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Dragon's Ring #1
Dragon's Ring
First Time in Paperback.
Only a Human Mage Can Save Their World Now—and the Last Remaining Mage is Conspiring With a Rogue Dragon to Destroy It All!
Fantasy Adventure by the Co-Author of Pyramid Scheme and Pyramid Power .
Tasmarin is a place of dragons, a plane cut off from all other worlds, where dragons can be dragons and humans can be dinner. It’s a place of islands, forests, mountains and wild oceans, filled with magical denizens. Fionn—the black dragon—calmly tells anyone who will listen that he’s going to destroy the place. Of course he’s a joker, a troublemaker and a dragon of no fixed abode. No one ever believes him.
He’s dead serious.
Others strive to refresh the magics that built this place. To do so they need the combined magics of all the intelligent species, to renew the ancient balance and compact. There is just one problem. They need a human mage, and dragons systematically eliminated those centuries ago. Their augury has revealed that there is one, and they seek her desperately. Unfortunately, she’s fallen in with Fionn, who really doesn’t want them to succeed. He has his own reasons and dark designs.
The part he hadn’t worked out is that she will affect his plans too. Chaos, roguery, heroism, theft, love, kidnapping, magic and war follow. And more chaos.
"There are great pleasures in a cold beer on a hot summer day, an Irish coffee in mid-winter, and a Dave Freer adventure story any time of the year."–Eric Flint, New York Times best-selling creator of the Ring of Fire series
“Good characterization, ripsnorting action and an ingenious plot make this a feast for sword and sorcery fans.” — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Dave Freer’s A Mankind Witch
Only a Human Mage Can Save Their World Now—and the Last Remaining Mage is Conspiring With a Rogue Dragon to Destroy It All!
Fantasy Adventure by the Co-Author of Pyramid Scheme and Pyramid Power .
Tasmarin is a place of dragons, a plane cut off from all other worlds, where dragons can be dragons and humans can be dinner. It’s a place of islands, forests, mountains and wild oceans, filled with magical denizens. Fionn—the black dragon—calmly tells anyone who will listen that he’s going to destroy the place. Of course he’s a joker, a troublemaker and a dragon of no fixed abode. No one ever believes him.
He’s dead serious.
Others strive to refresh the magics that built this place. To do so they need the combined magics of all the intelligent species, to renew the ancient balance and compact. There is just one problem. They need a human mage, and dragons systematically eliminated those centuries ago. Their augury has revealed that there is one, and they seek her desperately. Unfortunately, she’s fallen in with Fionn, who really doesn’t want them to succeed. He has his own reasons and dark designs.
The part he hadn’t worked out is that she will affect his plans too. Chaos, roguery, heroism, theft, love, kidnapping, magic and war follow. And more chaos.
"There are great pleasures in a cold beer on a hot summer day, an Irish coffee in mid-winter, and a Dave Freer adventure story any time of the year."–Eric Flint, New York Times best-selling creator of the Ring of Fire series
“Good characterization, ripsnorting action and an ingenious plot make this a feast for sword and sorcery fans.” — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Dave Freer’s A Mankind Witch
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
432 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 23, 2018
Dragon's Ring is well-enough written, if a bit abrupt in places. I really liked both Fionn and Meb and enjoyed their rambling story. Much is made of Fionn's goal to destroy the world and many descriptions tend to over-emphasize this aspect of the story, in my opinion. It doesn't take long for us to learn both his motives and his nature well enough to understand that there is a bigger picture at work and that his actions are meant for the betterment of all. Indeed, characterizing Fionn as some kind of trickster is a huge, and completely unjustified, stretch. He is certainly a rogue and comes at solutions to his problems sideways, but that's hardly the same thing.
I didn't think that I would like Meb as much as I did. She is kind of clingy (until the end of the story, see below), but this is completely justified in a girl with a limited upbringing who is thrust out of everything familiar and forced to cope in an unforgiving world with no useful skills or knowledge. Her attachment to Fionn begins naturally enough and deepens as naturally as she tags along on his pursuit of his work.
That said, the pacing and events are a bit rocky in places and some things I just had to take on the author's say-so. Some of the ancillary view-point characters were hard to distguish from one another and their motivations seemed, to me, to fluctuate more than they maybe should have.
In all, this book was a solid three stars, verging on 3.5, until the climax of the story. At the end, Meb's growth culminates in a difficult decision where she has to synthesize all she has learned from Fionn and their journey together and she has to make the decision that will forever alter the lives of all in her world. Her poise and determination in that moment shows that she really had been internalizing all that had occurred and leads her to a course that is as beautiful as it is unexpected, landing the book solidly in the four stars I ended up with.
I'd have no trouble recommending the book to anyone interested in a solid Fantasy story with an interesting world, a good story, and characters you can eventually fall in love with.
I didn't think that I would like Meb as much as I did. She is kind of clingy (until the end of the story, see below), but this is completely justified in a girl with a limited upbringing who is thrust out of everything familiar and forced to cope in an unforgiving world with no useful skills or knowledge. Her attachment to Fionn begins naturally enough and deepens as naturally as she tags along on his pursuit of his work.
That said, the pacing and events are a bit rocky in places and some things I just had to take on the author's say-so. Some of the ancillary view-point characters were hard to distguish from one another and their motivations seemed, to me, to fluctuate more than they maybe should have.
In all, this book was a solid three stars, verging on 3.5, until the climax of the story. At the end, Meb's growth culminates in a difficult decision where she has to synthesize all she has learned from Fionn and their journey together and she has to make the decision that will forever alter the lives of all in her world. Her poise and determination in that moment shows that she really had been internalizing all that had occurred and leads her to a course that is as beautiful as it is unexpected, landing the book solidly in the four stars I ended up with.
I'd have no trouble recommending the book to anyone interested in a solid Fantasy story with an interesting world, a good story, and characters you can eventually fall in love with.
May 2, 2018
The first of a two-book series, with separate plots, but there is a large plot hook planted for the second book.
It opens with the fall of a tower causing a baby to torn across space and time, and cast up on the shore.
Years later, Meb attempts to warn her village of a raid and falls into the sea, where she meets a merrow. Meanwhile sprites, dragons, and fire-beings conspire to remake the spell that had originally raised that tower (and others) and made the world. And a black dragon Fionn is wandering about, mostly in human form, making trouble, telling dragons he's out to destroy the world (they're kinda used it by now).
It involves Meb's first attempt at theft getting her very wet, a lot of rubies, the weaknesses of races to other races, why merrow catch the souls of drowned fishermen, why the dvergar regard an alvar prince as a tax-collector, two alvar seamstresses, making a troll laugh, and more.
It opens with the fall of a tower causing a baby to torn across space and time, and cast up on the shore.
Years later, Meb attempts to warn her village of a raid and falls into the sea, where she meets a merrow. Meanwhile sprites, dragons, and fire-beings conspire to remake the spell that had originally raised that tower (and others) and made the world. And a black dragon Fionn is wandering about, mostly in human form, making trouble, telling dragons he's out to destroy the world (they're kinda used it by now).
It involves Meb's first attempt at theft getting her very wet, a lot of rubies, the weaknesses of races to other races, why merrow catch the souls of drowned fishermen, why the dvergar regard an alvar prince as a tax-collector, two alvar seamstresses, making a troll laugh, and more.
March 28, 2011
Great book! Hoping for more in the series. The true plot is kept well hidden, but it is done well so that it doesn't feel contrived when you reach the end. I'll definitely be re-reading it later. :)
September 5, 2011
I love this story. It's got everyting you coulod want in a fantasy book. Dragons, centaurs, dwarfs, elves, driads and all done with a twist. Finn is fantastic and I just love Scrap. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
September 17, 2011
A great, fast-paced read with strong characters and some wonderfully unexpected turns.
June 9, 2019
A very good read, as is the sequel.
Read
April 30, 2025DNF at Chapter Three
Too many characters introduced at once, too many fantastic creatures not explained, and too cliche a plot device -- strange orphan child with magical powers.
YAWN.
What a shame. I only tried this book because I wanted originally to read Dog and Dragon. Unfortunately, that's the sequel. If it's as confusing and uninspired as the first three chapters of this book, I'm not missing a damn thing.
Too many characters introduced at once, too many fantastic creatures not explained, and too cliche a plot device -- strange orphan child with magical powers.
YAWN.
What a shame. I only tried this book because I wanted originally to read Dog and Dragon. Unfortunately, that's the sequel. If it's as confusing and uninspired as the first three chapters of this book, I'm not missing a damn thing.
February 26, 2025
This was delightful I didn’t realize how much I needed to read something unapologetically FUN
July 16, 2014
rating: 3.5/5.0
A powerful race known simply as "First" discovered a way to connect different worlds through magical energy pathways. To maintain the balance of the connected universes, they created dragons called Planomancers. They also created other types of dragons to use as messengers, fighters, and in general you can say as slaves. Some dragons didn't like this treatment and decided to create their own world. They did this by breaking parts of other worlds and combined them to form an artificial world. Thus a world called Tasmarin is formed and dragons became its rulers (or tyrants). Centaurs, dwarfs, dryads, demons, merman, and humans are also dragged to live in this closed, artificial world. When the dragons selfishly created their world, they didn't care or even know that it created an imbalance in the energy pattern of the universe. Other worlds suffered due to the lack of the magical energy drained by dragons. Fionn, a planomancer dragon whose job is to maintain the balance of magical energy in this universe, is stranded on this world. He wants to restore the balance by destroying Tasmarin from within. He starts by secretly destroying one of the pillars on which this artificial world is formed. This is the background info you need to better understand this story. The rest you can understand from the blurb.
"Tasmarin is a place of dragons, a plane cut off from all other worlds, where dragons can be dragons and humans can be dinner. It’s a place of islands, forests, mountains and wild oceans, filled with magical denizens. Fionn—the black dragon—calmly tells anyone who will listen that he’s going to destroy the place. Of course he’s a joker, a troublemaker and a dragon of no fixed abode. No one ever believes him. He’s dead serious.
Others strive to refresh the magics that built this place. To do so they need the combined magics of all the intelligent species, to renew the ancient balance and compact. There is just one problem. They need a human mage, and dragons systematically eliminated those centuries ago. Their augury has revealed that there is one, and they seek her desperately. Unfortunately, she’s fallen in with Fionn, who really doesn’t want them to succeed. He has his own reasons and dark designs.
The part he hadn’t worked out is that she will affect his plans too. Chaos, roguery, heroism, theft, love, kidnapping, magic and war follow. And more chaos."
As you can see, this novel has a wonderful world full of magical beings. Fionn is a likable rogue. Meb, the last human mage, is a strong female character. Their adventure forms the rest of the story.
A powerful race known simply as "First" discovered a way to connect different worlds through magical energy pathways. To maintain the balance of the connected universes, they created dragons called Planomancers. They also created other types of dragons to use as messengers, fighters, and in general you can say as slaves. Some dragons didn't like this treatment and decided to create their own world. They did this by breaking parts of other worlds and combined them to form an artificial world. Thus a world called Tasmarin is formed and dragons became its rulers (or tyrants). Centaurs, dwarfs, dryads, demons, merman, and humans are also dragged to live in this closed, artificial world. When the dragons selfishly created their world, they didn't care or even know that it created an imbalance in the energy pattern of the universe. Other worlds suffered due to the lack of the magical energy drained by dragons. Fionn, a planomancer dragon whose job is to maintain the balance of magical energy in this universe, is stranded on this world. He wants to restore the balance by destroying Tasmarin from within. He starts by secretly destroying one of the pillars on which this artificial world is formed. This is the background info you need to better understand this story. The rest you can understand from the blurb.
"Tasmarin is a place of dragons, a plane cut off from all other worlds, where dragons can be dragons and humans can be dinner. It’s a place of islands, forests, mountains and wild oceans, filled with magical denizens. Fionn—the black dragon—calmly tells anyone who will listen that he’s going to destroy the place. Of course he’s a joker, a troublemaker and a dragon of no fixed abode. No one ever believes him. He’s dead serious.
Others strive to refresh the magics that built this place. To do so they need the combined magics of all the intelligent species, to renew the ancient balance and compact. There is just one problem. They need a human mage, and dragons systematically eliminated those centuries ago. Their augury has revealed that there is one, and they seek her desperately. Unfortunately, she’s fallen in with Fionn, who really doesn’t want them to succeed. He has his own reasons and dark designs.
The part he hadn’t worked out is that she will affect his plans too. Chaos, roguery, heroism, theft, love, kidnapping, magic and war follow. And more chaos."
As you can see, this novel has a wonderful world full of magical beings. Fionn is a likable rogue. Meb, the last human mage, is a strong female character. Their adventure forms the rest of the story.
August 27, 2013
I started with a Kindle sample of Dog and Dragon (of course!) and discovered two things:
- I liked it.
- there was a prequel!
So I backed up to this. Not really an origin story (except for Meb, the last human mage), but more an unveiling of a very complex world with many supernatural creatures. Including one young human mage (who doesn't know that she's a mage) and an old dragon in human form who adopts her as he works... to destroy the world. Cheerfully.
It's not quite as nihilistic as it sounds. Honest.
- I liked it.
- there was a prequel!
So I backed up to this. Not really an origin story (except for Meb, the last human mage), but more an unveiling of a very complex world with many supernatural creatures. Including one young human mage (who doesn't know that she's a mage) and an old dragon in human form who adopts her as he works... to destroy the world. Cheerfully.
It's not quite as nihilistic as it sounds. Honest.
September 9, 2010
One of the better SF/F books I've had the pleasure to read. Multiple sentient races, good drama, realistic characters and a solid plot.
I particularly like how few of the characters are easily classified as good or bad. The way the universe is constructed in this book is unique as well. I hope there are more in this setting.
I particularly like how few of the characters are easily classified as good or bad. The way the universe is constructed in this book is unique as well. I hope there are more in this setting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2011
Really a 3.5, but I rounded down. Freer has a very unique writing style; it's matter-of-fact but still manages to be magical and at times poetic. Only thing is, it really drags sometimes. Maybe it's because I was reading other books at the time, but I didn't easily get into it.
July 24, 2017
Are you ready for fantastic adventure?
This book takes you from the repeated losses in a young girl's life to triumph and strength. It ends with choosing the best for all the others.
This book takes you from the repeated losses in a young girl's life to triumph and strength. It ends with choosing the best for all the others.
October 10, 2009
I liked the book gave it 3 stars as you can't give 3.5. Not quite a 4.Fun story a not to bad read. Left open for further books if the author so decides
February 25, 2020
I was a bit confused in places, to be sure, but I'm pretty sure I got the gist of what was going on. And it's hard to resist liking a clever rogue like Fionn.
November 23, 2014
There was a twist!!!
I lol'd... a lot!!!
I clapped my hands in glee after the end.
I WANT THE NEXT ONE!!
But I must sleep before I venture to... Kawaii-Kon!!!
I lol'd... a lot!!!
I clapped my hands in glee after the end.
I WANT THE NEXT ONE!!
But I must sleep before I venture to... Kawaii-Kon!!!
May 2, 2014
Surprisingly good. Didn't expect to like it.
January 17, 2015
Perhaps Freers best novel. Full of heart and spunk. Large in scope and vision. Loved it.
June 6, 2017
I've read both books, and they're amazing, totally brilliant. The story was very exciting and sucked me in right away.
February 1, 2018
I rollicking fun read. High fantasy that keeps pulling you forward at a breakneck pace, just like the main character.
July 3, 2022
As always, I am leaving this review for both books, not just the first one.
It's a good story. I would go as far as to say it is a very good story, even, that has kept me up well past midnight on a few occasions, which is always nice. The world and character building are good, the pacing is good and the plot quite interesting indeed.
The reason I am not giving it five stars is because, first of all, dragons are just a plot device in this story, which is disappointing, given the name. This is not xenofiction, despite pretending to be such. There's extensive shapeshifting being employed here, which makes every main character just a human.
Secondly, the book is mainly about magic, but the magic is not explored in any depth in the story. The rules of it are not explained and the usage is pretty blunt. The story focuses more on character development rather than the world. Nothing too wrong with that, but it does make the overall universe feel a little bit shallow. The overall storytelling is solid enough for this to not really matter, though.
And lastly, I didn't like how the romance was handled in the story - too abrupt, not enough development, felt a little superficial and rushed - but it's sort of sweet, despite all that.
All of the aforementioned issues were barely enough to take a star away from the maximum rating, mind you. The overall storytelling is solid. Certainly well worth a read.
It's a good story. I would go as far as to say it is a very good story, even, that has kept me up well past midnight on a few occasions, which is always nice. The world and character building are good, the pacing is good and the plot quite interesting indeed.
The reason I am not giving it five stars is because, first of all, dragons are just a plot device in this story, which is disappointing, given the name. This is not xenofiction, despite pretending to be such. There's extensive shapeshifting being employed here, which makes every main character just a human.
Secondly, the book is mainly about magic, but the magic is not explored in any depth in the story. The rules of it are not explained and the usage is pretty blunt. The story focuses more on character development rather than the world. Nothing too wrong with that, but it does make the overall universe feel a little bit shallow. The overall storytelling is solid enough for this to not really matter, though.
And lastly, I didn't like how the romance was handled in the story - too abrupt, not enough development, felt a little superficial and rushed - but it's sort of sweet, despite all that.
All of the aforementioned issues were barely enough to take a star away from the maximum rating, mind you. The overall storytelling is solid. Certainly well worth a read.
April 25, 2021
Short synopses
Orphan girl with uncontrolled powers
Lunatic of a dragon trying to destroy the world
Journey together to save the UNIVERSE
My favorite troupe. The journey troupe. Reminds me of The books of Pellinor. What drawn me towards the end were the characters themselves. We got the typical soft-heart air head and the genius and cunning Master. The partnership was my first time experience, such weird characters together in one setting. I love the villains who certainly got their characters, not flat out.
Epic world building without too much confusion despite its design already supposed to be confusing. Good layout.
What's different:
Sometimes fast paced - not all too bad
We almost lost a character's importance when (he/she) hasn't been present or opened to scenes or dialogues
The villains, not all of them are the natural flat. They got purpose yall and its nice the author didn't destroyed them. Just the crazy ones..... (ey hahhahaha)
The romance... not too bad but they kinda need a bit of push and development. lol like I shipped them when they first met. And book 2 was ran by that whole power.
I just love the characters. So unique. I read book 2 and I love the character development. The three of them especially.
All in all, a good read. Took me 2 days and it was worth it. You can't stop your hand from swiping for the next page.
Orphan girl with uncontrolled powers
Lunatic of a dragon trying to destroy the world
Journey together to save the UNIVERSE
My favorite troupe. The journey troupe. Reminds me of The books of Pellinor. What drawn me towards the end were the characters themselves. We got the typical soft-heart air head and the genius and cunning Master. The partnership was my first time experience, such weird characters together in one setting. I love the villains who certainly got their characters, not flat out.
Epic world building without too much confusion despite its design already supposed to be confusing. Good layout.
What's different:
Sometimes fast paced - not all too bad
We almost lost a character's importance when (he/she) hasn't been present or opened to scenes or dialogues
The villains, not all of them are the natural flat. They got purpose yall and its nice the author didn't destroyed them. Just the crazy ones..... (ey hahhahaha)
The romance... not too bad but they kinda need a bit of push and development. lol like I shipped them when they first met. And book 2 was ran by that whole power.
I just love the characters. So unique. I read book 2 and I love the character development. The three of them especially.
All in all, a good read. Took me 2 days and it was worth it. You can't stop your hand from swiping for the next page.
March 23, 2023
Dave Freer’s dragon is wonderful
Fionn, made by the First to be a guardian of the energies that bind worlds takes on a Scrap of humanity almost by accident, and thereby hangs a tale. Freer’s clever handling of mythic themes is masterful, and the story is pretty darn good too. This one’s a keeper.
Fionn, made by the First to be a guardian of the energies that bind worlds takes on a Scrap of humanity almost by accident, and thereby hangs a tale. Freer’s clever handling of mythic themes is masterful, and the story is pretty darn good too. This one’s a keeper.
March 16, 2019
I cared about Meb and Fionn but not really anything else. But I did like them!
October 10, 2020
A great read!
This is a really interesting fantasy world and takes men our main character on an amazing journey to save her world. One of David Freers best!
This is a really interesting fantasy world and takes men our main character on an amazing journey to save her world. One of David Freers best!
Read
July 2, 2021Not my cup of tea.
April 5, 2013
The magic system was complex but not really well thought out. Seemed like there was vague descriptions of who was strong against who but the few 'rules' seemed to be revised on the cuff as it suited the storyline. Dragons are only weak to human mages ... Except when two or more sentient species combine forces? Also there seemed to be very little boundaries placed on the magic system ... Except a vague warning that if you used too much power it could kill you. Finally, the ending seemed to draw together a bunch of lose threads that weren't really parts of the storyline ... Like what compulsion spell? and what romance? Overall was an ok read but I'm left with little desire to read any other books by this author.
July 5, 2016
The book suffers from occasional info-dumps, a wishy-washy main character who has a sudden change of personality, and the plot of the bad guys is a bit too shallow. The best developed character is Fionn himself. It is an amusing adventure and has potential, but it isn’t the best that I have ever read.
Full review on my blog:
https://redletalis.wordpress.com/2016...
Full review on my blog:
https://redletalis.wordpress.com/2016...
December 26, 2012
An enjoyable read.
October 28, 2013
Good and fun though terribly vague on the magic itself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews