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Dragon's Envoy #1
Dragon's Envoy
It would make a great bard’s song: The orphan son of a mage, a battlefield scavenger saves a knight’s life, is elevated to be his squire, and becomes a dragon’s envoy. But this is no bard’s song. All of this was because of the dragon stone necklace I scavenged from that dead mage. I knew it was magic when I saw it. Well, it was and it wasn’t. Dragon stone they call it, but what it actually is, is a dragon’s egg. When I touched it, I felt the need to put it around my neck for safekeeping. When I did, the necklace embedded itself inside my skin, making me the new dragon’s envoy. It has since been my duty to protect the egg until she’s ready to hatch. How do I know the egg is a she? Easy, she talks to me and is helping me to bring out my natural magic talents. Sometimes I’d rather it was a bard’s song, as it can be tiring. Although I must admit, having a dragon inside you comes in handy when people are trying to kill you.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2022
289 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 1, 2022
DNF at 20%
2.5/5
Woahhh... Just woah...
The MC went from a scavenger boy to a Squire to a Knight and to Sir mage who can heal anything and someone who even the Duke revered in just 50 freaking pages and that too without a smidge of struggle for him.
I just can't. Wayyyyyyy too fast for my taste.
2.5/5
Woahhh... Just woah...
The MC went from a scavenger boy to a Squire to a Knight and to Sir mage who can heal anything and someone who even the Duke revered in just 50 freaking pages and that too without a smidge of struggle for him.
I just can't. Wayyyyyyy too fast for my taste.
October 19, 2023
Slinger
A twelve year old boy that lived by his wits and scavenging battlefields saw a particularly interesting battle between a knight in beautiful armor and a mage. Interestingly enough between the lightning of the mage and the seemingly magical sword of the knight, the mage ended up beheaded and the knight was all but dead.
The young man named Slinger for his accuracy with his sling shot ran down to the battle field to see what he could scavenge and discovered the knight wasn’t quite dead. It had started to rain, so Slinger gathered the dead mage’s armor which amazingly fit him even though the mage was much larger than Slinger. The knight informed him that he would be rewarded if he could take him to the healer’s tent, so Slinger found two excellent horses that had belonged to the enemy and changed their livery, loaded the knight whose name was Jace Grayson and set out to take him to his father the Duke.
We find that Slinger was named David by his mother, so the men in camp named him David Slinger, and David realized he could heal horses. Of course it wasn’t long before he discovered he could also heal people and was named Sir Jace’s new squire. The Greysons were kind to him and all he asked of them was an education, something that could never be taken away from him. He became one with the Greyson’s men and they respected him, because he healed many of them. The king’s army found they had a healing mage and called for David to come to him and of course he healed the king, but did not like the people around the king. At first opportunity he returned to the Greyson’s who returned home and made David part of their family. David stayed with the Greyson’s and was educated and and trained as one of them until he was seventeen when the king asked for him to come to court.
Duke Greyson and his family loved David and David loved them, so the Duke told him how to survive the king and the ugliness of the nobles who were not as honorable as the Greyson’s. In the meantime David realized he was a Dragon mage and had a Dragon named Emerald or ‘Em that was with him always.
So much ugliness and danger surrounded David, but with his learning and ‘Em to helping keep him safe David began to thrive. He also learned that almost everyone was out to get him! This was one of the most surprisingly good stories I have read in a while and I hope I haven’t given away too much of it, but there is so much constantly going on that it was impossible to give away too many spoilers. This was well written with excellent action and characters, very exciting and an excellent read.
A twelve year old boy that lived by his wits and scavenging battlefields saw a particularly interesting battle between a knight in beautiful armor and a mage. Interestingly enough between the lightning of the mage and the seemingly magical sword of the knight, the mage ended up beheaded and the knight was all but dead.
The young man named Slinger for his accuracy with his sling shot ran down to the battle field to see what he could scavenge and discovered the knight wasn’t quite dead. It had started to rain, so Slinger gathered the dead mage’s armor which amazingly fit him even though the mage was much larger than Slinger. The knight informed him that he would be rewarded if he could take him to the healer’s tent, so Slinger found two excellent horses that had belonged to the enemy and changed their livery, loaded the knight whose name was Jace Grayson and set out to take him to his father the Duke.
We find that Slinger was named David by his mother, so the men in camp named him David Slinger, and David realized he could heal horses. Of course it wasn’t long before he discovered he could also heal people and was named Sir Jace’s new squire. The Greysons were kind to him and all he asked of them was an education, something that could never be taken away from him. He became one with the Greyson’s men and they respected him, because he healed many of them. The king’s army found they had a healing mage and called for David to come to him and of course he healed the king, but did not like the people around the king. At first opportunity he returned to the Greyson’s who returned home and made David part of their family. David stayed with the Greyson’s and was educated and and trained as one of them until he was seventeen when the king asked for him to come to court.
Duke Greyson and his family loved David and David loved them, so the Duke told him how to survive the king and the ugliness of the nobles who were not as honorable as the Greyson’s. In the meantime David realized he was a Dragon mage and had a Dragon named Emerald or ‘Em that was with him always.
So much ugliness and danger surrounded David, but with his learning and ‘Em to helping keep him safe David began to thrive. He also learned that almost everyone was out to get him! This was one of the most surprisingly good stories I have read in a while and I hope I haven’t given away too much of it, but there is so much constantly going on that it was impossible to give away too many spoilers. This was well written with excellent action and characters, very exciting and an excellent read.
March 6, 2023
Better title for this book:
The book where everything comes super easily, there are no real challenges, and the main character magically is great at everything or has the perfect people always come to his aid.
This is such a disappointing book because it had SO MUCH PROMISE!!! The author is excellent at dialogue and characters, but his story-building needs some work. There were no real challenges for the MC - everything just magically falls into his lap, including the actual magic! He progresses from a nobody-orphan to the most powerful genius business man/noble in the land with no difficulty at all. And anytime there are plots to overtake him, he always knows the perfect way to handle it to come out on top. Ridiculous!
Personally this book would have been far more believable if the king's plot against the MC had ended up working and he had lost everything he built and been forced to flee. Then he could work to build up his wealth and power again outside of the kingdom and create an uprising that then overtakes the king and his kingdom. Something like that would have made it FAR more believable and interesting.
Instead it is just incredibly unbelievable...like to the point of ridiculousness. So frustrating because I liked the characters, I liked the world and I think there is a lot of potential...but it needs substance, it needs struggle and it needs overcoming. I gave two stars because there were these elements that I liked, but the book was a chore to finish because I kept rolling my eyes at how everything just perfectly worked out for him. Ugh.
The book where everything comes super easily, there are no real challenges, and the main character magically is great at everything or has the perfect people always come to his aid.
This is such a disappointing book because it had SO MUCH PROMISE!!! The author is excellent at dialogue and characters, but his story-building needs some work. There were no real challenges for the MC - everything just magically falls into his lap, including the actual magic! He progresses from a nobody-orphan to the most powerful genius business man/noble in the land with no difficulty at all. And anytime there are plots to overtake him, he always knows the perfect way to handle it to come out on top. Ridiculous!
Personally this book would have been far more believable if the king's plot against the MC had ended up working and he had lost everything he built and been forced to flee. Then he could work to build up his wealth and power again outside of the kingdom and create an uprising that then overtakes the king and his kingdom. Something like that would have made it FAR more believable and interesting.
Instead it is just incredibly unbelievable...like to the point of ridiculousness. So frustrating because I liked the characters, I liked the world and I think there is a lot of potential...but it needs substance, it needs struggle and it needs overcoming. I gave two stars because there were these elements that I liked, but the book was a chore to finish because I kept rolling my eyes at how everything just perfectly worked out for him. Ugh.
January 27, 2022
Great read
I've been reading the authors books for a while now and I think this book really shows how they've gotten better over time. I'm glad to see that the protagonist didn't get random new equipment and upgrades constantly. I enjoy a good power fantasy story but when all the new stuff serves no story purpose and is just there to be cool then it's probably best that it's left out. Having said that I think the author does need to mix it up some in there stories. It's been a while since I've read some of there books so I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure the protagonist in every single one of their books winds up owning a shipping company in some shape or another. Regardless of that I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.
I've been reading the authors books for a while now and I think this book really shows how they've gotten better over time. I'm glad to see that the protagonist didn't get random new equipment and upgrades constantly. I enjoy a good power fantasy story but when all the new stuff serves no story purpose and is just there to be cool then it's probably best that it's left out. Having said that I think the author does need to mix it up some in there stories. It's been a while since I've read some of there books so I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure the protagonist in every single one of their books winds up owning a shipping company in some shape or another. Regardless of that I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.
January 28, 2022
Fun... But hard to read.
It's a great (emphasis on GREAT) idea for a story. There is no flesh though, and it's unfortunate. It needs edited and filled out. There is enough information in the first 40 pages to make half a book. I couldn't read past the harvest festival.... Which was only 3 pages long but had 2 events smashed into them.
This could be sooooo good. And was so ...not.
Please put some more effort into this... Or your next work... And republish it. I'm following you, so make me eat these words.
It's a great (emphasis on GREAT) idea for a story. There is no flesh though, and it's unfortunate. It needs edited and filled out. There is enough information in the first 40 pages to make half a book. I couldn't read past the harvest festival.... Which was only 3 pages long but had 2 events smashed into them.
This could be sooooo good. And was so ...not.
Please put some more effort into this... Or your next work... And republish it. I'm following you, so make me eat these words.
January 26, 2022
An extremely easy to read fantasy. The story follows the 12yrs old ‘Slinger’ from a battlefield scavenger to one of the most powerful nobles in the land.
My only slight niggles are that everything happens for him a bit too easily, also it seems that if author is not too sure what to do with a character he just kills them.
If possible I would have given 4.5 stars.
My only slight niggles are that everything happens for him a bit too easily, also it seems that if author is not too sure what to do with a character he just kills them.
If possible I would have given 4.5 stars.
February 14, 2022
An excellent book but possibly another one we won’t see a sequel to.
Another excellent book by James Haddock, but it’s another one of his books that ends with so many unresolved issues. I do believe to date I have read about every one of Mr. Haddock books but most of them ends with to many unanswered questions and unresolved issues leading me to think that there would be a sequel. But the fact is only one of his many novels ever received a sequel. This is too bad because many of the books deserve a sequel in fact some of them even ended with a bit of a cliffhanger but never received another book, to date that is. It is great to this author continues to write books, but it would be nice if he could go back and wrap up some of his previous novels before he goes on to write a new one.
The fact is I am almost at a point well I hesitate to read anymore of his novels as they come out for fear that it would just end with another cliffhanger and more unresolved issues like all of his previous books.
Another excellent book by James Haddock, but it’s another one of his books that ends with so many unresolved issues. I do believe to date I have read about every one of Mr. Haddock books but most of them ends with to many unanswered questions and unresolved issues leading me to think that there would be a sequel. But the fact is only one of his many novels ever received a sequel. This is too bad because many of the books deserve a sequel in fact some of them even ended with a bit of a cliffhanger but never received another book, to date that is. It is great to this author continues to write books, but it would be nice if he could go back and wrap up some of his previous novels before he goes on to write a new one.
The fact is I am almost at a point well I hesitate to read anymore of his novels as they come out for fear that it would just end with another cliffhanger and more unresolved issues like all of his previous books.
February 13, 2022
I enjoyed reading this as something comfortable like hot chocolate on a rainy day. Because there's lots of gratification but every challenge is overcome in a manner where things are better for the MC than before.
And that's fun, right? Wish fulfillment? But it's a bit tedious however this author's characters are interesting enough to keep the reader engaged.
Then when the book's denouement is comprised of a challenge so huge it is utterly absurd and would never ever go down like that, it sets up the second volume which I'm not interested in reading. It's a serious failing for a writer not to know how to construct a dramatic dynamic between challenges and how they're overcome.
And that's fun, right? Wish fulfillment? But it's a bit tedious however this author's characters are interesting enough to keep the reader engaged.
Then when the book's denouement is comprised of a challenge so huge it is utterly absurd and would never ever go down like that, it sets up the second volume which I'm not interested in reading. It's a serious failing for a writer not to know how to construct a dramatic dynamic between challenges and how they're overcome.
February 11, 2022
Good story but poor book
I liked the story but it was like a puzzle. Grammar errors , bad spellings,words that didn't fit ,some were just wrong and others turned out to be hints of the correct word. Frequently the pronouns were of the wrong gender or type. Like I said a good story but a lot of work to read. It needs to be edited and proofread.
I liked the story but it was like a puzzle. Grammar errors , bad spellings,words that didn't fit ,some were just wrong and others turned out to be hints of the correct word. Frequently the pronouns were of the wrong gender or type. Like I said a good story but a lot of work to read. It needs to be edited and proofread.
February 11, 2023
This was another surprise book for me. I had a little bit of a problem at the beginning with the male/boy MC seemingly "all of a sudden" being able to do magic without any training or any knowledge of what he was doing. I mean, really? Then, the story itself captured my interest and I decided to just run with it and see where it led.
I really did enjoy the story. We have a boy who always knew he had some type of magic ability (he could see magic auras - or at least tell when items were magical. He scavanges a battlefield and finds the belongings of a dead mage and starts putting them on and "WALA" he all of a sudden can do practically anything he wants. He actually becomes a mage healer and falls in with some important people - many some nobles and even the King.
Where the story becomes interesting is in the fact that he heals people because he wants to help them and do the right thing. For that, he is an anathema. He begins to grow a reputation and begins building his fortune and helping grow the town in which he lives. He employs the townspeople and begins buying up land and creating businesses. Unfortunately, when you upend the status quo, you develop enemies and boy oh boy does he have those.
Things become interesting after that. The book does ties up lots of the strings, but it does end in a sort of cliffhanger. Or rather, it makes you want to go out and get the next book in the series...at least I did.
And guess what, I am off to read book 2. :)
I really did enjoy the story. We have a boy who always knew he had some type of magic ability (he could see magic auras - or at least tell when items were magical. He scavanges a battlefield and finds the belongings of a dead mage and starts putting them on and "WALA" he all of a sudden can do practically anything he wants. He actually becomes a mage healer and falls in with some important people - many some nobles and even the King.
Where the story becomes interesting is in the fact that he heals people because he wants to help them and do the right thing. For that, he is an anathema. He begins to grow a reputation and begins building his fortune and helping grow the town in which he lives. He employs the townspeople and begins buying up land and creating businesses. Unfortunately, when you upend the status quo, you develop enemies and boy oh boy does he have those.
Things become interesting after that. The book does ties up lots of the strings, but it does end in a sort of cliffhanger. Or rather, it makes you want to go out and get the next book in the series...at least I did.
And guess what, I am off to read book 2. :)
February 22, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up because of the narrator combo of Daniel Wisniewski and Elizabeth Plant (truly, they are very talented). This book does a lot of things well. It has authentic dialogue, action-driven writing with very direct prose, and clever decision-making from *some* characters.
However, it also fails in many ways: the MC is instantly the most powerful character with very little struggle (mastering magic happens instantly, the very first time he tries). Does he ever have a conflict that is actually a challenge, other than the nobility doesn't like him? Do the dark mages have any sort of comparable power that would make me feel that the MC is ever in danger? Seriously, how does he always come out on top in every single situation when he's so green? Also, side characters serve as backdrop, without any real investigation into their lives or attitudes. And most egregiously, there is almost no plot arc, just events that happen. I was left wondering who the antagonist was and what the conflict was actually about. "The rich and powerful are attempting to take everything I worked hard for" is a pretty shallow theme throughout.
I may listen to the 2nd book after some more consideration.
However, it also fails in many ways: the MC is instantly the most powerful character with very little struggle (mastering magic happens instantly, the very first time he tries). Does he ever have a conflict that is actually a challenge, other than the nobility doesn't like him? Do the dark mages have any sort of comparable power that would make me feel that the MC is ever in danger? Seriously, how does he always come out on top in every single situation when he's so green? Also, side characters serve as backdrop, without any real investigation into their lives or attitudes. And most egregiously, there is almost no plot arc, just events that happen. I was left wondering who the antagonist was and what the conflict was actually about. "The rich and powerful are attempting to take everything I worked hard for" is a pretty shallow theme throughout.
I may listen to the 2nd book after some more consideration.
April 8, 2024
My Thoughts:
This book reads so much like Heartwood Mage, except it got a dragon in it.
David Slinger has exact the same personality as with Dale Homburg. But James Haddock doesn't call David, psychotic...
A bit of bias there, eh?
Emerald is supposed to be a green dragon, but, the dragon in the cover art is not a green dragon??...
The ending is a cliffhanger. I am not fond of cliffhangers...
Daniel Wisniewski and Elizabeth Plant narrate well together! Kudos to the narrators!!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 3.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 50 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This book reads so much like Heartwood Mage, except it got a dragon in it.
David Slinger has exact the same personality as with Dale Homburg. But James Haddock doesn't call David, psychotic...
A bit of bias there, eh?
Emerald is supposed to be a green dragon, but, the dragon in the cover art is not a green dragon??...
The ending is a cliffhanger. I am not fond of cliffhangers...
Daniel Wisniewski and Elizabeth Plant narrate well together! Kudos to the narrators!!
Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 3.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 50 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
March 2, 2022
Worth a read!
So I like honest reviews. I’ll give the no spoilers stuff first:
The plot is pretty interesting, with a few twists and turns.
The characters are memorable, and the MC has some growth and such.
The world building is good, but there could be more information? Like, nations are mentioned but little background on them or why they fight is provided.
SPOILERS:
The MC is just too powerful. Almost everything comes easy to him, which makes the story less interesting.
In fact, because he’s so powerful, there’s a bit less room for growth. Rarely do things not go his way, and we don’t really see a bit change in him when they don’t.
I like the commercial empire building that happens. It’s interesting, and explained a bit. Really looking forward to how that improves and changes based on MC’s new persona in the next book.
So I like honest reviews. I’ll give the no spoilers stuff first:
The plot is pretty interesting, with a few twists and turns.
The characters are memorable, and the MC has some growth and such.
The world building is good, but there could be more information? Like, nations are mentioned but little background on them or why they fight is provided.
SPOILERS:
The MC is just too powerful. Almost everything comes easy to him, which makes the story less interesting.
In fact, because he’s so powerful, there’s a bit less room for growth. Rarely do things not go his way, and we don’t really see a bit change in him when they don’t.
I like the commercial empire building that happens. It’s interesting, and explained a bit. Really looking forward to how that improves and changes based on MC’s new persona in the next book.
July 24, 2022
Nothing Special
I think this novel would suit a younger person ratherr than an adult. Slinger moves through events a bit too easily despite some of the situations he finds himself in. I kept reading because I really wanted to see how his "dragon emerged and evolved". Slinger and his dragon are just buddies though and again he just moves through events too effortlessly. I found his magical advancements too simplistic - he just does it. The book also has a slew of typos and grammer issues such as using " for head" instead of "forehead", "bare vs bear", "following that" vs "failing that". Then there are tense issues and so on. I will not be moving on in the series as there wasn't anything to keep me interested in going further.
I think this novel would suit a younger person ratherr than an adult. Slinger moves through events a bit too easily despite some of the situations he finds himself in. I kept reading because I really wanted to see how his "dragon emerged and evolved". Slinger and his dragon are just buddies though and again he just moves through events too effortlessly. I found his magical advancements too simplistic - he just does it. The book also has a slew of typos and grammer issues such as using " for head" instead of "forehead", "bare vs bear", "following that" vs "failing that". Then there are tense issues and so on. I will not be moving on in the series as there wasn't anything to keep me interested in going further.
January 15, 2025
I didn't want to put this down and was sorry when it ended. A young orphaned scavenger inadvertently picks up the tools of a mage killed in battle. The young boy, who had no training in his own family mage background, quickly begins to grow in his skills. He becomes more and more powerful and ultimately has to deal with the intrigues and hatred of the powerful nobility.
I will want to read the second book. Also, I realized this is the second book I have read by this author that I enjoyed. There is some similarity in that both have young boys becoming successful and powerful mages. Although the characters and success are similar, the process is entertaining.
The narrator does a wonderful job with various accents and enhancing the personalities of the characters.
I will want to read the second book. Also, I realized this is the second book I have read by this author that I enjoyed. There is some similarity in that both have young boys becoming successful and powerful mages. Although the characters and success are similar, the process is entertaining.
The narrator does a wonderful job with various accents and enhancing the personalities of the characters.
June 17, 2022
Another fun story
I love the sense of growth the main character experiences as he overcomes the challenges placed before him.
My issue with the story is the lack of reflection. The story keeps moving as if nothing can stop it. Even when death comes to friends and family, the lack of introspection in grief is disheartening. Someone is murdered, and the King asks him to stay in the capital and leave the kingdom to look into the murder. The main character agrees with little pushback. It feels like a lack of emotional depth at times. But the action is entertaining enough to keep reading.
I love the sense of growth the main character experiences as he overcomes the challenges placed before him.
My issue with the story is the lack of reflection. The story keeps moving as if nothing can stop it. Even when death comes to friends and family, the lack of introspection in grief is disheartening. Someone is murdered, and the King asks him to stay in the capital and leave the kingdom to look into the murder. The main character agrees with little pushback. It feels like a lack of emotional depth at times. But the action is entertaining enough to keep reading.
August 13, 2022
Cozy Read
I read for escapism; so, this is a good read for me. It's full of magic, has a young, smart & honest young warrior mage with a dragon spirit companion against deceitful nobles and wealthy. He actively changes his world for the better. He needs a love interest. It's clean; and I really like that. It is more day to day writing without pages of description (or angst) so I didn't have to skim past all of that. These guys desperately need an editor/proof reader - I wouldn't charge much ;). But I'm following Haddock now - I'll read his other stories; and, hope for a sequel.
I read for escapism; so, this is a good read for me. It's full of magic, has a young, smart & honest young warrior mage with a dragon spirit companion against deceitful nobles and wealthy. He actively changes his world for the better. He needs a love interest. It's clean; and I really like that. It is more day to day writing without pages of description (or angst) so I didn't have to skim past all of that. These guys desperately need an editor/proof reader - I wouldn't charge much ;). But I'm following Haddock now - I'll read his other stories; and, hope for a sequel.
February 26, 2023
I enjoyed it, but it was quite a bit of work deciphering some of the odd or wrong word choices, misspellings, and other signs that the author needs a good editor (copy-editor, proofreader). Even just using something, with a decent spell checker and grammar checker would have caught 99% of the errors and made reading the book much easier. Plus I don't like the idea of YA readers learning to write fiction this way. I mean, they already write this way, no need to let them think it is the best way to do it!
I hope the author's future work is better edited; I'm not sure I'll have the patience to get through another.
I hope the author's future work is better edited; I'm not sure I'll have the patience to get through another.
March 10, 2023
Not bad. Enjoyed reading it, but every plot point felt.. convenient. The 12/17 year old also just accepted radical new abilities in stride. Eventually, to get past that, I just had to assume it was because it was in his blood and just felt natural to him.
The audiobook had two editing mistakes where the misread and reread were kept in and another writing mistake where an extra word gave the sentence the opposite meaning than what was intended.
Finally, I had never heard envoy pronounce as EHN-voy rather than AHN-voy, but it is a valid alternative pronunciation according to the dictionary. So, with effort, I got over that.
The audiobook had two editing mistakes where the misread and reread were kept in and another writing mistake where an extra word gave the sentence the opposite meaning than what was intended.
Finally, I had never heard envoy pronounce as EHN-voy rather than AHN-voy, but it is a valid alternative pronunciation according to the dictionary. So, with effort, I got over that.
April 1, 2023
This is the story of a orphaned son of a mage that saves the life of a knight and is soon elevated to be a squire. The orphaned son scavenged a dragon stone necklace from a dead mage. He knew it was magic from the start and they called it a dragon stone but it was actually a dragon's egg. When he put on the necklace it embeds itself into his skin and he becomes the protector of the egg until she is ready to hatch. He knows the dragon will be a girl because she talks to him and helps him to bring out his magical talents. I thought the book was entertaining but like so many of these it was still forgettable.
September 2, 2023
Editor needs to drop and do pushups
The best part of the book is the first 3 chapters. After that there are lots of distracting grammar errors, some spelling errors, and don't get excited about the title. The dragon is more like a split personality. The ideas have potential, but it was like watching someone play Sim City, a linear story without a goal, hardly any emotional depth to the characters. Every thing is way too easy for the protagonist once he gains magic. There are not many visual descriptions, hard to imagine how things looked. Hope Chief gets a new editor or stops using whatever app allowed this 1st one out the gate.
The best part of the book is the first 3 chapters. After that there are lots of distracting grammar errors, some spelling errors, and don't get excited about the title. The dragon is more like a split personality. The ideas have potential, but it was like watching someone play Sim City, a linear story without a goal, hardly any emotional depth to the characters. Every thing is way too easy for the protagonist once he gains magic. There are not many visual descriptions, hard to imagine how things looked. Hope Chief gets a new editor or stops using whatever app allowed this 1st one out the gate.
February 13, 2022
Finally! We may have a series.
James Haddock has been writing these fun books for years. He builds up a world and fills it full of great characters, starts a what could be a good series, and then moves on to something entirely different. This may be what could be the one that he sticks with for a while. (Fingers crossed).
The MC, as is usual with Haddock, goes from less than zero to indomitable in no time. From a battlefield scavenger to the first Dragon Mage in a hundred years. It's a pretty good ride, so far. Worth a read. At least I think so. Have fun!
James Haddock has been writing these fun books for years. He builds up a world and fills it full of great characters, starts a what could be a good series, and then moves on to something entirely different. This may be what could be the one that he sticks with for a while. (Fingers crossed).
The MC, as is usual with Haddock, goes from less than zero to indomitable in no time. From a battlefield scavenger to the first Dragon Mage in a hundred years. It's a pretty good ride, so far. Worth a read. At least I think so. Have fun!
July 9, 2023
Love the possibilities of this book. The storyline was interesting. The character himself was interesting, but I felt it probably should’ve been edited and flushed out a bit. The mage kept discovering new talents and new weapons without seeming to have to learn about them. Just boom there they were. It was as if the author knew where the character should start, where he wanted the book to end, and just got there as fast as possible. But I think the potential is wonderful. His following book should he be even better
January 4, 2024
Lots of rolocking (sp) fun
I don't give 5 stars to anything but Hugo/Nebula winners.
This book and (probably) this series shows good world building and excellent writing craft.
The problem I have is the protagonist is too powerful. It makes things easier than they should be.
Yes, he faces reverses. But his contingency planning is so good he is not defeatable.
Like I said in the title of the read this good fun. And it is not lite fun either. Just good fun.
I expect most everyone to read and enjoy this book and series.
I don't give 5 stars to anything but Hugo/Nebula winners.
This book and (probably) this series shows good world building and excellent writing craft.
The problem I have is the protagonist is too powerful. It makes things easier than they should be.
Yes, he faces reverses. But his contingency planning is so good he is not defeatable.
Like I said in the title of the read this good fun. And it is not lite fun either. Just good fun.
I expect most everyone to read and enjoy this book and series.
February 8, 2022
Good read, with need for editorial assistance
I wasn't quite sure where the story was going, however in the end it was very entertaining. I was surprised to see how many spelling issues we had and a few grammar issues. However oh, I enjoy the the author James haddock. I look forward to his next creation and hope that he'll go back to some of his earlier writings and come up with a book 2 3 4 5 on some of them.
I wasn't quite sure where the story was going, however in the end it was very entertaining. I was surprised to see how many spelling issues we had and a few grammar issues. However oh, I enjoy the the author James haddock. I look forward to his next creation and hope that he'll go back to some of his earlier writings and come up with a book 2 3 4 5 on some of them.
February 26, 2022
another enjoyable book!
I love James Haddock. This was a book about a 12 year old scavenger who finds a dragon egg and gets magical powers. Loved the story, world building and character growth. I will say that although I love his stories I really wish he would get around to writing sequels. This story is complete and doesn’t end on a cliff hanger but clearly leaves room for a book 2
I love James Haddock. This was a book about a 12 year old scavenger who finds a dragon egg and gets magical powers. Loved the story, world building and character growth. I will say that although I love his stories I really wish he would get around to writing sequels. This story is complete and doesn’t end on a cliff hanger but clearly leaves room for a book 2
March 29, 2022
You REALLY need a good proofer.
The story was good and I would like to see it continue. But, my God, the misspellings, syntax errors, outright inappropriate word choices throughout made it very hard to enjoy the book. Find you a really good English teacher, one well versed in the way the language used to taught, to read your manuscript before you publish. You won't seem quite so unlearned.
The story was good and I would like to see it continue. But, my God, the misspellings, syntax errors, outright inappropriate word choices throughout made it very hard to enjoy the book. Find you a really good English teacher, one well versed in the way the language used to taught, to read your manuscript before you publish. You won't seem quite so unlearned.
March 31, 2022
A good story
I read it in one go as it captured me page after page i needed to see what was going to happen, a rags to riches tale or the beginning of a great series, no harems no swearing but plenty of fights magic intrigue etc.
Would be nice for a book2 and find out more about em and her story it feels like we got a lot of world building done but i was thinking he needs to go kick some backside in the neighbourhood maybe find a cute dragon girl meet other envoys etc.
I read it in one go as it captured me page after page i needed to see what was going to happen, a rags to riches tale or the beginning of a great series, no harems no swearing but plenty of fights magic intrigue etc.
Would be nice for a book2 and find out more about em and her story it feels like we got a lot of world building done but i was thinking he needs to go kick some backside in the neighbourhood maybe find a cute dragon girl meet other envoys etc.
March 25, 2023
I enjoyed this book. I think this has a great start for a series. I really liked how Davis Slinger started his journey to heal just the right people to get him ahead and seemed to grow his status as well, until some people got jealous. As it progresses, David and his dragon, 'Em, strengthens his magic and builds, literally, everything. From healing people to fixing ships and creating bridges. It is incredible what David can do, when he puts his mind to it. Now, someone is after him.
January 2, 2025
Entertaining Read
David, a young scavenger, stumbles upon a dead mage's gear on the battlefield, unlocking a world of magical power and a sassy mental sidekick who's here to school him. What follows is a whirlwind of action, intrigue, revenge, and corporate backstabbing - the perfect recipe for a thrilling adventure. I'm hooked on the humor, the machinations, and action. Bring on the next installment, I say!
David, a young scavenger, stumbles upon a dead mage's gear on the battlefield, unlocking a world of magical power and a sassy mental sidekick who's here to school him. What follows is a whirlwind of action, intrigue, revenge, and corporate backstabbing - the perfect recipe for a thrilling adventure. I'm hooked on the humor, the machinations, and action. Bring on the next installment, I say!
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