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Dragoneer Academy #2
Daughter of the Serpentine
As a young dragoneer moves through the ranks of the prestigious Serpentine Academy, her challenges grow greater and her time grows short to draw out a series of deadly threats, in this thrilling coming-of-age fantasy novel.
Sixteen-year-old Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, with all of the benefits and pitfalls that her elevation in rank entails. But her advancement becomes less certain after a she's attacked by an unknown enemy, and Ileth begins to suspect that someone deadly may be hiding within the walls of the academy.
Outside of the walls there is a different challenge. The Rari Pirates are strangling the Vale Republic. What they lack in dragon firepower, they make up for in the brutality of their ever-expanding raids, making hostages or slaves of the Republic’s citizens. Surrounded by enemies, Ileth will need to learn what kind of dragoneer she wants to be. And as she makes decisions about her future, Ileth will have the chance to uncover the secrets of her past. Both will irrevocably change the course of her life.
Sixteen-year-old Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, with all of the benefits and pitfalls that her elevation in rank entails. But her advancement becomes less certain after a she's attacked by an unknown enemy, and Ileth begins to suspect that someone deadly may be hiding within the walls of the academy.
Outside of the walls there is a different challenge. The Rari Pirates are strangling the Vale Republic. What they lack in dragon firepower, they make up for in the brutality of their ever-expanding raids, making hostages or slaves of the Republic’s citizens. Surrounded by enemies, Ileth will need to learn what kind of dragoneer she wants to be. And as she makes decisions about her future, Ileth will have the chance to uncover the secrets of her past. Both will irrevocably change the course of her life.
512 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2020
56 people are currently reading
1360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 20, 2020
This is the sequel to the wonderful Novice Dragonneer and continues to follow the young Illeth journey to become a Dragoneer. Illeth has come a long way from the first novel where she escaped the captain's lodge (an orphanage basically) to head to the Serpentine to become a Dragoneer. She arrives too late and spends almost two weeks on the doorstep refusing to leave. Now she on her way to becoming an apprentice.
Once she becomes one she needs to provide herself with a sash. She tries so hard to make one and is humiliated time and again when she cannot have the funds to buy the material. She ends up having to get very creative in providing one that is accepted. She ends up in the horse troop which almost to me looks like slave labor but it does make her stronger in her resolve.
She is then basically kidnapped by a governor for a time and then in unusual circumstances amid a very intense battle. The novel shows the grit of our wonderful Illeth. She embodies the idea that if you want something in life you have to work for it, no one is gonna just hand you your dreams. She is an inspiration and I can not wait to read more about her journey to becoming a Dragonneer.
Once she becomes one she needs to provide herself with a sash. She tries so hard to make one and is humiliated time and again when she cannot have the funds to buy the material. She ends up having to get very creative in providing one that is accepted. She ends up in the horse troop which almost to me looks like slave labor but it does make her stronger in her resolve.
She is then basically kidnapped by a governor for a time and then in unusual circumstances amid a very intense battle. The novel shows the grit of our wonderful Illeth. She embodies the idea that if you want something in life you have to work for it, no one is gonna just hand you your dreams. She is an inspiration and I can not wait to read more about her journey to becoming a Dragonneer.
March 23, 2022
One of the best series I have read, and this book is so good! I didn't want it to end. I can't wait for more.
December 4, 2020
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
Daughter of the Serpentine is the second novel in the Dragoneer Academy, continuing Ileth’s journey as an apprentice dragoneer.
Character-Driven Story
Much like with Novice Dragoneer, Daughter of the Serpentine is a character-driven story. This means that while not a fast-paced story, it is still made engaging by the characters.
The story continues to follow Ileth as she continues her dragoneer apprenticeship. It is a good story that focuses on the characters and their dynamics. Daughter of the Serpentine is not a fast-paced novel, but it is also not a slow-paced novel either. Much like with Novice Dragoneer, reading Daughter of the Serpentine is like taking a leisurely jog. There are moments where the pace quickens near the end of the novel, making those scenes some of the more engaging scenes. However, what continues to give this novel substance is the characterization.
It is very engaging to see Ileth continue to shine throughout this story. Knight strives to make the characterization engaging, and he succeeds because of how Ileth shines and grows. Ileth still has a stutter, which can sometimes be debilitating for her, but what is remarkable is how she continues to prove herself to her comrades how clever and resilient she is. So this makes the story incredibly engaging as far as the narrative goes. Knight showcases the respect she has earned, how the opinions of others change around her. What is more, is how Knight highlights the equality she gains from the Dragons.
The fact that the Dragons give Ileth’s more consideration than they do other humans shows that they respect her more than they do other humans. It creates a strong connection between Ileth and the Dragons, foreshadowing how highly she will rise through the ranks of the series. Ileth honors these Dragons; she treats them as equals and with reverence. This also highlights how different she is from her comrades. Most of her fellow apprentices joined for a title and nothing more, and the Dragons know that. For Ileth, it was her love of Dragons, her admiration of them and Dragoneer’s that drove her forward. It gives Ileth more depth and connects her to the reader, seeing how loyal, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful she is.
Storytelling
As well as the storytelling goes, it is very intricate. Daughter of the Serpentine is a coming-of-age story that focuses on the coming of age aspect of Ileth’s journey as a dragoneer. However, once again, it is rather long. There is nothing wrong with a story being almost 500 pages; the only issue here is that the chapters run long. Given the politics going into the novel, the long chapters do not give the reader a moment to breathe and absorb the information given to them.
The story’s pacing is not an issue, but it would have benefited the story much more if the author had decided to break up these chapters to give the reader a moment to breathe in and absorb all the information. Because there is much information going on in the story, there are many intricacies regarding politics and social upheaval. Knight is still building up the world for the reader, which is not a bad thing but with a character-driven story that is not fast-paced, it does run the risk of becoming tedious just because the reader isn’t having a moment to breathe.
Final Thoughts
Daughter of the Serpentine is not a fast-paced story, but it is still very engaging. It has a strong voice and enough strong characterization to keep the reader engaged. Just be warned that this is not some action-packed story with Dragons and battles. There is a battle near the end of the story, but the story focuses on growing Ileth, growing into her role, and proving to everyone that she can be a strong dragon apprentice.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Daughter of the Serpentine is the second novel in the Dragoneer Academy, continuing Ileth’s journey as an apprentice dragoneer.
Character-Driven Story
Much like with Novice Dragoneer, Daughter of the Serpentine is a character-driven story. This means that while not a fast-paced story, it is still made engaging by the characters.
The story continues to follow Ileth as she continues her dragoneer apprenticeship. It is a good story that focuses on the characters and their dynamics. Daughter of the Serpentine is not a fast-paced novel, but it is also not a slow-paced novel either. Much like with Novice Dragoneer, reading Daughter of the Serpentine is like taking a leisurely jog. There are moments where the pace quickens near the end of the novel, making those scenes some of the more engaging scenes. However, what continues to give this novel substance is the characterization.
It is very engaging to see Ileth continue to shine throughout this story. Knight strives to make the characterization engaging, and he succeeds because of how Ileth shines and grows. Ileth still has a stutter, which can sometimes be debilitating for her, but what is remarkable is how she continues to prove herself to her comrades how clever and resilient she is. So this makes the story incredibly engaging as far as the narrative goes. Knight showcases the respect she has earned, how the opinions of others change around her. What is more, is how Knight highlights the equality she gains from the Dragons.
The fact that the Dragons give Ileth’s more consideration than they do other humans shows that they respect her more than they do other humans. It creates a strong connection between Ileth and the Dragons, foreshadowing how highly she will rise through the ranks of the series. Ileth honors these Dragons; she treats them as equals and with reverence. This also highlights how different she is from her comrades. Most of her fellow apprentices joined for a title and nothing more, and the Dragons know that. For Ileth, it was her love of Dragons, her admiration of them and Dragoneer’s that drove her forward. It gives Ileth more depth and connects her to the reader, seeing how loyal, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful she is.
Storytelling
As well as the storytelling goes, it is very intricate. Daughter of the Serpentine is a coming-of-age story that focuses on the coming of age aspect of Ileth’s journey as a dragoneer. However, once again, it is rather long. There is nothing wrong with a story being almost 500 pages; the only issue here is that the chapters run long. Given the politics going into the novel, the long chapters do not give the reader a moment to breathe and absorb the information given to them.
The story’s pacing is not an issue, but it would have benefited the story much more if the author had decided to break up these chapters to give the reader a moment to breathe in and absorb all the information. Because there is much information going on in the story, there are many intricacies regarding politics and social upheaval. Knight is still building up the world for the reader, which is not a bad thing but with a character-driven story that is not fast-paced, it does run the risk of becoming tedious just because the reader isn’t having a moment to breathe.
Final Thoughts
Daughter of the Serpentine is not a fast-paced story, but it is still very engaging. It has a strong voice and enough strong characterization to keep the reader engaged. Just be warned that this is not some action-packed story with Dragons and battles. There is a battle near the end of the story, but the story focuses on growing Ileth, growing into her role, and proving to everyone that she can be a strong dragon apprentice.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
September 28, 2020
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
Daughter of the Serpentine is the follow-up to The Novice Dragoneer , one of my favorite books of this year. There is something uniquely comforting about this series—it wraps you in its magical atmosphere like a warm blanket. Even though I didn’t quite love Daughter of the Serpentine as much as its predecessor, I really love this series and ardently adore main character Ileth, her fight to overcome her station and stutter, and her journey to becoming a fully fledged Dragoneer.
My favorite parts of Daughter of the Serpentine are the parts where Ileth trains as an apprentice at the Serpentine. I love her relationship with her fellow trainees, and even those ranked above her. Something about her life in the Serpentine feels magical, akin to when I was a young girl reading The Song of the Lioness series. Author E.E. Knight makes it feel like anyone could train alongside Ileth, and with hard work, could also become a Dragoneer.
Especially interesting to me is that author E.E. Knight uses Ileth’s upbringing in a Lodge (basically a working orphanage) and her stutter to highlight the difference class, sex, and great Names make in actually achieving one’s goals. Ileth is discouraged by practically everyone with a mouth from her goal of becoming a Dragoneer due to her lack of a great Name, sex, and poor upbringing. She is encouraged to remain among the dragon dancers and to give up on her dreams. But she never lets this deter her, which I love. Poor Ileth doesn’t even have the money to buy herself an apprentice sash, and no one is going to give it to her. When her position as an apprentice dragoneer is threatened as a result, Ileth finds another—less legal—solution, and immediately owns up to it. This situation demonstrates everything I love about Ileth—she unabashedly makes the most out of what she has and makes no apologies for it—and her fierceness in a nutshell.
Ileth doesn’t shy away from working as dragon dancer and simultaneously training as an apprentice. She’s physically exhausted from the demands of this lifestyle, but works harder than all of her counterparts combined. I love when she got paired up with the most notorious teacher of the Serpentine, dubbed The Horse. This teacher really puts her and all of the trainees through the paces, but also comes to recognize Ileth’s unique strengths. Every time Ileth brings someone around to recognize her determination and character strength, my heart sings right along with hers.
To Ileth’s dismay and my own, she spends a good portion of Daughter of the Serpentine away from the Serpentine, which is probably the main reason I didn’t like this novel quite as much. As much as I love Ileth, I love her relationship and interactions with the dragons, fellow trainees, and instructors the most. Despite this lack of dragon time, Ileth’s time away further highlights the class disparities in a pretty hilarious way, reveals more about Ileth’s mysterious past, and even finds Ileth receiving the deserving attention of a young man. It is entertaining to see Ileth in such a different situation and gives me a bit of Jane Austen vibes. Plus, Santeel Dun Toot, Ileth’s high class friend with a great Name, gets involved and that girl is a veritable riot. To top it off, this sidequest, for lack of a better word, all leads up to an epic dragon battle with pirates, so I really can’t complain.
This battle with the pirates is Ileth’s first experience of war. Author E.E. Knight does a great job of depicting the harsh realities of battle without being overly gruesome or gory. Instead, the grim reality of death and destruction is dealt with in matter-of-fact way that is authentic. Daughter of the Serpentine skillfully and easily demonstrates how each person, and dragon, is affected by the war in different ways. Even unwavering Ileth is given pause by the the actual fight and the business-like approach to death and destruction, but of course, finds her mettle.
In the midst of this battle with pirates, particularly thrilling to me is Ileth’s relationship with Aurue. Aurue, a young scaleless dragon, is like Ileth, a bit of an oddball. I love their kindred spirits and I can't help but to hope that will one day be Ileth’s dragon. It is hard not to be impatient for Ileth to become a fully-fledged Dragoneer because I feel she deserves it so much, but I am enjoying every bit of her journey to her lifelong dream becoming true. Even more so, I love this adventure of Ileth overcoming all obstacles through sheer force of will and watching the people around her come to realize and to appreciate her strength of character and greatness.
If you enjoyed The Novice Dragoneer , love strong heroines or dragon riding stories, do not hesitate to pick up Daughter of the Serpentine. I can't wait to read future entries in the series.
*All quotes are taken from an ARC and are subject to change.
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Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
Daughter of the Serpentine is the follow-up to The Novice Dragoneer , one of my favorite books of this year. There is something uniquely comforting about this series—it wraps you in its magical atmosphere like a warm blanket. Even though I didn’t quite love Daughter of the Serpentine as much as its predecessor, I really love this series and ardently adore main character Ileth, her fight to overcome her station and stutter, and her journey to becoming a fully fledged Dragoneer.
My favorite parts of Daughter of the Serpentine are the parts where Ileth trains as an apprentice at the Serpentine. I love her relationship with her fellow trainees, and even those ranked above her. Something about her life in the Serpentine feels magical, akin to when I was a young girl reading The Song of the Lioness series. Author E.E. Knight makes it feel like anyone could train alongside Ileth, and with hard work, could also become a Dragoneer.
“There are two basic sorts of people. Those who try to change their situation for the better, and those who look around and seek out villains to explain life’s many, many disappointments and spend the rest of their life crying on the proverbial stump assigning blame. I believe very strongly you are the first type, rare in your sex and rarer still at your age.”*
Especially interesting to me is that author E.E. Knight uses Ileth’s upbringing in a Lodge (basically a working orphanage) and her stutter to highlight the difference class, sex, and great Names make in actually achieving one’s goals. Ileth is discouraged by practically everyone with a mouth from her goal of becoming a Dragoneer due to her lack of a great Name, sex, and poor upbringing. She is encouraged to remain among the dragon dancers and to give up on her dreams. But she never lets this deter her, which I love. Poor Ileth doesn’t even have the money to buy herself an apprentice sash, and no one is going to give it to her. When her position as an apprentice dragoneer is threatened as a result, Ileth finds another—less legal—solution, and immediately owns up to it. This situation demonstrates everything I love about Ileth—she unabashedly makes the most out of what she has and makes no apologies for it—and her fierceness in a nutshell.
Ileth doesn’t shy away from working as dragon dancer and simultaneously training as an apprentice. She’s physically exhausted from the demands of this lifestyle, but works harder than all of her counterparts combined. I love when she got paired up with the most notorious teacher of the Serpentine, dubbed The Horse. This teacher really puts her and all of the trainees through the paces, but also comes to recognize Ileth’s unique strengths. Every time Ileth brings someone around to recognize her determination and character strength, my heart sings right along with hers.
To Ileth’s dismay and my own, she spends a good portion of Daughter of the Serpentine away from the Serpentine, which is probably the main reason I didn’t like this novel quite as much. As much as I love Ileth, I love her relationship and interactions with the dragons, fellow trainees, and instructors the most. Despite this lack of dragon time, Ileth’s time away further highlights the class disparities in a pretty hilarious way, reveals more about Ileth’s mysterious past, and even finds Ileth receiving the deserving attention of a young man. It is entertaining to see Ileth in such a different situation and gives me a bit of Jane Austen vibes. Plus, Santeel Dun Toot, Ileth’s high class friend with a great Name, gets involved and that girl is a veritable riot. To top it off, this sidequest, for lack of a better word, all leads up to an epic dragon battle with pirates, so I really can’t complain.
“'From the Serpentine’s perspective, it could hardly have gone better,' Dun Huss said. ‘Not a single dragon lost or crippled.' Ileth didn’t know if it was usually to speak only in terms of the dragons. She’d seen, now, the Academy’s method ensuring that a lost dragoneer could be replaced quickly.”*
This battle with the pirates is Ileth’s first experience of war. Author E.E. Knight does a great job of depicting the harsh realities of battle without being overly gruesome or gory. Instead, the grim reality of death and destruction is dealt with in matter-of-fact way that is authentic. Daughter of the Serpentine skillfully and easily demonstrates how each person, and dragon, is affected by the war in different ways. Even unwavering Ileth is given pause by the the actual fight and the business-like approach to death and destruction, but of course, finds her mettle.
"You'll understand, some day. You're the future of the Serpentine. I'd like to leave it, as we all must, in the right hands. With the right ideals."*
In the midst of this battle with pirates, particularly thrilling to me is Ileth’s relationship with Aurue. Aurue, a young scaleless dragon, is like Ileth, a bit of an oddball. I love their kindred spirits and I can't help but to hope that will one day be Ileth’s dragon. It is hard not to be impatient for Ileth to become a fully-fledged Dragoneer because I feel she deserves it so much, but I am enjoying every bit of her journey to her lifelong dream becoming true. Even more so, I love this adventure of Ileth overcoming all obstacles through sheer force of will and watching the people around her come to realize and to appreciate her strength of character and greatness.
If you enjoyed The Novice Dragoneer , love strong heroines or dragon riding stories, do not hesitate to pick up Daughter of the Serpentine. I can't wait to read future entries in the series.
*All quotes are taken from an ARC and are subject to change.
Bloggingwithdragons.com
My Book Review Policy
Connect with Me:
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March 3, 2021
Very saggy middle but the ending makes it worth it.
June 10, 2023
The author did better in this book with actually tying in some things throughout the book, but I was still mostly bored until halfway through. BUT THEN I GOT MAD because the characters he brought in that brought interest to the story and actually made the main character feel something got killed off!
So much potential in this book, but once again lacking cohesive story and good emotional connection to the characters. So many moments seem pointless.
The only reason I made it through this second book is that the author is pretty good at world building and I’m a sucker for books about dragons/dragon riders.
So much potential in this book, but once again lacking cohesive story and good emotional connection to the characters. So many moments seem pointless.
The only reason I made it through this second book is that the author is pretty good at world building and I’m a sucker for books about dragons/dragon riders.
August 8, 2022
Daughter of the Serpentine by E. E. Knight: Engaging Characters
As a young dragoneer moves through the ranks of the prestigious Serpentine Academy, her challenges grow greater and her time grows short to draw out a series of deadly threats, in this thrilling coming-of-age fantasy novel.
Sixteen-year-old Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, with all of the benefits and pitfalls that her elevation in rank entails. But her advancement becomes less certain after she's attacked by an unknown enemy, and Ileth begins to suspect that someone deadly may be hiding within the walls of the academy.
Outside of the walls there is a different challenge. The Rari Pirates are strangling the Vale Republic. What they lack in dragon firepower, they make up for in the brutality of their ever-expanding raids, making hostages or slaves of the Republic’s citizens. Surrounded by enemies, Ileth will need to learn what kind of dragoneer she wants to be. And as she makes decisions about her future, Ileth will have the chance to uncover the secrets of her past. Both will irrevocably change the course of her life.
I read the first novel in the series and truly enjoyed the main character Ileth along with those who aided her within the Academy. I wondered if the second novel would maintain the same pace and energy of the first book. Thankfully, the sequel is as satisfying and interesting as the first. Truthfully, I find the growth in Ileth one of the most engaging transformations of a character as she learns new skills and while always manages to be both smart and strong in spirit, she is never flat or boring as she comes more into her strengths and continues on her path as a Dragoneer. She is never perfect but she is always engaging.
While the secondary characters don’t have as much growth, they are placed in critical points in the story to help Ileth in her narrative or aid her in learning more about herself. They are never two dimensional, and not everyone acts as expected. And while the narrative does revolve around Ileth and her past, as we learn more about her mother and her origins, we also learn more about the world she lives in and the dragons themselves. The worldbuilding in the novel is detailed and gives the reader a very real sense of the life Ileth leads, both now as a Dragoneer and in her past.
Not every second novel maintains the same pace and energy of a first novel but E.E. Knight manages that feat with ease as he introduces new elements in Ileth’s change to Apprentice Dragoneer and new challenges. There is just enough blend of worldbuilding and action to keep the pace energetic and kept me engaged in the story. The dialogue and action together provided me with new information about the characters and the world without dragging the story down with endless details.
If you like dragons and fantasy with a diverse character that has unusual talents, this story is for you. I would recommend reading the first novel first as it helps but if you want to jump into the 2nd novel, it does provide enough details of the previous book to help a reader follow the story. As a reader, I loved this book and recommend it as a solid, engaging and strong second book in the series. I can’t wait to read the next.
Rating: 5 out of 5 dragons
As a young dragoneer moves through the ranks of the prestigious Serpentine Academy, her challenges grow greater and her time grows short to draw out a series of deadly threats, in this thrilling coming-of-age fantasy novel.
Sixteen-year-old Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, with all of the benefits and pitfalls that her elevation in rank entails. But her advancement becomes less certain after she's attacked by an unknown enemy, and Ileth begins to suspect that someone deadly may be hiding within the walls of the academy.
Outside of the walls there is a different challenge. The Rari Pirates are strangling the Vale Republic. What they lack in dragon firepower, they make up for in the brutality of their ever-expanding raids, making hostages or slaves of the Republic’s citizens. Surrounded by enemies, Ileth will need to learn what kind of dragoneer she wants to be. And as she makes decisions about her future, Ileth will have the chance to uncover the secrets of her past. Both will irrevocably change the course of her life.
I read the first novel in the series and truly enjoyed the main character Ileth along with those who aided her within the Academy. I wondered if the second novel would maintain the same pace and energy of the first book. Thankfully, the sequel is as satisfying and interesting as the first. Truthfully, I find the growth in Ileth one of the most engaging transformations of a character as she learns new skills and while always manages to be both smart and strong in spirit, she is never flat or boring as she comes more into her strengths and continues on her path as a Dragoneer. She is never perfect but she is always engaging.
While the secondary characters don’t have as much growth, they are placed in critical points in the story to help Ileth in her narrative or aid her in learning more about herself. They are never two dimensional, and not everyone acts as expected. And while the narrative does revolve around Ileth and her past, as we learn more about her mother and her origins, we also learn more about the world she lives in and the dragons themselves. The worldbuilding in the novel is detailed and gives the reader a very real sense of the life Ileth leads, both now as a Dragoneer and in her past.
Not every second novel maintains the same pace and energy of a first novel but E.E. Knight manages that feat with ease as he introduces new elements in Ileth’s change to Apprentice Dragoneer and new challenges. There is just enough blend of worldbuilding and action to keep the pace energetic and kept me engaged in the story. The dialogue and action together provided me with new information about the characters and the world without dragging the story down with endless details.
If you like dragons and fantasy with a diverse character that has unusual talents, this story is for you. I would recommend reading the first novel first as it helps but if you want to jump into the 2nd novel, it does provide enough details of the previous book to help a reader follow the story. As a reader, I loved this book and recommend it as a solid, engaging and strong second book in the series. I can’t wait to read the next.
Rating: 5 out of 5 dragons
May 15, 2023
This one is more of a 3.5 stars for me, but on Goodreads, I'd say it rounds up to 3 stars. It wasn't a bad book by any stretch, it just didn't have what I was hoping at the end book 1 that it would have - more dragons.
Admittedly, there were some, and Aurue was a lot more prominent in this book compared to book 1 (also a very lovely character, in line with his very famous grandsire from Age of Fire), but it still felt like it was not enough. Book 1 had the Lodger, who was super interesting to read about besides his immense importance to the story universe. Although, the ending of the book does describe one specific dragon, with several very specific injuries that left me feeling both extremely giddy and very eager to read the follow up book (whenever it releases). Of course, apart from the dragons, Ileth herself was great, she still remains a strong lead and it's nice seeing her grow, bit by bit.
As for the plot... it was good. Very slow, much slower than the first book, but decently varied with some good action at the end. It didn't blow me away, but it was decently interesting to read, if a bit difficult at times, because I found it easy to forget what happened earlier the book due to how slow the pacing was.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as book 1, but that's mostly because book 1 had one fantastic character who had me going head over heels in interest over him, but this was still an enjoyable read. Here's hoping that Knight manages to release book 3 at some point in the future, because I'm definitely gonna be reading that once it does.
Admittedly, there were some, and Aurue was a lot more prominent in this book compared to book 1 (also a very lovely character, in line with his very famous grandsire from Age of Fire), but it still felt like it was not enough. Book 1 had the Lodger, who was super interesting to read about besides his immense importance to the story universe. Although, the ending of the book does describe one specific dragon, with several very specific injuries that left me feeling both extremely giddy and very eager to read the follow up book (whenever it releases). Of course, apart from the dragons, Ileth herself was great, she still remains a strong lead and it's nice seeing her grow, bit by bit.
As for the plot... it was good. Very slow, much slower than the first book, but decently varied with some good action at the end. It didn't blow me away, but it was decently interesting to read, if a bit difficult at times, because I found it easy to forget what happened earlier the book due to how slow the pacing was.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as book 1, but that's mostly because book 1 had one fantastic character who had me going head over heels in interest over him, but this was still an enjoyable read. Here's hoping that Knight manages to release book 3 at some point in the future, because I'm definitely gonna be reading that once it does.
April 1, 2021
Another great adventure! My only misgiving is that since I listened to this as an audiobook, I kept mixing the dragons with each other. Other than that, another great instalment in the series.
I find this series refreshing. The characters aren’t all the same, but they each have different personalities, both humans and dragons alike.
The story has an actual plot that doesn’t hang on the main character’s love life for once and it’s actually believable within the realm of the story.
And the characters’ have values. As in they at least acknowledge the rights and the wrongs. Sure, the grey area is often the most intriguing of things, but here the spectrum is given proper ends of black and white, too. As in I don’t recall anything completely asinine explained away by some “oh but the character is morally complex” when in reality it was just bad writing. Not here.
Anyway, I liked following Ileth around the Serpentine, laughed at the banter of her dragoneers and enjoyed her way of dealing with things. Now, if only there were a third instalment at hand. But as it is, I’m hoping there’ll be one in the future.
Thank you for another fine read, E.E. Knight!
I find this series refreshing. The characters aren’t all the same, but they each have different personalities, both humans and dragons alike.
The story has an actual plot that doesn’t hang on the main character’s love life for once and it’s actually believable within the realm of the story.
And the characters’ have values. As in they at least acknowledge the rights and the wrongs. Sure, the grey area is often the most intriguing of things, but here the spectrum is given proper ends of black and white, too. As in I don’t recall anything completely asinine explained away by some “oh but the character is morally complex” when in reality it was just bad writing. Not here.
Anyway, I liked following Ileth around the Serpentine, laughed at the banter of her dragoneers and enjoyed her way of dealing with things. Now, if only there were a third instalment at hand. But as it is, I’m hoping there’ll be one in the future.
Thank you for another fine read, E.E. Knight!
May 5, 2021
Apologies Mr Knight but I really struggled with this one. The worldbuilding sustained me til the end because I absolutely love the way the author describes Ileth's world so effortlessly. My criticisms boil down to Ileth's character and the storyline. Ileth does not feel realistic enough for me, or rather, I struggle to like her actually. And the plot dragged on and on, it was very hard to remain interested!
August 11, 2021
I recommended this. A new take on the "supernatural school" genre with a likable protaganist. Fingers cross for a continuation of the series!
September 20, 2021
I think this is a well-thought out series and has a lot of emotional depth and some wonderful characters. I liked the second book even more than the first as everyone has grown on me even more.
October 31, 2020
I loved this book just like the first book, a lot happened, we learned more, and it was a really great read! Can't wait to read more!
August 14, 2021
3.5 stars if I could give it.
Really torn because the author has a tendency to make some parts of these books slow. Not just the pacing but the content is just a bit dry. But then later on, you realize that somewhere mixed in there were clues to how the future would turn out. Drives me crazy.
Really torn because the author has a tendency to make some parts of these books slow. Not just the pacing but the content is just a bit dry. But then later on, you realize that somewhere mixed in there were clues to how the future would turn out. Drives me crazy.
November 8, 2025
Looser plotwise than the first, which itself wasn't tight, but enjoyable nonetheless.
November 19, 2020
It was wonderful. I laughed often. I couldn't put it down. I'm already aching for the next one. I love these characters, I love this world, and many of my grievances from the first are resolved (namely, Ileth now has female friends and is less catty in general).
I would have given it five stars were it not for the fact that I can't quite decide if I'm being queerbaited or not. Santeel and Ileth continue to dance on the hairs breadth between best friends and romantic interests. I don't know if I'm reading too much into the relationship, and if I'm not, I don't know if there's any chance of this ship sailing given the lack of other queer characters and regularity of gender essentialism. If one day, they fall in love I will ammend my score. (Though if one day I decide I am being baited, I will reflect that also.)
I would have given it five stars were it not for the fact that I can't quite decide if I'm being queerbaited or not. Santeel and Ileth continue to dance on the hairs breadth between best friends and romantic interests. I don't know if I'm reading too much into the relationship, and if I'm not, I don't know if there's any chance of this ship sailing given the lack of other queer characters and regularity of gender essentialism. If one day, they fall in love I will ammend my score. (Though if one day I decide I am being baited, I will reflect that also.)
May 30, 2021
3.5
Reader thoughts: It started feeling like much of Ileth's accomplishments are luck rather than skill or hard work. She DOES work hard, and she IS good at what she does, but that doesn't seem to lead to her successes as much as just being in the right place at the right time or having befriended the one dragon that matters. If she purposefully went around befriending dragons because she liked them better than people and wanted to learn their language, that would be one thing. But, no, she only knows a few, and those few are the ones that get her promoted.
I did like her cleverness in the battle when she I think that may have impressed the dragon too.
I loved that Ileth doesn't lie and hide her wrongdoings. She twice owned up to breaking the law when other characters I read about never would have (and I don't know which I'd do, be silent or speak up). Once, Ileth steals a sash so that she won't get kicked out and then immediately tells her superior (who had insulted her and stolen the sash she had taken from the trash).
The second time, I was really worried she would try to hide her theft, but she instead, again, went straight to her superior. Phew. A book I read recently had a lady NOT confess when she found out that what she was doing was wrong, and I was rather annoyed with her.
I liked that Ileth gets help from people when she doesn't know what she's doing. She goes to the one apprentice for help with her handwriting when she needs to turn in a formal report. She goes to the library to figure how formal reports are written. She is always asking questions about how something is done and what is allowed/expected. She's like me, that way. I ask a lot of questions. How else are you supposed to learn?
Despite all that, I still felt like I didn't quite understand how the Serpentine worked. Which taxes pay for all the staff and supplies? How does the hierarchy work, and where do dragons fall on that scale? (Haha, scale, I made a pun.) The Serpentine leaders were worried about the governor causing trouble, and they were worried about some pirates, and they also have to please the dragons ... but how much do they have to please the common people? I don't even think I know the right questions to ask here. I just know I was still confused about some things.
I also wonder what the time frame of this book is compared with Dragon Champion. I think I have enough clues to figure it out, but I didn't skip back to relisten to those hints. I don't like relistening to sections.
I got a bit bored where she was staying with the governor. I lost track of people and names and wasn't sure what she was accomplishing. I think Ileth felt the same way, though.
Writer thoughts: Ileth was determined. How did Knight show this? One way is how often characters told her that she would never be a full dragoneer. They told her the odds (6 out of several hundred). They told her she was good at being a dancer. They told her she didn't have enough money/training/education/etc to be a good dragoneer. All of this discouragement didn't phase Ileth, and that is one way to show the reader that she is determined and has her mind set on being a dragoneer. If nothing ever got in her way, readers wouldn't know what lengths she would go to to become a dragoneer.
Reader thoughts: It started feeling like much of Ileth's accomplishments are luck rather than skill or hard work. She DOES work hard, and she IS good at what she does, but that doesn't seem to lead to her successes as much as just being in the right place at the right time or having befriended the one dragon that matters. If she purposefully went around befriending dragons because she liked them better than people and wanted to learn their language, that would be one thing. But, no, she only knows a few, and those few are the ones that get her promoted.
I did like her cleverness in the battle when she I think that may have impressed the dragon too.
I loved that Ileth doesn't lie and hide her wrongdoings. She twice owned up to breaking the law when other characters I read about never would have (and I don't know which I'd do, be silent or speak up). Once, Ileth steals a sash so that she won't get kicked out and then immediately tells her superior (who had insulted her and stolen the sash she had taken from the trash).
The second time, I was really worried she would try to hide her theft, but she instead, again, went straight to her superior. Phew. A book I read recently had a lady NOT confess when she found out that what she was doing was wrong, and I was rather annoyed with her.
I liked that Ileth gets help from people when she doesn't know what she's doing. She goes to the one apprentice for help with her handwriting when she needs to turn in a formal report. She goes to the library to figure how formal reports are written. She is always asking questions about how something is done and what is allowed/expected. She's like me, that way. I ask a lot of questions. How else are you supposed to learn?
Despite all that, I still felt like I didn't quite understand how the Serpentine worked. Which taxes pay for all the staff and supplies? How does the hierarchy work, and where do dragons fall on that scale? (Haha, scale, I made a pun.) The Serpentine leaders were worried about the governor causing trouble, and they were worried about some pirates, and they also have to please the dragons ... but how much do they have to please the common people? I don't even think I know the right questions to ask here. I just know I was still confused about some things.
I also wonder what the time frame of this book is compared with Dragon Champion. I think I have enough clues to figure it out, but I didn't skip back to relisten to those hints. I don't like relistening to sections.
I got a bit bored where she was staying with the governor. I lost track of people and names and wasn't sure what she was accomplishing. I think Ileth felt the same way, though.
Writer thoughts: Ileth was determined. How did Knight show this? One way is how often characters told her that she would never be a full dragoneer. They told her the odds (6 out of several hundred). They told her she was good at being a dancer. They told her she didn't have enough money/training/education/etc to be a good dragoneer. All of this discouragement didn't phase Ileth, and that is one way to show the reader that she is determined and has her mind set on being a dragoneer. If nothing ever got in her way, readers wouldn't know what lengths she would go to to become a dragoneer.
November 21, 2020
Content warnings:
These books have absolutely gorgeous covers, and I love this one even more than Novice Dragoneer. I very much enjoyed the first book, so I was unbelievably excited to read an advanced copy of this one. And, wow, it was not a disappointment – it’s even better than the first. As this is the second in a series, I would not recommend this as a standalone.
Now sixteen, Ileth is an apprentice dragoneer, and the last member of her class of novices to advance. That’s not entirely her fault (courtesy of her stay as a war prisoner in the Galantine Empire, among other things) but it’s certainly making her life harder, from trying to find an apprentice sash to convincing the new Master of Apprentices that she wants to be in the Guards. Things go even more off-plan when a reconnaissance trip to the north with everyone’s favorite trio of dragoneers leads to startling revelations about Ileth’s past – revelations that may take her away from the Academy just when she’s needed the most.
This book roughly covers a year in Ileth’s life. Ileth at sixteen is a bit more world-wise than the girl who ran away to the Academy, and she does a lot more growing in this book due to both positive and negative events. Ileth still has a core of honor that drives all her decisions, but she’s also learning how to look critically at the world around her, including evaluating how the realities of the Republic don’t necessarily live up to its ideals. Everyone around her tells her to settle for being a dragon dancer until she can’t dance anymore, but Ileth’s dream is to be a dragoneer, even if her poor education, lack of a family name, and gender make it harder for her. Because of this, she’s also more skilled at getting those around her to live up to her idea of honor. I loved how Ileth never took the easy path instead of the right path. It’s so much fun to root for the underdog.
Unlike the previous book, where the core of the plot was Ileth finding her place at the Academy through various trials, this one has more of an overarching external plot line – someone at the Academy means Ileth harm. It still meanders in and out with a lot of the mundane workings of the Academy that I loved, including a long section where Ileth is trying to find a piece of white cloth to make an apprentice sash. Being the last of her class means that the usual ways to scrounge one up have all been used, so she ends up solving the problem in true Ileth fashion, 25% creative thinking and 75% sheer chutzpah. On top of the daily life of an apprentice bits, there’s a lot more action in this book, including several scenes of fighting on dragonback. Aurue, the scaleless dragon introduced in the first book, has a larger part in this book, though we also get to see other characters like Santeel Dun Troot (who is absolutely hilarious in a few scenes) and Dun Huss, Dath Amrits and the Borderlander. Some of the secrets around Ileth’s parentage are revealed, but those answers also bring up even more questions. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Overall, I thought this entry lived up to the first book, and I’m very much looking forward to reading Ileth’s next adventure!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
These books have absolutely gorgeous covers, and I love this one even more than Novice Dragoneer. I very much enjoyed the first book, so I was unbelievably excited to read an advanced copy of this one. And, wow, it was not a disappointment – it’s even better than the first. As this is the second in a series, I would not recommend this as a standalone.
“Through endless toil, people kept the dragons alive and the dragons kept the Republic alive.”
Now sixteen, Ileth is an apprentice dragoneer, and the last member of her class of novices to advance. That’s not entirely her fault (courtesy of her stay as a war prisoner in the Galantine Empire, among other things) but it’s certainly making her life harder, from trying to find an apprentice sash to convincing the new Master of Apprentices that she wants to be in the Guards. Things go even more off-plan when a reconnaissance trip to the north with everyone’s favorite trio of dragoneers leads to startling revelations about Ileth’s past – revelations that may take her away from the Academy just when she’s needed the most.
“There are two basic sorts of people. Those who try to change their situation for the better, and those who look around and seek out villains to explain life’s many, many disappointments and spend the rest of their life crying on the proverbial stump assigning blame.”
This book roughly covers a year in Ileth’s life. Ileth at sixteen is a bit more world-wise than the girl who ran away to the Academy, and she does a lot more growing in this book due to both positive and negative events. Ileth still has a core of honor that drives all her decisions, but she’s also learning how to look critically at the world around her, including evaluating how the realities of the Republic don’t necessarily live up to its ideals. Everyone around her tells her to settle for being a dragon dancer until she can’t dance anymore, but Ileth’s dream is to be a dragoneer, even if her poor education, lack of a family name, and gender make it harder for her. Because of this, she’s also more skilled at getting those around her to live up to her idea of honor. I loved how Ileth never took the easy path instead of the right path. It’s so much fun to root for the underdog.
“She dreamed of doing something that would be written about in a book someday, be talked about after she was dead, even if her part in it was forgotten with her name.”
Unlike the previous book, where the core of the plot was Ileth finding her place at the Academy through various trials, this one has more of an overarching external plot line – someone at the Academy means Ileth harm. It still meanders in and out with a lot of the mundane workings of the Academy that I loved, including a long section where Ileth is trying to find a piece of white cloth to make an apprentice sash. Being the last of her class means that the usual ways to scrounge one up have all been used, so she ends up solving the problem in true Ileth fashion, 25% creative thinking and 75% sheer chutzpah. On top of the daily life of an apprentice bits, there’s a lot more action in this book, including several scenes of fighting on dragonback. Aurue, the scaleless dragon introduced in the first book, has a larger part in this book, though we also get to see other characters like Santeel Dun Troot (who is absolutely hilarious in a few scenes) and Dun Huss, Dath Amrits and the Borderlander. Some of the secrets around Ileth’s parentage are revealed, but those answers also bring up even more questions. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Overall, I thought this entry lived up to the first book, and I’m very much looking forward to reading Ileth’s next adventure!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 3, 2021
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Daughter of the Serpentine is the second Dragoneer Academy novel by E.E. Knight. Released 17th Nov 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint, it's 512 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
I've always loved epic character driven fantasy. This is an excellent and very well written addition to the genre. Despite being the second in a series, it worked very well as a standalone novel. The author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without info dumping or spoon feeding his audience. Protagonist Ileth is loyal, intelligent, and brave and despite being patronless, previously uneducated, and from a poor background, she shows she's willing to work for advancement without sacrificing her moral code to achieve her goals.
Although ostensibly written mostly for the YA/NA audience, I found the narrative enjoyable and very readable and engaging (despite being neither young nor new myself). The technical detail of the writing itself is well controlled and exactingly constructed - the plot moves along at a very good pace and the plot never dragged or lost my interest. The author is clearly adept at his craft.
This is a wide ranging novel with a large cast of characters. The author has included a list of dramatis personae at the end of the book (though I didn't find myself needing to consult it).
I read this in the middle of a pandemic. As a healthcare worker, I have faced many long and unpleasant days trying to perform a challenging job under trying circumstances. Reading has been a sanity saver for me (and many of my colleagues). Epic fantasy in my particular case has been a lifeline and a relaxation from a very demanding daily routine. I devoured this book. It could partially be "right book at the right time" but I truly enjoyed this one and fully intend to go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible.
Five stars. This would make a superlative selection for lovers of fantasy, dragons, strong female character driven coming-of-age fiction, etc. Looking forward to more from this very accomplished author.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Daughter of the Serpentine is the second Dragoneer Academy novel by E.E. Knight. Released 17th Nov 2020 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint, it's 512 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
I've always loved epic character driven fantasy. This is an excellent and very well written addition to the genre. Despite being the second in a series, it worked very well as a standalone novel. The author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without info dumping or spoon feeding his audience. Protagonist Ileth is loyal, intelligent, and brave and despite being patronless, previously uneducated, and from a poor background, she shows she's willing to work for advancement without sacrificing her moral code to achieve her goals.
Although ostensibly written mostly for the YA/NA audience, I found the narrative enjoyable and very readable and engaging (despite being neither young nor new myself). The technical detail of the writing itself is well controlled and exactingly constructed - the plot moves along at a very good pace and the plot never dragged or lost my interest. The author is clearly adept at his craft.
This is a wide ranging novel with a large cast of characters. The author has included a list of dramatis personae at the end of the book (though I didn't find myself needing to consult it).
I read this in the middle of a pandemic. As a healthcare worker, I have faced many long and unpleasant days trying to perform a challenging job under trying circumstances. Reading has been a sanity saver for me (and many of my colleagues). Epic fantasy in my particular case has been a lifeline and a relaxation from a very demanding daily routine. I devoured this book. It could partially be "right book at the right time" but I truly enjoyed this one and fully intend to go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible.
Five stars. This would make a superlative selection for lovers of fantasy, dragons, strong female character driven coming-of-age fiction, etc. Looking forward to more from this very accomplished author.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
April 3, 2021
Engaging Characters
I read the first novel in the series and truly enjoyed the main character Ileth along with those who aided her within the Academy. I wondered if the second novel would maintain the same pace and energy of the first book. Thankfully, the sequel is as satisfying and interesting as the first. Truthfully, I find the growth in Ileth one of the most engaging transformations of a character as she learns new skills and while always manages to be both smart and strong in spirit, she is never flat or boring as she comes more into her strengths and continues on her path as a Dragoneer. She is never perfect but she is always engaging.
While the secondary characters don’t have as much growth, they are placed in critical points in the story to help Ileth in her narrative or aid her in learning more about herself. They are never two dimensional, and not everyone acts as expected. And while the narrative does revolve around Ileth and her past, as we learn more about her mother and her origins, we also learn more about the world she lives in and the dragons themselves. The worldbuilding in the novel is detailed and gives the reader a very real sense of the life Ileth leads, both now as a Dragoneer and in her past.
Not every second novel maintains the same pace and energy of a first novel but E.E. Knight manages that feat with ease as he introduces new elements in Ileth’s change to Apprentice Dragoneer and new challenges. There is just enough blend of worldbuilding and action to keep the pace energetic and kept me engaged in the story. The dialogue and action together provided me with new information about the characters and the world without dragging the story down with endless details.
If you like dragons and fantasy with a diverse character that has unusual talents, this story is for you. I would recommend reading the first novel first as it helps but if you want to jump into the 2nd novel, it does provide enough details of the previous book to help a reader follow the story. As a reader, I loved this book and recommend it as a solid, engaging and strong second book in the series. I can’t wait to read the next.
I read the first novel in the series and truly enjoyed the main character Ileth along with those who aided her within the Academy. I wondered if the second novel would maintain the same pace and energy of the first book. Thankfully, the sequel is as satisfying and interesting as the first. Truthfully, I find the growth in Ileth one of the most engaging transformations of a character as she learns new skills and while always manages to be both smart and strong in spirit, she is never flat or boring as she comes more into her strengths and continues on her path as a Dragoneer. She is never perfect but she is always engaging.
While the secondary characters don’t have as much growth, they are placed in critical points in the story to help Ileth in her narrative or aid her in learning more about herself. They are never two dimensional, and not everyone acts as expected. And while the narrative does revolve around Ileth and her past, as we learn more about her mother and her origins, we also learn more about the world she lives in and the dragons themselves. The worldbuilding in the novel is detailed and gives the reader a very real sense of the life Ileth leads, both now as a Dragoneer and in her past.
Not every second novel maintains the same pace and energy of a first novel but E.E. Knight manages that feat with ease as he introduces new elements in Ileth’s change to Apprentice Dragoneer and new challenges. There is just enough blend of worldbuilding and action to keep the pace energetic and kept me engaged in the story. The dialogue and action together provided me with new information about the characters and the world without dragging the story down with endless details.
If you like dragons and fantasy with a diverse character that has unusual talents, this story is for you. I would recommend reading the first novel first as it helps but if you want to jump into the 2nd novel, it does provide enough details of the previous book to help a reader follow the story. As a reader, I loved this book and recommend it as a solid, engaging and strong second book in the series. I can’t wait to read the next.
November 16, 2020
Daughter of the Serpentine by E.E. Knight is the second book in his fantasy Dragoneer Academy series. Daughter of the Serpentine picks up shortly after the last book left off, and continues to follow our heroine, Ileth’s, journey into this magical world of dragons. Ileth’s earned the respect of her peers in the last book, and is now an apprentice to a dragoneer, which has some pitfalls; she also continues to help with her dancing group.
Ileth finds herself meeting new friends, as well as keeping her old ones. When a request comes from a Lord claiming to be her father, she is forced to leave the academy and spend time with her powerful and wealthy father and his wife, which changes things for her (having grown up poor). But in time, her friend Santeel will visit, and together they work on the father to allow Ileth to return to her training to become a dragoneer.
Ileth continues to be a wonderful heroine, who is smart, savvy, loyal and always willing to go beyond. I loved how she made friends with Aurue, a young Dragon, who befriended her. I hope in future books, perhaps in time she will become his dragoneer. But it was great to follow her journey, meeting new friends and dragons, as well as riding one of the dragons back home. With a war on the horizon, Ileth will have to step up to help, proving how good she has become, even at the age of 17.
Daughter of the Serpentine was an excellent story line, with a wonderful heroine, very good secondary characters, dragons, exciting and action packed. As I had said in my previous review, I thought there was a bit too much details that slowed down the story a bit. I did enjoy the book and look forward to finding out where EE Knight is going to take us in the next book. If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, training, and a wonderful young heroine, I suggest you read this series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Ileth finds herself meeting new friends, as well as keeping her old ones. When a request comes from a Lord claiming to be her father, she is forced to leave the academy and spend time with her powerful and wealthy father and his wife, which changes things for her (having grown up poor). But in time, her friend Santeel will visit, and together they work on the father to allow Ileth to return to her training to become a dragoneer.
Ileth continues to be a wonderful heroine, who is smart, savvy, loyal and always willing to go beyond. I loved how she made friends with Aurue, a young Dragon, who befriended her. I hope in future books, perhaps in time she will become his dragoneer. But it was great to follow her journey, meeting new friends and dragons, as well as riding one of the dragons back home. With a war on the horizon, Ileth will have to step up to help, proving how good she has become, even at the age of 17.
Daughter of the Serpentine was an excellent story line, with a wonderful heroine, very good secondary characters, dragons, exciting and action packed. As I had said in my previous review, I thought there was a bit too much details that slowed down the story a bit. I did enjoy the book and look forward to finding out where EE Knight is going to take us in the next book. If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, training, and a wonderful young heroine, I suggest you read this series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
November 6, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an earc to review! All opinions are my own.
I kept putting this book off until the last minute because I didn’t want to be disappointed if it ended up not being as great as the first book. Although I enjoyed the characters, I just wasn’t feeling the plot as much. It didn’t live up to the first book but I still liked it for the most part.
Ileth is back and is just as determined to become a dragoneer. In this book her role changes a lot since she is no longer a novice. She also doesn’t do as much dancing for the dragons for either. It was nice to see her do other tasks and socialize with more people. We also get to see her more humorous side!
Old and new characters make there way into the plot. The dragons are still there but I also felt they kind of were on the backburner for this book. I missed reading about Ileth and the dragons together. There are still some moments but they are few and far between.
The plot for this book involves a new threat. From the prologue we get a glimpse and it definitely piqued my interest. The thing is, the pacing is on the slower side and it takes awhile for it to pick up. I’m glad I at least enjoyed the characters because otherwise it would have been a bit hard to get through this one.
The ending felt a bit rushed and I didn’t like how most of the newer characters were just there for plot twists. I never grew a connection with them so I didn’t care what happened to them. 🤷♀️
Overall, I liked it but it was still a bit of a letdown. I will still continue on with this series because I would like to see where it goes.
I kept putting this book off until the last minute because I didn’t want to be disappointed if it ended up not being as great as the first book. Although I enjoyed the characters, I just wasn’t feeling the plot as much. It didn’t live up to the first book but I still liked it for the most part.
Ileth is back and is just as determined to become a dragoneer. In this book her role changes a lot since she is no longer a novice. She also doesn’t do as much dancing for the dragons for either. It was nice to see her do other tasks and socialize with more people. We also get to see her more humorous side!
Old and new characters make there way into the plot. The dragons are still there but I also felt they kind of were on the backburner for this book. I missed reading about Ileth and the dragons together. There are still some moments but they are few and far between.
The plot for this book involves a new threat. From the prologue we get a glimpse and it definitely piqued my interest. The thing is, the pacing is on the slower side and it takes awhile for it to pick up. I’m glad I at least enjoyed the characters because otherwise it would have been a bit hard to get through this one.
The ending felt a bit rushed and I didn’t like how most of the newer characters were just there for plot twists. I never grew a connection with them so I didn’t care what happened to them. 🤷♀️
Overall, I liked it but it was still a bit of a letdown. I will still continue on with this series because I would like to see where it goes.
March 1, 2021
'Daughter of the Serpentine' picks up right where 'Novice Dragoneer' left off after Ileth gets promoted to apprentice. Being the last person of her class to make apprentice (largely due to having spent most of the past year away in another land), Ileth is the 'tailer' of her class, meaning there's a fun hazing ritual to go with it. However, things go wrong at the hazing when Ileth gets injured - leading some to believe there is someone in the Serpentine targeting her. Furthermore, after news of Ileth's exploits with the Galantines get out to the governor, he becomes interested in using Ileth for his own means - by claiming her as his long-lost daughter.
Like its predecessor, 'Daughter of the Serpentine' is long, slow-paced, and contains lots of action at the end. The second book delves more deeply into the political maneuverings of this world and explores old and new characters. There are a lot more comic moments here and romance for Ileth (that does not overshadow the plot of the book). Ileth and Santeen's friendship greatly blossoms in the sequel, with Santeen becoming a much more laid-back and fun character.
My only complaint - as was the case in the previous book - was the time Ileth spent away from the Serpentine due to yet more political drama. Although I found the whole father-daughter plot unnecessary, I do look forward to seeing Ileth's background explored more in subsequent books, and will recommend this book to anyone excited to read more about Ileth and her adventures at the Serpentine.
Like its predecessor, 'Daughter of the Serpentine' is long, slow-paced, and contains lots of action at the end. The second book delves more deeply into the political maneuverings of this world and explores old and new characters. There are a lot more comic moments here and romance for Ileth (that does not overshadow the plot of the book). Ileth and Santeen's friendship greatly blossoms in the sequel, with Santeen becoming a much more laid-back and fun character.
My only complaint - as was the case in the previous book - was the time Ileth spent away from the Serpentine due to yet more political drama. Although I found the whole father-daughter plot unnecessary, I do look forward to seeing Ileth's background explored more in subsequent books, and will recommend this book to anyone excited to read more about Ileth and her adventures at the Serpentine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
Adventurous. Fantastical.
Daughter of the Serpentine is book two in the Dragoneer Academy series. Ileth is now an apprentice. She still is proving herself to everyone there. She isn’t afraid to work hard. Her dream is to be a dragoneer with her own dragon. A lot of obstacles are thrown her way, along with political matters. Ileth must make choices and hope she is doing the right thing.
I was excited to read more about Ileth! She is a survivor and I wanted to know what adventures she would find herself on in book two. The pacing of the story is slow. I had to start and stop numerous times. I struggled through most of the beginning of the book. I felt a lot of the scenes and information were more filler than actually advancing the plot and could have been left out. The story picks up around 60% and I am there for it! There is action and dragons! A bit of romance and of course, some sort of betrayal. I find it interesting how Ileth always seems to find herself in certain situations and always ready for adventure. A brave one she is!
As a whole, this book is entertaining and a wonderful follow up to the first book. The book is well written and I love the world building along with the characters. Oh and DRAGONS!! I can’t wait for the next adventure Ileth will have! I give this 4 stars.
Daughter of the Serpentine is book two in the Dragoneer Academy series. Ileth is now an apprentice. She still is proving herself to everyone there. She isn’t afraid to work hard. Her dream is to be a dragoneer with her own dragon. A lot of obstacles are thrown her way, along with political matters. Ileth must make choices and hope she is doing the right thing.
I was excited to read more about Ileth! She is a survivor and I wanted to know what adventures she would find herself on in book two. The pacing of the story is slow. I had to start and stop numerous times. I struggled through most of the beginning of the book. I felt a lot of the scenes and information were more filler than actually advancing the plot and could have been left out. The story picks up around 60% and I am there for it! There is action and dragons! A bit of romance and of course, some sort of betrayal. I find it interesting how Ileth always seems to find herself in certain situations and always ready for adventure. A brave one she is!
As a whole, this book is entertaining and a wonderful follow up to the first book. The book is well written and I love the world building along with the characters. Oh and DRAGONS!! I can’t wait for the next adventure Ileth will have! I give this 4 stars.
October 12, 2025
The covers are the most beautiful things that came out of these books.
Jeez, this guy is blabber. Doesn't he have an editor?
I'm frankly tired of unfairness and humiliation. Can Ileth for the love of god be successful and happy?
Why is Freesand and Captain is still referred to CONSTANTLY. Leave them behind. Maybe mention them when it's relevant. So much useless commentary.
Every time you see a paragraph coming that starts off with The Captain just go right ahead and skip the whole thing.
Sir, are you obsessed with the captain? Be honest here, are you setting yourself up for a Captain spin off or you simply wish he was a main character?
You'll never see men as honorable and noble(in real life or otherwise) as in a male author's fantasy. Boy does he paint them with a delicate brush. And yet somehow nasty sexism is preserved by him. What a man!
I finally figure out why the Captain is on every other page of this book. It's because knighty knight cannot possibly say Ileth had that skill on her own. Every time he brings up her success it is because something that Captain did, that taught her. What a pig this knight.
Jeez, this guy is blabber. Doesn't he have an editor?
I'm frankly tired of unfairness and humiliation. Can Ileth for the love of god be successful and happy?
Why is Freesand and Captain is still referred to CONSTANTLY. Leave them behind. Maybe mention them when it's relevant. So much useless commentary.
Every time you see a paragraph coming that starts off with The Captain just go right ahead and skip the whole thing.
Sir, are you obsessed with the captain? Be honest here, are you setting yourself up for a Captain spin off or you simply wish he was a main character?
You'll never see men as honorable and noble(in real life or otherwise) as in a male author's fantasy. Boy does he paint them with a delicate brush. And yet somehow nasty sexism is preserved by him. What a man!
I finally figure out why the Captain is on every other page of this book. It's because knighty knight cannot possibly say Ileth had that skill on her own. Every time he brings up her success it is because something that Captain did, that taught her. What a pig this knight.
November 21, 2020
Before we get started, in case you are interested, I also reviewed the first book in this series, Novice Dragoneer.
We start this new book where the last one left off. Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, which pretty much means having to do a LOT more work. But since her true love is dragons, she is more than willing to lose sleep and expend vast amounts of energy for their benefit. She really does have an admirable work ethic. I’m worn out just reading about it.
She is a great character, hard working, principled and sincere. She makes mistakes, but it’s easy to see why she has begun to really attract notice and respect from dragoneers and teachers alike. She’s not afraid … ok scratch that … she does have a healthy amount of fear, especially when thrust into battle, but she is ultimately valorous. There is also a certain young dragon who I REALLY hope ends up paired with her in the end. I really love him.
This book has all the same things I loved about the first one. Adventure, dragons with distinct personality, found family, a good cast of characters and enough intrigue to keep the plot moving forward in new and interesting ways.
I am looking forward to the next book. I think this is a trilogy?? Maybe more? I’ll be reading that’s for sure.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley
We start this new book where the last one left off. Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, which pretty much means having to do a LOT more work. But since her true love is dragons, she is more than willing to lose sleep and expend vast amounts of energy for their benefit. She really does have an admirable work ethic. I’m worn out just reading about it.
She is a great character, hard working, principled and sincere. She makes mistakes, but it’s easy to see why she has begun to really attract notice and respect from dragoneers and teachers alike. She’s not afraid … ok scratch that … she does have a healthy amount of fear, especially when thrust into battle, but she is ultimately valorous. There is also a certain young dragon who I REALLY hope ends up paired with her in the end. I really love him.
This book has all the same things I loved about the first one. Adventure, dragons with distinct personality, found family, a good cast of characters and enough intrigue to keep the plot moving forward in new and interesting ways.
I am looking forward to the next book. I think this is a trilogy?? Maybe more? I’ll be reading that’s for sure.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley
February 5, 2021
Not quite as good as the first, but still really fun. I enjoyed this one because Illeth's love for dragons and her determination to do what needs done still shone through and I found it very endearing.
This one focused more on political situations than the previous book which I found fascinating and frustrating (in a good way) at times. Like, Illeth is super poor and couldn't even get cloth for her uniform sash and people kept giving her shit for it (plus all the "yOu caN't Be IN ThE guARds. You'Re a GIRL" crap). It made sense given the context, but I really felt for Illeth during these scenes.
I did knock off a star rating because I felt that there was just a bit too much filler and plot points that, though interesting, were created and never followed up on or were rushed,, like a certain character's drug use, the romance points (which i actually liked!"), and Illeth's parentage.
That being said, I still really liked this book and if there is ever anything else set in this world, I will snatch it up in a heartbeat.
This one focused more on political situations than the previous book which I found fascinating and frustrating (in a good way) at times. Like, Illeth is super poor and couldn't even get cloth for her uniform sash and people kept giving her shit for it (plus all the "yOu caN't Be IN ThE guARds. You'Re a GIRL" crap). It made sense given the context, but I really felt for Illeth during these scenes.
I did knock off a star rating because I felt that there was just a bit too much filler and plot points that, though interesting, were created and never followed up on or were rushed,, like a certain character's drug use, the romance points (which i actually liked!"), and Illeth's parentage.
That being said, I still really liked this book and if there is ever anything else set in this world, I will snatch it up in a heartbeat.
September 1, 2021
So much potential but it ended up being just ok.
There were a lot of things that I liked and it was an action packed book but somehow it felt slow. I blame the endless descriptions of mundane activities. Done in the correct quantity, they make the story feel real but here it was like 50% cleaning dragon waste, describing disgusting food combinations that dragons like to eat and body odor. Ileth is also really dull. She accomplishes amazing feats but is always so nonchalant and matter of fact about them that I ended up not caring about them at all.
The epic battle scene at the end that was supposed to be a tense and exciting part of the book felt flat. The actual battle was scantly described but the camp actions, feeding the dragons, sleeping and body odors got their fair share of descriptions. Why would you waste half a page to say how a guy shit himself so bad that his underwear wasn't even good for rags??(remember, the book is mostly from Ileth's POV).
I'm getting mad just reviewing it and I wish I could knock a star off but it was a pretty ok book, despite it's shortcomings so I won't. But I will not waste my time on a potential third book.
There were a lot of things that I liked and it was an action packed book but somehow it felt slow. I blame the endless descriptions of mundane activities. Done in the correct quantity, they make the story feel real but here it was like 50% cleaning dragon waste, describing disgusting food combinations that dragons like to eat and body odor. Ileth is also really dull. She accomplishes amazing feats but is always so nonchalant and matter of fact about them that I ended up not caring about them at all.
The epic battle scene at the end that was supposed to be a tense and exciting part of the book felt flat. The actual battle was scantly described but the camp actions, feeding the dragons, sleeping and body odors got their fair share of descriptions. Why would you waste half a page to say how a guy shit himself so bad that his underwear wasn't even good for rags??(remember, the book is mostly from Ileth's POV).
I'm getting mad just reviewing it and I wish I could knock a star off but it was a pretty ok book, despite it's shortcomings so I won't. But I will not waste my time on a potential third book.
February 10, 2022
Highly recommended for coming-of-age fantasy dragon school fans and series fans!
We start this new book where the last one left off. Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, which pretty much means having to do a LOT more work. But since her true love is dragons, she is more than willing to lose sleep and expend vast amounts of energy for their benefit. She really does have an admirable work ethic.
She is a great character, hard working, principled and sincere. She makes mistakes, but it’s easy to see why she has begun to really attract notice and respect from dragoneers and teachers alike. This book has all the same things I loved about the first one. Adventure, dragons with distinct personality, found family, a good cast of characters and enough intrigue to keep the plot moving forward in new and interesting ways.
This was a wonderful sequel to a wonderful book. Once I started I read it straight through without stopping. I can hardly wait to see what new adventure and challenges await Ileth in the future books we must have in this series
We start this new book where the last one left off. Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, which pretty much means having to do a LOT more work. But since her true love is dragons, she is more than willing to lose sleep and expend vast amounts of energy for their benefit. She really does have an admirable work ethic.
She is a great character, hard working, principled and sincere. She makes mistakes, but it’s easy to see why she has begun to really attract notice and respect from dragoneers and teachers alike. This book has all the same things I loved about the first one. Adventure, dragons with distinct personality, found family, a good cast of characters and enough intrigue to keep the plot moving forward in new and interesting ways.
This was a wonderful sequel to a wonderful book. Once I started I read it straight through without stopping. I can hardly wait to see what new adventure and challenges await Ileth in the future books we must have in this series
March 6, 2023
Ileth has finally become an apprentice, one step closer to her dream of becoming a real Dragoneer with a dragon of her own. But life is never straightforward for Ileth. As last of her class to become an apprentice she is injured during an initiation ceremony in what appears to be an accident but rumors circulate that it was deliberate. The headmaster of her group of apprentices sets her an interesting task in which she learns more about the female Dragoneer she met as a child who inspired her dream to come to the Academy. She splits her time between her apprentice duties and her duties as a dragon dancer until, surprisingly, a highly placed man claims her as his daughter and removes her from the Serpentine Academy. As war comes to the Republic Ileth faces first love, heartbreaking loss of friends and difficult choices about her future at the Academy.
This was a wonderful sequel to a wonderful book. Once I started I read it straight through without stopping. I can hardly wait to see what new adventure and challenges await Ileth in the future books we must have in this series
This was a wonderful sequel to a wonderful book. Once I started I read it straight through without stopping. I can hardly wait to see what new adventure and challenges await Ileth in the future books we must have in this series
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