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The Dragon's Legacy #3
The Seared Lands: The Dragon's Legacy
The concluding novel in the Dragon's Legacy trilogy as the world descends into war and the conflicts may awaken the Earth Dragon--leading to total destruction.
Sulema Ja'Akari, heir to the throne of the Dragon King, lies near death, imprisoned by her half brother Pythos. To survive, she must agree to rescue the one person who holds the key to unseating the usurper--a quest that will take Sulema across the vast, apocalyptic desert of the Seared Lands.
Overwhelmed by the responsibility, Sulema seeks to flee, but is captured and cast into the arena. There she must fight to the death against Kishah, whose very name means "vengeance." Kishah, who is Sulama's closest friend and fellow warrior, Hannei.
Across the world, vast forces gather. Fleeing a swarm of invaders, the child queen Maika seeks to lead her people across the wasteland to safety. Jian the half-breed prince musters an army from the Twilight Lands, while Ismai the Lich King gathers an undead horde, determined to reclaim the Dragon crown.
Yet the greatest threat lies below. Sajani the earth dragon stirs. If she wakes, the world will be destroyed. Only the heir to the Dragon King may sing Sajani back to sleep... if there still is time.
Sulema Ja'Akari, heir to the throne of the Dragon King, lies near death, imprisoned by her half brother Pythos. To survive, she must agree to rescue the one person who holds the key to unseating the usurper--a quest that will take Sulema across the vast, apocalyptic desert of the Seared Lands.
Overwhelmed by the responsibility, Sulema seeks to flee, but is captured and cast into the arena. There she must fight to the death against Kishah, whose very name means "vengeance." Kishah, who is Sulama's closest friend and fellow warrior, Hannei.
Across the world, vast forces gather. Fleeing a swarm of invaders, the child queen Maika seeks to lead her people across the wasteland to safety. Jian the half-breed prince musters an army from the Twilight Lands, while Ismai the Lich King gathers an undead horde, determined to reclaim the Dragon crown.
Yet the greatest threat lies below. Sajani the earth dragon stirs. If she wakes, the world will be destroyed. Only the heir to the Dragon King may sing Sajani back to sleep... if there still is time.
- GenresFantasy
530 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2020
7 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Deborah A. Wolf
26 books134 followersDeborah A. Wolf was born in a barn and raised on wildlife refuges, which explains rather a lot. As a child, whether she was wandering down the beach of an otherwise deserted island or exploring the hidden secrets of Alaska with her faithful dog Sitka, she always had a book at hand. She opened the forbidden door, and set foot upon the tangled path, and never looked back.
Deborah attended any college that couldn’t outrun her and has accumulated a handful of degrees. She has worked as an underwater photographer, Arabic linguist, and grumbling wage slave. Throughout it all, she has held onto one true and passionate love: the love of storytelling.
Deborah currently lives in northern Michigan with her kids (some of whom are grown and all of whom are exceptional), an assortment of dogs and horses, and a pair of demons masquerading as cats.
Deborah attended any college that couldn’t outrun her and has accumulated a handful of degrees. She has worked as an underwater photographer, Arabic linguist, and grumbling wage slave. Throughout it all, she has held onto one true and passionate love: the love of storytelling.
Deborah currently lives in northern Michigan with her kids (some of whom are grown and all of whom are exceptional), an assortment of dogs and horses, and a pair of demons masquerading as cats.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 7, 2020
A good sequel that smoothly carries on the plotlines of the two previous books, and tries to tie down everything neatly. It's fast paced, garnished with action, and an adventurous thrill lingers in the narrative. It's a story about a world in crisis, and a group of fierce, complex and strong women trying to save it. It has an ingenious feminist tone to it, and brings up an empowering attitude regarding the roles of women in shaping the society, and the world.
The worldbuilding was excellent. This time the author gives a detailed view of the underground kingdom of Qurabala. We get to know about their society, the conflict with the Araids, and the urgency to find new lands for survival. Moreover, apart from that, Deborah simultaneously weaves three plotlines- the situation in Atualon, the conflict in Khanbul, the schism of the Zeeranim, and the race against time to soothe the dreaming dragon to sleep. We also get to know some things about Istaza Ani, bonesinger magic, and it was awesome to read about.
Characterisation was again well done. Particularly, Hannei, and Maika the young queen of Qurabala. Hannei now is a slave, betrayed by her own people and dreams of Vengeance. Maika tries to lead her people to a new future shrouded with dangers and uncertainties. Sulema escapes from captivity, and tries to find a way to control Atfulah. Ismai, now an ancient king marching with undead legions to satiate his revenge. Leviathus, now is the pirate king bonded to the prince of Leviathans. Jian, trying to protect his family, and at the same time endeavouring a bloody revolution to free the people from the daemon emperor's tyrannical grasp. Each of the characters journey converges in the middle, and it's just brilliant, and memorable.
The action is superb. One of the pit-fighting scenes broke my heart. It was short, but powerful. And, it's just an example of how good a writer Deborah is. This book was tinged with emotional depth that made the characters shine with life, and brought their complex personalities into focus. Even the intelligent animals, the vashai, Leviathans, formed an important part of the story adding richness to the fantasy world. However, there were still some loose ends - as to what happened of Char? Where will the Qurabalese people make their new home? What happened to Daru, and what is his role in the grand scheme of things?
I don't know whether this is the end of the series, or will there be a fourth book. The author said in an interview that, there will at least be three. So, I'm unsure. This book was great in its own way. It was entertaining, and rich with mythical/historical influences. But, it also left me wanting for some more. The ending was pretty much an open one, and it left me speculating about certain things.
P.S- These series need to get more exposure and publicity, and the acclaim that it deserves. It is one of the best fantasy series in the market. And, it's very sad that so few people know about it. Titan Books should publicize it as much as it did for V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series.
The worldbuilding was excellent. This time the author gives a detailed view of the underground kingdom of Qurabala. We get to know about their society, the conflict with the Araids, and the urgency to find new lands for survival. Moreover, apart from that, Deborah simultaneously weaves three plotlines- the situation in Atualon, the conflict in Khanbul, the schism of the Zeeranim, and the race against time to soothe the dreaming dragon to sleep. We also get to know some things about Istaza Ani, bonesinger magic, and it was awesome to read about.
Characterisation was again well done. Particularly, Hannei, and Maika the young queen of Qurabala. Hannei now is a slave, betrayed by her own people and dreams of Vengeance. Maika tries to lead her people to a new future shrouded with dangers and uncertainties. Sulema escapes from captivity, and tries to find a way to control Atfulah. Ismai, now an ancient king marching with undead legions to satiate his revenge. Leviathus, now is the pirate king bonded to the prince of Leviathans. Jian, trying to protect his family, and at the same time endeavouring a bloody revolution to free the people from the daemon emperor's tyrannical grasp. Each of the characters journey converges in the middle, and it's just brilliant, and memorable.
The action is superb. One of the pit-fighting scenes broke my heart. It was short, but powerful. And, it's just an example of how good a writer Deborah is. This book was tinged with emotional depth that made the characters shine with life, and brought their complex personalities into focus. Even the intelligent animals, the vashai, Leviathans, formed an important part of the story adding richness to the fantasy world. However, there were still some loose ends - as to what happened of Char? Where will the Qurabalese people make their new home? What happened to Daru, and what is his role in the grand scheme of things?
I don't know whether this is the end of the series, or will there be a fourth book. The author said in an interview that, there will at least be three. So, I'm unsure. This book was great in its own way. It was entertaining, and rich with mythical/historical influences. But, it also left me wanting for some more. The ending was pretty much an open one, and it left me speculating about certain things.
P.S- These series need to get more exposure and publicity, and the acclaim that it deserves. It is one of the best fantasy series in the market. And, it's very sad that so few people know about it. Titan Books should publicize it as much as it did for V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series.
April 15, 2020
A fitting finale to the Dragons Legacy trilogy, Deborah Wolf once again hits it out of the park with The Seared Lands. Alternating the continued tales of Sulema, heir to the throne of the Dragon King, Jian, Daechan prince of Sindan, Kisha of the Zeera, and Maika, queen of the Quarabela in the Seared Lands. The story threads weft and wind, brining them an other players into the game of empires and the attempt to sing the dragon Sajani to sleep and preserve the world.
Deborah has many strong suits as an author, Foremost among them a talent for dialogue- sharp and clean, with the right touch of humor. Her background in languages ( check out her impressive bio) come into play in her invention and use of created languages, not overbearing and very realistic. Action scenes are strong and concise, playing out with quickness and precision that gives a screenplay feel. The well imagined and fleshed out world is a joy to behold and places locations firmly in the minds eye.
A very enjoyable book and a wonderful trilogy. If you have previously read the first two books, you shall not be disappointed. If you are scanning reviews for possible new authors to read now is the time to snap up the complete trilogy.
Deborah has many strong suits as an author, Foremost among them a talent for dialogue- sharp and clean, with the right touch of humor. Her background in languages ( check out her impressive bio) come into play in her invention and use of created languages, not overbearing and very realistic. Action scenes are strong and concise, playing out with quickness and precision that gives a screenplay feel. The well imagined and fleshed out world is a joy to behold and places locations firmly in the minds eye.
A very enjoyable book and a wonderful trilogy. If you have previously read the first two books, you shall not be disappointed. If you are scanning reviews for possible new authors to read now is the time to snap up the complete trilogy.
December 28, 2020
I love this trilogy so much, but it's so frustrating! The timeskips without warning, the big scary things that never appear again (what happened to Ani's bone dragon???), Sulema's last-second romance, the Veil just being hand-waved, the predicament Maika and her people are left in, and Jian's whole storyline - I'm so disappointed at how disjointed it all was.
To be honest, I suspect that this series was supposed to be longer, but maybe poor sales (because no one seems to know about these books) meant the publisher wouldn't sign on for any more, and Wolf had to try and wrap everything up in one book instead of two or three. It would also explain why Seared Lands didn't get a hardback edition, when the previous books did.
I'm just sad. I love this series with all my heart, and I don't want it to be over. I hope Wolf comes back to this world at some point.
To be honest, I suspect that this series was supposed to be longer, but maybe poor sales (because no one seems to know about these books) meant the publisher wouldn't sign on for any more, and Wolf had to try and wrap everything up in one book instead of two or three. It would also explain why Seared Lands didn't get a hardback edition, when the previous books did.
I'm just sad. I love this series with all my heart, and I don't want it to be over. I hope Wolf comes back to this world at some point.
December 16, 2020
A solid third addition to the fantasy world that has been cultivated by Deborah Wolf. The author’s strength lies in her ability to deliciously, descriptively narrate the moment to moment awareness of each character. The world she has created is unique and full of depth.
However, I hope that this is not the last installment to the series. In my opinion the epic has not completed. The author has developed two very different story lines with Selena and Jian. It would be disappointing if their two worlds never met, and it would make me question if Jian’s story was included just to increase the page count.
However, I hope that this is not the last installment to the series. In my opinion the epic has not completed. The author has developed two very different story lines with Selena and Jian. It would be disappointing if their two worlds never met, and it would make me question if Jian’s story was included just to increase the page count.
January 9, 2023
The weakest of the series in my opinion. This story continues to follow Sulema, Jian, Ismai, Hannei, and Ani while adding in Queen Maika of Quarabala. The action continues to roll along and the characters are real-feeling and engaging. But the story was a bit of a mess. It very much felt like Wolf could have used another 3-4 books to tie together all the loose ends she had created in the previous two books and then added to in this one. Instead what we got was too little time with each character and a bunch of surprising left turns as the story tried to find it's ending. And the stories of Jian and Sulema never come together. They almost seem to be occupying completely different story lines and it made me wonder why they coexist in the same book series.
There was also a little too much deus ex machina as Daru suddenly reappears with super powers in a move Wolf hadn't earned and Ani steps in here and there with her own newly taken on super powers to direct the actions of the world. If bone singers were that powerful how did they ever get defeated?
Even with all of this Wolf sets herself up for another books. One which I would read if it existed, let's just be clear, but am reluctant to wait for.
There was also a little too much deus ex machina as Daru suddenly reappears with super powers in a move Wolf hadn't earned and Ani steps in here and there with her own newly taken on super powers to direct the actions of the world. If bone singers were that powerful how did they ever get defeated?
Even with all of this Wolf sets herself up for another books. One which I would read if it existed, let's just be clear, but am reluctant to wait for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
A trilogy with all the elements that kept me reading. Lots of magic, despicable villains, intelligent nonhuman characters and clashing civilizations.
There are some loose ends that could easily become future adventures. Smooth, clear and often poetic writing clipped along at a good pace.
There are some loose ends that could easily become future adventures. Smooth, clear and often poetic writing clipped along at a good pace.
September 20, 2020
Review spoiler, I don’t rate this third book. I read the previous 2 in the series and was keen to follow with this third book. I expected it to join the threads of Jian and Sulema and bring these two parallel stories together. It didn’t. So when others describe this book as a finale I would not agree. It left a rather large overhanging question and also set up multiple follow on plots. I totally lost track of what happened to Halfmask. And all that build up re Daru and then his story drops out and he turns up as a mature adult? What’s going on there. Hannei pregnancy term must equal that of an elephant pregnancy. I found the story confusing to follow at the end. Lots of big build up early on which just fizzles out at the end. So whilst it is a blockbuster book, it left me feeling like I had just eaten a huge piece of shop bought cake. Looks great on the outside, lots of sugar and feel good but left me feeling a glutton and yet not addressed my hunger. Will I re2d a fourth one? Probably not.
August 8, 2021
Well-written 3rd book (more to come?). An ending to multiple struggles, solved in multiple ways. Not all my favorites survived, and some were changed dramatically. I think the queen of Quarabala still has a hand to play, as she is not done spinning her web. And Daru and Hannei and the peoples of the Zeera - they aren't done. And the Empire of Sidan - well, the new emperor Jian admits that sooner or late they will take on Atualon. And Atualon itself - well, happy King and Queen, keeping a sleeping dragon asleep, ruling together and who knows what will come of all that? And I'm not quite sure what happened to Half Mask (Mattu)? It begs for a 4th book, I think! In any case, the story was intricate with many strong characters and many twists and turns. Very enjoyable read, in spite of the fact that it took me awhile to read it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2023
Impressive
I was really impressed with how the author wrote three very good installments, introduced many interesting and unique characters and threw at the reader Alot of plot lines. Throughout it all, the story stayed fresh and interesting. There was a few plot decisions that I didn't care for, but overall, a fantastic dark and gritty story.
I was really impressed with how the author wrote three very good installments, introduced many interesting and unique characters and threw at the reader Alot of plot lines. Throughout it all, the story stayed fresh and interesting. There was a few plot decisions that I didn't care for, but overall, a fantastic dark and gritty story.
May 7, 2026
Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed in the ending, it felt as though the author tried to wrap everything up in a neat little bow that just felt inauthentic to the characters and didn’t do some of them justice. However, that being said, this series as a whole was still a great time, Wolf is a master at worldbuilding and it was so much fun to immerse myself in this world.
May 14, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
I ended up truly loving these books! The people and the storylines were amazing. I agree with the reviews though that the final book seemed rushed. The last 100 pages had so much packed In and things were barely resolved. I am left with so many questions 😩
I ended up truly loving these books! The people and the storylines were amazing. I agree with the reviews though that the final book seemed rushed. The last 100 pages had so much packed In and things were barely resolved. I am left with so many questions 😩
March 7, 2022
Many travels, new and familiar, some wandering, others ordained, lead to a stage well-peopled and awaiting the veil's opening.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews