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The Dragonslayer Trilogy #1
Dragonslayer
Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy—a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.
IT'S BEEN A THOUSAND YEARS since dragons filled the skies above the countryside. A thousand years since mages and swordsmen joined forces to battle the magical creatures to destruction.
In the centuries since, those with magical talent have been burned at the stake—save for a handful recruited by Prince Bishop to serve his own ambitions. The Chevaliers fell into debauchery and drunkenness and were disbanded. There's been war and struggle, but mostly, the people of Mirabaya have gone on about their lives in peace.
Until now.
A dragon awakens deep in the mountains of Mirabaya, racked by hunger, tormented by grief and anger. For him, the thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. He soars forth from his cave, eager to fill his stomach and take revenge on the humans who slaughtered his mate.
After Prince Bishop's mages are killed trying to destroy the dragon, Mirabaya's young king has no choice but to track down the last Chevalier of the Silver Circle. Perhaps Guillot dal Villerauvais has the magic and heroism of the knights of old.
He doesn't.
But he has a sense of duty and a conscience. And if that means he dies facing a menace no one has seen in a thousand years, so be it.
IT'S BEEN A THOUSAND YEARS since dragons filled the skies above the countryside. A thousand years since mages and swordsmen joined forces to battle the magical creatures to destruction.
In the centuries since, those with magical talent have been burned at the stake—save for a handful recruited by Prince Bishop to serve his own ambitions. The Chevaliers fell into debauchery and drunkenness and were disbanded. There's been war and struggle, but mostly, the people of Mirabaya have gone on about their lives in peace.
Until now.
A dragon awakens deep in the mountains of Mirabaya, racked by hunger, tormented by grief and anger. For him, the thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. He soars forth from his cave, eager to fill his stomach and take revenge on the humans who slaughtered his mate.
After Prince Bishop's mages are killed trying to destroy the dragon, Mirabaya's young king has no choice but to track down the last Chevalier of the Silver Circle. Perhaps Guillot dal Villerauvais has the magic and heroism of the knights of old.
He doesn't.
But he has a sense of duty and a conscience. And if that means he dies facing a menace no one has seen in a thousand years, so be it.
301 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2019
485 people are currently reading
10107 people want to read
About the author
Duncan M. Hamilton
26 books1,091 followersHi, thanks for visiting my page. I’m Duncan, a fantasy and science fiction author from Ireland. I love to blend my passion for Medieval and Renaissance history with the freedom of fantasy environments to create fast paced heroic fantasy adventures with compelling characters and high stakes—exactly the types of stories that I love to read, so I hope you’ll like them too.
You can find more of my online hangouts and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my news letter if you want to keep up to date on all my news and new releases!
I’m delighted to announce my most recent trilogy with Tor, Dragonslayer - a heroic fantasy tale about redemption, revenge, and megalomania. Oh, and dragons. Plenty of dragons! The entire trilogy - Dragonslayer, Knight of the Silver Circle, and Servant of the Crown - is now out in the wild, and available to purchase. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
My next trilogy is already well under way, and I've a couple of new projects that occur in different worlds (and genres!) that I'm very excited about, and hope to start releasing this coming Spring 2021.If that’s too long to wait, then please check out my other books, all of which are currently available!
Society of the Sword
The Tattered Banner was one of Buzzfeed's 12 Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013!
In a world where magic is outlawed, ability with a sword is prized above all else. For Soren this means the chance to live out his dreams.
Plucked from a life of poverty, he is given a coveted place at Ostenheim's Academy of Swordsmanship, an opportunity beyond belief.
Opportunity is not always what it seems however, and gifts rarely come without conditions. Soren becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of intrigue and treachery that could cost him not just his dreams, but also his life.
Wolf of the North
It has been generations since the Northlands have seen a hero worthy of the title. Many have made the claim, but few have lived to defend it. Timid, weak, and bullied, Wulfric is as unlikely a candidate as there could be.
A chance encounter with an ancient and mysterious object awakens a latent gift, and Wulfric’s life changes course. Against a backdrop of war, tragedy, and an enemy whose hatred for him knows no bounds, Wulfric will be forged from a young boy, into the Wolf of the North. This is his tale.
If that’s not enough, I’ve a standalone novel, and some shorter work to give you a taste of what I write. You can get a free digital copy of the Marcher Lord if you sign up for my news letter!
You can find more of my online hangouts and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my news letter if you want to keep up to date on all my news and new releases!
I’m delighted to announce my most recent trilogy with Tor, Dragonslayer - a heroic fantasy tale about redemption, revenge, and megalomania. Oh, and dragons. Plenty of dragons! The entire trilogy - Dragonslayer, Knight of the Silver Circle, and Servant of the Crown - is now out in the wild, and available to purchase. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
My next trilogy is already well under way, and I've a couple of new projects that occur in different worlds (and genres!) that I'm very excited about, and hope to start releasing this coming Spring 2021.If that’s too long to wait, then please check out my other books, all of which are currently available!
Society of the Sword
The Tattered Banner was one of Buzzfeed's 12 Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013!
In a world where magic is outlawed, ability with a sword is prized above all else. For Soren this means the chance to live out his dreams.
Plucked from a life of poverty, he is given a coveted place at Ostenheim's Academy of Swordsmanship, an opportunity beyond belief.
Opportunity is not always what it seems however, and gifts rarely come without conditions. Soren becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of intrigue and treachery that could cost him not just his dreams, but also his life.
Wolf of the North
It has been generations since the Northlands have seen a hero worthy of the title. Many have made the claim, but few have lived to defend it. Timid, weak, and bullied, Wulfric is as unlikely a candidate as there could be.
A chance encounter with an ancient and mysterious object awakens a latent gift, and Wulfric’s life changes course. Against a backdrop of war, tragedy, and an enemy whose hatred for him knows no bounds, Wulfric will be forged from a young boy, into the Wolf of the North. This is his tale.
If that’s not enough, I’ve a standalone novel, and some shorter work to give you a taste of what I write. You can get a free digital copy of the Marcher Lord if you sign up for my news letter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
January 24, 2023
Review copy provided by the publisher—Tor Books—in exchange for an honest review.
1.5/5 stars
Dragonslayer is a typical and straight-forward dragon-slaying tale that’s been done countless times before.
There isn’t anything wrong with Dragonslayer. The book is well-written, the prose used was simple, the narrative flows well. However, everything about it seemed to not reach its maximum potential; every element lacked something crucial to elevate the book to be memorable in the current SFF market. To sum up my point easily, Dragonslayer played it way too safely by telling the same kind of overdone story without offering anything new in it that the content ended up being okay at best.
You know how it is; medieval setting, a drunk and out of shape dragonslayer finds out that the supposedly extinct dragon is back and now he’s tasked to hunt it down. That’s it. If you’ve read or played a video game with a story that went revolved around hunting a dragon, it’s safe to assume that you pretty much have read this book. Is it okay to tell this overdone story again? Absolutely. However, I would’ve preferred it so much more if there were something new that made it memorable to me. The characters were non-memorable; none of them have proper background and motivations to make me care about them. They were just chess pieces with no life that’s being moved by the author to move towards a certain destination—killing the dragon. Also, there wasn’t any world-building to make the world feel rich. Honestly, the only part of this book that I can consider as a refreshing read was the dragon’s POV; the book would most likely provide a more unique and enjoyable reading experience to me if it was told mostly from Alpheratz’s POV.
Dragonslayer was an okay read but unfortunately, I can’t say that there’s anything memorable or amazing about it. In the current SFF market, amazing books comprised of originality, memorable characterizations, and intricate world-building are easy to find; I found Dragonslayer to be a book that played it too safe. Not only this kind of storyline has been done countless times before, but Hamilton also didn’t bring anything new to his rendition of the dragon-slaying story. I may be on the unpopular side for this book; the ratings I’ve seen so far—especially on Amazon—have been immensely positive. Either I’m in the unpopular opinion, or maybe, in the end, it all simply means that there’s still a large market of readers that enjoy an utterly straight-forward dragon-slaying story. If you REALLY love a classic dragon-slaying tale, you might enjoy Dragonslayer. Unfortunately, I prefer a more original content rather than another dragon-slaying story with different names that I’ve read or played more than hundreds of times cumulatively.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
1.5/5 stars
Dragonslayer is a typical and straight-forward dragon-slaying tale that’s been done countless times before.
There isn’t anything wrong with Dragonslayer. The book is well-written, the prose used was simple, the narrative flows well. However, everything about it seemed to not reach its maximum potential; every element lacked something crucial to elevate the book to be memorable in the current SFF market. To sum up my point easily, Dragonslayer played it way too safely by telling the same kind of overdone story without offering anything new in it that the content ended up being okay at best.
You know how it is; medieval setting, a drunk and out of shape dragonslayer finds out that the supposedly extinct dragon is back and now he’s tasked to hunt it down. That’s it. If you’ve read or played a video game with a story that went revolved around hunting a dragon, it’s safe to assume that you pretty much have read this book. Is it okay to tell this overdone story again? Absolutely. However, I would’ve preferred it so much more if there were something new that made it memorable to me. The characters were non-memorable; none of them have proper background and motivations to make me care about them. They were just chess pieces with no life that’s being moved by the author to move towards a certain destination—killing the dragon. Also, there wasn’t any world-building to make the world feel rich. Honestly, the only part of this book that I can consider as a refreshing read was the dragon’s POV; the book would most likely provide a more unique and enjoyable reading experience to me if it was told mostly from Alpheratz’s POV.
Dragonslayer was an okay read but unfortunately, I can’t say that there’s anything memorable or amazing about it. In the current SFF market, amazing books comprised of originality, memorable characterizations, and intricate world-building are easy to find; I found Dragonslayer to be a book that played it too safe. Not only this kind of storyline has been done countless times before, but Hamilton also didn’t bring anything new to his rendition of the dragon-slaying story. I may be on the unpopular side for this book; the ratings I’ve seen so far—especially on Amazon—have been immensely positive. Either I’m in the unpopular opinion, or maybe, in the end, it all simply means that there’s still a large market of readers that enjoy an utterly straight-forward dragon-slaying story. If you REALLY love a classic dragon-slaying tale, you might enjoy Dragonslayer. Unfortunately, I prefer a more original content rather than another dragon-slaying story with different names that I’ve read or played more than hundreds of times cumulatively.
You can order the book from: Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
December 6, 2019
L O V E D I T ! ⚔ 4.5 stars
Shut the front door, because a savory tale of redemption awaits in the pages of the first Dragonslayer novel and the famous slayer that once was but has seasoned past his prime with nothing left to live for. No distractions needed when the opportunity affords to spend time far away from the now, immersed in a pseudo-European landscape around the middle ages where one can feel the echoes of fear bounce back on cave walls and hear the thoughts of a living, breathing dragon!
Long gone are the days when the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle protected the land of fire-breathing dragons and the practice of magic existed. So, as a shock to all of Mirabaya comes the news that a large creature is sweeping over villages causing destruction and an uproar of fear in the citizens across the land. On the orders of the King, the Prince Bishop is to recruit the once-famous Guillot dal Villevauvais, ex-member of the King's personal guard to find and kill the beast.
Spending more time inebriated than sober, Gill mourns the loss of his wife and child and reminisces in the tales of glories past when he was still a revered man. Weary, he takes the journey to answer the King at the capital city and rescues a young woman, named Solène, persecuted for supposed witchcraft.
In the meantime, in a cave not so far away, a dragon has woken from its slumber and in first pov, the reader goes through all the notions with him as he regains his memory of haunted pasts, dragon raids, and senseless killings. Almost philosophical his plot parts reveal a sense of ancient wisdom that easily gains a readers’ sympathy. But a fire-breathing creature needs to eat, and so we spread those wings with him, glide through the valleys and pry on the meals that will get him by till the next time.
Broken Gill learns of Solène's healing gifts she can't yet control while they travel to the city and brings her along to the King. There, she gains peculiar measures of interested in her abilities and is offered room and board in exchange for plying her talent.
Facing the truth about who he has become, Gill is confronted with inner doubts as he rides out of the city surely to be killed by a beast full of menace. What he finds is an object of secrecy that could save his life and unveil the real doing of the King and the fate of all of Mirabaya.
***
THIS! I loved.
The story took its time. The main characters were vulnerable with a breath of valiance. It doesn't have to be loud and full of clashing action all the time to create an interesting and enjoyable fantasy novel (To me, anyway). This is definitely more on the savory side despite the menacing, amazing raging beast on that gorgeous cover :)
Backstabbery and intrigue for gains tugged the the plot in different directions, keeping it moving and interesting. The element of a secret object holding answers from the past created a touch of mystery that needed solving. New to me was reading in the pov of the dragon, and those parts quickly became the most anticipated ones for me in the novel. Listening to the book partially on audio gave the characters the perfect voices and I enjoyed the narrator's unhurried speed in reading, enhancing a tale told.
I came across this title on Twitter, and it was available to me through the library. Only after I read the book did I notice the mixed reviews for this title. It did crush me a little, or perhaps made me doubt my taste buds.
In the end, we just simply enjoy novels differently for different reasons. This is definitely a great book to dip your toes into the genre or for those readers who enjoy journeys redolent of old dragon tales.
I loved it :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Shut the front door, because a savory tale of redemption awaits in the pages of the first Dragonslayer novel and the famous slayer that once was but has seasoned past his prime with nothing left to live for. No distractions needed when the opportunity affords to spend time far away from the now, immersed in a pseudo-European landscape around the middle ages where one can feel the echoes of fear bounce back on cave walls and hear the thoughts of a living, breathing dragon!
Long gone are the days when the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle protected the land of fire-breathing dragons and the practice of magic existed. So, as a shock to all of Mirabaya comes the news that a large creature is sweeping over villages causing destruction and an uproar of fear in the citizens across the land. On the orders of the King, the Prince Bishop is to recruit the once-famous Guillot dal Villevauvais, ex-member of the King's personal guard to find and kill the beast.
Spending more time inebriated than sober, Gill mourns the loss of his wife and child and reminisces in the tales of glories past when he was still a revered man. Weary, he takes the journey to answer the King at the capital city and rescues a young woman, named Solène, persecuted for supposed witchcraft.
In the meantime, in a cave not so far away, a dragon has woken from its slumber and in first pov, the reader goes through all the notions with him as he regains his memory of haunted pasts, dragon raids, and senseless killings. Almost philosophical his plot parts reveal a sense of ancient wisdom that easily gains a readers’ sympathy. But a fire-breathing creature needs to eat, and so we spread those wings with him, glide through the valleys and pry on the meals that will get him by till the next time.
Broken Gill learns of Solène's healing gifts she can't yet control while they travel to the city and brings her along to the King. There, she gains peculiar measures of interested in her abilities and is offered room and board in exchange for plying her talent.
Facing the truth about who he has become, Gill is confronted with inner doubts as he rides out of the city surely to be killed by a beast full of menace. What he finds is an object of secrecy that could save his life and unveil the real doing of the King and the fate of all of Mirabaya.
***
THIS! I loved.
The story took its time. The main characters were vulnerable with a breath of valiance. It doesn't have to be loud and full of clashing action all the time to create an interesting and enjoyable fantasy novel (To me, anyway). This is definitely more on the savory side despite the menacing, amazing raging beast on that gorgeous cover :)
Backstabbery and intrigue for gains tugged the the plot in different directions, keeping it moving and interesting. The element of a secret object holding answers from the past created a touch of mystery that needed solving. New to me was reading in the pov of the dragon, and those parts quickly became the most anticipated ones for me in the novel. Listening to the book partially on audio gave the characters the perfect voices and I enjoyed the narrator's unhurried speed in reading, enhancing a tale told.
I came across this title on Twitter, and it was available to me through the library. Only after I read the book did I notice the mixed reviews for this title. It did crush me a little, or perhaps made me doubt my taste buds.
In the end, we just simply enjoy novels differently for different reasons. This is definitely a great book to dip your toes into the genre or for those readers who enjoy journeys redolent of old dragon tales.
I loved it :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
May 9, 2020
Like many other reviewers have mentioned, there isn’t anything memorable about this book other than the cover. It’s a very simplistic dragon slaying plot which there’s nothing wrong with if the execution is made to be thrilling but that isn’t the case here. The narration has a very old school feel that seemed at first such a nice change of pace compared to a lot of convoluted fantasies out in the world these days but I wanted more.
It has all the ingredients to be an amazing fantasy, medieval times, knights, mages, dragons, but I found myself bored. I went 2 whole days not reading because I wasn’t excited to pick it up. Thankfully the audiobook got me through ‘till the end or else I might have dnf’d.
It makes me sad because it starts off so well. I have a soft spot for the main character Guillot and even the dragon but it just wasn’t enough.
It has all the ingredients to be an amazing fantasy, medieval times, knights, mages, dragons, but I found myself bored. I went 2 whole days not reading because I wasn’t excited to pick it up. Thankfully the audiobook got me through ‘till the end or else I might have dnf’d.
It makes me sad because it starts off so well. I have a soft spot for the main character Guillot and even the dragon but it just wasn’t enough.
Read
July 2, 2019Not a review - just a placeholder where I can post some updates to keep you all informed of how things are progressing!
2-7-19 My final update here - Dragonslayer is now released, and available in Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, and Audiobook! Thanks for following the book in the pre-launch, and I really hope you like it!
19-2-19 Tor are running a Goodreads Giveaway for some advance copies of Dragonslayer. There are 100 copies up for grabs. You can enter here:
Dragonslayer Goodreads Giveaway
18-2-19 Advance Reader Copies are starting to percolate their way out into the world, so Dragonslayer is really starting to feel like the completed article! There will be some ARC giveaways happening in coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for a chance to get your hands on an pre-release copy!
19-12-18 Dragonslayer is pretty well advanced at this point, with cover art completed and the book's text at the proofreading stage. Most of the heavy lifting is done, but as always, there's still plenty to do!
2-7-19 My final update here - Dragonslayer is now released, and available in Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, and Audiobook! Thanks for following the book in the pre-launch, and I really hope you like it!
19-2-19 Tor are running a Goodreads Giveaway for some advance copies of Dragonslayer. There are 100 copies up for grabs. You can enter here:
Dragonslayer Goodreads Giveaway
18-2-19 Advance Reader Copies are starting to percolate their way out into the world, so Dragonslayer is really starting to feel like the completed article! There will be some ARC giveaways happening in coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for a chance to get your hands on an pre-release copy!
19-12-18 Dragonslayer is pretty well advanced at this point, with cover art completed and the book's text at the proofreading stage. Most of the heavy lifting is done, but as always, there's still plenty to do!
July 5, 2019
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
tl;dr: Dragonslayer is a character driven fresh take on a classic storyline.
Introduction
Dragonslayer is the first book in a trilogy by the same name from one of my favourite authors – Duncan M. Hamilton.
Gill, our protagonist, is a famous soldier who is now an alcoholic mourning his family. He is tasked by an old enemy of his – Amaury, to find and kill a dragon – one which has appeared centuries after the species was thought to have been hunted to extinction. Along the way, he discovers Solene, a young woman who happens to be a powerful natural mage. There is plenty of machinations, politics and action as the story unfolds.
Characters
The main aspect of Dragonslayer that really stood out is the amount of depth in each and every character that you meet. Needless to say, Gill & Solene – who are the protagonists – have plenty of depth. But, what elevates this book is the amount of character (her) the support cast has. Even the dragon has complicated motivations for what he does. The motivations as well as the actions taken by the characters are realistic. You never feel that characters are acting out of order – instead you can understand their actions so even if you don’t agree with what they do or say. Pragmatism is the word of the day in this story.
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
tl;dr: Dragonslayer is a character driven fresh take on a classic storyline.
Introduction
Dragonslayer is the first book in a trilogy by the same name from one of my favourite authors – Duncan M. Hamilton.
Gill, our protagonist, is a famous soldier who is now an alcoholic mourning his family. He is tasked by an old enemy of his – Amaury, to find and kill a dragon – one which has appeared centuries after the species was thought to have been hunted to extinction. Along the way, he discovers Solene, a young woman who happens to be a powerful natural mage. There is plenty of machinations, politics and action as the story unfolds.
Characters
The main aspect of Dragonslayer that really stood out is the amount of depth in each and every character that you meet. Needless to say, Gill & Solene – who are the protagonists – have plenty of depth. But, what elevates this book is the amount of character (her) the support cast has. Even the dragon has complicated motivations for what he does. The motivations as well as the actions taken by the characters are realistic. You never feel that characters are acting out of order – instead you can understand their actions so even if you don’t agree with what they do or say. Pragmatism is the word of the day in this story.
Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit
July 14, 2019
This book is technically pretty solid. It has all the general pieces of a good fantasy. It has magic, dragons, knights, action, and adventures. It also has a fun premise, if somewhat unoriginal in concept. And yet, there were some things that seemed missing from the story. Small details that really are what make a story interesting.
For example, Gil, the main character has a pretty generic and lackluster backstory. He was once the greatest knight in the land, then turned away from his knighthood and turned to alcoholism after the death of his wife and child, who are only mentioned when the plot demands it.
In fact, there were large parts of the story that seemed to happen because the plot simply demanded it to be so, and that is never a good sign.
Another issue I had was that I couldn't quite love these characters. They were all technically interesting, and yet I couldn't bring myself to fully care in the way I wanted to.
The dragon parts were the most interesting because I feel like it was unexpected to see his side of things. And yet, I would have wanted to actually see more of the dragon's interactions with humankind.
In the end, I think I just wanted more. It felt average. It felt forgettable. And while I wouldn't mark this in a list of bad books, I also cannot quite say I recommend it.
If you've read it, I want to hear your thoughts. If you haven't and are planning on it, I hope you enjoy it!
For example, Gil, the main character has a pretty generic and lackluster backstory. He was once the greatest knight in the land, then turned away from his knighthood and turned to alcoholism after the death of his wife and child, who are only mentioned when the plot demands it.
In fact, there were large parts of the story that seemed to happen because the plot simply demanded it to be so, and that is never a good sign.
Another issue I had was that I couldn't quite love these characters. They were all technically interesting, and yet I couldn't bring myself to fully care in the way I wanted to.
The dragon parts were the most interesting because I feel like it was unexpected to see his side of things. And yet, I would have wanted to actually see more of the dragon's interactions with humankind.
In the end, I think I just wanted more. It felt average. It felt forgettable. And while I wouldn't mark this in a list of bad books, I also cannot quite say I recommend it.
If you've read it, I want to hear your thoughts. If you haven't and are planning on it, I hope you enjoy it!
June 4, 2019
Thank you to netgalley and Macmillon-Tor/Forge for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
TW: Burning People / Alcoholism / Suggested Hanging
I am at a loss as to how to rate this book. On the one hand I enjoyed it. On the other hand there were things missing. The missing thing? Worldbuilding.
And let us just start right off with that. This book is a high fantasy, inspired by our own Medieval history. There is a map at the front of the book. Which is good because I would otherwise have no idea. There are three surrounding countries/regions of which two were mentioned in the book. But nothing that really gave me much on where they were and what the relations really were. But even worse I have no idea about this country. Most of it took place in a few towns and cities but I could not tell you anything of interest about any of them (well except the witch hanging perhaps). The biggest problem is that all the world building and even character histories (though I’ll get back to that) are only there when it serves a purpose to the plot. And even then it is thin. And from an adult fantasy I have quite a bit more expectations than that.
And it is a shame because this author clearly can write. I enjoyed his writing style. I enjoyed most of the plot. The dragon’s few point of views were really interesting to read about (though I do have a lot of question marks regarding the dragon population and how long this particular dragon slept). I couldn’t hate the dragon. I completely understood him. Burn them all I’d say.
Our main character Gil was a very interesting character. I liked him. He was an older man, retired from the king’s personal guard. Turned to alcohol. Alcoholism and detoxing are a thing in here. It is in the background but it is there. The thing however is that again a lot of his history is only mentioned because it works with the plot. The reason he ‘retired’, the death of his wife and son (who didn’t even get a name or reason of death), his ex-friendship with the Prince Bishop. A lot of mentions but no depth and no memories. If it didn’t matter to the plot, it wasn’t there. And this was the case for all the characters.
Solene was our other main character, with magic, about to be burned on the pyre for being a witch. She was a nice character to have next to Gil, that also showed us another side of the society. The witch huntings, the use of magic being illegal. But we got little on her history before she ran away from her hometown. Because it didn’t matter to the plot.
And for me that with the world building is something I can’t quite see past. This could have been a great book with depth and a great world but just those things were discarded.
TW: Burning People / Alcoholism / Suggested Hanging
I am at a loss as to how to rate this book. On the one hand I enjoyed it. On the other hand there were things missing. The missing thing? Worldbuilding.
And let us just start right off with that. This book is a high fantasy, inspired by our own Medieval history. There is a map at the front of the book. Which is good because I would otherwise have no idea. There are three surrounding countries/regions of which two were mentioned in the book. But nothing that really gave me much on where they were and what the relations really were. But even worse I have no idea about this country. Most of it took place in a few towns and cities but I could not tell you anything of interest about any of them (well except the witch hanging perhaps). The biggest problem is that all the world building and even character histories (though I’ll get back to that) are only there when it serves a purpose to the plot. And even then it is thin. And from an adult fantasy I have quite a bit more expectations than that.
And it is a shame because this author clearly can write. I enjoyed his writing style. I enjoyed most of the plot. The dragon’s few point of views were really interesting to read about (though I do have a lot of question marks regarding the dragon population and how long this particular dragon slept). I couldn’t hate the dragon. I completely understood him. Burn them all I’d say.
Our main character Gil was a very interesting character. I liked him. He was an older man, retired from the king’s personal guard. Turned to alcohol. Alcoholism and detoxing are a thing in here. It is in the background but it is there. The thing however is that again a lot of his history is only mentioned because it works with the plot. The reason he ‘retired’, the death of his wife and son (who didn’t even get a name or reason of death), his ex-friendship with the Prince Bishop. A lot of mentions but no depth and no memories. If it didn’t matter to the plot, it wasn’t there. And this was the case for all the characters.
Solene was our other main character, with magic, about to be burned on the pyre for being a witch. She was a nice character to have next to Gil, that also showed us another side of the society. The witch huntings, the use of magic being illegal. But we got little on her history before she ran away from her hometown. Because it didn’t matter to the plot.
And for me that with the world building is something I can’t quite see past. This could have been a great book with depth and a great world but just those things were discarded.
December 20, 2019
Guillot dal Villerauvais is the Seigneur/Lord of the village of Villerauvais. He is the last of the once-fabled Chevaliers of the Silver Circle, dragonslayers who hunted dragons to the point of extinction. That, however, was 1,000 years ago and the time of dragons and mages is long since past. The chevaliers, with no dragons left to kill, fell into decline before disbanding. Magic was outlawed and is illegal. And, dragons themselves were consigned to legend only to be found in stories of destructive dragons and the heroic deeds of those who slew them.
Gill is summoned back to court, back to Mirabay, the scene of his greatest failure, his greatest loss. He is the last dragonslayer and with a newly awoken dragon terrorising villages he is called upon to do the duty of the Chevaliers and slay the dragon. However, unbeknownst to him, he is simply a game piece in a larger game that is being played by the Prince Bishop.
Dragonslayer is told through multiple perspectives, those of Gil, Solene and the Prince Bishop. Alongside them, we are also given the perspective of the dragon, Alpheratz. Through this, we get to see the dragon as far more than just a gold hoarding killing machine hellbent on raining death and destruction. Instead, the dragon has emotions, feelings, memories and thoughts elevating him above a mindless beast.
For the characters, Gill is the village drunk and, at the same time the village Lord. He drinks to take the pain of loss away, keeps the memories at bay, blissful oblivion of drunkenness where one day blurs into the next. He has fallen from grace, he is a has-been, once the greatest swordsman of the land he has gone to seed, picking up the bottle rather than the blade, wallowing in despair and misery. However, he has some mettle in him, like bits of still bright and sharp steel that shine through in a rusted, pitted and tarnished blade and throughout the story, we see flashes of the man he used to be as he takes steps towards redemption. Solene is a young woman rescued by Gill from an angry mob as she was about to be burnt on a pyre for witchcraft. As a character, she is likeable, resilient and she is a welcome addition to the story adding an extra dimension. Amaury, the Prince Bishop plots, plans, schemes and is power-hungry. He is highly ambitious and there is a history between him and Gill…but, I would have liked more as I just didn’t get a ‘villain‘ vibe about him.
There isn’t an overabundance of detail in Dragonslayer with neither the magic system (through Solene and her story arc we do get to learn something about it and that it is drawn from the Fount) or the world-building being the most detailed. Both aspects definitely veer towards the lighter side and there is plenty of room for possible expansion and depth to be added in the next two books in the trilogy. I liked the french-inspired setting and the Chevaliers, themselves are very reminiscent of the Musketeers. For the wider world, the other nations that surround Maribaya, some locations, past wars and history are mentioned but not expanded upon. Dragonslayer is about the lone dragon that has returned to the skies over Maribaya. That doesn’t impact the rest of the world and that could be why they are only glossed over. Also, the trilogy is set in the same world as some of the author’s previous work and due to that, he may have felt that he has already built the base, foundations and established his world in those and didn’t feel the need to tread over old ground and repeat what he has previously written. Which, is fine for seasoned readers. But, for new readers to his work, those like myself who are starting with Dragonslayer a little more depth and detail to the world would have been appreciated.
Some books outstay their welcome and are padded with filler that doesn’t really add anything. Dragonslayer is a lean book at only 300 pages and I feel that it could have been improved with a bit more meat on its bones. An extra 50 or 100 pages added to the overall length would have given the opportunity for snippets of additional depth and detail to have been spread throughout that I feel would have helped elevate the book. There is an old-school vibe to Dragonslayer and it definitely harkens back to classic fantasy rather than the modern fantasy and grimdark that I usually read. Sadly, while it is undoubtedly an adequate offering it doesn’t reach the same lofty height as other fantasy books that I have read this year.
The story in Dragonslayer is quite linear and there is nothing too taxing about the whole affair. The writing is solid and flows well, the story itself, fast-paced and it a book that I breezed through. Even with my issues, I still found it to be enjoyable, I’ll be picking up the sequel (Knight of the Silver Circle) as I had fun with the book and I’m intrigued to see where Hamilton takes the story. That’s what Dragonslayer is, a quick and solid fix of fun and easy to read fantasy.
Gill is summoned back to court, back to Mirabay, the scene of his greatest failure, his greatest loss. He is the last dragonslayer and with a newly awoken dragon terrorising villages he is called upon to do the duty of the Chevaliers and slay the dragon. However, unbeknownst to him, he is simply a game piece in a larger game that is being played by the Prince Bishop.
Dragonslayer is told through multiple perspectives, those of Gil, Solene and the Prince Bishop. Alongside them, we are also given the perspective of the dragon, Alpheratz. Through this, we get to see the dragon as far more than just a gold hoarding killing machine hellbent on raining death and destruction. Instead, the dragon has emotions, feelings, memories and thoughts elevating him above a mindless beast.
For the characters, Gill is the village drunk and, at the same time the village Lord. He drinks to take the pain of loss away, keeps the memories at bay, blissful oblivion of drunkenness where one day blurs into the next. He has fallen from grace, he is a has-been, once the greatest swordsman of the land he has gone to seed, picking up the bottle rather than the blade, wallowing in despair and misery. However, he has some mettle in him, like bits of still bright and sharp steel that shine through in a rusted, pitted and tarnished blade and throughout the story, we see flashes of the man he used to be as he takes steps towards redemption. Solene is a young woman rescued by Gill from an angry mob as she was about to be burnt on a pyre for witchcraft. As a character, she is likeable, resilient and she is a welcome addition to the story adding an extra dimension. Amaury, the Prince Bishop plots, plans, schemes and is power-hungry. He is highly ambitious and there is a history between him and Gill…but, I would have liked more as I just didn’t get a ‘villain‘ vibe about him.
There isn’t an overabundance of detail in Dragonslayer with neither the magic system (through Solene and her story arc we do get to learn something about it and that it is drawn from the Fount) or the world-building being the most detailed. Both aspects definitely veer towards the lighter side and there is plenty of room for possible expansion and depth to be added in the next two books in the trilogy. I liked the french-inspired setting and the Chevaliers, themselves are very reminiscent of the Musketeers. For the wider world, the other nations that surround Maribaya, some locations, past wars and history are mentioned but not expanded upon. Dragonslayer is about the lone dragon that has returned to the skies over Maribaya. That doesn’t impact the rest of the world and that could be why they are only glossed over. Also, the trilogy is set in the same world as some of the author’s previous work and due to that, he may have felt that he has already built the base, foundations and established his world in those and didn’t feel the need to tread over old ground and repeat what he has previously written. Which, is fine for seasoned readers. But, for new readers to his work, those like myself who are starting with Dragonslayer a little more depth and detail to the world would have been appreciated.
Some books outstay their welcome and are padded with filler that doesn’t really add anything. Dragonslayer is a lean book at only 300 pages and I feel that it could have been improved with a bit more meat on its bones. An extra 50 or 100 pages added to the overall length would have given the opportunity for snippets of additional depth and detail to have been spread throughout that I feel would have helped elevate the book. There is an old-school vibe to Dragonslayer and it definitely harkens back to classic fantasy rather than the modern fantasy and grimdark that I usually read. Sadly, while it is undoubtedly an adequate offering it doesn’t reach the same lofty height as other fantasy books that I have read this year.
The story in Dragonslayer is quite linear and there is nothing too taxing about the whole affair. The writing is solid and flows well, the story itself, fast-paced and it a book that I breezed through. Even with my issues, I still found it to be enjoyable, I’ll be picking up the sequel (Knight of the Silver Circle) as I had fun with the book and I’m intrigued to see where Hamilton takes the story. That’s what Dragonslayer is, a quick and solid fix of fun and easy to read fantasy.
Want to read
March 28, 2019literally anything will have me at the word "dragons" okay?? I'm a simple person
April 30, 2024
I’m rating this 3.5/5.0 stars and rounding up. While not groundbreaking in its scope, it was still a really fun, fast-paced, action-filled romp that I enjoyed the whole time. I liked our characters and despite there not being a great amount of world building, I enjoyed what history and world we did get. And I liked the magic system here as well. It was more straightforward than in a lot of other fantasy series, and I liked that. It had a feel of realism. And honestly, there were a couple of badass scenes that had me cheering. Bottom line, for the short time I spent with this book, I’m really glad I picked it up. I’ll not hesitate to grab book 2, and I’ve also picked up book 1 of another trilogy by this author and look forward to it as well.
July 30, 2019
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Synopsis
Author of one of BuzzFeed ‘s Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013
In his magnificent, heroic, adventure fantasy, Dragonslayer, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.
Once a member of the King’s personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais spends most days drinking and mourning his wife and child. He’s astonished—and wary—when the Prince Bishop orders him to find and destroy a dragon. He and the Prince Bishop have never exactly been friends and Gill left the capital in disgrace five years ago. So why him? And, more importantly, how is there a dragon to fight when the beasts were hunted to extinction centuries ago by the ancient Chevaliers of the Silver Circle?
On the way to the capitol city, Gill rescues Solène, a young barmaid, who is about to be burned as a witch. He believes her innocent…but she soon proves that she has plenty of raw, untrained power, a problem in this land, where magic is forbidden. Yet the Prince Bishop believes magic will be the key to both destroying the dragon and replacing the young, untried King he pretends to serve with a more pliable figurehead.
Between Gill’s rusty swordsmanship and Solene’s unstable magic, what could go wrong?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of Dragonslayer (Dragonslayer #1) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this eARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.
First off, Richard Anderson is probably the best cover designer out there so I’ll pick up any book solely based on his artwork. He is a fantastic follow on IG (flaptraps) if you are a cover connoisseur like myself. Another thing that intrigued me was the author behind the story. Seeing how well received his Wolf of the North trilogy was (thought I haven’t cracked it) gave me hope that I was in for a spectacular story.
Well, Dragonslayer fell a little short of expectations, unfortunately. Not that it is necessarily a bad read, but it plays heavy on much-used tropes and doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. The writing is great and the storyline was fine, especially the scenes from our dragon antagonist’s POV, but everything else was sorta meh. The characters aren’t very memorable, there is a ton of dialogue, and with a title like Dragonslayer, I expected a good bit o’ slayin which I didn’t really receive. The ending left hope that the story will gain some momentum in Books 2 & 3, and I do plan on seeing if that holds true, but I don’t expect to be champing at the bit to get the sequels.
All of the faults I perceive could be chalked up to the fact that I don’t read much classic fantasy which is more world-building / character-background oriented fantasy and lacks some of the hack-n-slash that I am used to in today’s releases. I enjoy fast-paced stories with memorable characters, bloody battles, and world-building that you can visualize yourself standing amongst. I just didn’t get that here and it left me scrambling for my next read.
All in all, if you enjoy classic fantasy and stories about dragons and their slayers, give Dragonslayer a shot and see if you like it. I just can’t give it a high recommendation.
Synopsis
Author of one of BuzzFeed ‘s Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013
In his magnificent, heroic, adventure fantasy, Dragonslayer, Duncan M. Hamilton debuts the first book in a fast-moving trilogy: a dangerous tale of lost magics, unlikely heroes, and reawakened dragons.
Once a member of the King’s personal guard, Guillot dal Villevauvais spends most days drinking and mourning his wife and child. He’s astonished—and wary—when the Prince Bishop orders him to find and destroy a dragon. He and the Prince Bishop have never exactly been friends and Gill left the capital in disgrace five years ago. So why him? And, more importantly, how is there a dragon to fight when the beasts were hunted to extinction centuries ago by the ancient Chevaliers of the Silver Circle?
On the way to the capitol city, Gill rescues Solène, a young barmaid, who is about to be burned as a witch. He believes her innocent…but she soon proves that she has plenty of raw, untrained power, a problem in this land, where magic is forbidden. Yet the Prince Bishop believes magic will be the key to both destroying the dragon and replacing the young, untried King he pretends to serve with a more pliable figurehead.
Between Gill’s rusty swordsmanship and Solene’s unstable magic, what could go wrong?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of Dragonslayer (Dragonslayer #1) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this eARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.
First off, Richard Anderson is probably the best cover designer out there so I’ll pick up any book solely based on his artwork. He is a fantastic follow on IG (flaptraps) if you are a cover connoisseur like myself. Another thing that intrigued me was the author behind the story. Seeing how well received his Wolf of the North trilogy was (thought I haven’t cracked it) gave me hope that I was in for a spectacular story.
Well, Dragonslayer fell a little short of expectations, unfortunately. Not that it is necessarily a bad read, but it plays heavy on much-used tropes and doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. The writing is great and the storyline was fine, especially the scenes from our dragon antagonist’s POV, but everything else was sorta meh. The characters aren’t very memorable, there is a ton of dialogue, and with a title like Dragonslayer, I expected a good bit o’ slayin which I didn’t really receive. The ending left hope that the story will gain some momentum in Books 2 & 3, and I do plan on seeing if that holds true, but I don’t expect to be champing at the bit to get the sequels.
All of the faults I perceive could be chalked up to the fact that I don’t read much classic fantasy which is more world-building / character-background oriented fantasy and lacks some of the hack-n-slash that I am used to in today’s releases. I enjoy fast-paced stories with memorable characters, bloody battles, and world-building that you can visualize yourself standing amongst. I just didn’t get that here and it left me scrambling for my next read.
All in all, if you enjoy classic fantasy and stories about dragons and their slayers, give Dragonslayer a shot and see if you like it. I just can’t give it a high recommendation.
June 27, 2019
3.0 Stars
This was a decent start to an epic fantasy series with a fun premise. I enjoyed reading from the perspective of the dragon, which was my favourite part of this novel. Otherwise, I found the story to be quite average. The plot was predictable with lackluster characters. This was such a forgettable read. While not bad, it is hard to recommend this one when there are so many better fantasy series out there.
Disclaimer: I requested a copy from the publisher, Tor Books, via Netgalley.
This was a decent start to an epic fantasy series with a fun premise. I enjoyed reading from the perspective of the dragon, which was my favourite part of this novel. Otherwise, I found the story to be quite average. The plot was predictable with lackluster characters. This was such a forgettable read. While not bad, it is hard to recommend this one when there are so many better fantasy series out there.
Disclaimer: I requested a copy from the publisher, Tor Books, via Netgalley.
July 31, 2019
There be Dragons!
The idea of a new series about dragons had me super excited. That said, I found myself so over the story by a third of the way in and struggled to finish. Things that had promise didn't quite live up to that. Obviously many loved it, and that's great. Reading is such a personal thing, up there with how you like your coffee (not a banal statement when the morning rises and falls on this little fact). To mix the metaphors, Dragonslayer was just not "my cup of tea!"
Mind you I will take another run at this story after a bit to see if I change my mind.
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
The idea of a new series about dragons had me super excited. That said, I found myself so over the story by a third of the way in and struggled to finish. Things that had promise didn't quite live up to that. Obviously many loved it, and that's great. Reading is such a personal thing, up there with how you like your coffee (not a banal statement when the morning rises and falls on this little fact). To mix the metaphors, Dragonslayer was just not "my cup of tea!"
Mind you I will take another run at this story after a bit to see if I change my mind.
A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
April 23, 2019
I enjoyed this book, it’s a very solid epic fantasy novel. There are three things I look for when reading a big fantasy so I’m really going to talk about those things. One is world building, two is development of characters, and three is the over all story. (1) the was the weakest point, the world was interesting, I love dragons but I needs just a tiny bit more. I understand this author has written other books from this world so maybe I just needed to read something else so I am more immersed in this world but I just felt like every once in while I was missing a piece of information. (2) Gill was great, fantastic main character. Flawed yet I could empathize with him, and I was interested in what he was doing or saying. Loved him. (3) Well done story. I have a soft spot for a dragon story, whether they be on the side of good or bad, and this was a well told story.
Overall this was a great read and I look forward to reading other books by this author!
I received a free copy of this book from netgalley.
Overall this was a great read and I look forward to reading other books by this author!
I received a free copy of this book from netgalley.
June 1, 2019
Dragonslayer by Duncan M. Hamilton was a slightly below average reading experience for me. The hero is of the drinking-myself-into-oblivion variety. The dragon is the kill-and-burn-everything variety. The magic was not interesting to me at all. There isn't any worldbuilding to speak of. So...…
If you are a fan of Duncan Hamilton's, you are going to like this one just fine and you won't agree with me at all. I simply found it all too average; not an original element in the whole story. I was not convinced that a former champion dragon slayer who had pickled himself in alcohol for over ten years could come back and do a few sword waving exercises over a few days time and be able to kill the dragon - even if he was given some mysterious magic ability to help him. We think we know what has happened at the end of the story but then Mr. Hamilton pulls a very worn out rabbit out of the hat which changes everything. Oh, goody!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan - Tor/Forge for an e-Galley of this novel.
If you are a fan of Duncan Hamilton's, you are going to like this one just fine and you won't agree with me at all. I simply found it all too average; not an original element in the whole story. I was not convinced that a former champion dragon slayer who had pickled himself in alcohol for over ten years could come back and do a few sword waving exercises over a few days time and be able to kill the dragon - even if he was given some mysterious magic ability to help him. We think we know what has happened at the end of the story but then Mr. Hamilton pulls a very worn out rabbit out of the hat which changes everything. Oh, goody!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan - Tor/Forge for an e-Galley of this novel.
June 17, 2022
4.5 stars rounded to 5 because it's the best book I've read in like a year.
After a slew of disappointing books, this was just the story I needed to reassure myself that there are still good stories in the world. I enjoyed the story and pacing of this book, and really enjoyed the character of Gill as we watched him grow from his drunken hopelessness, back to a piece of the man he once was.
I don't disagree with other reviews that mentioned the ordinariness of this story. There isn't anything particularly new or standout-ish from any other medieval fantasy story-- in fact, I could probably mention an entire list of similar stories and books. But that doesn't change the fact that the execution of a well-traveled tale is superb. I was intrigued and invested in the lives of the characters, which is more than I've gotten from many other books recently.
Honestly, just the story I needed at this time, and I'm eager to explore the rest of the series!
After a slew of disappointing books, this was just the story I needed to reassure myself that there are still good stories in the world. I enjoyed the story and pacing of this book, and really enjoyed the character of Gill as we watched him grow from his drunken hopelessness, back to a piece of the man he once was.
I don't disagree with other reviews that mentioned the ordinariness of this story. There isn't anything particularly new or standout-ish from any other medieval fantasy story-- in fact, I could probably mention an entire list of similar stories and books. But that doesn't change the fact that the execution of a well-traveled tale is superb. I was intrigued and invested in the lives of the characters, which is more than I've gotten from many other books recently.
Honestly, just the story I needed at this time, and I'm eager to explore the rest of the series!
April 9, 2019
Absolutely fantastic read, I really felt connected with the characters and was genuinely disappointed when the book ended, I need to know what happens next! Dragons, swords, magic, everything I need in a book and it's all been mixed into a compelling story that will have you not wanting to put it down!
March 2, 2020
DNF
Just couldn't get into this one. Dragons POV which should have been interesting wasnt. This one just isn't for me. Decient writing. Nice to see the POV switch each chapter.
Just couldn't get into this one. Dragons POV which should have been interesting wasnt. This one just isn't for me. Decient writing. Nice to see the POV switch each chapter.
March 7, 2019
This was a great book and beginning to a series. I'll keep this review spoiler free. I am a big fan of Duncan Hamilton's books. This new book continues in the same world where Wolf of the North takes place, although you won't have to have read that series to appreciate this one. There isn't any overlap of characters or anything. You will recognize the magic system and history though. This book is about Guillot (Gill) a banneret that had previously been the greatest swordsman of the kingdom and champion of the king. When the book starts he's been away from the capital for about 5 years and has become a drunk and let himself go. He's out of shape and basically just drinking away his money. The arrival of a dragon rampaging through the kingdom wakes him up to some sense of responsibility. This is a great story of his attempt to redeem himself, take responsibility and try to make things better. There is a lot of intrigue in this story. We learn some of his background throughout the book and why he came to the place he's at, at the beginning of the book, but by the end there are still some questions about what exactly happened. There's a lot more going on than just a typical story of a knight trying to slay a dragon. Duncan Hamilton has done a great job with his worldbuilding and providing a fun and interesting read.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 9, 2019
Dragonslayer reveals a kingdom waking from a long slumber free of magic and dragons. When a forgotten foe emerges from his cavern, it’s up to the most unlikely of heroes to save the day. What ensues is the oftentimes hilarious story of a knight well past his prime and his attempts to regain some of the glory he lost decades ago. It’s action-packed, filled with intrigue and betrayals, surprises and ferocious magic. Most importantly, it’s entertaining from start to finish.
The book provides a rare break from stock fantasy characters, giving us an unlikely hero, a sorceress without any formal training, and a dragon whose perspective we get to experience. The hero provides a hilarious focal point. He’s the antithesis of a revered knight, fallen from grace amidst an endless blur of drink and laziness. His past successes have caught up with him and, though he knows he’s no match for a dragon in his later years, he takes on the task without blinking an eye. He doesn’t take anyones crap, making him one of the most interesting people in this otherwise typical medieval kingdom. Mobs, highwaymen, villains – all of them seem to fall to his sheer lack of fear. With Solene, we get an introduction into the magic that was once a great force in the kingdom. She quickly grows from an unsure amateur hiding among distant villages to an extremely powerful mage whose abilities become terrifying.
The most interesting perspective comes from the dragon as he awakens from a centuries-long slumber. It’s a rare thought process to follow, showing humans as the villains who have forced these once majestic creatures to fight back viciously. There’s a deep sadness throughout when you realize he’s the last of his kind. He’s misunderstood as so many dragons are, making the central task of his slaying bittersweet.
Overall, Dragonslayer is a break from the norm. We get to follow these characters as they journey into the unknown, vowing to protect the kingdom from a foe pulled straight out of legend. In addition to well-written fights and skirmishes, a rich mythology is revealed from the kingdom’s earliest days, promising a fascinating continuation as the series progresses. I look forward to seeing what awaits our unlikely hero and the powerful sorceress in the books to come.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
The book provides a rare break from stock fantasy characters, giving us an unlikely hero, a sorceress without any formal training, and a dragon whose perspective we get to experience. The hero provides a hilarious focal point. He’s the antithesis of a revered knight, fallen from grace amidst an endless blur of drink and laziness. His past successes have caught up with him and, though he knows he’s no match for a dragon in his later years, he takes on the task without blinking an eye. He doesn’t take anyones crap, making him one of the most interesting people in this otherwise typical medieval kingdom. Mobs, highwaymen, villains – all of them seem to fall to his sheer lack of fear. With Solene, we get an introduction into the magic that was once a great force in the kingdom. She quickly grows from an unsure amateur hiding among distant villages to an extremely powerful mage whose abilities become terrifying.
The most interesting perspective comes from the dragon as he awakens from a centuries-long slumber. It’s a rare thought process to follow, showing humans as the villains who have forced these once majestic creatures to fight back viciously. There’s a deep sadness throughout when you realize he’s the last of his kind. He’s misunderstood as so many dragons are, making the central task of his slaying bittersweet.
Overall, Dragonslayer is a break from the norm. We get to follow these characters as they journey into the unknown, vowing to protect the kingdom from a foe pulled straight out of legend. In addition to well-written fights and skirmishes, a rich mythology is revealed from the kingdom’s earliest days, promising a fascinating continuation as the series progresses. I look forward to seeing what awaits our unlikely hero and the powerful sorceress in the books to come.
NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
July 12, 2019
*I received a free copy from the publisher and chose to leave a voluntary review. Thank you!*
I read a sample of the book, on bookish first and I really enjoyed it. I won the book in their raffle and was excited. Once I got deeper into the book I liked it but not as much as I thought I would,
For a while I felt like something is missing, the world building , there is none really. we are just thrown in and we are there but that is just about it and sometimes even half way through I just felt lost.
Another thing that bothered me a bit was switching the POV randomly, just anywhere in a chapter without a warning the next paragraph was a different POV. This could, have been because it was a review copy but for this copy is was a bit confusing.
Other than that I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the story, (for the most part.)
What I really enjoyed was that we get a voice of the dragon, and I really enjoyed that and we don't too often get that.
I liked that the book also deals with some real life issues, like alcoholism.
Overall, it was okay book and the while the writing was good it could have been better with the world building but other than that I liked it.
I give it 3 ★
July 2, 2019
Dragonslayer is a non-stop fast paced fantasy with a slew of key players that all intersect to create a story rich in detail and adventure.
I’m torn about this book. On the one hand I loved it. I loved Guillot, a tarnished knight, a laid back Hero you can’t help but like the more you get to know him. I loved Solene. She was strong, capable and there is so much potential in her that you know she’s gonna become a total bad ass when she grows into her powers.
But my biggest love was for Alpheratz.
Thank you to the author for writing Alpheratz’ POV. Getting to know this dragon and his true motivations was so freaking perfect. Alpharatz is my favorite character in this book and his POV was what kept me coming back for more.
On the other hand, the story lacked a bit of background information. This is my first book by this author so maybe that’s why I’m not familiar with the world he’s created but it did feel like you were dropped into the story with a world already long established.
Favorite Line(s):
Memorable Moments:
* Alpheratz finding Nashira
* * When Alpheratz begins to doubt his revenge. The killing of the human woman and her child eerily similar to Nashira and his hatchlings.
* * * That freaking ending! I was not expecting that ending or the bittersweet twist revealed on the last page.
Would I recommend? Yes, the magic and adventure was well written and fast paced. And the characters were pretty awesome :)
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m torn about this book. On the one hand I loved it. I loved Guillot, a tarnished knight, a laid back Hero you can’t help but like the more you get to know him. I loved Solene. She was strong, capable and there is so much potential in her that you know she’s gonna become a total bad ass when she grows into her powers.
But my biggest love was for Alpheratz.
Thank you to the author for writing Alpheratz’ POV. Getting to know this dragon and his true motivations was so freaking perfect. Alpharatz is my favorite character in this book and his POV was what kept me coming back for more.
On the other hand, the story lacked a bit of background information. This is my first book by this author so maybe that’s why I’m not familiar with the world he’s created but it did feel like you were dropped into the story with a world already long established.
Favorite Line(s):
He hungered for the moment when he burned the first large town to ash. Only then would the humans understand the pain and suffering their greed had caused. Only then would they learn the price of their arrogance. - Alpheratz
Memorable Moments:
* Alpheratz finding Nashira
* * When Alpheratz begins to doubt his revenge. The killing of the human woman and her child eerily similar to Nashira and his hatchlings.
* * * That freaking ending! I was not expecting that ending or the bittersweet twist revealed on the last page.
Would I recommend? Yes, the magic and adventure was well written and fast paced. And the characters were pretty awesome :)
* * * ARC provided for an honest review * * *
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 1, 2019
There are super mega SPOILERS HERE… I must start by saying that I love fantasy books. Also, I rarely if ever leave a review of a tree star or bellow. However, this story has so much potential I would be remiss not to give a few words. Duncan, you are a great storyteller. I read your book almost in one sitting. I was until 2:00 AM last night trying to get to know what happened to Gill and Sólene. You did an excellent job showing me the PTSD of Gill. However, these are things I found that made me want to slap you.
The story starts with a dragon that out of nowhere and for no explained reason it appears. The Dragons are supposed to be extinct, so where this one dragon has been hiding? There was no obvious explanation. Why then the Dragon comes back? We don’t know. My issue with this, how in the world such a massive thing could be hiding for so many years? It is a fantasy, so I am assuming magic. Okay, I buy that, although I am not made aware of it.
The story continues until the dragon is dead. In the first book, Gill kills the dragon, and old fart of a man, a drunk that has not had much training in the last years suddenly gets up and kills a dragon. I am a veteran, and when you are low in energy and not well trained, you can’t even take on a kitten. But this is a fantasy; I am willing to go with it.
The hero (Gill) is going from ZERO to a hero in a flash. He is a man with PTSD to a warrior. Again, once a Soldier always a Soldier, that part is right.
He used to be some type of noble a Baron or barennet or baronet, a swordsman at the service of the king. Again, a noble as a personal guard is a little bit low in the totem pole, but I am willing to go with it. But the stretch is, I don’t get the reasons why he has lost everything? Come on, Duncan, throw me a bone. You are expecting me to believe too much just by faith.
So, the man tries to live with the loss of his wife and son by turning into a drunk, (Duncan, if you want me to feel empathy for Gill give me something because it is not clear what happened to them).
Now, Gill is supposed to be the last of the Chevalier of the Silver Circle which were supposed to hunt and slay dragons. What happened to the others?
If the Prince Bishop hates Gill so much why bring him back? The man is a drunkard. Feed him more Alcohol, and he will die with liver failure. Oh, but Prince Bishop needs Gill to kill the dragon, got it.
If Magic is forbidden, then why Prince Bishop is the ruler of a new magical order which will replace the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle. Why not have them kill the Dragon?
But now we have Sólene, a mighty mage woman; Gill saved from being killed. But she doesn’t know she has that much power, but out of the blue and without any training she kills enemies with her magic,
And how she learns to give Gill stamina to slay the dragon It is a mystery. Either she knows how to use the magic or not. You must pick one.
Do not get me wrong I read the story in two days, and that does not happen often. And I will be looking for the next book in the series, to see if some of these questions get some answers. But there are some gaping holes in the story, or maybe they are intended mini-cliffhangers. Writers do these little tricks and unanswered questions to leave us guessing, and wow am I guessing with this story. BUT the guessing was way too much for me. Duncan, please eyes on the details because I found a few lingering issues. I did enjoy the story a lot. Hurry with the second book.
P.S.
After reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, I decided to reread Dragonslayer. I have to increase my rating for this book. My level of enjoyment of this book was far greater than The Blade Itself. Again, I want to know what happened to Gill so that is a good thing. I do not care even to finish The Blade Itself.
The story starts with a dragon that out of nowhere and for no explained reason it appears. The Dragons are supposed to be extinct, so where this one dragon has been hiding? There was no obvious explanation. Why then the Dragon comes back? We don’t know. My issue with this, how in the world such a massive thing could be hiding for so many years? It is a fantasy, so I am assuming magic. Okay, I buy that, although I am not made aware of it.
The story continues until the dragon is dead. In the first book, Gill kills the dragon, and old fart of a man, a drunk that has not had much training in the last years suddenly gets up and kills a dragon. I am a veteran, and when you are low in energy and not well trained, you can’t even take on a kitten. But this is a fantasy; I am willing to go with it.
The hero (Gill) is going from ZERO to a hero in a flash. He is a man with PTSD to a warrior. Again, once a Soldier always a Soldier, that part is right.
He used to be some type of noble a Baron or barennet or baronet, a swordsman at the service of the king. Again, a noble as a personal guard is a little bit low in the totem pole, but I am willing to go with it. But the stretch is, I don’t get the reasons why he has lost everything? Come on, Duncan, throw me a bone. You are expecting me to believe too much just by faith.
So, the man tries to live with the loss of his wife and son by turning into a drunk, (Duncan, if you want me to feel empathy for Gill give me something because it is not clear what happened to them).
Now, Gill is supposed to be the last of the Chevalier of the Silver Circle which were supposed to hunt and slay dragons. What happened to the others?
If the Prince Bishop hates Gill so much why bring him back? The man is a drunkard. Feed him more Alcohol, and he will die with liver failure. Oh, but Prince Bishop needs Gill to kill the dragon, got it.
If Magic is forbidden, then why Prince Bishop is the ruler of a new magical order which will replace the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle. Why not have them kill the Dragon?
But now we have Sólene, a mighty mage woman; Gill saved from being killed. But she doesn’t know she has that much power, but out of the blue and without any training she kills enemies with her magic,
And how she learns to give Gill stamina to slay the dragon It is a mystery. Either she knows how to use the magic or not. You must pick one.
Do not get me wrong I read the story in two days, and that does not happen often. And I will be looking for the next book in the series, to see if some of these questions get some answers. But there are some gaping holes in the story, or maybe they are intended mini-cliffhangers. Writers do these little tricks and unanswered questions to leave us guessing, and wow am I guessing with this story. BUT the guessing was way too much for me. Duncan, please eyes on the details because I found a few lingering issues. I did enjoy the story a lot. Hurry with the second book.
P.S.
After reading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, I decided to reread Dragonslayer. I have to increase my rating for this book. My level of enjoyment of this book was far greater than The Blade Itself. Again, I want to know what happened to Gill so that is a good thing. I do not care even to finish The Blade Itself.
June 11, 2024
4 stars
This book was one of those cosy, relaxing reads that just makes you feel good!
The majority of the story and magic system was unoriginal, most of the events pretty predictable and only the character of Guillot (or Gill, our main protagonist) had much of a hint of character development.
For me personally, none of that matters here! Unlike some stories in which there are clear influences bordering on plagiarism, Dragonslayer doesn’t try to hide. It takes traditional tropes and leaves them be. It is an honest, exciting page turner that for lack of a better term, just makes you feel comfortable. I really enjoy in-depth tomes that break the mould and in which you have
to concentrate but if you want a story that you can just sit back and enjoy I recommend Dragonslayer highly. It also has a sort of faux medieval France setting but there are hints of a diverse expanded wider world that would be interesting to explore in later books.
I felt a degree of solidity through the book, in which a lack of complexity doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s really well written and you can allow yourself to be fully immersed in an old-school adventure quest!
Despite this, it’s not a completely hopeful story without darkness. Gill is a man struggling with alcoholism and whilst his search for a drink can sometimes take a comedic turn, the death of his wife and child being the catalyst for his drinking makes you feel sorry for his character. There are also some pretty brutal deaths which sets it apart from the otherwise traditional storyline.
Although you could argue there is a lack of particularly in depth character building you do get the impression there’s a lot of scope in the remaining two books in the trilogy to really develop the characters of Guillot and Solene. They’re certainly both very likeable and I’m sure many of us can also relate to someone dreaming of what could have been and the glory days whilst nursing an expanding waistline and drinking more than we should! Just me? Oh ok…
My favourite part of this book was experiencing the dragon’s POV. I’d have loved to have read more Alpheratz chapters as it was a unique perspective seeing the dragon’s thoughts and seeing him as more than some rampaging monster. It also makes you feel sympathy for the dragon and question the way you see the ‘monster’ in these type of stories, so in this respect at least, Dragonslayer does help to challenge our understanding of traditional monster hunter fantasy stories.
Predictably, the book meanders its way to a finale with the dragon like you’re expecting. This doesn’t make it any less of an enjoyable ride or the events any less fun. And parts of this review might make you question why I could give something with some flaws a high rating.
Well, sometimes it’s harder to describe exactly why you liked something, but in even some of my favourite books there are parts that you want to get through to get to more enjoyable parts of the story or they have a certain lull in the middle. I looked forward to getting home every day to get back to Dragonslayer and read it without getting distracted by my phone or the TV. The pages flew by and when finished I just felt a real “I enjoyed that book!” feeling. I wanted a page turner, I wanted an interesting dragon, magic, swords with a bit of backstabbing and surprise brutality thrown in the mix and I got all this and more. It was really fun and I enjoyed it far more than many other fantasy books that brought more complexity and originality without the exciting story!
I own book two, Knight of the Silver Circle and look forward to reading it.
This book was one of those cosy, relaxing reads that just makes you feel good!
The majority of the story and magic system was unoriginal, most of the events pretty predictable and only the character of Guillot (or Gill, our main protagonist) had much of a hint of character development.
For me personally, none of that matters here! Unlike some stories in which there are clear influences bordering on plagiarism, Dragonslayer doesn’t try to hide. It takes traditional tropes and leaves them be. It is an honest, exciting page turner that for lack of a better term, just makes you feel comfortable. I really enjoy in-depth tomes that break the mould and in which you have
to concentrate but if you want a story that you can just sit back and enjoy I recommend Dragonslayer highly. It also has a sort of faux medieval France setting but there are hints of a diverse expanded wider world that would be interesting to explore in later books.
I felt a degree of solidity through the book, in which a lack of complexity doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s really well written and you can allow yourself to be fully immersed in an old-school adventure quest!
Despite this, it’s not a completely hopeful story without darkness. Gill is a man struggling with alcoholism and whilst his search for a drink can sometimes take a comedic turn, the death of his wife and child being the catalyst for his drinking makes you feel sorry for his character. There are also some pretty brutal deaths which sets it apart from the otherwise traditional storyline.
Although you could argue there is a lack of particularly in depth character building you do get the impression there’s a lot of scope in the remaining two books in the trilogy to really develop the characters of Guillot and Solene. They’re certainly both very likeable and I’m sure many of us can also relate to someone dreaming of what could have been and the glory days whilst nursing an expanding waistline and drinking more than we should! Just me? Oh ok…
My favourite part of this book was experiencing the dragon’s POV. I’d have loved to have read more Alpheratz chapters as it was a unique perspective seeing the dragon’s thoughts and seeing him as more than some rampaging monster. It also makes you feel sympathy for the dragon and question the way you see the ‘monster’ in these type of stories, so in this respect at least, Dragonslayer does help to challenge our understanding of traditional monster hunter fantasy stories.
Predictably, the book meanders its way to a finale with the dragon like you’re expecting. This doesn’t make it any less of an enjoyable ride or the events any less fun. And parts of this review might make you question why I could give something with some flaws a high rating.
Well, sometimes it’s harder to describe exactly why you liked something, but in even some of my favourite books there are parts that you want to get through to get to more enjoyable parts of the story or they have a certain lull in the middle. I looked forward to getting home every day to get back to Dragonslayer and read it without getting distracted by my phone or the TV. The pages flew by and when finished I just felt a real “I enjoyed that book!” feeling. I wanted a page turner, I wanted an interesting dragon, magic, swords with a bit of backstabbing and surprise brutality thrown in the mix and I got all this and more. It was really fun and I enjoyed it far more than many other fantasy books that brought more complexity and originality without the exciting story!
I own book two, Knight of the Silver Circle and look forward to reading it.
July 4, 2019
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Who doesn’t enjoy a good story featuring dragons? These giant flying puppies with flamethrowing abilities are beautiful gems meant to be cherished for their mere existence. However, killing these creatures has also always been an act that poor heroes have been trusted with countless times. A task this huge isn’t exactly one that anyone could easily accomplish, however. Set in the same world as his previous two trilogies, the Society of the Sword and the Wolf of the North, Duncan M. Hamilton sets his eyes on releasing three new novels within twelves months. Focused on magic, knights, and dragons, this fast-paced, action-adventure fantasy story gives fans a twist on the classic stories of dragon-slaying and witch-hunting.
What is Dragonslayer about? In Mirabaya, the skies were free of dragons for over a millennium. While the Chevaliers of the Silver Circle have fought and slain the beasts for countless years, they are now embracing a life of debauchery and drunkenness with little heroism to highlight their days. Simultaneously, the great mages of the past were overthrown, leading the lands exempt of magic. It is the return of a lone dragon causing terror and chaos to countless villagers that the young king of Mirabaya sought the help of the last Chevalier of the Silver Circle to honor the knights of old and rid the land of this newly emerged flying creature.
What initially seemed like a straightforward and simple quest turned out to be an entertaining and captivating hunt with some political schemes as sub-plots. With a mysterious hero—who doesn’t exactly consider himself as one—guiding the reader on a death wish, Duncan M. Hamilton does a great job in keeping the reader hooked on the idea that the foreshadowed confrontation between man and dragon will most likely be epic in some shape or form. While dragon-slaying seems typical in some classic Arthurian tales or video games, the author gives this story an interesting edge by providing readers with the dragon’s point of view alongside that of the protagonist.
Witchhunts are also part of the narrative as magic is not well-seen within society after years of not having need of it. While hunting down witches is common, mages remain hidden and attempt to live their lives in secrecy. Duncan M. Hamilton brilliantly incorporates this angle without dwelling too long on its importance. While magic and dragons are crucial to this story, it remains to be noted that the world-building isn’t as impressive as it could’ve been, leaving plenty of room for the author to develop his world in the next book. This niggle could also be explained by the fact that this new trilogy is set in a universe that is already established by two other trilogies, that might also be worth checking out first but not mandatory at all.
Dragonslayer is an enchanting and fast-paced fantasy-adventure story where mankind confronts dragons within magical boundaries to attempt to achieve heroic feats.
Thank you to Raincoast Canada and Tor Books for sending me a copy for review!
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
July 7, 2019
I received this ARC book from BookishFirst
I was really excited to be given a copy of this book. It gave me Dragonheart vibes hardcore. While I think the plot is strong in the movie, the script not so much, I had hoped that this book would bring it all full circle and give me something along the lines what I wanted.
I honestly would have preferred a rip-off Dragonheart. :(
The problem with this book is that the author is a great writer, structure and sentence wise but on plot and character it's too tame and weak. There is no 'turmoil' there is no 'conflict', you have characters that are bad and or evil, but they aren't ruthless enough for me to care of feel like the main characters have any sort of stake.
Then, the characters seem to be distant from one another. Like, sure, they may be in the same scenes as each other (I think there are technically three main characters), but you're watching a very foggy relationship with people that are just too flat on the page.
The dragon sequence scenes were boring in itself, the dragon interacted with no-one nor did we learn/care about the dragon even at the end.
So? The flaws of this book is that you have an interesting story but the characters and exposition lack to back it up. The 'dragon' is a bore and the slaying is lukewarm.
I wish I could rate this book higher but I honestly can't. :(
I was really excited to be given a copy of this book. It gave me Dragonheart vibes hardcore. While I think the plot is strong in the movie, the script not so much, I had hoped that this book would bring it all full circle and give me something along the lines what I wanted.
I honestly would have preferred a rip-off Dragonheart. :(
The problem with this book is that the author is a great writer, structure and sentence wise but on plot and character it's too tame and weak. There is no 'turmoil' there is no 'conflict', you have characters that are bad and or evil, but they aren't ruthless enough for me to care of feel like the main characters have any sort of stake.
Then, the characters seem to be distant from one another. Like, sure, they may be in the same scenes as each other (I think there are technically three main characters), but you're watching a very foggy relationship with people that are just too flat on the page.
The dragon sequence scenes were boring in itself, the dragon interacted with no-one nor did we learn/care about the dragon even at the end.
So? The flaws of this book is that you have an interesting story but the characters and exposition lack to back it up. The 'dragon' is a bore and the slaying is lukewarm.
I wish I could rate this book higher but I honestly can't. :(
April 9, 2019
I won’t spoil anything but if you’ve had the great pleasure of reading any of the other books from this epic fantasy world then you will enjoy this one thoroughly. I like how each set of books is a stand alone series but part of a bigger world. I’ve found each one compelling and this is no exception. Really fun read and great characters.
March 28, 2019
An absolute 10/10. Duncan M. Hamilton is 1 of my favourite authors and this book right here mite just be his finest work to date
June 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this mystical tale. The main character was extremely likeable. I loved the fact that at one time he had been a hero but then had fallen on hard times and had to redeem himself. Guillot was once the best Knight in the land. He however now only cares about drinking. He is called to meet the new king and help with a new threat in the land. A dragon has been woken up. Dragons have not been seen in centuries. Guillot must pull himself together to face this foe. A long the way he has to determine who is his friend and is he just fighting a dragon or is there more to this.
The characters in this book were very enjoyable. I loved that there was a magical element to it. This is the first in the series and I definitely want to read more.
The characters in this book were very enjoyable. I loved that there was a magical element to it. This is the first in the series and I definitely want to read more.
dnf
November 21, 2023DNF November 2023
I just couldn’t get into it unfortunately. The writing wasn’t gripping and I barely was able to absorb information due to that.
Love the covers and dragon’s chapters though so it’s a shame.
I just couldn’t get into it unfortunately. The writing wasn’t gripping and I barely was able to absorb information due to that.
Love the covers and dragon’s chapters though so it’s a shame.
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