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Reunification #1
Dragon Source
Arten can’t let anyone know her secret. If her fiery forbidden power becomes known, she’ll be burned at the stake by her magic-fearing religion. And when her mother sells her out to the church’s fanatical agents, she’s forced to flee into the wilds. Reluctantly accepting a mysterious stranger’s helping hand, she travels an underground network intent on reaching a protected dragon city. But when she learns most of the fugitives go missing before they arrive, she suspects her benefactor holds sinister secrets of his own. Can Arten make it to safety and realize her destiny, or will she be reduced to ashes? Dragon Source is the first book in the captivating Reunification epic fantasy series. If you like hidden magic, perilous quests, and dark mysteries, then you’ll love Glenn Birmingham’s action-packed tale.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2019
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 31, 2020
*This is one of the novels I read for the #SPFBO as a judge*
I definitely found this story to be one I enjoyed overall, despite it feeling a little similar in places to other books I had read. This plot is focused on two main characters, Arten (a young girl with a magical secret) and Stekin (a mysterious stranger who wants to 'buy' her). These two characters take on a bit of a weird relationship over the course of the story where initially Stekin is intimidating and in a position of power over Arten, but as the story develops they become more even with their power and their conversations, however I never felt Arten was truly given the control, it was always implied that she couldn't look out for herself without Stekin for much of the tale.
This book is set in a world where the taint is a very bad thing to discover and most with it are sacrifices. They have to be very lucky to know someone who can help, but if they do then they embark on a journey to flee and hopefully find safety at the end, however, this is a journey not without peril. Of course, Arten ends up on this journey, monitored by Stekin, and their tale really develops from then.
Prior to this journey Arten has two good friends in her village and I loved seeing their relationship and the way that was evolving. I was sad to leave that and go on the journey narrative, as that wasn't the direction I thought we would follow, but I warmed to the new plot more as I went.
In the end, I liked some elements of this story, but I also found some problematic. Arten is frequently put in tricky or scary situations, and although she agrees to them at first she is mostly acting on a sense of kindness and not really understanding the full implications. I wish there had been a little more time given to the discussion of what could happen to her on the journey, as I feel this would potentially have allowed a great discussion and a good strong chance for character growth.
I do think the pacing in this is a nice one and u never felt bored, I constantly wanted to know where we ended. The reveals were not surprising to me, but they were done well and I generally enjoyed getting to know Arten and Stekin as we followed them.
Overall, a fun read with a few problems which niggled at me as I read. A solid 3.5*s from me which is 7/10 though and I think many would like this.
I definitely found this story to be one I enjoyed overall, despite it feeling a little similar in places to other books I had read. This plot is focused on two main characters, Arten (a young girl with a magical secret) and Stekin (a mysterious stranger who wants to 'buy' her). These two characters take on a bit of a weird relationship over the course of the story where initially Stekin is intimidating and in a position of power over Arten, but as the story develops they become more even with their power and their conversations, however I never felt Arten was truly given the control, it was always implied that she couldn't look out for herself without Stekin for much of the tale.
This book is set in a world where the taint is a very bad thing to discover and most with it are sacrifices. They have to be very lucky to know someone who can help, but if they do then they embark on a journey to flee and hopefully find safety at the end, however, this is a journey not without peril. Of course, Arten ends up on this journey, monitored by Stekin, and their tale really develops from then.
Prior to this journey Arten has two good friends in her village and I loved seeing their relationship and the way that was evolving. I was sad to leave that and go on the journey narrative, as that wasn't the direction I thought we would follow, but I warmed to the new plot more as I went.
In the end, I liked some elements of this story, but I also found some problematic. Arten is frequently put in tricky or scary situations, and although she agrees to them at first she is mostly acting on a sense of kindness and not really understanding the full implications. I wish there had been a little more time given to the discussion of what could happen to her on the journey, as I feel this would potentially have allowed a great discussion and a good strong chance for character growth.
I do think the pacing in this is a nice one and u never felt bored, I constantly wanted to know where we ended. The reveals were not surprising to me, but they were done well and I generally enjoyed getting to know Arten and Stekin as we followed them.
Overall, a fun read with a few problems which niggled at me as I read. A solid 3.5*s from me which is 7/10 though and I think many would like this.
May 1, 2020
As a person always on the hunt for more dragon books, Dragon Source did not disappoint. The world is rich with lots of compelling history, religion, magic, and scenery. The main characters - Arten and Stekin - both have their flaws, but they grew on me immensely. And the ending even plucked at my heartstrings. If you like epic fantasy adventures, characters with a lot of depth, and dragons, then this a great series to begin!
June 21, 2023
A story that begins on a strong scene, then switches to a slow but steady burn that manages to never become boring. Rather the contrary, the trickle of suggestions and hints along the way is well built, that with the quality of the writing makes even mundane scenes enjoyable, and pulled me forward without failure.
It becomes a game, to unveil the backstory and lore that led to these events.
Dragons in the book can shapeshift, something I'm wary of, but this is not abused and more importantly, they have their own perspective, different of that of humans.
Also, they have their own vulnerabilities that makes them interesting.
Again, the writing standard is pretty good, with varied vocabulary and next to no errors (I found two, from the "brain seamleassly auto-corrects" category, probably whyu they went through). This, especially on a first book, denotes skill and great care.
It becomes a game, to unveil the backstory and lore that led to these events.
Dragons in the book can shapeshift, something I'm wary of, but this is not abused and more importantly, they have their own perspective, different of that of humans.
Also, they have their own vulnerabilities that makes them interesting.
Again, the writing standard is pretty good, with varied vocabulary and next to no errors (I found two, from the "brain seamleassly auto-corrects" category, probably whyu they went through). This, especially on a first book, denotes skill and great care.
August 17, 2020
As a fantasy lover I could not be more thrilled to have come across Dragon Source. When Arten finds herself alone in a world she never would have imagined, she struggles to turn away from her strict upbringing and instead embrace the unfamiliar she’s been taught to fear for a chance to live. Filled with tests of trust, survival, courage and oh of course dragons!! Impatiently waiting for the remainder of the series!
November 3, 2019
I read an Advanced Reader Copy of Dragon Source and was so excited to see it had been released that I read it again. I love the hook at the beginning. It kept me reading and invested in the characters. I liked the setup for the novel, I liked the dragon. Honestly, I liked everything I read, and I'm looking forward to book 2. I can't wait to see where Glenn goes with future books (and series).
November 12, 2023
I bought this while at AC, 2023, and had put it on top of my reading pile. Recently, after finishing my last book, I finally took notice of this one and delved right into it. It's a slow paced story that follows the perspective of two different characters in alternating chapters. Each gives a unique take on events that compliments the other quite well. The personality of them and every other character is well done, giving more meaning to each story point. The setting is intriguing, making me want to learn and definitely read more.
Great care was taken in this story, and most definitely those after, and the language is equally as good. I will say, however, that there were some minor errors in spelling, specifically. They were very minor, though. None of them took away from the writing. At most, the reader will have to take a second look to make sure they got the intended meaning right.
And, of course, there are dragons, though, I refuse to spoil anything regarding that aspect of this book. I would say this was a great read that I fully intend to look further into.
Great care was taken in this story, and most definitely those after, and the language is equally as good. I will say, however, that there were some minor errors in spelling, specifically. They were very minor, though. None of them took away from the writing. At most, the reader will have to take a second look to make sure they got the intended meaning right.
And, of course, there are dragons, though, I refuse to spoil anything regarding that aspect of this book. I would say this was a great read that I fully intend to look further into.
February 1, 2023
This story starts quick, slows down a fair bit, and then gradually winds up again before a great finish.
I loved so much about this book, especially the main supporting characters (I hope we see more of them in the rest of the series).
A few frustrating moments where the main characters hide information from each other and the reader, but this is mostly handled ok with how their characters are.
Overall a really engrossing read.
I loved so much about this book, especially the main supporting characters (I hope we see more of them in the rest of the series).
A few frustrating moments where the main characters hide information from each other and the reader, but this is mostly handled ok with how their characters are.
Overall a really engrossing read.
September 3, 2025
Dragon Source starts off strong. Its opening pages immediately throw you into the protagonist Arten’s panic about her emerging power and the world and society around her that necessitates that response. It wastes no time getting right to the point where the story starts; the emergence of a power that is hated, feared and coveted in equal measure, and the small, unassuming girl that possesses it. The early chapters of this story are tense and mysterious, building up a number of mysteries while introducing us to the character and the stakes at play.
Author Glenn Birmingham’s prose and voice are both strong, and the world he crafts is one that is somber yet mysterious. Its oppressive dystopia is far more subtle than the overplayed YA Hunger Games ripoffs we’re all used to from the mid 2010’s, but one that is far more insidious and disquieting, one that breaks down anything and everything special or meaningful about its inhabitants lives and leaves them drowning in a daily existence of drudgery. The closest thing there is to a main villain is but a cog in the machine, and is dealt with by the time the halfway point comes around. Instead, the main antagonistic forces in this world are ones of neglect; of people that have forgotten or refused to nurture the parts of themselves that make them good and whole, of a society that casts aside its broken and weary without a second thought, and snuffs out anything special or meaningful. Even the place Arten is journeying to would normally be framed as a utopia in other stories, but in this one is simply another place with more unknowns; a place that doesn’t explicitly want her dead but doesn’t seem particularly promising either.
Dragon Source is a dark story, but not in the way of grimdark fantasy like A Song of Ice and Fire. Its darkness is far more mundane; the subtle, ever-present weight of a repressed, selfish society slowly but gradually wearing you down until you don’t have the strength to fight it anymore. A darkness that can’t be fought with swords or with magic but with empathy and love and kindness that is unfortunately far between in this world. It’s a darkness that may be less interesting on the surface than a dark lord or an evil dictator but is far more relatable and insidious. The world is full of distant, weary people; people who have lost and are lost, people who have closed themselves off long ago.
This is Glenn’s first book, and he shows remarkable promise as a writer. With Dragon Source, he’s crafted a unique story with some genuinely interesting ideas. Unfortunately, I need to note that it does take some time to get going, and a lot of the ideas put forth here don't really start to pay off until the second book. The first 100 pages or so are genuinely interesting, with likeable characters and a rickety status quo threatening to buckle. Glenn conjures a clear and engaging vision of this world that’s different from ours but also eerily and uncomfortably familiar. Arten and her friends are wonderful characters, and the impending threat of both the Dedicate and the mysterious Stekin loom heavily over it all. The rest of the book, however, lags far too much on a phase of the story that doesn’t have quite enough intrigue to justify how long it is. Most of it feels like an extended prologue for a story that's a lot more interesting - and in all fairness, it is. The sequel genuinely picks up on the ideas here and makes it much clearer where things are going and what this story is going to be about, even as it sets up for even larger ideas to be explored in the future. That, however, is an issue for another review.
Without the context of the second book, though, this can be a bit of a frustrating read. There's just a bit too much setup and building intrigue and not enough payoff to keep the reader invested. I think that this series and especially Glenn as a writer show promise, I really do, and the sequel is better and more engaging and I encourage people to power through this if they like the ideas set forth from it - I'm giving it a somewhat elevated review because I don't want to bog down the rating and turn people who might like the series off just because it has a rocky start. Even now it has a lot of qualities that make it worth reading, and it's a fascinating series I encourage people to check it out if this sounds up their ally. Just know that it can be a little slow to start.
Author Glenn Birmingham’s prose and voice are both strong, and the world he crafts is one that is somber yet mysterious. Its oppressive dystopia is far more subtle than the overplayed YA Hunger Games ripoffs we’re all used to from the mid 2010’s, but one that is far more insidious and disquieting, one that breaks down anything and everything special or meaningful about its inhabitants lives and leaves them drowning in a daily existence of drudgery. The closest thing there is to a main villain is but a cog in the machine, and is dealt with by the time the halfway point comes around. Instead, the main antagonistic forces in this world are ones of neglect; of people that have forgotten or refused to nurture the parts of themselves that make them good and whole, of a society that casts aside its broken and weary without a second thought, and snuffs out anything special or meaningful. Even the place Arten is journeying to would normally be framed as a utopia in other stories, but in this one is simply another place with more unknowns; a place that doesn’t explicitly want her dead but doesn’t seem particularly promising either.
Dragon Source is a dark story, but not in the way of grimdark fantasy like A Song of Ice and Fire. Its darkness is far more mundane; the subtle, ever-present weight of a repressed, selfish society slowly but gradually wearing you down until you don’t have the strength to fight it anymore. A darkness that can’t be fought with swords or with magic but with empathy and love and kindness that is unfortunately far between in this world. It’s a darkness that may be less interesting on the surface than a dark lord or an evil dictator but is far more relatable and insidious. The world is full of distant, weary people; people who have lost and are lost, people who have closed themselves off long ago.
This is Glenn’s first book, and he shows remarkable promise as a writer. With Dragon Source, he’s crafted a unique story with some genuinely interesting ideas. Unfortunately, I need to note that it does take some time to get going, and a lot of the ideas put forth here don't really start to pay off until the second book. The first 100 pages or so are genuinely interesting, with likeable characters and a rickety status quo threatening to buckle. Glenn conjures a clear and engaging vision of this world that’s different from ours but also eerily and uncomfortably familiar. Arten and her friends are wonderful characters, and the impending threat of both the Dedicate and the mysterious Stekin loom heavily over it all. The rest of the book, however, lags far too much on a phase of the story that doesn’t have quite enough intrigue to justify how long it is. Most of it feels like an extended prologue for a story that's a lot more interesting - and in all fairness, it is. The sequel genuinely picks up on the ideas here and makes it much clearer where things are going and what this story is going to be about, even as it sets up for even larger ideas to be explored in the future. That, however, is an issue for another review.
Without the context of the second book, though, this can be a bit of a frustrating read. There's just a bit too much setup and building intrigue and not enough payoff to keep the reader invested. I think that this series and especially Glenn as a writer show promise, I really do, and the sequel is better and more engaging and I encourage people to power through this if they like the ideas set forth from it - I'm giving it a somewhat elevated review because I don't want to bog down the rating and turn people who might like the series off just because it has a rocky start. Even now it has a lot of qualities that make it worth reading, and it's a fascinating series I encourage people to check it out if this sounds up their ally. Just know that it can be a little slow to start.
April 18, 2022
Glenn’s writing is a top notch example of a slow burn. If one were to jump into the second book of the series it would not be nearly as impactful without this wonderful character study and character development. While some may feel it lacks in action, I feel it more than makes up for it in establishing an amazing foundation that rewards the reader for the long haul. The series also succeeds as a coming-of-age tale where even well known titles (such as The Catcher in the Rye) fail.
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
How I Use the Rating System
1: There is no 0 on the provided scale, so I use this as a 0. I find no redeeming qualities and would not suggest the title to anyone for any reason.
2: I hated the work and regret wasting my time reading it, but find or understand that it has some value.
3: Average. I don’t regret having read it, but what I received as an experience was nominal.
4: I enjoyed or found value in the title, but it’s not something I would recommend to everyone, or I would not consider rereading it, or there was a significant flaw that prevented it from being a 5.
5: I enjoyed it so thoroughly I would reread it and recommend it to just about anyone. Or I found it so valuable that I felt it deserved such a rating.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews