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Ochre Dragon
On three distant worlds, three women journey towards their destinies. Before they started out, all three made a choice - to forget they share a single soul.
In tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, project manager Ali's humdrum life under the crumbling Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers keep glowing, a snarky dragon takes up residence in her head, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. To top it off, she can't figure out why her previously perfect memory is suddenly full of holes.
Meanwhile, on Heavens Gate, where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, research analyst Merindah is desperate to save her dying planet. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition, which comes in handy as she navigates family politics and feral deities. But when an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon begins to help her solve the puzzle of the Yarran journal, she realises her magic might not be as weak as she'd thought.
Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to the voices in her head, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space.
Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite and unlock the secret of the Timegates in a single year, all is lost. They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon.
First though... they need to teach their soulmate dragons who's in charge!
In tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, project manager Ali's humdrum life under the crumbling Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers keep glowing, a snarky dragon takes up residence in her head, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. To top it off, she can't figure out why her previously perfect memory is suddenly full of holes.
Meanwhile, on Heavens Gate, where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, research analyst Merindah is desperate to save her dying planet. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition, which comes in handy as she navigates family politics and feral deities. But when an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon begins to help her solve the puzzle of the Yarran journal, she realises her magic might not be as weak as she'd thought.
Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to the voices in her head, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space.
Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite and unlock the secret of the Timegates in a single year, all is lost. They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon.
First though... they need to teach their soulmate dragons who's in charge!
358 pages, ebook
Published January 15, 2019
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
V.E. Patton
2 books14 followersV. E. Patton is the pen name of Veronica Strachan. She is the bestselling author of Ochre Dragon the first book in her epic fantasy series The Opal Dreaming Chronicles.
V. E. spent as much of her childhood as she could lost in a good book. She wrote stories and poems as soon as she learnt to read and her favourite place in the world was the local library. She spent most of her adult life lost in a good job as a nurse, midwife, CEO, coach and facilitator (amongst other things).
After years of encouraging her children and clients to follow their dreams, she finally got around to remembering what she wanted to be when she grew up - so she began writing. Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 was her first fantasy (in a book). She hopes you get lost in it.
Her dream of a writer's life was interrupted by the realities of life, but with her six books on the shelves (four as Veronica Strachan), she feels her dream has become a reality.
Now she balances her writing with coaching individuals and teams in leadership and change.
Veronica lives with her ever-patient and supportive husband of 36 years in their self-made mudbrick house. Along with 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 chooks, 1 rooster, 2 possums, and assorted fish.
Travel and more travel is on the cards as soon as she finishes Soul Staff, the second book in The Opal Dreaming Chronicles.
V.E. (as herself, Veronica Strachan) is also the author of Breathing While Drowning: One Woman's Quest for Wholeness, The Wholeness Quest Workbook & Journal, and The Adventures of Chickabella (Chickabella and the Rainbow Magic, and Chickabella Counts to Ten).
V. E. spent as much of her childhood as she could lost in a good book. She wrote stories and poems as soon as she learnt to read and her favourite place in the world was the local library. She spent most of her adult life lost in a good job as a nurse, midwife, CEO, coach and facilitator (amongst other things).
After years of encouraging her children and clients to follow their dreams, she finally got around to remembering what she wanted to be when she grew up - so she began writing. Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 was her first fantasy (in a book). She hopes you get lost in it.
Her dream of a writer's life was interrupted by the realities of life, but with her six books on the shelves (four as Veronica Strachan), she feels her dream has become a reality.
Now she balances her writing with coaching individuals and teams in leadership and change.
Veronica lives with her ever-patient and supportive husband of 36 years in their self-made mudbrick house. Along with 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 chooks, 1 rooster, 2 possums, and assorted fish.
Travel and more travel is on the cards as soon as she finishes Soul Staff, the second book in The Opal Dreaming Chronicles.
V.E. (as herself, Veronica Strachan) is also the author of Breathing While Drowning: One Woman's Quest for Wholeness, The Wholeness Quest Workbook & Journal, and The Adventures of Chickabella (Chickabella and the Rainbow Magic, and Chickabella Counts to Ten).
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 1, 2020
Ochre Dragons is a stunning, genre-bending work of the imagination that effortlessly engages both mind and heart. From the almost mythological Prologue to the pulse-racing conclusion, this is a glorious, multi-faceted gem of a book.
I began reading the Ebook on my Kindle, but a third of the way through, I ordered the paperback (available from Amazon at a ridiculously low price, just saying). The story just seemed too epic, too huge in scope, to be contained within a small, flat electronic device.
For a start, we have three main characters, all women at different stages of life, but somehow connected to one another. I fell in love with Ali first. She is the elder of the three, in the same decade of life as I am, which may be the reason I took to her so early. But her life in a future dystopian Australia is so interesting, as is her personality. And when her dragon appeared, well that just put the icing on the cake. It took me a little while longer to warm to Merindah, in her world where magic and science co-exist, and perhaps gods and goddesses, too. But I was on her side by the end. And then there's Dee, the youngest, and in some ways in the most desperate situation of them all. She has the least time time devoted to her and her world, and I'm hoping for more of her in the sequel
As if that wasn't enough, the world-building is extraordinary, the settings switching between science fiction and fantasy, dystopian and frankly cosmological. And then, of course, there are dragons.
This is not a simple tale, but I loved the complexity. Other things I appreciated were:
1. The lyricism of the Prologue. And yes, it is a necessary element in this novel, and yes,you must read it. Trust me.
2. The sentient towers, and the eventual reveal of why and how they are sentient.
3. The inclusion of the archetypes of maiden, mother and crone, without falling into the trap of making them only hollow symbols. instead of real, flesh-and-blood women in their own right.
4. The fact that it's such an Australian story in many ways, and yet universal, too. Nice trick, if you can pull it off as well as Stratton does here.
This novel was first published in 2018, and it seems to have been flying under the radar to some extent since then. It deserves better. Buy it, read it, and tell me I'm wrong. I dragon-dare you.
I began reading the Ebook on my Kindle, but a third of the way through, I ordered the paperback (available from Amazon at a ridiculously low price, just saying). The story just seemed too epic, too huge in scope, to be contained within a small, flat electronic device.
For a start, we have three main characters, all women at different stages of life, but somehow connected to one another. I fell in love with Ali first. She is the elder of the three, in the same decade of life as I am, which may be the reason I took to her so early. But her life in a future dystopian Australia is so interesting, as is her personality. And when her dragon appeared, well that just put the icing on the cake. It took me a little while longer to warm to Merindah, in her world where magic and science co-exist, and perhaps gods and goddesses, too. But I was on her side by the end. And then there's Dee, the youngest, and in some ways in the most desperate situation of them all. She has the least time time devoted to her and her world, and I'm hoping for more of her in the sequel
As if that wasn't enough, the world-building is extraordinary, the settings switching between science fiction and fantasy, dystopian and frankly cosmological. And then, of course, there are dragons.
This is not a simple tale, but I loved the complexity. Other things I appreciated were:
1. The lyricism of the Prologue. And yes, it is a necessary element in this novel, and yes,you must read it. Trust me.
2. The sentient towers, and the eventual reveal of why and how they are sentient.
3. The inclusion of the archetypes of maiden, mother and crone, without falling into the trap of making them only hollow symbols. instead of real, flesh-and-blood women in their own right.
4. The fact that it's such an Australian story in many ways, and yet universal, too. Nice trick, if you can pull it off as well as Stratton does here.
This novel was first published in 2018, and it seems to have been flying under the radar to some extent since then. It deserves better. Buy it, read it, and tell me I'm wrong. I dragon-dare you.
May 26, 2020
Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind 27 May 2020:
This was definitely different to the fantasy I usually read. I guess that may be partly because a lot of the fantasy I read is YA, and therefore has a different feel and pace.
Ochre Dragon is the first in the Opal Dreaming Chronicles and it follows three women at different stages of life, living on different worlds, who are irrevocably linked.
The book seamlessly blends science and magic, giving us dystopia, deities, dragons and time gates, to name a few. Somehow it never seems like the book is overdoing it.
I’ll admit it did take me a while to get into it, and I think that was partly because for the first while, I was reading in very small dribs and drabs. It’s the sort of book that deserves to be properly absorbed in as few sittings as possible, I think. The writing is very lyrical and the plot is well set out.
It does end on a cliffhanger, but now that the cast is all in the position, I am very interested to see where they go from here!
Content warning: there are two instances of attempted rape and the suggestion of past sexual violence.
This review forms part of my 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge. Click here for more information.
This was definitely different to the fantasy I usually read. I guess that may be partly because a lot of the fantasy I read is YA, and therefore has a different feel and pace.
Ochre Dragon is the first in the Opal Dreaming Chronicles and it follows three women at different stages of life, living on different worlds, who are irrevocably linked.
The book seamlessly blends science and magic, giving us dystopia, deities, dragons and time gates, to name a few. Somehow it never seems like the book is overdoing it.
I’ll admit it did take me a while to get into it, and I think that was partly because for the first while, I was reading in very small dribs and drabs. It’s the sort of book that deserves to be properly absorbed in as few sittings as possible, I think. The writing is very lyrical and the plot is well set out.
It does end on a cliffhanger, but now that the cast is all in the position, I am very interested to see where they go from here!
Content warning: there are two instances of attempted rape and the suggestion of past sexual violence.
This review forms part of my 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge. Click here for more information.
August 27, 2020
I enjoyed this book and a very interesting read with a great storyline. I enjoyed all the women and how they train their dragon soulmates. It’s a great fantasy book that takes place in a different world with a great ending.
January 21, 2020
Ochre Dragon is a fine piece of fantasy mixed with scifi. High on imagination quotient it enthralls the reader.
Three women Mirandah, Ali and Dee are the central characters of the story. And they are from three different times. All three of them at first seem very ordinary, timid and submissive. But they have one thing in common-- they are searching for their magic.
Very imaginative, nothing ordinary and very much holding the torch for women power.
If I have to describe Ochre Dragon in word it will be-- magical.
Waiting for the second book of the series.
Three women Mirandah, Ali and Dee are the central characters of the story. And they are from three different times. All three of them at first seem very ordinary, timid and submissive. But they have one thing in common-- they are searching for their magic.
Very imaginative, nothing ordinary and very much holding the torch for women power.
If I have to describe Ochre Dragon in word it will be-- magical.
Waiting for the second book of the series.
May 4, 2020
The Ochre Dragon by V.E. Patton had me racing to finish well into the night. Seriously, it's currently 3:35AM as I am writing this.
With three completely different main characters to follow in different places/worlds, different levels of magic and dragons popping in and out of walls this story was well thought out and brilliantly written.
It's hard to write one character that engages the reader well but Patton makes it work with all three females. Dee, the child with an unfortunate beginning. Merindah, with her evil step mom. Ali, with factions inside the Dome gunning for her at every turn. There is constant action, even if at times it doesn't seem like it. Every few pages something new happens, making you want to keep reading to see what turns up.
I love the way the characters dealt with certain betrayals and I can not wait to read the next part of this amazing story. Strong females that don't lose their femininity are the best. :)
There was only one part in the entire story that I had to stop, go back and make sure I re-read it correctly and didn't miss anything. When Ali finally partners up at the tower it doesn't seem to affect her as much as it did Merindah. Where Merindah had an out of body experience because of it, Ali was able to run away seconds later. That entire scene felt a bit rushed to me for the enormity of the situation it was portraying.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it!!
Thanks to @Booktasters and the Author, V.E. Patton, for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
With three completely different main characters to follow in different places/worlds, different levels of magic and dragons popping in and out of walls this story was well thought out and brilliantly written.
It's hard to write one character that engages the reader well but Patton makes it work with all three females. Dee, the child with an unfortunate beginning. Merindah, with her evil step mom. Ali, with factions inside the Dome gunning for her at every turn. There is constant action, even if at times it doesn't seem like it. Every few pages something new happens, making you want to keep reading to see what turns up.
I love the way the characters dealt with certain betrayals and I can not wait to read the next part of this amazing story. Strong females that don't lose their femininity are the best. :)
There was only one part in the entire story that I had to stop, go back and make sure I re-read it correctly and didn't miss anything. When Ali finally partners up at the tower it doesn't seem to affect her as much as it did Merindah. Where Merindah had an out of body experience because of it, Ali was able to run away seconds later. That entire scene felt a bit rushed to me for the enormity of the situation it was portraying.
Overall I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it!!
Thanks to @Booktasters and the Author, V.E. Patton, for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
March 19, 2020
AMAZING. This book is a hidden gem and I loved it to say the least. I LOVE all the magic and how it’s centered around women because I don’t see that often in books like these. Also weirdly I’m a sucker for authors with pseudonyms. The book was great all in all.
10/10 would recommend
10/10 would recommend
April 25, 2019
This is a GEM! Patton's world building skills are incredible and her vision of the characters and their lives is amazing. The story is deep and intense and sets the stage so well for the coming novels. It pulls you in and takes you to not just one world, but several. We are introduced to three women who are so much more than they seem, and the connection they share that has such depth. I'll be watching for more from this author. Well done!
May 6, 2019
Prepare to be entranced by this multi-layered, feisty story - a masterpiece of world-building on a complex and engaging scale.
Three women - Ali, Merindah, and Dee - and their three dragons live on different worlds. Each world is imperilled, and each woman can act to stave off the danger, but only at enormous cost to herself. Add to this the tiny but rather important fact that they all share the one soul, and you begin to realise the enormity of the challenge ahead of them. As in the best of quest adventures, there is also a time limit for them to reunite their divided existences.
This is intelligent high-fantasy-sci-fi-dystopian-'hopepunk' that defies categorisation as it cleverly employs and exploits elements of many genres. I also like the Australian influences, especially because the timelessness of the land and the richness of the indigenous cultural history are woven into the story so seamlessly.
The novel benefits enormously from foregrounding three complicated, strong and self-determined women, although of course I am (somewhat guiltily) just as in love with the dragons. Oooh, did I mention there are DRAGONS? :-)
There are multiple points of view and a few timelines for the reader to navigate, on top of the three struggling worlds that our three protagonists inhabit. Hang in for a little and you will be completely captured by this world.
This is the first of the Opal Dreaming Chronicles and it will be interesting to see how the author manages the combination and the threads of the plot in the next (and I hope a third). This is such a rich story that it deserves at least three books - and maybe more. I am reminded of Katharine Kerr and her Deverry series such as Daggerspell, where there are wonderful characters, manifold timelines, reincarnations galore, and - you guessed it - dragons! I think I have discovered a new favourite. Can't wait for book two...
Three women - Ali, Merindah, and Dee - and their three dragons live on different worlds. Each world is imperilled, and each woman can act to stave off the danger, but only at enormous cost to herself. Add to this the tiny but rather important fact that they all share the one soul, and you begin to realise the enormity of the challenge ahead of them. As in the best of quest adventures, there is also a time limit for them to reunite their divided existences.
This is intelligent high-fantasy-sci-fi-dystopian-'hopepunk' that defies categorisation as it cleverly employs and exploits elements of many genres. I also like the Australian influences, especially because the timelessness of the land and the richness of the indigenous cultural history are woven into the story so seamlessly.
The novel benefits enormously from foregrounding three complicated, strong and self-determined women, although of course I am (somewhat guiltily) just as in love with the dragons. Oooh, did I mention there are DRAGONS? :-)
There are multiple points of view and a few timelines for the reader to navigate, on top of the three struggling worlds that our three protagonists inhabit. Hang in for a little and you will be completely captured by this world.
This is the first of the Opal Dreaming Chronicles and it will be interesting to see how the author manages the combination and the threads of the plot in the next (and I hope a third). This is such a rich story that it deserves at least three books - and maybe more. I am reminded of Katharine Kerr and her Deverry series such as Daggerspell, where there are wonderful characters, manifold timelines, reincarnations galore, and - you guessed it - dragons! I think I have discovered a new favourite. Can't wait for book two...
March 30, 2020
If you want a fantasy tale that covers all bases, this is the book for you. Dragons, magic, time gates, Gods and Goddesses, other worlds, and dystopian societies reliant on futuristic tech make up the bulk of this beautifully written story. It's mainly told from the perspective of three different female characters, who seem to have no connection to each other until the pieces of their lives start to come together towards the end of the book. By the time you get to the closing chapters, you won't want to put it down, and it's a solid start for what is sure to be a great saga.
May 3, 2020
This is a captivating mishmash of thriller, mystery and the best element ever - fantasy. Being a book lover, I love reading anything I can lay my hands on; but when a book promises magic and fantasy, I just have to read it. This is the reason I took up this book and I am so glad I did. The author's knack for story writing and the way she captures the reader's unwavering attention is commendable. Highly recommend this book.
April 10, 2020
This is a fantastic story of three lives, separated by time that must come together to save the world. V. E. Patton has created a world that slowly pulls the reader in and immerses them in the magic of the story. The lives of these three women are ordinary until they become extraordinarily amazing. The author has done a magnificent job in building suspense, a fantasy world that beckons the reader to consider it further, and leaves them longing for more. Throw in a few dragons and I am hooked. I need to know what happens to these three women, their dragons, and their worlds.
September 16, 2020
Three worlds, three women, three stories, one purpose. This is a tale spanning eons and the universe full of magic, destiny, gods and dragons. This story has gorgeous worldbuilding, visually stunning landscapes and three well drawn main characters.
Gosh, keeping track of one main character and ensuring one world remains consistent is hard enough. V.E.Patton does a fabulous job of engaging the reader in the lives of all three of her main characters. Each world remains fully consistent with its unique magic history, worldbuilding and depth of characterisation. Each journey is heartbreaking and emotionally captivating. I’m looking forward to book two as I am dying to see what happens with Dee, Merindah and Ali.
A strong Australian flavour adds fascinating depth to this science fiction fantasy story. And did I mention dragons and magic? A fabulously fun read.
Gosh, keeping track of one main character and ensuring one world remains consistent is hard enough. V.E.Patton does a fabulous job of engaging the reader in the lives of all three of her main characters. Each world remains fully consistent with its unique magic history, worldbuilding and depth of characterisation. Each journey is heartbreaking and emotionally captivating. I’m looking forward to book two as I am dying to see what happens with Dee, Merindah and Ali.
A strong Australian flavour adds fascinating depth to this science fiction fantasy story. And did I mention dragons and magic? A fabulously fun read.
February 12, 2019
I highly recommend the high-magic fantasy Ochre Dragon. It's immersive escapism for grown-ups.
The setting is a magical universe full of worlds and facing a future cataclysm of destruction or rebirth. The individual worlds we get a glimpse of are dying. The surviving humans are quietly desperate, fighting to survive on the limited resources remaining. Ali lives in a domed city, sealed off from a poisoned world by a totalitarian authority. Merindah lives in the upper caste of a world where hope for survival has been placed in one basket; magic. Status and hope for the future all rest on the caste of elite magical researchers.
Running through the narrative on both worlds is the hope of the rise of a Chosen One, who will oversee the process called Armageddon, the end of the world. The Chosen One(s), however, are not aware of their status, and this ignorance drives charming inner dialog through the book.
The reader will come to know Ali and Merindah as they stumble their way unwittingly through a labyrinth of deadly situations and individuals, several of which are, literally, gods and godesses. And dragons.
V. E. Patten delivers polished prose and atmospheric description. Italics give a constant stream of telepathic banter and we get to live in the heads of the protagonists and directly sample their distinct personalities. In the high-magic, end-of-the-universe setting we can safely turn off our craving for realism and relax into complete fantasy.
The setting is a magical universe full of worlds and facing a future cataclysm of destruction or rebirth. The individual worlds we get a glimpse of are dying. The surviving humans are quietly desperate, fighting to survive on the limited resources remaining. Ali lives in a domed city, sealed off from a poisoned world by a totalitarian authority. Merindah lives in the upper caste of a world where hope for survival has been placed in one basket; magic. Status and hope for the future all rest on the caste of elite magical researchers.
Running through the narrative on both worlds is the hope of the rise of a Chosen One, who will oversee the process called Armageddon, the end of the world. The Chosen One(s), however, are not aware of their status, and this ignorance drives charming inner dialog through the book.
The reader will come to know Ali and Merindah as they stumble their way unwittingly through a labyrinth of deadly situations and individuals, several of which are, literally, gods and godesses. And dragons.
V. E. Patten delivers polished prose and atmospheric description. Italics give a constant stream of telepathic banter and we get to live in the heads of the protagonists and directly sample their distinct personalities. In the high-magic, end-of-the-universe setting we can safely turn off our craving for realism and relax into complete fantasy.
April 8, 2020
When I first read the synopsis, I thought perhaps this will help my sisters and I get along better. Well, I was completely wrong so I re-read they synopsis. Now I got it.
Dragons fascinate me and I know there is magic with dragons. That is the extent of my interest in this book. It started out slow and was hard for me to get into the groove; however, like all good reads, it ended with me wanting to read the next in the series, NOW!
Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Dragons fascinate me and I know there is magic with dragons. That is the extent of my interest in this book. It started out slow and was hard for me to get into the groove; however, like all good reads, it ended with me wanting to read the next in the series, NOW!
Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
March 9, 2019
Fantastic
My favourite books are intelligent and entertaining, with complex characters, fantastic settings and gripping storylines. Ochre Dragon ticked off all those requirements and more.
Patton has created a delightful cast of complex mostly female characters who are not always who they seem to be. The principle characters Merindah, Ali and Dee live in different places, and maybe even different worlds, yet they are inextricably linked through a beautifully developed mythology concerning the fate of the cosmos.
Ochre Dragon is a page-turner, filled with unspoken danger, political and religious intrigue, deception, mystery, magic and of course DRAGONS!
I'm now waiting (im)patiently for Book 2 of The Opal Dreaming Chronicles.
My favourite books are intelligent and entertaining, with complex characters, fantastic settings and gripping storylines. Ochre Dragon ticked off all those requirements and more.
Patton has created a delightful cast of complex mostly female characters who are not always who they seem to be. The principle characters Merindah, Ali and Dee live in different places, and maybe even different worlds, yet they are inextricably linked through a beautifully developed mythology concerning the fate of the cosmos.
Ochre Dragon is a page-turner, filled with unspoken danger, political and religious intrigue, deception, mystery, magic and of course DRAGONS!
I'm now waiting (im)patiently for Book 2 of The Opal Dreaming Chronicles.
May 23, 2020
i may be a little biased because i love divulging myself into mystical and enchanting storylines, but the characters and diction of this story (or interweaving of stories, if you will) went above and beyond my expectations. allowing myself to get lost in this otherworldly book has been an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to see what happens in Soul Staff. i do truly hope the author continues to share their take on literary works of art with us, as they are a treasure.
July 18, 2020
Introduction
When I saw that beautiful cover with three women and a dragon (a dragon, so great!) who all looked powerful and intriguing, I knew I wanted to review this book. I was kindly granted my request, but alas I don’t think this book fulfilled all of its promises. At least to me.
Read on to find what worked and what didn’t!
*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and V. E. Patton!*
The Positive Sides
The beginning of this book includes a beautiful, enchanting creation story. It’s magical and the most imaginative story I’ve read in a while—it’s intriguing. As for the writing, it is evocative with an enhanced vocabulary. Something I just crave! The descriptions are lengthy, detailed and crisp, which make them easy to picture. I love that we get clues and answers to a character’s situation from the other characters! All is connected very well, including the subplots. Wow! Another thing worth mentioning is that the women are older than what we usually see, too. Nice touch!
What about the characters? Well, first of all, I was surprised and delighted by the women run the planet of Heavens Gate. Such a good feminist take! It’s refreshing. Ali is so relatable to me anyway, what with her imagination and escapism, and also because she’s considered a weirdo. I loved her right away, then more and more. Plus, I connected so much with Merindah’s ambition. She was interesting to read. The bond between Ali, Merindah and Dee is so fun to unfold and discover!
But what really stood out to me, besides the graceful language, is the fantastic world-building. If you want to be transported out of this world, choose this book! The notions, concepts, and customs of the peoples we meet in this book are so different from ours. It’s a bit hard to grasp at first, but then you read and feel out of here. So pleasant! (Yes, this is escapism at its best, no regrets.)
The Negative Sides
This being said, if you want an easy read, look elsewhere. Everything sounds complicated and jumbled together. Moreover, the characters’ desires, thoughts and actions are overexplained. We often understand them from the context and their reactions, but now the author uses several paragraphs to explain them to us. It’s boring, and it also feels like she wants to cram the information in our head lest we forget. I found myself disconnecting from the story a lot. There is action and intense moments, but I fear it’s not enough.
In Conclusion
While the sheer idea, amiable characters and intense world-building made for a fun ride, the writing itself is too telling and explicative, it and weighs on the story instead of lifting it. Thus, I give Ochre Dragon a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. I still recommend it to fantasy and world-building lovers, and even more if telling in stories doesn’t bother you. I think you’ll enjoy this read. But I’m not sure I’ll continue this series. Still, I’ll remember this book as having the best world-building I ever came across so far.
Cheers!
When I saw that beautiful cover with three women and a dragon (a dragon, so great!) who all looked powerful and intriguing, I knew I wanted to review this book. I was kindly granted my request, but alas I don’t think this book fulfilled all of its promises. At least to me.
Read on to find what worked and what didn’t!
*I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to BookTasters and V. E. Patton!*
The Positive Sides
The beginning of this book includes a beautiful, enchanting creation story. It’s magical and the most imaginative story I’ve read in a while—it’s intriguing. As for the writing, it is evocative with an enhanced vocabulary. Something I just crave! The descriptions are lengthy, detailed and crisp, which make them easy to picture. I love that we get clues and answers to a character’s situation from the other characters! All is connected very well, including the subplots. Wow! Another thing worth mentioning is that the women are older than what we usually see, too. Nice touch!
What about the characters? Well, first of all, I was surprised and delighted by the women run the planet of Heavens Gate. Such a good feminist take! It’s refreshing. Ali is so relatable to me anyway, what with her imagination and escapism, and also because she’s considered a weirdo. I loved her right away, then more and more. Plus, I connected so much with Merindah’s ambition. She was interesting to read. The bond between Ali, Merindah and Dee is so fun to unfold and discover!
But what really stood out to me, besides the graceful language, is the fantastic world-building. If you want to be transported out of this world, choose this book! The notions, concepts, and customs of the peoples we meet in this book are so different from ours. It’s a bit hard to grasp at first, but then you read and feel out of here. So pleasant! (Yes, this is escapism at its best, no regrets.)
The Negative Sides
This being said, if you want an easy read, look elsewhere. Everything sounds complicated and jumbled together. Moreover, the characters’ desires, thoughts and actions are overexplained. We often understand them from the context and their reactions, but now the author uses several paragraphs to explain them to us. It’s boring, and it also feels like she wants to cram the information in our head lest we forget. I found myself disconnecting from the story a lot. There is action and intense moments, but I fear it’s not enough.
In Conclusion
While the sheer idea, amiable characters and intense world-building made for a fun ride, the writing itself is too telling and explicative, it and weighs on the story instead of lifting it. Thus, I give Ochre Dragon a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. I still recommend it to fantasy and world-building lovers, and even more if telling in stories doesn’t bother you. I think you’ll enjoy this read. But I’m not sure I’ll continue this series. Still, I’ll remember this book as having the best world-building I ever came across so far.
Cheers!
September 17, 2020
V.E. Patton and Veronica Strachan have created a complex and compelling world filled with secret plots and scheming societies that leave the reader thirsty for more. The characters throughout are portrayed as very human - riddled with flaws, doubts, and insecurities, but also beautiful moments of strength, growth, unity, and acceptance. Our three heroines are uniquely relatable, though I connected more strongly with some than others.
The matriarchal society was an interesting change of pace for me. It reversed the traditional gender roles portrayed in fantasy. Personally, I enjoy reading about more gender-balanced societies, but I enjoyed the theme none-the-less. I would have liked to see a little more ethnic diversity as well, but it doesn't take away from the narrative.
The biggest detractor of this novel was the degree of over-explaination. From the start, the authors created these fascinating worlds rich with culture, sciences, struggle, and deities but didn't trust the reader to pick up on context clues and draw their own conclusions. In this way, the excitement that usually comes from discovery was muted and left me feeling underwhelmed. Were this targeted toward a middle-grade audience, I think this would be less of an issue, but if it's supposed to be aimed toward adults, the learning curve could've been steeper.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading what's next.
The matriarchal society was an interesting change of pace for me. It reversed the traditional gender roles portrayed in fantasy. Personally, I enjoy reading about more gender-balanced societies, but I enjoyed the theme none-the-less. I would have liked to see a little more ethnic diversity as well, but it doesn't take away from the narrative.
The biggest detractor of this novel was the degree of over-explaination. From the start, the authors created these fascinating worlds rich with culture, sciences, struggle, and deities but didn't trust the reader to pick up on context clues and draw their own conclusions. In this way, the excitement that usually comes from discovery was muted and left me feeling underwhelmed. Were this targeted toward a middle-grade audience, I think this would be less of an issue, but if it's supposed to be aimed toward adults, the learning curve could've been steeper.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading what's next.
September 18, 2020
Ochre dragon is a beautiful story whose main characters are three women, all of different ages and living in different worlds, who are strongly connected by possessing each a fragment of the same soul.
The book captured my attention from the beginning because the chargers are very lively described, each battling their own demons and trying to understand theirs strange connection with each other. The thread of the story is also very well developed as well.
The book captured my attention from the beginning because the chargers are very lively described, each battling their own demons and trying to understand theirs strange connection with each other. The thread of the story is also very well developed as well.
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