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The Dragonspawn Trilogy #1
Dragonspawn
Some secrets are best left buried.
Desiree Black’s foster family welcomed her years ago, but most of the villagers merely tolerate the seventeen-year-old’s presence with barely concealed hatred—and fear. Dez herself can’t stomach remembering the strange power that rose up inside her and left her brother with a shattered arm. The only peace she finds from others’ accusing stares is in the misty swamps surrounding the village. Swamps that have long held mystical secrets.
Secrets that are ready to be exposed.
After a narrow escape from the town bully sends Dez deep into the swamps, she stumbles across a glowing warm stone buried in the muck. Long hidden truths are divulged when a crazy hag rescues her and sets Dez on an extraordinary new course—to become one of the legendary dragon riders.
Now Dez and her dragon hatchling must harness their magical link on the long journey to join the Rebellion—and avoid the enemy closing in on them. But it’s in the heat of battle where Dez discovers the painful reality of her forgotten past.
And exactly why she can’t be trusted.
Desiree Black’s foster family welcomed her years ago, but most of the villagers merely tolerate the seventeen-year-old’s presence with barely concealed hatred—and fear. Dez herself can’t stomach remembering the strange power that rose up inside her and left her brother with a shattered arm. The only peace she finds from others’ accusing stares is in the misty swamps surrounding the village. Swamps that have long held mystical secrets.
Secrets that are ready to be exposed.
After a narrow escape from the town bully sends Dez deep into the swamps, she stumbles across a glowing warm stone buried in the muck. Long hidden truths are divulged when a crazy hag rescues her and sets Dez on an extraordinary new course—to become one of the legendary dragon riders.
Now Dez and her dragon hatchling must harness their magical link on the long journey to join the Rebellion—and avoid the enemy closing in on them. But it’s in the heat of battle where Dez discovers the painful reality of her forgotten past.
And exactly why she can’t be trusted.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2020
395 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Ava Richardson
150 books427 followersAva Richardson writes epic page-turning Young Adult Fantasy books. She creates lovable characters and drops them into intricate worlds that are barely contained within your eReader. Ava has written 21 YA dragon fantasy series, including her bestselling series Return of the Darkening and her recent series, Destia's Dragon Shifter War.
She grew up on a steady diet of fantasy and science fiction books handed down from her two big brothers – and despite being dog-eared and missing pages, she loved escaping into the magical worlds that those authors created. Her favorites were the ones about dragons; where they’d swoop, dive and soar through the skies of these enchanted lands.
She grew up on a steady diet of fantasy and science fiction books handed down from her two big brothers – and despite being dog-eared and missing pages, she loved escaping into the magical worlds that those authors created. Her favorites were the ones about dragons; where they’d swoop, dive and soar through the skies of these enchanted lands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 15, 2020
I received an eArc of this book throught NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
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Blurb:
Some secrets are best left buried.
Desiree Black’s foster family welcomed her years ago, but most of the villagers merely tolerate the seventeen-year-old’s presence with barely concealed hatred—and fear. Dez herself can’t stomach remembering the strange power that rose up inside her and left her brother with a shattered arm. The only peace she finds from others’ accusing stares is in the misty swamps surrounding the village. Swamps that have long held mystical secrets.
Secrets that are ready to be exposed.
After a narrow escape from the town bully sends Dez deep into the swamps, she stumbles across a glowing warm stone buried in the muck. Long hidden truths are divulged when a crazy hag rescues her and sets Dez on an extraordinary new course—to become one of the legendary dragon riders.
Now Dez and her dragon hatchling must harness their magical link on the long journey to join the Rebellion—and avoid the enemy closing in on them. But it’s in the heat of battle where Dez discovers the painful reality of her forgotten past.
And exactly why she can’t be trusted.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
My opinion:
I wanted to love this book so much!! It’s been a while since I read about dragons and I was so excited!! Unfortunately I really liked it but I couldn’t love it. It is a YA fantasy but may be better suited for younger ages.
It had a lot of potential but there were some things that were kind of annoying. It had a fast pace but too fast sometimes. There where 3 ‘discoveries’ in one chapter.
The world was very interensting but Des (the main character) was so gullible some times!! She believed everything she’s been told. The storyline was predictable. When I was ready for a plot twist, the most predictable thing happened.. and it happened fast!
I would recommend it for younger ages!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Blurb:
Some secrets are best left buried.
Desiree Black’s foster family welcomed her years ago, but most of the villagers merely tolerate the seventeen-year-old’s presence with barely concealed hatred—and fear. Dez herself can’t stomach remembering the strange power that rose up inside her and left her brother with a shattered arm. The only peace she finds from others’ accusing stares is in the misty swamps surrounding the village. Swamps that have long held mystical secrets.
Secrets that are ready to be exposed.
After a narrow escape from the town bully sends Dez deep into the swamps, she stumbles across a glowing warm stone buried in the muck. Long hidden truths are divulged when a crazy hag rescues her and sets Dez on an extraordinary new course—to become one of the legendary dragon riders.
Now Dez and her dragon hatchling must harness their magical link on the long journey to join the Rebellion—and avoid the enemy closing in on them. But it’s in the heat of battle where Dez discovers the painful reality of her forgotten past.
And exactly why she can’t be trusted.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
My opinion:
I wanted to love this book so much!! It’s been a while since I read about dragons and I was so excited!! Unfortunately I really liked it but I couldn’t love it. It is a YA fantasy but may be better suited for younger ages.
It had a lot of potential but there were some things that were kind of annoying. It had a fast pace but too fast sometimes. There where 3 ‘discoveries’ in one chapter.
The world was very interensting but Des (the main character) was so gullible some times!! She believed everything she’s been told. The storyline was predictable. When I was ready for a plot twist, the most predictable thing happened.. and it happened fast!
I would recommend it for younger ages!
October 23, 2020
ARC from NetGalley
DNF at 55%
I didn't really hate anything about this book. Nothing really irritated me. Most of the core ideas had potential but weren't executed very well. While there was nothing glaringly awful to my eye, there wasn't anything terribly good either. It wasn't engaging, and it read for a much younger audience than I had bargained for.
DNF at 55%
I didn't really hate anything about this book. Nothing really irritated me. Most of the core ideas had potential but weren't executed very well. While there was nothing glaringly awful to my eye, there wasn't anything terribly good either. It wasn't engaging, and it read for a much younger audience than I had bargained for.
June 15, 2025
Endlich mal wieder ein Buch, dass ich in einem Rutsch durchlesen konnte, so sehr hat es mich in den Bann gezogen. Die Geschichte hat zwar ihre Schwächen, aber war großartig und spannend erzählt. Dann mal auf zum nächsten Teil ...
August 16, 2020
This was well written and seems like it will be a decent story. It just is a little...stereotypical. A super strong teenage girl finds out that her parents may have betrayed everyone instead of being the heroes she thought they were. She then finds a long lost aunt she never knew she had who had been secretly watching her her entire life, who tells her that she is actually a princess and can do magic. As well as ride the dragon whose egg she just so happened to trip over when she met her aunt.
Overall a decent story, I just feel like I've read the same sort of thing so many times that I don't feel the need to continue the series.
Overall a decent story, I just feel like I've read the same sort of thing so many times that I don't feel the need to continue the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2020
First of all, I should mention that this copy was given to me for an ARC review and that this review is completely voluntary. Now, let's get into actually reviewing the book...
Now this is what I would like to call a good book! The story caught my attention very fast and held it until the very last page! Here and there the story is a bit predictable but the "how do they get there"-part is very well done. Can't wait to read part 2!
Now this is what I would like to call a good book! The story caught my attention very fast and held it until the very last page! Here and there the story is a bit predictable but the "how do they get there"-part is very well done. Can't wait to read part 2!
September 10, 2020
This is book one of The Dragonspawn Trilogy, Dracwyn Part One, and the main character is seventeen year old Dez (Desiree) Black, who lives with her foster parents and their two sons, Khan and Pieter. When she arrived there as a six year old, her parents were deemed heroes of the Rebellion, both Dragonriders with powerful magic. That is until one of the villagers tells her foster parents about what her parents really did during the battle, which led to a massive defeat for the Rebellion. It has left the rest of the village resentful of her presence and outwardly hating her, but she never got told what was behind that sudden change in attitude. One girl in particular, Jaklin, has been a bully towards her and others who show any weakness in the village. Dez is afraid to use her full strength, which is many times greater than normal, after having badly broken her little brother’s arm in a play fight when she was only eight. She has lived with that fear of her own strength ever since, and even when faced with the village bully and her friends, cannot get herself to use her full power.
Her only feeling of peace is when she goes off into the nearby swamps, to find solace in the nature, the peace and isolation she can find there. She has often seen sprites and a ghostly knight like figure, she knows as the Ghost of the Bayou, so she knows there is magic in the swamps. Dez and her brothers had been sparring for a recruiter in the Rebellion forces, but only Khan succeeded after Dez held back as usual. Dez takes off to the swamps as usual for a bit of solace, but is located by Jaklin and a number of her pals, who immediately pick on her again, this time telling her the truth about her parents and sending Dez into shock. She runs off deeper into the swamp and ends up in an unknown bit of the swamps, before tripping over a rock. But it isn’t a rock, she realises, as she can see glowing lines coming from its surface. The old gator lady turns up as she is trying to clean it off and tells her it is actually a dragon egg and it seems to be bonding with Dez. She is offered a chance to stay and to see if the egg will hatch for her, in the gator lady’s hut deep in the swamp.
The dragon hatches by the next morning and is laid across Dez’s lap when she awakens. She is also treated to the true identity of the crazy old hag the locals call ‘gator lady’. Which will shock her beyond belief. She goes back home and has to face her foster family, but keeps the hatchlings presence secret even from them. Weeks go past as she tries to build her bond with the dragon, who she finds out is called Nightsoul. She escapes each night to visit Nightsoul and Lula. On one of her visits, she comes across Jaklin yet again, with her fellow bullies and this time she beats all the bullies, but ends up arrested for injuring the others, even though she was trying to save the baker’s son, who the bullies were about to dump in the swamp! A trial is quickly set up and without the victim even back from the swamp, it looks like the trial will go badly. Until a messenger runs in and says a group of the Spirit King Ashimax’s magical creatures are fast approaching. They often come to villages and towns and forcibly remove young people capable of fighting, to use in Ashimax’s vast army, which is taking over their world. Everyone scatters in panic and makes a run for their lives.
Dez runs for the swamps and her young dragon, but knows their foes will soon follow them there. She finds her brothers have also made their way there and they need to make a run for it. Lula knows of a Rebellion redoubt, a rebel safe place and fortress, and they start the long trek to find it. Along the way Lula makes Dez work on her dragon bonds and also introduces the three to some magic, which is within all of them. Khan refuse to have anything to do with it however, having heard tales of someone who overused their magic and died from it! When Dez does so, she can feel a huge well within herself, but is afraid to tap into it, fearing that she will end up either hurting others, or overdoing it and dying. Dez and Nightsoul are sent off ahead to practice and prepare their shelter each day and on one of their trips they see a huge encampment set up on the next hill. She has to use her magic to get closer and finds the enemy have sent their magical creatures after her specifically and that her long-time foe Jaklin, is feeding them all the information about her! The camp is far too close to escape properly and they need to set up an ambush.
A battle soon occurs, with foes who are far superior to any of them in terms of strength, speed and magic use. When Dez is faced with a decision about using her newly found magic, she yet again hesitates and someone else has to take the burden upon themselves and it all ends in a painful lesson for Dez and reminds her of her past. Someone has been badly hurt and she could have done something to stop it from happening, but yet again she didn’t fully trust in her own powers and strength. No wonder, nobody else has ever fully trusted her. Even if they find Rebellion forces, Lula, Dez and even Nightsoul, will not be exactly welcome. The daughter of two turncoats, a deserter and a black swamp dragon who instils fear in its foes, are not wanted and could even be facing execution. Dez’s dreams of being a dragonrider and living the life of her famous parents, to help stop Ashimax and his evil forces, may well be in tatters. Her life has been made a target and she will have to dig deep to escape her fate and fulfil the destiny Lula saw for her.
A great start to a series, with dragons and their riders at the centre of the story and a young woman who has a destiny to fulfil. She thought she was the only one left of her own family and knows nothing of her family’s history or past. She has been raised within a foster family and is hated by all the other villagers, due to a secret about her family that she has not been told until now. She has to fight her fears and face the strength from within, to fully bond with her dragon hatchling and be able to face all the battles she has to come. I can’t wait for another book in this series. Dez is a strong character who has to get over her own fears and has the support of Lula and her two brothers Khan and Pieter. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Her only feeling of peace is when she goes off into the nearby swamps, to find solace in the nature, the peace and isolation she can find there. She has often seen sprites and a ghostly knight like figure, she knows as the Ghost of the Bayou, so she knows there is magic in the swamps. Dez and her brothers had been sparring for a recruiter in the Rebellion forces, but only Khan succeeded after Dez held back as usual. Dez takes off to the swamps as usual for a bit of solace, but is located by Jaklin and a number of her pals, who immediately pick on her again, this time telling her the truth about her parents and sending Dez into shock. She runs off deeper into the swamp and ends up in an unknown bit of the swamps, before tripping over a rock. But it isn’t a rock, she realises, as she can see glowing lines coming from its surface. The old gator lady turns up as she is trying to clean it off and tells her it is actually a dragon egg and it seems to be bonding with Dez. She is offered a chance to stay and to see if the egg will hatch for her, in the gator lady’s hut deep in the swamp.
The dragon hatches by the next morning and is laid across Dez’s lap when she awakens. She is also treated to the true identity of the crazy old hag the locals call ‘gator lady’. Which will shock her beyond belief. She goes back home and has to face her foster family, but keeps the hatchlings presence secret even from them. Weeks go past as she tries to build her bond with the dragon, who she finds out is called Nightsoul. She escapes each night to visit Nightsoul and Lula. On one of her visits, she comes across Jaklin yet again, with her fellow bullies and this time she beats all the bullies, but ends up arrested for injuring the others, even though she was trying to save the baker’s son, who the bullies were about to dump in the swamp! A trial is quickly set up and without the victim even back from the swamp, it looks like the trial will go badly. Until a messenger runs in and says a group of the Spirit King Ashimax’s magical creatures are fast approaching. They often come to villages and towns and forcibly remove young people capable of fighting, to use in Ashimax’s vast army, which is taking over their world. Everyone scatters in panic and makes a run for their lives.
Dez runs for the swamps and her young dragon, but knows their foes will soon follow them there. She finds her brothers have also made their way there and they need to make a run for it. Lula knows of a Rebellion redoubt, a rebel safe place and fortress, and they start the long trek to find it. Along the way Lula makes Dez work on her dragon bonds and also introduces the three to some magic, which is within all of them. Khan refuse to have anything to do with it however, having heard tales of someone who overused their magic and died from it! When Dez does so, she can feel a huge well within herself, but is afraid to tap into it, fearing that she will end up either hurting others, or overdoing it and dying. Dez and Nightsoul are sent off ahead to practice and prepare their shelter each day and on one of their trips they see a huge encampment set up on the next hill. She has to use her magic to get closer and finds the enemy have sent their magical creatures after her specifically and that her long-time foe Jaklin, is feeding them all the information about her! The camp is far too close to escape properly and they need to set up an ambush.
A battle soon occurs, with foes who are far superior to any of them in terms of strength, speed and magic use. When Dez is faced with a decision about using her newly found magic, she yet again hesitates and someone else has to take the burden upon themselves and it all ends in a painful lesson for Dez and reminds her of her past. Someone has been badly hurt and she could have done something to stop it from happening, but yet again she didn’t fully trust in her own powers and strength. No wonder, nobody else has ever fully trusted her. Even if they find Rebellion forces, Lula, Dez and even Nightsoul, will not be exactly welcome. The daughter of two turncoats, a deserter and a black swamp dragon who instils fear in its foes, are not wanted and could even be facing execution. Dez’s dreams of being a dragonrider and living the life of her famous parents, to help stop Ashimax and his evil forces, may well be in tatters. Her life has been made a target and she will have to dig deep to escape her fate and fulfil the destiny Lula saw for her.
A great start to a series, with dragons and their riders at the centre of the story and a young woman who has a destiny to fulfil. She thought she was the only one left of her own family and knows nothing of her family’s history or past. She has been raised within a foster family and is hated by all the other villagers, due to a secret about her family that she has not been told until now. She has to fight her fears and face the strength from within, to fully bond with her dragon hatchling and be able to face all the battles she has to come. I can’t wait for another book in this series. Dez is a strong character who has to get over her own fears and has the support of Lula and her two brothers Khan and Pieter. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 17, 2020
Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
This book is a little frustrating to me, because it had a lot of potential. Dragon-riding books are a guilty pleasure of mine, especially when the dragons are actually intelligent and can speak (I blame Eragon coming out in my childhood). However, this one ultimately just felt too juvenile and predictable for my taste. Our fantasy heroine is the pretty standard low self-esteem female hero archetype. She has two brothers, and one's a jock and one's a nerd. She has a kooky aunt who doubles as her wise old mentor. The villains are faceless, generic monsters under the control of a supervillain. There is a rebel group fighting against the evil empire. It's all pretty bog standard.
The frustrating thing, though, is this book does /try/ to do unique things. Our heroine, for example, has unnatural (freakish?) strength. Her dragon is black, and with typically evil powers. Both our heroine and her dragon have a swamp theme, which is also typically villainous. These factors actually end up working against them when they meet up with the rebels and are suspected of being evil or traitors. There's also some mystery surrounding our heroine's parents that was neat. And the magic system was genuinely cool, though it ended up being used in pretty simplistic ways. Basically, the main character just uses the same memories over and over to invoke the same powers, so this cool system ends up just being another way for her to cast generic spells. I think the magic system actually highlights the faults of this book perfectly - it's interesting, and has a lot of potential, but ends up falling back on those same bland tricks as every other fantasy novel. The things that give the book potential end up just being window service instead of actually explored.
If you like dragon-riding books and don't mind the juvenile tone, you might enjoy this. Again, it has a lot of potential - it's just not well-utilized.
Actual rating: 3.25 stars
This book is a little frustrating to me, because it had a lot of potential. Dragon-riding books are a guilty pleasure of mine, especially when the dragons are actually intelligent and can speak (I blame Eragon coming out in my childhood). However, this one ultimately just felt too juvenile and predictable for my taste. Our fantasy heroine is the pretty standard low self-esteem female hero archetype. She has two brothers, and one's a jock and one's a nerd. She has a kooky aunt who doubles as her wise old mentor. The villains are faceless, generic monsters under the control of a supervillain. There is a rebel group fighting against the evil empire. It's all pretty bog standard.
The frustrating thing, though, is this book does /try/ to do unique things. Our heroine, for example, has unnatural (freakish?) strength. Her dragon is black, and with typically evil powers. Both our heroine and her dragon have a swamp theme, which is also typically villainous. These factors actually end up working against them when they meet up with the rebels and are suspected of being evil or traitors. There's also some mystery surrounding our heroine's parents that was neat. And the magic system was genuinely cool, though it ended up being used in pretty simplistic ways. Basically, the main character just uses the same memories over and over to invoke the same powers, so this cool system ends up just being another way for her to cast generic spells. I think the magic system actually highlights the faults of this book perfectly - it's interesting, and has a lot of potential, but ends up falling back on those same bland tricks as every other fantasy novel. The things that give the book potential end up just being window service instead of actually explored.
If you like dragon-riding books and don't mind the juvenile tone, you might enjoy this. Again, it has a lot of potential - it's just not well-utilized.
June 19, 2023
Personal and Dragon Battles!
Audiobook Review:
For some reason, I usually read books and even series out of order. I did so in this case, listening to The Last of the Dragonriders series before this one. In this world's timeline, this Dragonspawn Trilogy series certainly comes first! I was in no way lost, however. In fact, I enjoyed meeting the younger versions of characters I've come to love. Especially at the beginning of the book, I found it particularly amusing to watch the actions, reactions, and interactions of the sometimes bratty sibling teenagers! But they each definitely had their own growth arc in this book, even if Dez’s was more at the forefront than her brothers. After seeing Pieter so strong in the other series, it felt weird to see him as the younger, often ignored brother, although I loved seeing his meeting and initial battle with Gloriox, his dragon. Dez gets her dragon, too, Nightsoul, which hatches from an egg, and she has to convince it to bond with her by believing in herself and acting despite fear. Watching Dez find a lost family member, learn the truth about her parents, and tune into a particular magic based on bringing up memories was intriguing and enjoyable to listen to. This author certainly has creative types of magic in these books. I liked how Des was not only able to tap into her own memories but also pull from more collective memories; her magic, too, when used to perform difficult magic feats, actually made it so that her memories started to fade or even disappear temporarily, actually making her ill. Intriguing concepts! Loved it. If you enjoy books with dragon warfare, fire- and ice-breathing dragons, powerful tide-turning magic, and teleportation mid-air, you'll enjoy the battle scenes in this book! I've already started listening to the second book of the series, and I'm looking forward to hearing what will happen to Desiree Black, her adoptive brothers, and their fight against the Spirit King.
I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
Audiobook Review:
For some reason, I usually read books and even series out of order. I did so in this case, listening to The Last of the Dragonriders series before this one. In this world's timeline, this Dragonspawn Trilogy series certainly comes first! I was in no way lost, however. In fact, I enjoyed meeting the younger versions of characters I've come to love. Especially at the beginning of the book, I found it particularly amusing to watch the actions, reactions, and interactions of the sometimes bratty sibling teenagers! But they each definitely had their own growth arc in this book, even if Dez’s was more at the forefront than her brothers. After seeing Pieter so strong in the other series, it felt weird to see him as the younger, often ignored brother, although I loved seeing his meeting and initial battle with Gloriox, his dragon. Dez gets her dragon, too, Nightsoul, which hatches from an egg, and she has to convince it to bond with her by believing in herself and acting despite fear. Watching Dez find a lost family member, learn the truth about her parents, and tune into a particular magic based on bringing up memories was intriguing and enjoyable to listen to. This author certainly has creative types of magic in these books. I liked how Des was not only able to tap into her own memories but also pull from more collective memories; her magic, too, when used to perform difficult magic feats, actually made it so that her memories started to fade or even disappear temporarily, actually making her ill. Intriguing concepts! Loved it. If you enjoy books with dragon warfare, fire- and ice-breathing dragons, powerful tide-turning magic, and teleportation mid-air, you'll enjoy the battle scenes in this book! I've already started listening to the second book of the series, and I'm looking forward to hearing what will happen to Desiree Black, her adoptive brothers, and their fight against the Spirit King.
I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
September 24, 2020
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but overall, this was still a good read. I think that this had a lot of potential, and I have to admit, I get easily drawn into things that include talking, magical dragons. I found that this was too quickly paced for my liking, and I kept wondering if this was meant to be more suited as a middle grade, as it felt quite juvenile and predictable at times. This does cover adult themes like violence, however. Although there were some unique elements to this story, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, because it didn't end up feeling very unique to me by the end of the book.
I thought that the magic system was interesting, but ended up being used simply by our characters in terms of execution. I enjoy the idea of everyone having the potential to weaponize magic with the appropriate amount of training, like physical strength. However, I found the execution of the magic system by our characters was rather weak - none of the characters used it to do anything out of the ordinary, despite the amount of potential there, and despite Desiree's quick mastering of her capabilities.
I enjoyed the relationship between our main character Desiree and her bonded dragon, Nightsoul. I wish that that aspect of the story had taken more time and was more drawn out for more character development and emotional impact though. If bonding with a dragon is so powerful and unique, why did it take such a short amount of time for our main character to fully bond with her dragon and master her abilities so quickly? It feels like bonding with a dragon would be a pretty special experience, and yet it didn't feel special or very satisfying to read. I found that frustrating.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy tales that include dragon-riding, you could enjoy this! Just be mindful of the pacing and the tone!
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but overall, this was still a good read. I think that this had a lot of potential, and I have to admit, I get easily drawn into things that include talking, magical dragons. I found that this was too quickly paced for my liking, and I kept wondering if this was meant to be more suited as a middle grade, as it felt quite juvenile and predictable at times. This does cover adult themes like violence, however. Although there were some unique elements to this story, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, because it didn't end up feeling very unique to me by the end of the book.
I thought that the magic system was interesting, but ended up being used simply by our characters in terms of execution. I enjoy the idea of everyone having the potential to weaponize magic with the appropriate amount of training, like physical strength. However, I found the execution of the magic system by our characters was rather weak - none of the characters used it to do anything out of the ordinary, despite the amount of potential there, and despite Desiree's quick mastering of her capabilities.
I enjoyed the relationship between our main character Desiree and her bonded dragon, Nightsoul. I wish that that aspect of the story had taken more time and was more drawn out for more character development and emotional impact though. If bonding with a dragon is so powerful and unique, why did it take such a short amount of time for our main character to fully bond with her dragon and master her abilities so quickly? It feels like bonding with a dragon would be a pretty special experience, and yet it didn't feel special or very satisfying to read. I found that frustrating.
Nevertheless, if you enjoy tales that include dragon-riding, you could enjoy this! Just be mindful of the pacing and the tone!
August 26, 2020
🐲🐲ONE SENSATIONAL TREAT🐲🐲
Outstanding! Ava lays it all on the line with this thrilling dynamo, unleashing one action packed, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, displaying triumph and imparting one block busting bombshell, blasting this baby to life spectacularly. A raging tempest of vexing mishaps and suspicious events, observing the formidable trials and hard fought triumphs, stumbling through the daunting twists and wicked turns, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. Anarchy, escapades and havoc rule supreme, rousting the drama, intrigue, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and intense situations along with a boatload of revelations, you have one jaw dropping experience. Restrictions are heightened and stretched, baring all the harsh facts, ruthless deals and fleeting fiascos, igniting a fierce determination with such intensity and vigor, propelling this jewel to a whole new level. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits adding depth and diversity, transforming into genuine formidable personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels like you transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Ava, thanks for sharing this awesome little jewel with us.
Outstanding! Ava lays it all on the line with this thrilling dynamo, unleashing one action packed, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, displaying triumph and imparting one block busting bombshell, blasting this baby to life spectacularly. A raging tempest of vexing mishaps and suspicious events, observing the formidable trials and hard fought triumphs, stumbling through the daunting twists and wicked turns, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. Anarchy, escapades and havoc rule supreme, rousting the drama, intrigue, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and intense situations along with a boatload of revelations, you have one jaw dropping experience. Restrictions are heightened and stretched, baring all the harsh facts, ruthless deals and fleeting fiascos, igniting a fierce determination with such intensity and vigor, propelling this jewel to a whole new level. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits adding depth and diversity, transforming into genuine formidable personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels like you transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Ava, thanks for sharing this awesome little jewel with us.
August 29, 2020
Crazy gator lady, a swamp ghost and a destiny? How do they all tie together?
I love the adventures this author writes with dragons and magic. In this one Dez is an unnaturally strong girl. She broke her adopted brother arm and since then has fear her own strength. Both of her adopted brothers and herself are trying to join the rebellion. She has grown up knowing that her parents were great generals in the rebellion and gave their lives fighting against the evil forces of Ashimax.
When she doesn't make the cut to join the rebellion she goes into the swamp to think and runs accross the town bully. She runs further into the swamp and trips over a glowing stone. She also runs into the crazy gator lady, who tells her to follow her to find out about the stone. After learning about the stone and about a what the crazy gator lady believes Dez's destiny is her town is attacked. Now Dez and her brothers are on the run with the crazy gator lady who is leading them to the rebellion. Along the way Dez starts to learn magic and has been told why there are some in the town she was living that did not trust her.
Will that mistrust follow her to the rebellion? Will she learn to control her strength and her magic? Will she be able to fulfill her destiny? Read the book to find these answers and see how the adventure begins. I love how this series started and can't wait to continue it.
I love the adventures this author writes with dragons and magic. In this one Dez is an unnaturally strong girl. She broke her adopted brother arm and since then has fear her own strength. Both of her adopted brothers and herself are trying to join the rebellion. She has grown up knowing that her parents were great generals in the rebellion and gave their lives fighting against the evil forces of Ashimax.
When she doesn't make the cut to join the rebellion she goes into the swamp to think and runs accross the town bully. She runs further into the swamp and trips over a glowing stone. She also runs into the crazy gator lady, who tells her to follow her to find out about the stone. After learning about the stone and about a what the crazy gator lady believes Dez's destiny is her town is attacked. Now Dez and her brothers are on the run with the crazy gator lady who is leading them to the rebellion. Along the way Dez starts to learn magic and has been told why there are some in the town she was living that did not trust her.
Will that mistrust follow her to the rebellion? Will she learn to control her strength and her magic? Will she be able to fulfill her destiny? Read the book to find these answers and see how the adventure begins. I love how this series started and can't wait to continue it.
November 14, 2020
I’ve received this book for free in exchange for a review from NetGalley.
I couldn’t put this book. Quite literally. Every time I had to put the book down, I groaned like a teenager being told to stop playing their favorite game. This book was good from start to finish. I loved the main character Dez and her dragon. Her dragon is officially my spirit animal. I loved the personality of the dragon hands down. Khan and Pieter got on my nerves a bit, but as the adventure continued on, I fully enjoyed them. Lula was awesome and no nonsense and Jacklin was very annoying, but a good bully. I understand her side of it though.
The only reason I deducted one star is that the plot was slightly predictable. There were some twists and turns and some interesting discussions (classes of dragons? Racism? Sign me up for that discussion please) but it was very easy to figure out what would happen next.
The other thing that kinda bothered me and the author kinda fixed was how easily the main character solved major issues. In the beginning, she solved it within like two pages, but as the book went on, she struggled more with her problems, but the answer was given to her easily as well.
Overall, if you love dragons and underdog stories, this book is right up your alley. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I couldn’t put this book. Quite literally. Every time I had to put the book down, I groaned like a teenager being told to stop playing their favorite game. This book was good from start to finish. I loved the main character Dez and her dragon. Her dragon is officially my spirit animal. I loved the personality of the dragon hands down. Khan and Pieter got on my nerves a bit, but as the adventure continued on, I fully enjoyed them. Lula was awesome and no nonsense and Jacklin was very annoying, but a good bully. I understand her side of it though.
The only reason I deducted one star is that the plot was slightly predictable. There were some twists and turns and some interesting discussions (classes of dragons? Racism? Sign me up for that discussion please) but it was very easy to figure out what would happen next.
The other thing that kinda bothered me and the author kinda fixed was how easily the main character solved major issues. In the beginning, she solved it within like two pages, but as the book went on, she struggled more with her problems, but the answer was given to her easily as well.
Overall, if you love dragons and underdog stories, this book is right up your alley. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 4, 2024
Sehr kurz, wirkt eher gehetzt
Normalerweise beginne ich eine Rezension immer mit einem Satz über den Inhalt der Geschichte - hier fällt es mir aber wirklich sehr schwer das zu tun, ohne groß zu spoilern. Vielleicht einfach nur: Die junge Desiree findet ein Drachenei im Sumpf und muss sich in einer Welt zurecht finden, in der nicht viele sie zu mögen scheinen.
Die Geschichte wirkte insgesamt sehr gehetzt. Ich mag es, wenn die Geschichte erstmal ein bisschen das Setting vorstellt und sich dann langsam entwickelt. Hier wurden aber gleich sehr viele Klischees bedient und dann ging die Geschichte viel zu schnell los - vielleicht liegt es auch daran, dass sie sehr viel kürzer ist, als die anderen Geschichten der Autorin.
Die Dynamik zwischen Des und ihrem Drachen fand ich nicht gut. Es sollte dargestellt werden, dass sie sich am Anfang nicht vertragen - aber dann ist viel zu schnell alles gut und wirklich alle Probleme sind beseitigt. Auch ist die Geschichte doch sehr vorhersehbar und der große Bösewicht nicht wirklich präsent.
Vielleicht ist die Geschichte eher für eine sehr viel jüngere Zielgruppe geeignet. Für mich fühlte es sich so an, als hätte ich das alles schonmal in leicht abgeänderter Form gelesen, da es einfach ziemlich stereotypisch ist.
Insgesamt eine nette Geschichte für zwischendrin, aber sehr kurz und wohl eher für jüngere geeignet.
Normalerweise beginne ich eine Rezension immer mit einem Satz über den Inhalt der Geschichte - hier fällt es mir aber wirklich sehr schwer das zu tun, ohne groß zu spoilern. Vielleicht einfach nur: Die junge Desiree findet ein Drachenei im Sumpf und muss sich in einer Welt zurecht finden, in der nicht viele sie zu mögen scheinen.
Die Geschichte wirkte insgesamt sehr gehetzt. Ich mag es, wenn die Geschichte erstmal ein bisschen das Setting vorstellt und sich dann langsam entwickelt. Hier wurden aber gleich sehr viele Klischees bedient und dann ging die Geschichte viel zu schnell los - vielleicht liegt es auch daran, dass sie sehr viel kürzer ist, als die anderen Geschichten der Autorin.
Die Dynamik zwischen Des und ihrem Drachen fand ich nicht gut. Es sollte dargestellt werden, dass sie sich am Anfang nicht vertragen - aber dann ist viel zu schnell alles gut und wirklich alle Probleme sind beseitigt. Auch ist die Geschichte doch sehr vorhersehbar und der große Bösewicht nicht wirklich präsent.
Vielleicht ist die Geschichte eher für eine sehr viel jüngere Zielgruppe geeignet. Für mich fühlte es sich so an, als hätte ich das alles schonmal in leicht abgeänderter Form gelesen, da es einfach ziemlich stereotypisch ist.
Insgesamt eine nette Geschichte für zwischendrin, aber sehr kurz und wohl eher für jüngere geeignet.
July 31, 2020
Dragons and dragon riders once again fight to stop an evil that has been spreading. Old prejudices and superstitions cause mistrust and fear. Magic to some is dangerous and to others a weapon. Dez has been told her parents her major contributors to the Rebellion in the fight against the Spirit King. Dez and her brothers want nothing more than to join the rebellion and stop the Spirit King and his army. Dez holds back, due to her own insecurities, even though she is talented and strong as a fighter, but is fearful of her magic. Dez discovers a dragon egg and bonds with Nightsoul, who encourages Dez to trust herself and open herself to the possibilities of her magic. However, betrayal and attacks cause Dez to flee. Along with her brothers, they travel to find the rebellion, in hopes they can join with them. Nothing is as it seems and Dez learns of some of her past, which hurts her deeply, as well as people being afraid of her magic. How can she prove herself she everyone thinks she is evil and cannot be trusted because of what she represents? Dez will try to prove herself and she will have to face her inner fears to defeat those who want her dead.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2021
The plot is a pretty standard YA story ... orphaned child of prophesy has to learn to fight for what should be hers until she achieves the greatness that is her destiny, despite moranic allies that apparently have no idea how to actually run a rebellion. In short, this story was irritating with all the adolecent drama and repetitive teenage aingst ... but the death knell was quite literally the fact that the good guys (the rebellion) was so odious that I would actually hope for their failure at the hands of pretty much anybody ... even the big bad bogeyman (the Spirit King) who was so undeveloped that we really don't know what makes him so evil ... or at least more evil than an organization that would potentially condemn people to an execution without ANY evidence what so ever simply because they don't like them. Seriously .... if the author wanted me to identifiy with the rebellion at all ... she failed miserably. Oh ... the magic system was actually interesting, so +1 star for that.
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#Dragonspawn #TheSecretAudiobookClub
I was given this free review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#Dragonspawn #TheSecretAudiobookClub
August 31, 2020
Dez wants nothing more than to join the Rebellion against the Spirit King, but she is afraid of her strength and doesn’t want to hurt anyone in the test to be recruited. Things don’t go quite as planned and she ends up stumbling into a dragon egg (literally) and finding her aunt who is able to give her guidance. This is the story of how Dez learns how to use her magic, to ride a dragon, and to put her strength to good use and she learns about herself and gains confidence along the way. It’s a fairly classic storyline that reminded me a bit of Eragon but with its own flair. I love dragon stories and this is no exception! It’s well written and exciting with lots of action and magic! I look forward to the next books in the series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2022
An entertaining and engrossing YA dragon rider fantasy that I could not put down. When Desiree Black discovers a hidden dragons egg in the swamp she embarks on a life changing adventure. This story has everything you could want in the genre. A powerful, ruthless enemy, a heroic if narrow minded army of rebels, a prophesied hero and lots of Dragons and magic. The writing is excellent giving the characters real depth, self confidence issues and a little jealousy and envy, Great dragons and big magic. The narration is superb, really easy to listen to and has a good range. The story has a conclusion but not an ending so I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I received a complimentary copy and am leaving a honest voluntary review.
August 26, 2020
Dragonspawn is the first book in a new trilogy from Ava Richardson and did not disappoint. The story leaps into action from the first chapter and doesn't stop.
This first book introduces Desiree who is feisty, brave, and terrified of her strength. Quite a combination. She melds with a baby swamp dragon and sets off on a journey of both self-discovery and adventure.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know the characters. I can't wait for the second in the series to come out. It's well worth a read and adding the series to your watchlist.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This first book introduces Desiree who is feisty, brave, and terrified of her strength. Quite a combination. She melds with a baby swamp dragon and sets off on a journey of both self-discovery and adventure.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know the characters. I can't wait for the second in the series to come out. It's well worth a read and adding the series to your watchlist.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 16, 2020
Note: I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book. It went by so quickly and reminded me so much of my favorite series that I couldn't help but love it. The set up, the atmosphere, the adventure were all very engaging. I had a great time flying through this novel.
I must admit that at times, the main character annoyed me (especially when she hesitated to do things) but I'm glad that by the end of the book she had grown into herself a bit more.
I can't wait for the next books in the trilogy, hopefully they're just as fun and entertaining as this one!
I really enjoyed this book. It went by so quickly and reminded me so much of my favorite series that I couldn't help but love it. The set up, the atmosphere, the adventure were all very engaging. I had a great time flying through this novel.
I must admit that at times, the main character annoyed me (especially when she hesitated to do things) but I'm glad that by the end of the book she had grown into herself a bit more.
I can't wait for the next books in the trilogy, hopefully they're just as fun and entertaining as this one!
September 12, 2024
Rezension des Hörbuchs
Des wächst bei Pflegeeltern mit 2 loyalen Brüdern auf. Regelmäßig trainieren die Geschwister um den Rebellen beitreten zu können um Land und Leute vor dem Geisterkönig schützen zu können.
Doch das ist einfacher gesagt als getan, der Rekrutierer der Rebellen ist nur am ältesten der drei interessiert. Aber die Geisterarmee ist auf dem Weg und wartet nicht auf freiwillige.
Des flieht mit ihren Brüdern, der verrückten Aligatorfrau, die sich als ihre Tante entpuppt und dem erst kurz vorher geschlüpft Drachen.
Können die 5 entkommen und werden sie von den Rebellen aufgenommen.
Spannend und intensiv malt Ava Richardson ihre Geschichte rund um Selbstzweifel, Zusammenhalt, Betrug und Rassismus bei Drachen.
Ich bin sehr gespannt wie es weiter geht.
Des wächst bei Pflegeeltern mit 2 loyalen Brüdern auf. Regelmäßig trainieren die Geschwister um den Rebellen beitreten zu können um Land und Leute vor dem Geisterkönig schützen zu können.
Doch das ist einfacher gesagt als getan, der Rekrutierer der Rebellen ist nur am ältesten der drei interessiert. Aber die Geisterarmee ist auf dem Weg und wartet nicht auf freiwillige.
Des flieht mit ihren Brüdern, der verrückten Aligatorfrau, die sich als ihre Tante entpuppt und dem erst kurz vorher geschlüpft Drachen.
Können die 5 entkommen und werden sie von den Rebellen aufgenommen.
Spannend und intensiv malt Ava Richardson ihre Geschichte rund um Selbstzweifel, Zusammenhalt, Betrug und Rassismus bei Drachen.
Ich bin sehr gespannt wie es weiter geht.
August 22, 2020
An engrossing tale of Dez, an abnormally strong girl from the swamps … the daughter of heroes of the Rebellion … or were they traitors? Taken in by villagers, Dez fears her strength, yet wants to fulfill her destiny – to fight for the Rebellion. She stumbles over a dragon egg in the swamp … could she truly become a dragon rider? Learn magic? Read along to find out if she can overcome her fears to become the prophesied dragon rider who will help the Rebellion free the world from Ashimax, the Spirit King’s domination. I received a free copy of this book with no obligation.
August 26, 2020
Start of an epic dragon sword and sorcery series.
I'm an old lover of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman... having the same theme and overwhelming story line may be off putting for some readers.
I found the plot easy to follow and well paced. A few characters provided irritation and annoyances that were a nice counter to the predictably moralistic main character.
That said the choices are both rational and emotive so something for all fantasy lovers.
Looking forward to the next two in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm an old lover of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman... having the same theme and overwhelming story line may be off putting for some readers.
I found the plot easy to follow and well paced. A few characters provided irritation and annoyances that were a nice counter to the predictably moralistic main character.
That said the choices are both rational and emotive so something for all fantasy lovers.
Looking forward to the next two in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 28, 2020
What if your entire life was a lie? Deseriee grew up with foster parents and two foster brothers, always believing that her parents were Rebellion heroes and died fighting for the cause. But what if that wasn’t true and what really happened is the reason many in the village don’t like her? Now after hatching a baby dragon she has the chance to become a dragon rider and join the rebellion. But her past will come back to hamper her and she just might find out what really happened to her parents. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2020
This book was a very enjoyable read and I loved the storyline! Dez (Desiree)was a very likeable character and all she really wanted was to protect the people she cared about without hurting them in the process. The other characters really made the story exciting especially the brothers who were both very different but cared for each other deeply. The storyline itself reminded me a little of the inheritance cycle but with a whole new twist! Overall I loved reading it and look forward to the next one...
thankyou netgalley for letting me read this amazing book early.
thankyou netgalley for letting me read this amazing book early.
December 20, 2020
Well written, good editing, and kept my interest
I enjoyed the beginnings of this trilogy and look forward to the next book.
The story doesn’t get to bogged down in the beginning like some though there are always places I want more character development in most books.
Speaking of characters she does a good job of building each one.
A pet peeve of mine are grammar or other similar issues that pull me from the story line. I give this book 5 stars because I only found 2 instances.
Well written, good editing, and kept me interested; I can’t wait to start the second book.
I enjoyed the beginnings of this trilogy and look forward to the next book.
The story doesn’t get to bogged down in the beginning like some though there are always places I want more character development in most books.
Speaking of characters she does a good job of building each one.
A pet peeve of mine are grammar or other similar issues that pull me from the story line. I give this book 5 stars because I only found 2 instances.
Well written, good editing, and kept me interested; I can’t wait to start the second book.
January 27, 2021
Way more intense than I was expecting
At first I thought I might have read this already. They were some similarities between it and another series I've read. But the further I read the more differences I noticed. Dez has plans for her life, and if one way fails to achieve them she will do whatever it takes to find more ways. If she doesn't let her insecurities pull her down. Then one day everything changed for her and her family. I love how the author made sure the story never got boring at any point.
At first I thought I might have read this already. They were some similarities between it and another series I've read. But the further I read the more differences I noticed. Dez has plans for her life, and if one way fails to achieve them she will do whatever it takes to find more ways. If she doesn't let her insecurities pull her down. Then one day everything changed for her and her family. I love how the author made sure the story never got boring at any point.
August 24, 2021
Dragons and riders fight a great evil.
A very interesting take on the dragons and their riders, The story is beyond interesting. And of course if you have dragons, you have to have a princess. The descriptions of all the characters, as well as the surrounding scenery was so vivid, I was able to loose myself in the story until the very end. The antagonist is one of the most evil depictions of an entity ever emagines. If you think of Voldemort and Satan, you are on the right track. Excellent story.
A very interesting take on the dragons and their riders, The story is beyond interesting. And of course if you have dragons, you have to have a princess. The descriptions of all the characters, as well as the surrounding scenery was so vivid, I was able to loose myself in the story until the very end. The antagonist is one of the most evil depictions of an entity ever emagines. If you think of Voldemort and Satan, you are on the right track. Excellent story.
January 18, 2022
This was a Unoriginal Story
Though this story was a enjoyable diversion it was Way to much like many other books bring written lately. The main Character is afraid of her own abilities, has a older Foster brother who has to be the Best at Everything, and a Jerk. The younger Foster brother is quite, intelligent, and a Good person. Most of the time the reader/ listener knows what is going to happen next because it is so much like previously written Storylines. Narrator does a good job with the characters voices and the storyline.
Though this story was a enjoyable diversion it was Way to much like many other books bring written lately. The main Character is afraid of her own abilities, has a older Foster brother who has to be the Best at Everything, and a Jerk. The younger Foster brother is quite, intelligent, and a Good person. Most of the time the reader/ listener knows what is going to happen next because it is so much like previously written Storylines. Narrator does a good job with the characters voices and the storyline.
August 14, 2020
Disclaimer: I am reviewing a book that I was given a free copy of, and doing this voluntarily.
This was a very interesting read. It had twists and turns that caught me by surprise and I've been reading for decades. I found the way dragons are portrayed in this book very interesting, and like the way some of what they can do is similar to what normal people do. They way magic is done is very unique as well. Just one question, When is the next one due? I want to read it!
This was a very interesting read. It had twists and turns that caught me by surprise and I've been reading for decades. I found the way dragons are portrayed in this book very interesting, and like the way some of what they can do is similar to what normal people do. They way magic is done is very unique as well. Just one question, When is the next one due? I want to read it!
August 15, 2020
Desiree Black wants nothing more than to join the Rebellion to fight against the armies of the Spirit King. Unfortunately, her life will change course in an unexpected direction after she confronts the town bully.
Wow! compelling, well written, and very convincing characters. Exciting, action packed plot with dragons, and magical battles. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Wow! compelling, well written, and very convincing characters. Exciting, action packed plot with dragons, and magical battles. Fantastic book, I loved it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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