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Drakon #4
Drakon: Butterfly
The fourth and final book in the Drakon series, the debut of C.A. Caskabel
The thrilling culmination of the story of Da-Ren, Zeria, Eusebius, Noki, Sah-Ouna, and Malan.
After five years of war, Da-Ren returns to Sirol hoping to reunite with Zeria. Once again he has to stand between the fanatics of his tribe and the innocent. The more he strives for peace, the deeper he dives into a web of murder and deceit.
Da-Ren manages to become master of his fate, breaking all ties with gods, witches, and Khuns. But Malan and Sah-Ouna will return, and the prophecy of the Final Battle will be fulfilled. Everyone’s destiny converges to the same battlefield. Everyone dreams of glory. No one will be ready for the bloodbath. No one will be ready for the secrets that are buried deep.
A happy end? It all depends on where you’ll stop reading. Da-Ren in his own words will urge you to stop reading in the middle of the manuscript:
“I’ve heard of scribes who make up such tales, and tribes that devour them for pleasure, tales of their triumphant heroes and kings, their chosen-ones and their princes. This is not such a tale. It would be if I stopped here. A hearth, a man, a woman, boiled venison. The end. If someone fooled you and told you to expect this, listen to me and stop here. Because I come from a tribe that dwells on the borders where monster meets man and necessity sows tragedy. In my tribe, we don’t sing Stories for fools and kings but for the Goddess to pass judgment. And, beware for the last time, this Story goes on.”
The thrilling culmination of the story of Da-Ren, Zeria, Eusebius, Noki, Sah-Ouna, and Malan.
After five years of war, Da-Ren returns to Sirol hoping to reunite with Zeria. Once again he has to stand between the fanatics of his tribe and the innocent. The more he strives for peace, the deeper he dives into a web of murder and deceit.
Da-Ren manages to become master of his fate, breaking all ties with gods, witches, and Khuns. But Malan and Sah-Ouna will return, and the prophecy of the Final Battle will be fulfilled. Everyone’s destiny converges to the same battlefield. Everyone dreams of glory. No one will be ready for the bloodbath. No one will be ready for the secrets that are buried deep.
A happy end? It all depends on where you’ll stop reading. Da-Ren in his own words will urge you to stop reading in the middle of the manuscript:
“I’ve heard of scribes who make up such tales, and tribes that devour them for pleasure, tales of their triumphant heroes and kings, their chosen-ones and their princes. This is not such a tale. It would be if I stopped here. A hearth, a man, a woman, boiled venison. The end. If someone fooled you and told you to expect this, listen to me and stop here. Because I come from a tribe that dwells on the borders where monster meets man and necessity sows tragedy. In my tribe, we don’t sing Stories for fools and kings but for the Goddess to pass judgment. And, beware for the last time, this Story goes on.”
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2018
26 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
C.A. Caskabel
8 books57 followersC.A. Caskabel was born in Athens, Greece, and lived in New England for almost twenty years, including 2018, when he started writing Cradle. This is his second novel, following the epic fantasy series Drakon. Drakon, which I highly recommend, is another variant of the same story that I write over and over again: man is the most dangerous monster, and the hero (or heroine) has to pay a price so high that it is worthy of a song and a story.
In 2018, he started writing a novel about a pandemic based on the H7N9 influenza virus, a very real and documented global threat. About the same time, He started working for a clean energy startup that aims to make diesel generators obsolete in developing countries, and I was raising four children. On the one hand, he was worried about their future; on the other, he kept reading world news about civil wars, refugees, and child exploitation. Somehow, all this messed together to create a novel about four women, a story that he hopes is more about resilience rather than tragedy.
He started writing Drakon in 2013 and completed the 400,000-word epic fantasy novel in 2016. He split Drakon into four books which he will release within 2017, he promises. After all, he is eager to start working on the next novel. C.A. is also the founder of an indie publisher of picture books and fantasy fiction.
In 2018, he started writing a novel about a pandemic based on the H7N9 influenza virus, a very real and documented global threat. About the same time, He started working for a clean energy startup that aims to make diesel generators obsolete in developing countries, and I was raising four children. On the one hand, he was worried about their future; on the other, he kept reading world news about civil wars, refugees, and child exploitation. Somehow, all this messed together to create a novel about four women, a story that he hopes is more about resilience rather than tragedy.
He started writing Drakon in 2013 and completed the 400,000-word epic fantasy novel in 2016. He split Drakon into four books which he will release within 2017, he promises. After all, he is eager to start working on the next novel. C.A. is also the founder of an indie publisher of picture books and fantasy fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 8, 2018
Greatly fitting end to the great adventure! Highly recommend reading the whole series!!!
Honestly, I was hoping for a happy ending, but this one is more fitting to the brutal world this adventure belongs to. Throughout the series, I really enjoyed the complicated intertwined intricacies of religion/beliefs, love/war, politics, thin line between right and wrong, as well as the wonderful descriptions of the world that our ancestors probably lived in.
Congratulations to the author for the wonderful writing and besides his next story, I look forward to seeing this one in a TV series or movie!
Honestly, I was hoping for a happy ending, but this one is more fitting to the brutal world this adventure belongs to. Throughout the series, I really enjoyed the complicated intertwined intricacies of religion/beliefs, love/war, politics, thin line between right and wrong, as well as the wonderful descriptions of the world that our ancestors probably lived in.
Congratulations to the author for the wonderful writing and besides his next story, I look forward to seeing this one in a TV series or movie!
October 22, 2018
While I was reading this, I was thinking, “Is this really a 5 star book or a 4 star book?” I am giving it 5 stars for the forethought and the insight the author brings. It is a savage, fantastic series and not all questions are answered. But, that’s OK. Not everyone knows everything about one’s own life.
February 21, 2018
Nine stars
The story of Da-Ren is poetry written in blood. Brutally beautiful, wonderful and terrible, triumphant and tragic. Dark fantasy done right. Thank you Mr Caskabel for a fine, fine story.
The story of Da-Ren is poetry written in blood. Brutally beautiful, wonderful and terrible, triumphant and tragic. Dark fantasy done right. Thank you Mr Caskabel for a fine, fine story.
March 1, 2025
This book is available on KU.
This last book in the Drakon series answers almost all the questions. Almost. There's a few unanswered ones left, but that's honestly to be expected when the story is just about one person; Da-Ren the Nine-Star Drakon.
I didn't expect this book to get punch me in every way imaginable. But it's hard not when I've been following Da-Ren's life for four books, and twenty two years of his life.
The character development for Da-Ren and even Malan is impressive. Watching these two characters grow from young boys in the Sieve into the men they became was amazing. How badly different their lives became even though they'd known each other since birth.
The range of emotions a reader will go through will probably vary, it was definitely a rollercoaster for me. There's so much I want to say in this review, but almost anytime would be spoiler really. Just know that while this last book's title seems out of place compared to The Sieve, Uncarved, and Firstblade, Butterfly is probably the most appropriate name that could have been given to this. It makes the most sense once you reach the final page.
I'm honestly sad to leave this world of savages and empires. But it was the most decent place to stop I think; there isn't anything left to tell of this story.
I think I'm going to pick up the paperbacks and make this quartet a permanent part of my library.
I give this book (and the entire series) 5 of 5 Paws.
This last book in the Drakon series answers almost all the questions. Almost. There's a few unanswered ones left, but that's honestly to be expected when the story is just about one person; Da-Ren the Nine-Star Drakon.
I didn't expect this book to get punch me in every way imaginable. But it's hard not when I've been following Da-Ren's life for four books, and twenty two years of his life.
The character development for Da-Ren and even Malan is impressive. Watching these two characters grow from young boys in the Sieve into the men they became was amazing. How badly different their lives became even though they'd known each other since birth.
The range of emotions a reader will go through will probably vary, it was definitely a rollercoaster for me. There's so much I want to say in this review, but almost anytime would be spoiler really. Just know that while this last book's title seems out of place compared to The Sieve, Uncarved, and Firstblade, Butterfly is probably the most appropriate name that could have been given to this. It makes the most sense once you reach the final page.
I'm honestly sad to leave this world of savages and empires. But it was the most decent place to stop I think; there isn't anything left to tell of this story.
I think I'm going to pick up the paperbacks and make this quartet a permanent part of my library.
I give this book (and the entire series) 5 of 5 Paws.
May 28, 2020
One more story
This was definitely a book where you kept hoping for, one more chapter,please one more! But,alas, it was not so. While your left with a few burning questions, the future of this story could continue(let's hope). We finally hear the whole story of Da-Ren, while it is difficult to listen to the hardships and brutality of this man, your jaw will hit the floor at the end! The characterization and storytelling are excellent, never are you stuck in a moment for to long. The story flows at a perfect pace. With all that said, the real gem of the journey is the imagination of the author. The world be has created is rich in detail and all pieces together with ease. Plenty of " stories about the gods" are sprinkled throughout the book. Stories of how things came to be, stories of any and stories of magic( which could be true). Your left thinking on many a different question , days after you finish. which makes the best kind of story.
This was definitely a book where you kept hoping for, one more chapter,please one more! But,alas, it was not so. While your left with a few burning questions, the future of this story could continue(let's hope). We finally hear the whole story of Da-Ren, while it is difficult to listen to the hardships and brutality of this man, your jaw will hit the floor at the end! The characterization and storytelling are excellent, never are you stuck in a moment for to long. The story flows at a perfect pace. With all that said, the real gem of the journey is the imagination of the author. The world be has created is rich in detail and all pieces together with ease. Plenty of " stories about the gods" are sprinkled throughout the book. Stories of how things came to be, stories of any and stories of magic( which could be true). Your left thinking on many a different question , days after you finish. which makes the best kind of story.
August 17, 2018
Disappointing
After three mostly enjoyable installments the fourth and final book of Da-Ren's epic fails to deliver. A plodding pace, morose atmosphere, and climax which lands with a sad whimper, mark this as the weakest of the series. There was so much potential to bring various threads together in an explosive and unforseen conclusion, but this potential is largely left unfulfilled. The result is a slog, as the author opts for a philosophical meditation on impermanence, sacrifice, and redemption, all with mixed results. Overall, I liked the alternate reality setting and the series as a whole, but I found Butterfly to be a disappointment.
After three mostly enjoyable installments the fourth and final book of Da-Ren's epic fails to deliver. A plodding pace, morose atmosphere, and climax which lands with a sad whimper, mark this as the weakest of the series. There was so much potential to bring various threads together in an explosive and unforseen conclusion, but this potential is largely left unfulfilled. The result is a slog, as the author opts for a philosophical meditation on impermanence, sacrifice, and redemption, all with mixed results. Overall, I liked the alternate reality setting and the series as a whole, but I found Butterfly to be a disappointment.
March 7, 2018
More than you might think
This is a story that, at first glance, is simple sword and sorcery. Historical fantasy. But it turns out to be much richer than that, the narrative is big, mythic, literatural.
This is a story that, at first glance, is simple sword and sorcery. Historical fantasy. But it turns out to be much richer than that, the narrative is big, mythic, literatural.
August 20, 2018
That ending though!
The ending tore my heart out. Bravo! This series is an emotional roller coaster and shows just how dark humanity can be.
The ending tore my heart out. Bravo! This series is an emotional roller coaster and shows just how dark humanity can be.
September 22, 2018
Fantastic
Wow great story! Just hate it is over. By the time I got to the final book I was hanging into every word.
Wow great story! Just hate it is over. By the time I got to the final book I was hanging into every word.
May 6, 2021
Fitting End
Not all endings are happy, but they are perfect for the story. A fitting end for a warrior. Worth the read
Not all endings are happy, but they are perfect for the story. A fitting end for a warrior. Worth the read
May 11, 2023
Never disappointed
This whole series was a good read. There
were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting. Love that it's told from more than one side.
This whole series was a good read. There
were some twists and turns I wasn't expecting. Love that it's told from more than one side.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews