Elder Magic

Dragon Assassin #5

by Arthur Slade

There are dragons to the left. There are dragons to the right. Where will Carmen turn?

Imprisoned in the land of dragons, Carmen has no hope of escape. She needs an ally, but she can't trust any of the dragons. They are in a power struggle for the crown and see her as a simple pawn.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2019

About the author

Arthur Slade was raised in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan and began writing at an early age. He is the author of the bestselling The Hunchback Assignments series of books, Dust (which won the Governor General's award), Tribes and Jolted. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada (which really is a real place). Join his creative & somewhat clever newsletter at: what a zany newsletter!

Reviews

[David Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book goes even further into depth about Brax, his history and about the whole culture of being a dragon. There are Clan wars, politics and infighting and you will learn a lot about the different types of dragon and their clans. Carmen has some really hard times to endure and her training is pushed to the limit.

Book 6 awaits...

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that is being released serially. There is a new chapter coming out every month or so. I have been a fan of Slade’s work for many years, and this series is pure classic fantasy. Being episodic, is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because we get new parts of the story much more frequently. Not so good in that we are often left hanging. It is like being a kid again in the 70’s or 80’s and waiting for the next episode of a show each week. Except the wait now is a month or two. But the waits have been more than worth it. And this latest installment is by far one of the best, and I was not even sure Slade could top some of the pieces of the story already released. As soon as one of these stories release, I drop whatever I am reading, and this immediately jumps to the book being read.

My first thoughts on this installment were: that it was an incredible piece of writing. I love the homage to merlin and the dragon with a mind like a broken mirror. A dragon that had spent so much time surfing the possibilities that he was uncertain what was read or not anymore. Carmen’s realization as the knife plunged down ever slower, was startling, and presented with extreme skill. But when you combine that with Carmen failing to complete her oath, because of the interference of another dragon. Brax and Carmen both ending up in the dungeon. And then …

Well to find out more you will need to read this book and the four that go before it. I have said for a few years now that Arthur Slade has a masterful pen. He often writes with wit and humour. But in this new series he is writing in a classic fantasy style I grew up reading. And not only does he craft stories in a classic style, he does so with great skill and magnificent mastery.

Many years Slade has ended up on my favorite authors list. This year he would for any of the volumes in this series. And some of the other stories published. If you love a great fantasy story, in an epic style you must give this book and this series a try!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Art. As well as an author profile and interview with Arthur.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars 🌟

So, the last book let me holding my breath and hoping that I didn't really just hear/read what I thought I read/heard. This book takes things from there.

Just as we had to learn about life in Carmen's world in the first three books, this trilogy has us learning that there is an entirely new and different world in the land of the dragons. And...Brax is in quite a bit of trouble.....

So, the two of them find themselves in a pickle - and they are not even together. Carmen is forced to act on her own, and I for one am rooting for her as she has decided that no one is going to hurt Brax.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that does not end

I do enjoy the writing of this series, but the last two books do not truly come to and end, and could easily have been just one book. Each book needs to draw to some semblance of an end at least. I will read on with hope the next one does not do the same.

[Robert J French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way too short.

[fantasyacademia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmel did try and keep her oath to Brax but was foiled by a dragon Mage. Both she, and Brax, were thrown into a dungeon cell.
After Brax is kidnapped from the dungeon by his brother, Carmen is freed of her shackles by a Messenger Bird. She then escapes through the sewer where, after much climbing down the cliff side, she ends up in the cave of the dragon Mage.
Here she learns, amongst other things, that her precious daggers were actually made by dragons and gifted to humans. The magic imbedded in them is actually Elder magic. Older than time itself.
There is still yet more adventure in Dragon Assassin 5 but I'll let you discover that yourself. Happy reading. Annemarie

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fifth instalment in the Dragon Assassin series is the best yet and as thrilling as the others, full of tension, drama, twists and turns, more dragons than you can shake a stick at, and more intriguing revelations. All this combines to keep you on the edge of your seat, feverishly turning pages until the end, where another cliffhanger leaves you waiting on tenterhooks for the next book - good job that won't be long!!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions

[Robert D Grady]

This is the fifth part of this "serial" story. The story is continuing to develop. The land of the dragons is interesting and unique. Carmen is developing into a more complex character and is finally starting to exhibit some assassin characteristics. I am looking forward to the next part to see how things work out for her and Brax.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure continues

With new things added in this book and the adventure lines coming into play. Bring me book 6. The training received from the red school is coming into play but I would like to see more of the past lineage come through along with what is going to happen next.

[Jamie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this episode just as much As I have loved them all! Definitely my favorite author of the year. He knows how to describe things so interesting. I love the characters he keeps bringing to us! Sqeek!!! So good guys! Gobble it up for yourselves! I hope the episodes never end,LOL.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loose sleep getting through each new episode in this series. This his one is more complicated, threatening, & mysterious. I don’t know where we are going next but I can’t wait to find out. I love this story. I received an ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but absolutely fabulous. Magic to please everyone

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !! Drax and Carmen ** really ** have problems !!
Everything's gone wrong and things are getting worse
and worse.
What's going to happen next ?
I can't wait to find out !!


Phyllis S.