The Owl and the Dragon

by Randy Nargi

Hytwen and Ortwen: two remote villages on the southern edge of the Empire of Harion. Separated by a misty lake. And a deadly family secret.

When ex-Imperial Investigator Bander arrives in the village of Hytwen, ragged and half dead after a savage attack on the road, all he wants is the aid of a healer and a new pair of boots. But he’s soon pressed into service by the wealthy lord of Hytwen to find a twelve-year-old girl who’s been abducted from the manor. Everyone suspects the neighboring village, and with the drums of war beating, time is running out.

As Bander digs deeper, he confronts a brutal gang of trained killers, a mysterious barmaid, and a sinister mage plotting destruction from the shadows. Soon it becomes clear that things aren’t what they seem, and the hunt for the missing girl is just part of a diabolical mosaic of murder and chaos that threatens to destroy scores of innocent people.

But not if Bander can help it.

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Adventure

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2018

About the author

Randy Nargi is an award-winning writer and film director who lives in Central Oregon with his wife (and frequent collaborator) actress Jessi Badami. Mr. Nargi received his BA in Literary Writing from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He is a former technology entrepreneur and advertising executive who grew up in New York and has lived in London and Seattle.

Reviews

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An engrossing new... fantasy/mystery adventure featuring Bander, a remarkable hero who's equal parts Conan the Barbarian and Sherlock Holmes”

Sorry, but I beg to differ. I think Randy Nargi must have been channeling Jack Reacher in a swords and sorcery fantasy world context when he wrote The Owl and the Dragon: A Bander Adventure. That’s perfectly fine with me, however, as I love Jack Reacher stories almost as much as I love fantasy tales. Together they’re a killer combination, and this is a killer of a great book. Full of action, mystery, thrills, unexpected twists and turns and a star who is really fun.

Highly recommended.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book quite a lot. The main character Bander is pretty interesting. He's a retired man in his early 50's who is wandering about the land and is certainly quite confident in himself and his abilities to figure out people and their motives as well as be pretty good at fighting, since he is a pretty large and powerful man. I liked this about him, but I also thought that he was a bit too confident at times.
This was a fast read and I found it pretty difficult to put down.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I really enjoyed this story. It was a good mystery with all the fantasy elements I enjoy. :). I would definitely read more books by Randy Nargi.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, but it bogged down a bit after the 3/4 way point. I had to push my way through. I'm glad I did. The remainder was worth it. I want to know what happens to Wylla and Jillen. I may just have to get the next book.

[Janet Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book

I really liked this book..I was drawn in by the first chapter and couldn't put in down...I recommend this book to anyone...thanks for getting me out of the house and into another place....and timd....😊💚

[Martin Sear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical medieval detective story

Very enjoyable read the whole thing in less than a day. Great pace, interesting story. Looking forward to reading more of Bander's adventures

[Alan Alsemgeest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riviting Story

Great story and Bander is like an olden time Jack Reacher. Surprize ending which was well done.Could not put it down.A+++

[Gregory Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

A wonderful new fantasy world to explore. Great characters who come to life as you see this new world through their eyes. Fantasy at its best.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written with a slightly off beat character. Enjoyed it well enough to go and get the first of the series about Bander...look forward to reading the complete set.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I was hoping for more. The Owl and the Dragon has all the right elements to be a good book, including interesting characters, a complex mystery, and some fantasy elements thrown in, there was simply no magic. The story fell completely flat. There was little to no tension, the romance was honestly confusing, and even the action wasn't enough to draw me in.

Now, I'm not saying this is a bad book. It's just...fine. It's very middle of the road, which is a shame because it could have been great.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.