appreciation for how each series tied into the next. Now understanding Frayka’s origin and her relationship with Greeta and Pengzi Po this story was so much more entertaining than my initial reading. Of course, Resa’s narration of her own story adds so much since she is intimately familiar with each character and their individual stories.
Updated 2/25/2024
October 3, 2021
Very good.
I read this when it in 2018. I didn't realize I hadn't left a review. It is a good story and makes a lot more sense after reading the stories of Pingzi Po in 'Dragon Bells' and 'The Dragon's Omen'. I was glad to read it again.
I read this when it in 2018. I didn't realize I hadn't left a review. It is a good story and makes a lot more sense after reading the stories of Pingzi Po in 'Dragon Bells' and 'The Dragon's Omen'. I was glad to read it again.
September 16, 2020
What can I say about this one?
It's not that it's terrible it's just very repetitive.
Like every other chapter it likes to remind me of the mission frayka is on...
The writing was pretty simplistic and there wasnt a lot of character building and somethings didn't make much sense.
It's not that it's terrible it's just very repetitive.
Like every other chapter it likes to remind me of the mission frayka is on...
The writing was pretty simplistic and there wasnt a lot of character building and somethings didn't make much sense.
June 21, 2017
Gate of Air by Resa Nelson is a reader's dream to read. Imagine being told by Northern gods that you have to make dragon gods from a far away land agree to make amends for perceived wrongs or die. You are sent to a far away where you don't speak the language or know the customs..Frayka has to go from the north lands to the eastern lands to do the northern gods' bidding. I can't wait for the next book. Great read.
Read
October 23, 2017You can find B2B Ani's review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews