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Dragon Spawn Chronicles #2
Dragon Emperor
The mission is underway. The Dragon Emperor leads a battle in space while his warriors swarm the surface of a planet where a device that can be converted into a powerful weapon awaits. His plan to regain the supremacy lost by his father is progressing perfectly. One thing threatens it all—his ten-year-old son.
Though young, Jori promises to be the greatest Dragon Warrior in history. His fighting skills are already better than those of his older brother. He is profoundly intelligent, and he has other skills that even the emperor himself doesn’t have. His only weakness is his sentiment. As the emperor’s dream of dominance comes closer to fruition, Jori’s struggle between morality and familial duty threatens the course of many lives, including his own.
Though young, Jori promises to be the greatest Dragon Warrior in history. His fighting skills are already better than those of his older brother. He is profoundly intelligent, and he has other skills that even the emperor himself doesn’t have. His only weakness is his sentiment. As the emperor’s dream of dominance comes closer to fruition, Jori’s struggle between morality and familial duty threatens the course of many lives, including his own.
330 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2021
About the author
Dawn Ross
13 books28 followersDawn Ross isn't just a wife and mother or entrepreneur and volunteer. She's also an artist and writer. Her first love was drawing nature and wildlife, but she was also a daydreamer. One day, those dreams got too big to fit inside her head. So, she decided to write them down. A fantasy trilogy was her first endeavor. They did well but as her education and writing experience grew, she realized she wanted to do something new and better. And so began her sci-fi series. Her sci-fi novels have a little science but are mostly space-fantasy dramas. Though they are set far into the future, you will find many of the same modern-day societal problems such as greed, war, hate, prejudice, etc.
Dawn Ross has a degree in finance, but works at Meals on Wheels part time and as a writer part time. She is married and has a wonderful son. She is an animal lover and currently has an Australian Shepherd mix.
Dawn Ross has a degree in finance, but works at Meals on Wheels part time and as a writer part time. She is married and has a wonderful son. She is an animal lover and currently has an Australian Shepherd mix.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 30, 2024
Vivid characters and settings
The friendship between Jori and Commander Hapker from Starfire Dragons deepens here in book 2. Like before, the science is smart and believable, not just dashed on as surface flavoring. I can tell the author thinks deeply about the science and weaponry and their implications. As for the writing, I found a few memorable lines this time:
-"His senses flew to the distinctive feel of molten steel. Father's lifeforce was constantly hard and hot, and laced with a festering darkness that Jori liked to call impurities."
-"Father would never let friendship get in the way of a good killing."
The writing style is clean, clear, and gets out of the way of the story. I enjoyed the wealth of concrete, sensory details in every scene--the author never gets stuck in a vague cloud of abstractions. If you liked the immersive world building and the emotionality of book one, here is a sequel that doesn't disappoint. Book three is already on my to-be-read list.
The friendship between Jori and Commander Hapker from Starfire Dragons deepens here in book 2. Like before, the science is smart and believable, not just dashed on as surface flavoring. I can tell the author thinks deeply about the science and weaponry and their implications. As for the writing, I found a few memorable lines this time:
-"His senses flew to the distinctive feel of molten steel. Father's lifeforce was constantly hard and hot, and laced with a festering darkness that Jori liked to call impurities."
-"Father would never let friendship get in the way of a good killing."
The writing style is clean, clear, and gets out of the way of the story. I enjoyed the wealth of concrete, sensory details in every scene--the author never gets stuck in a vague cloud of abstractions. If you liked the immersive world building and the emotionality of book one, here is a sequel that doesn't disappoint. Book three is already on my to-be-read list.
May 7, 2021
I greatly enjoyed Book One, StarFire Dragons, but Ross took that solid foundation and built a sequel that had me wishing it wasn't over.
Without any spoilers for this book or the first one, all I'll say is Ross has definitely worked on her craft. Her use of the characters' skills, emotions, and (in some cases) extraordinary senses and abilities are a huge pull and help drive the story.
Interestingly enough, for those who did read the first book, this one beautiful mirrors that story while providing some insights in the culture and history of the Toradon people.
Can't wait for book three!
Without any spoilers for this book or the first one, all I'll say is Ross has definitely worked on her craft. Her use of the characters' skills, emotions, and (in some cases) extraordinary senses and abilities are a huge pull and help drive the story.
Interestingly enough, for those who did read the first book, this one beautiful mirrors that story while providing some insights in the culture and history of the Toradon people.
Can't wait for book three!
August 5, 2026
If you had asked me to guess the plot of "Dragon Emperor" based on the way that "StarFire Dragons" ended, I wouldn't have gotten it right if you gave me a million guesses. I don't say that to imply that this doesn't make sense; on the contrary, it fits in very nicely with the mythos already established in the first book. Without going too deep into spoiler territory, this book gives readers a firsthand look at life with the Tredons in a way that both reinforces the ferocity of that race and also strangely humanizes them.
The balance the author strikes in writing the emperor and other Tredons is amazing. It would have been easy to make them all one-dimensional stereotypical brutes (and there ARE a few of those in the mix), but others are shown to have complex, nuanced motivations that make them extremely believable – even the emperor himself. At the same time, it doesn't redeem them. The emperor is still every bit the villain he's painted to be, but one can almost understand how from his perspective he's justified for what he's doing.
Compared to the first book, this one has more action and violence, though the author does a fantastic job of making the danger feel real and immediate without getting too graphic or off-putting. More than once, I found myself legitimately worried about the fate of Hapker and his officers. The tension kept building throughout the book as the stakes kept ratcheting up and the emperor grew ever more paranoid.
It's hard to say whether Hapker, Jori, or Terk is really the protagonist of this novel, and I don't think that's a bad thing. The author's ability to shift to various characters' perspectives – and have each one be distinctive and believable – made the overall experience that much richer for me.
The first book was already a top-notch read for me, and this one expanded the story in an unexpected and enthralling way. I HIGHLY recommend this (and "StarFire Dragons" before it) to anyone who enjoys a character-driven sci-fi adventure.
The balance the author strikes in writing the emperor and other Tredons is amazing. It would have been easy to make them all one-dimensional stereotypical brutes (and there ARE a few of those in the mix), but others are shown to have complex, nuanced motivations that make them extremely believable – even the emperor himself. At the same time, it doesn't redeem them. The emperor is still every bit the villain he's painted to be, but one can almost understand how from his perspective he's justified for what he's doing.
Compared to the first book, this one has more action and violence, though the author does a fantastic job of making the danger feel real and immediate without getting too graphic or off-putting. More than once, I found myself legitimately worried about the fate of Hapker and his officers. The tension kept building throughout the book as the stakes kept ratcheting up and the emperor grew ever more paranoid.
It's hard to say whether Hapker, Jori, or Terk is really the protagonist of this novel, and I don't think that's a bad thing. The author's ability to shift to various characters' perspectives – and have each one be distinctive and believable – made the overall experience that much richer for me.
The first book was already a top-notch read for me, and this one expanded the story in an unexpected and enthralling way. I HIGHLY recommend this (and "StarFire Dragons" before it) to anyone who enjoys a character-driven sci-fi adventure.
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September 3, 2026Second in series. This time the tables are turned and Cooperative crew are prisioners on a Tredon shiip. Not just any ship, but the ship of the Emperor. Force to repair a power emitter that when used for good can terraform a planet. When used for evil, it can destroy worlds.
Second in the Dragon Spawn Chronicles. Author has expertly made these characters completely relatable and we come to care what happens to them from both sides. I was kept at the edge of my seat as I read. The ending seemed a bit rushed and it left with a cliffhanger. Now I am readiing the 3rd book in the series, just to find out who lived and who died.
Second in the Dragon Spawn Chronicles. Author has expertly made these characters completely relatable and we come to care what happens to them from both sides. I was kept at the edge of my seat as I read. The ending seemed a bit rushed and it left with a cliffhanger. Now I am readiing the 3rd book in the series, just to find out who lived and who died.
June 2, 2022
Awesome Adventure
An excellent second book in the series. The fast paced action never stops I like the characters and watching them grow this book. I really like this book and I highly recommend it.
An excellent second book in the series. The fast paced action never stops I like the characters and watching them grow this book. I really like this book and I highly recommend it.
August 13, 2023
Great series worth the time to read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that She never stops writing. Her books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that She never stops writing. Her books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
May 14, 2024
Dawn Ross conducts the Star Trek orchestra in the Dragon Emperor symphony, presented in four movements, all of them slow, with a two hour coffee break between each one.
(phrasing stolen from Fawlty Towers)
The material is good, but the plot pacing is really slow.
(phrasing stolen from Fawlty Towers)
The material is good, but the plot pacing is really slow.
July 21, 2023
Elements of Star Trek and deep character studies. Loved this book.
December 30, 2024
Great book 2 ... Again a real winning book. Can't wait for more.
May 31, 2021
Early in the Dragon Emperor, it is declared that "emotion is weakness." By the end we see that, for at least one character, it is a strength.
This novel works on several levels. If you want a space opera that is consistent with others of the genre, this book works on that level. Action, adventure, and space battles are all here.
While it is a sequel, it can easily be read on its own. However as a sequel we get to see Ross continue to world (or more appropriately universe) build. While the series is currently billed as a trilogy, I can see it going past three books.
To me, the level of the book that I enjoyed the most was the study of human emotion. Yes, human. In Ross's universe all life on other planets originated on Earth.
There is Jori, the young prince who is taught early that emotion is weakness. As he journeys through the novel he learns first hand that "emotions themselves weren’t a weakness unless you lose control of them or let them control you." I will not spoil how or from whom he learns the lesson but it is, for Jori, a life changing one.
It is a lesson his older brother learns as well. As much growth as we see in Jori, we see even more in his older brother Terk. Terk grows to understand and admire his younger brother. Heartbreakingly we do not see that same growth in their father. This tale is a reminder how parents ( in this case the father) can damage their child's life.
In my review of the first book, I mentioned the clear Star Trek inspiration. This book charts its own territory but is reminiscent of Trek but in a much different way. Trek works best when it combines action and adventure while wrestling with the nature of humanity. Dragon Emperor does that and does it well.
This novel works on several levels. If you want a space opera that is consistent with others of the genre, this book works on that level. Action, adventure, and space battles are all here.
While it is a sequel, it can easily be read on its own. However as a sequel we get to see Ross continue to world (or more appropriately universe) build. While the series is currently billed as a trilogy, I can see it going past three books.
To me, the level of the book that I enjoyed the most was the study of human emotion. Yes, human. In Ross's universe all life on other planets originated on Earth.
There is Jori, the young prince who is taught early that emotion is weakness. As he journeys through the novel he learns first hand that "emotions themselves weren’t a weakness unless you lose control of them or let them control you." I will not spoil how or from whom he learns the lesson but it is, for Jori, a life changing one.
It is a lesson his older brother learns as well. As much growth as we see in Jori, we see even more in his older brother Terk. Terk grows to understand and admire his younger brother. Heartbreakingly we do not see that same growth in their father. This tale is a reminder how parents ( in this case the father) can damage their child's life.
In my review of the first book, I mentioned the clear Star Trek inspiration. This book charts its own territory but is reminiscent of Trek but in a much different way. Trek works best when it combines action and adventure while wrestling with the nature of humanity. Dragon Emperor does that and does it well.
July 31, 2022
Dragon Emperor is book two in The Dragon Spawn Chronicles. The story picks up where book one left off, and features many familiar faces from the first installment.
Dragon Emperor is a bit darker and more violent than book one. Surprisingly, I found myself even more drawn in by the increased intensity.
A central element in the story is conflict over whether showing emotion and understanding the feelings of others is a weakness. As someone who considers genuine empathy one of the greatest strengths an individual can have, I was fascinated by the debate in the story. I wanted to find out if Jori and company would come to the same conclusion as I have in my own life.
I appreciated how the author developed the relationship between brothers Jori and Terk, and how each of the characters grew in their own way.
While early chapters of Dragon Emperor offer a good summary of the main events in the first book, I recommend reading book one first. I also recommend reading the books in order.
Again, I appreciated the inclusion of a glossary to help explain the different types of ships, warriors, and devices used in Ross’s universe. While you can easily understand and enjoy the book without referencing the glossary, it serves as a great reminder of the well-thought-out world Ross has created.
The action continues in a third book, Dragon’s Fall, and I plan to continue reading this intense and exciting series.
This review and many others can be found on my book review blog, www.bookpicksandpics.com.
Dragon Emperor is a bit darker and more violent than book one. Surprisingly, I found myself even more drawn in by the increased intensity.
A central element in the story is conflict over whether showing emotion and understanding the feelings of others is a weakness. As someone who considers genuine empathy one of the greatest strengths an individual can have, I was fascinated by the debate in the story. I wanted to find out if Jori and company would come to the same conclusion as I have in my own life.
I appreciated how the author developed the relationship between brothers Jori and Terk, and how each of the characters grew in their own way.
While early chapters of Dragon Emperor offer a good summary of the main events in the first book, I recommend reading book one first. I also recommend reading the books in order.
Again, I appreciated the inclusion of a glossary to help explain the different types of ships, warriors, and devices used in Ross’s universe. While you can easily understand and enjoy the book without referencing the glossary, it serves as a great reminder of the well-thought-out world Ross has created.
The action continues in a third book, Dragon’s Fall, and I plan to continue reading this intense and exciting series.
This review and many others can be found on my book review blog, www.bookpicksandpics.com.
January 15, 2022
Book 2 of the series starts with Jori and Terk back with their father, the Emperor. The action starts early fighting to gain access to a planet constructing the device that can be used for good or evil. During the fight to get the device the Emperor also captures staff from the Odyssey, the spaceship that saved the boys. As slaves they are tasked to rebuild this world killing weapon as their only route to survive. The story further develops the relationship between the brothers, with their almost psychic connection and explores how emotions, seen in their culture as a weakness can be a strength for some. For a story set virtually in one place the Dragons spaceship home controlled by a dictator, the Emperor, it has plenty of depth, colourful characters, action, heartbreak and so much more. I really can't wait to read book three.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews