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Jason has uncovered three dragon misfits. Now he must find the rest before Therin gains controls of them.

Now that his sister knows of the dragons, Jason doesn't feel as isolated in their small village. The connection to the dragons lets him protect his people along with the existence of the dragons.

An attack on his home village forces Jason to go to Lachen and stop Therin for good. To do so, he'll need the help of all the dragon misfits, but can the forest dragon help him master the art of illusion in time for him to save his people?

9 pages, Audio CD

First published February 18, 2020

1369 people are currently reading
326 people want to read

About the author

D.K. Holmberg

329 books991 followers

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5 stars
502 (47%)
4 stars
310 (29%)
3 stars
185 (17%)
2 stars
46 (4%)
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8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Bill Tillman.
1,672 reviews82 followers
November 17, 2022
Forest Dragon

Another adventure with Jason and His Dragons. Battles with a illusion master help Jason to grow into a Dragon Warrior.
272 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2020
Good books

But I do want to share some of my frustrations. I'm only up to where they are about to go undercover in the capital city. Situations that are highly complex and in which foreknowledge is critical to any hope for success, it drives me crazy when the is almost no, background. No planning. They have much of info they need, but do they talk about it, no. Are they all on the same page, no. Just Sarah 's basic outlook or approach to her rebellion, no discussion. They even aren't coordinated enough that they don't even know what Henry is going to do while they are there. No plan, how to rescue the villagers. Completely blind. The only thing the book keeps going over repetitively is where is the ice dragon. There is no sense of a whole picture concept or purpose or even drama suspense. The other point is the dialog is so uninformative. It is dull as dishwater. Very little growth of characters or feelings or what purpose they are trying to accomplish. As such I don't have much connection to even the main character. I did not feel anything when the village was flattened. But on the other hand there is a complex story and world that is wonderful. Just the people in it need to talk more and more description of the big main opponent. How can you build tension dislike or wanting to cheer the good guys on to win, if you don't know what's bad, about the bad guys. Or what maybe isn't so bad and a chance to reach a new understanding. Anyway do hate zero plans in a complicated situ going into a more complicated one. It's too much, suspension of belief
Profile Image for Lana.
2,768 reviews59 followers
March 22, 2021
I was a bit disappointed when reading this book as I had expected Jason to work more with the forest dragon and to free her as he had done the two previous misfits. The description of the dragon is also very vague which is a pity as I am sure she is beautiful. However I must admit I was very impressed by the idea of the illusions Therin used to try to overcome Jason. I also like the fact that Jason seems to be gaining in strength because Therin is such a strong enemy he needs to combat. Now that Kayla his sister knows about the dragons Jason feels more at ease and ready to continue the quest he has set upon himself, that of freeing as many dragons from the dragon souls' power as possible. I like that he is working so in tune with the iron dragon and the ice dragon forming strong bonds with both of them, and though the forest dragon is still being used she too has entrusted Jason with her power. The power of illusion is strong and Jason needs to master this if he is to defeat Therin, because he is behind the evil enslaving both dragons and people in Lorach and Jason is damned if he would stop fighting till he sees all freed from enslavement! I am looking forward to meeting more of the misfit dragons but hope that Jason gets to work more with these in the books to follow!
Profile Image for Stuart Macmartin.
715 reviews5 followers
September 19, 2020
It’s frustrating to give this book 2 stars. I want to know what happens. I did read to the end. But the constant repetitive inner dialog comes across as a lot of telling, not showing or experiencing. There are so many keys. Everything is key to success or understanding, but even before there’s any evidence it will work? He has to stop to find Sarah because he needs her help. He does? Why? They infiltrate the town without any sense of plan or even any idea of the geography. They concoct a cover story on the fly - just winging it? Really?

The writing and details are a constant annoyance. Yet I still wanted to know what happens.

Note to other reviewers: a synopsis of everything that happens in the book including all the twists is not a review. If that’s useful to you for reference later, fine, but don’t forget that others will read your review so please hide it as spoilers.
Profile Image for A.
44 reviews
March 25, 2020
I started reading this series for the subject matter, I quite enjoy dragons. The low rating is due to the author's writing style. This entire book could have been done in one or two chapters. His writing style is incredibly repetitive, and it has only increased with each book in the series. I continued reading them hoping his style would mature. But then looking at how many other books he has written, I do not forsee an improvement.
Profile Image for Ryan Mueller.
Author 9 books83 followers
May 2, 2020
Another fun read from Holmberg. His books are among my favorite fantasy comfort reads. They aren't the kind of books that do anything revolutionary within the genre, and that's part of what makes them so fun. They tell fast-paced stories that keep me turning the pages. This one was among his best in my opinion.

Rating: 9.5/10
23 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2020
What a good story very imaginative but spoiled by the verbose writing style. The book really needed editing to condense many of the pages. I got bored and ended up speed reading to finish the book. I’ve now read three of this series but I will not be investing any more time on them. Good luck Jason and the dragons.
Profile Image for Pablo García.
855 reviews22 followers
June 27, 2022
Coleridge's Kubla Khan all over again...
Not having any good ideas or imagination in developing the rest of the story, the author, makes two of the main characters, Jason and Sarah live in a dream/illuson for half of this volume. In the "dream/illusion" Jason and Sarah (turn themselves in to the Dragon Souls). The author thinks that the best way to learn from the enemy is to study at their academy. The first thing that the Dragon Souls do, is arrest and question Jason and Sarah. With everything they know about the Free Dragons, the Dragon Haven, etc. it is like if Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia would seek a duel with Darth Vader and let Obi Wan Kenobi escape with Han Solo and Chewbacca in the Millenium Falcon.
What would the "Rebels" lose from all the information that Sarah and Jason know and possibly reveal to the Dragon Souls? Why on God's Earth would they let themselves get captured so easily by their enemies? Are the torture and questioning methods of their enemies worth their lives? Who would think that being arrested, questioned and tortured is a good way to learn from the enemy? Did they forget all of the torture and enslavement Henry had to endure?
What is real and what is an illusion? This is really not a true argument, much less a plot arc, because the author will change the conditions to meet his own purposes. Whether Jason and Sarah imagined it all, or not, then what is the point to use 30% of this second volume, to explain a fake/real illusion? It's like being in a dream and being charged for the price of a premium book to read it, but if it is a dream then why did the author ask me for real money for a dream book?
Being more naive and stupid by Jason and Sarah is impossible. They didn't even come up with backstories, they went together and claimed to be brother and sister and now they are captured. They learned nothing about the Dragon Souls, were unable to attend their academy and lost all of the time that the readers spent on reading this third volume of this fantasy novel series...
With less than 300 pages and 21 chapters, the village that was second in importance to Jason was completely wiped out. No one has to question who the culprit is. Jason's mom is either missing or dead, but then again she was so sick and invalid, before he left that there is little or no chance that she survived.
Whether all of this third volume is a Dream, an illusion, or reality, not even the author knows...It reminds me of the unfinished poem Kubla Khan by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The name and fame of Samuel Taylor Coleridge as a romantic poet is somewhere because of Coleridge’s marvelous dream faculty. The poem, “Kubla Khan” also has its origin in one of the supposed dreams of Coleridge. He dreamt of Kublai Khan (paradise), in a sleep induced by opium consumption. According to references found on the internet: "In the year 1797, Coleridge read a passage about Kublai Khan and about the palace that he commanded to be built in Purcha’s Pilgrimage. After having a dream of Kubla Khan, Coleridge decided to write a poem on Kublai Khan. Waking up, he recollected all the scenes and thoughts of that dream and took his pen to instantly pen it down. After writing only 54 lines, he was interrupted by a visitor and hence, the existing poem has remained a fragment".
So did the author consume drugs and imagined a dream? Did he later write it down and then became the third volume of the Dragon Misfits series? If all of it is a Dream/Illusion or not, it takes away credibility from an already fictional story. In other words, if it is all made up, then what sense does it have to confuse and convolute this volume into a dream sequence/illusion arc?
The author, through the thoughts of Jason writes: "As he watched, as he focused on the dragons, he couldn’t help but feel as if Henry were right. None of this was real. It might feel real.
It might look real. And the sound and violence of it all might make him believe that it had been real, but there was nothing about it that was real. And that was the key."
When the author himself, casts doubt of the reality of his fictional story...of a dream/illusion within a story everybody knows to be made up, I think this is the moment to stop, put the book down and stop reading it. Or what exactly is the point of reading something that might have happened or might have not happened while all of it encapsulated in a dream/illusion?
Profile Image for Jen.
1,233 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2020
This book in the series is filled with even MORE inner monologue. I skimmed through more of this book than the previous one. We spend a lot of time in Jason’s head as he thinks through how to use the magic. Then he thinks through just about everything he’s about to do.

I think the author could benefit by keeping an eye on how long it is before there’s any conversation between characters, or something physically happening, and making sure they cut off the inner monologue when it gets too lengthy. As a reader, I need to be experiencing more instead of reading about Jason thinking.

The parts where we’re not up in Jason’s head are really good. So, do more of that with future books. Well... except for the first book where Jason spent a ton of time just traveling up and down the mountain. That got old.
Profile Image for Blackbird.
62 reviews
January 14, 2021
There's so much wrong with this series. The plot, the pace, the dialogue and the writing -so awfully repetitive. And it's gradually gotten worse from the first to fourth book. Jason is always calling upon power, or having power fill him or realising something. I can't count how many times the word "fill" was used in a chapter on average. What took over 20 chapters could have been achieved in half that if not less.

And can he please name the dragons, this iron dragon, ice dragon business isn't working out at all.

Off to Storm Dragon! (Even this feels repetitive)
191 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2020
He becomes stronger

Jason believes that his village has been destroyed. Kala and Jason were out walking when an avalanche struck. He goes to dragon haven and Sara and Henry go with Jason to Lora has to locate his village. He learned how to do illusions. He learns that the power of the iron dragon the forest dragon are within him.
He kills therin who was the biggest threat to the dragons. Now what will happen to them all in the next book.
1,140 reviews2 followers
June 14, 2020
Jason and his sister, Kayla are out on the mountain when they are caught in an avalanche. After almost giving up hope of staying alive the iron dragon shows up and they escape. The village was destroyed. Everyone and everything is gone.

The ice dragon is missing! The iron dragon takes them to the Dragon Haven. On the way there they stop in a forest and discover the forest dragon. His nemesis Therin shows up. All kinds of strange things happen to Jason and his friends from Dragon Haven.
224 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2021
An Enjoyable and Fantastic Read

As I continue reading the Dragon Misfits it never disappoints. Obviously, between the author's research and imagination I was kept enthralled. I just enjoy the imaginative skills and gaining maturity that bring the main character, Jason to life. His determination and developing skills are the keys to his success. After the demise of his father, unlike some young men he is determined to care for both his mother and his sister Kayla.
Profile Image for Shainna.
1 review1 follower
August 22, 2020
Good story but too repetitive

After seeing the same phrase using the word “key” I decided to search through the book for the word, and found it a total of 32 times. And also the fact that he questions everything to the point of me wanting to tell him to just shut up. I like the story, just wish it was written better.
Profile Image for Roar Sæthre.
10 reviews
September 21, 2020
On repeat....

Well, the storyline is the only positive I can find in this series... Sorry, but it seems the author got paid per word, as he's repeating himself all the time. Skimmed through the pages just to be finished with it. I'm usually not so hard in my critics, but I've read better books by this author.
6 reviews
October 3, 2020
Read all D.K. Books

I read for fun not to analyze. D.K. puts adventure, emotion, strength and especially fun in to all his books. Reading should be about enjoyment in wanting to read. All of the D.K. books I have read inspire me to read. D. K. Thank you for the fun and adventures in your books.
Profile Image for Richard Rozborski.
8 reviews
November 17, 2020
good idea for start of series but "why oh why" - after first book this third becoming more and more boring, repetitive, plenty of non-senses in major characters planning/acting - all can be condensed to two chapters as someone is telling us in rating this book : "can be, an author is paid by the number of used words?"
14 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2020
Great story line but....

Great story line but the writing style of having the main character repeat his same inner feelings over and over and over is beyond annoying. I learned it's easier to get through the book by skipping a paragraph when I realized he was doing it again. It's like the author thinks his readers have the memory of a goldfish
Profile Image for Mercedez Jess.
25 reviews
May 15, 2021
I'm going to give 4 stars because although I'm invested in the characters, I enjoy Jason and the dragons! But I disliked how a huge part of the book was an illusion.

I know that's a huge spoiler but it just took me out of the great story telling and following the characters.

Still definitely going to read book 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laurie.
135 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2021
What a wonderful book. It continues with the forest dragon, Jason is learning so much about how to use his new found magic to defeat Therin. But he got to the forest dragon first, he needs to clear her then move on to Therin. He is able to defeat Therin and now what is next. He wants to protect all Dragons from the Dragon Souls. Can not wait for the next book.
32 reviews1 follower
January 19, 2024
evil defeated or so it seems!

Forest dragon found and new abilities afforded our hero. Heavens what's next? On to a misfits book four and , oh, by the way, another late night! The story has unfolded and as one might expect of Mr. Holmberg I enjoyed every bit of riding along with the Dragons. If you're looking for a new adventure, please give this series a go.
1,964 reviews
February 23, 2020
Jason is learning to cope with his new reality. Also the Dragon clutch is expanding and so is Jason's power. He still over thinks his options but I will allow his youthfulness as a reason for that. For now.
Profile Image for Yemi Olutola Balogun.
37 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2020
Enjoyable

I do enjoy these series but I do wish there could be more 3 part series or even less. I find having so many books within a series quite a put-off and the wait can also be a drag!
57 reviews2 followers
February 26, 2020
WOW that was intense!

I am so glad that Jason was able to heal the forest Dragon and learn to use illusions. I'm especially excited that he was able to get rid of Therin. This is one series that has to be read. This is straight from the Dragon Lord.
375 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2020
Conclusion

Conclusion to believe in yourself and do right things right. I got bored with the illusions and religious




Conclusion to believe in yourself and do right things right you're stronger than you th I k. I got bored with the illusions and repetitions
Profile Image for Elizabeth Choi.
404 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2020
Rabbit hole

That's what I felt like! I fell into a rabbits hole! The illusions pull my thoughts this way n that way as I fell deeper and deeper into that hole, just to be spat out into a new reality and the truth! What a amazing adventure!
Profile Image for LaShunda.
613 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2020
A tangled and tricky tale

With the exception of a particularly repetitious phrase, this story was truly entertaining, and an engaging and fast paced read, wherein Jason is scrambling to connect clues to save his world.
Profile Image for Trijit  Saha.
13 reviews
September 4, 2020
Got quite confusing with the illusions with not knowing what was reality and what was, though I suppose that was sort of what Holmberg was going for since that's exactly how Jason would've felt but still a little baffling at times.

Aside from that, still a pretty good read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
475 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2020
Amazed

This story just keeps getting more and more amazing. I have spent several evenings reading almost all night. I love the stories about the dragons, their differences and how Jason is able to help them and become bonded to them.
34 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2020
Review of Forest Dragon

This, like the previous ones in this series, was a phenomenal read! I enjoyed it immensely. Ill leave a review on Storm Dragon after I finish it. You are an exceptional author!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews

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