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Dragon-Mage #1
Heart of Fire
A SLAVE DETERMINED TO RIDE A DRAGON. A CHILD CHOSEN TO RIDE THE OBSIDIAN GUARDIAN.
Camilla has always been told that humans are inferior. They cannot use magic. If they bond to dragons, they will doom the creatures to extinction. She has never believed a word of it. She has always known that she can use magic, and she suspects it is the elves who harm the dragons by keeping them to themselves. Now, she is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: a dragon’s clutch is hatching and while she will earn the wrath of her captors if she is caught, she has the chance to see a dragon hatch and perhaps even to Recognize.
Kario’s people have feared dragons since time immemorial. When an unrealistically huge black dragon flies in while she is hunting, she is certain she will die. Instead, her life is changed when Nelexi, Obsidian Guardian of Areaer, chooses her as her final rider. Kario takes the name Flameheart, but she is soon homesick and afraid that she is insufficient to be the partner of a god.
Camilla has always been told that humans are inferior. They cannot use magic. If they bond to dragons, they will doom the creatures to extinction. She has never believed a word of it. She has always known that she can use magic, and she suspects it is the elves who harm the dragons by keeping them to themselves. Now, she is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: a dragon’s clutch is hatching and while she will earn the wrath of her captors if she is caught, she has the chance to see a dragon hatch and perhaps even to Recognize.
Kario’s people have feared dragons since time immemorial. When an unrealistically huge black dragon flies in while she is hunting, she is certain she will die. Instead, her life is changed when Nelexi, Obsidian Guardian of Areaer, chooses her as her final rider. Kario takes the name Flameheart, but she is soon homesick and afraid that she is insufficient to be the partner of a god.
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Published April 16, 2023
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About the author
Raina Nightingale
16 books8 followersI have been writing fantasy since I could write stories with the words I could read (the same time that I started devouring books, too). I now write “slice of life” and epic dawndark fantasy, for fiction lovers interested in rich world-building, characters who feel like real people, and spiritual experiences. I think giant balls floating in space can have the same magic that fairytales teach us to look for in oak trees and stars. I have a lot of universes and while not all of them have giant balls floating in space, most of them have dragons of one sort or another!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 7, 2023
Perhaps the cover of this book is not as snazzy as plenty of other indie reads, but I feel its softer and more abstract visuals are the perfect backdrop for this dual POV teenage female / dragon partner fantasy series.
The first chapter tosses the reader into the middle of the action, which feels like quite a bang: an enslaved teenage human woman named Camilla sneaks into the coliseum where the Ilesh Wood Elves that are her owners are excitedly waiting for several dozen dragon eggs to hatch. What initially seemed like an accident changes her life forever when a prized gold baby dragon named Radiance bonds with her the instant she is born.
Horrified upon realizing a precious dragon has bonded to a slave (a process which is apparently irreversible), Camila is locked up and uncertain of what has happened. I really enjoyed how the story starts. This is probably the first time I read a book that starts with this specific conflict, and it was handled very well. The second chapter was good, but I would have wanted to enter this mysterious city of Ilesh with Wood Elves that have created some kind of corrupted magic. We only see vague glimpses of this city or, err... country when Camila is taken to some unspecified place within their territory to work in the dragon stables. It would have been nice to see her watch the lucky elves bonded to other dragons learning how to prepare saddles. Most of this portion of the story focuses on the pain Camila feels from uncontrollable magic that is causing a chronic burn in her right hand. The writing here was certainly great. I was just left wishing to know more about this city. We discover that two other slaves bonded with two male silver dragons: Camila's younger brother Lavilor and a teenage slave Camila detests named Sylvara. If there were any scenes where Camila interacted with her brother upon such a life-changing event and their separation from their mother, I don't recall them. The book seems to skip all of these scenes and spends most of the novel focusing on the trio of humans and their bonded dragons escaping Ilesh and Camila's personal growth and struggles.
The second POV features another teenager named Kario (later on adding the second name Kario Flameheart) as she is exiled from her people for bonding with a mythical immortal dragon named Nelexi. Whereas Camila spends most of her story frustrated at her situation, Kario's sheltered upbringing among peaceful free humans shows a quaint innocence that is quite a stark contrast.
The contrasts don't end there. Camila soon discovers an ancient evil called the Nightmare, and she decides to make its destruction her life-long mission. At the same time, the dragon Nelexi tells Kario about their mission as a bonded pair, and she is commanded to perform various tasks to ensure world peace. Everything hints both heroines are destined to fight this mysterious nightmare, and I will assume they will bump into each other in book 2.
What was my favorite part of the story? By far, it was the loving bond and sense of awe as humans and dragon grow closer together. I had not felt this joy reading about a dragon-riding duo growing together since Eragon. So, if a reader is hungry for more books with this theme, this story will be up their alley.
I also enjoyed the different species of Elves that we met along the way. While the Ilesh elves are barely mentioned, we briefly meet Sea Elves, Light Elves, and Fire Elves. These last elves fascinated me. Are they bonded with a magical fire tree? Can they travel beyond their lands carrying a potted fire plant? Are Ilesh elves also restricted by the geography of bonded plants? I would have enjoyed learning a bit more. Since Camila and Kario spend most of the story traveling to the same destination, we don't get many chances to stop by and find out.
Lavilor was a fine supporting character, but I would have wanted to see more of Sylvara. Yes, I know, bully characters are one of my biggest pet peeves, and those scenes bore me out of my wits. However, this book avoids the topic so much that we don't get to really dislike her. We only know Camila resents her. While it is true Sylvara never approached Camila and helped dress her hand wound, I do wish to maintain the benefit of the doubt she isn't as terrible as Camila claims. Perhaps the changes in her personality happened immediately when she bonded to her dragon Sleet, and the reader never gets to see her doing bad things because the story begins right when the three characters bonded to their dragons.
The shapeshifter dragon mages were interesting. We get a good chance to meet them as the Elf female mage Serose teaches Camila in their hiding spot. This portion of the novel confused me a bit. When we have scenes where characters are fugitives and hurry to leave, I never quite understood if the barrier field the book mentions was an impenetrable defense barrier surrounding Ilesh that zaps anyone on sight or if the field only surrounded the dragon mage hideout. I also didn't quite know what kind of place this was. Is it a stable? A cave? I don't really remember seeing a description of the hideout.
Akin to many fantasy novels, the big villain is an amorphous evil heralded by a wizard. I prefer my villains to have their own POVs, and ones that are more morally grey. So, I do feel the book could have defined these characters much better. The only villains that seemed cool were some corrupted dragons. It seems like they are the only ones where we get a chance to see their personality and motives.
As for story pacing, it did feel a bit uneven at times, especially in the middle. We have very long dialogues of the dragons talking about the nightmare to their riders and the history and lore of the world. I would have preferred if they had been tightened and got more elf society screen time instead. However, when Camila begins to feel her inner voice and the magic trying to be released, the text is so beautifully crafted that I feel grateful the book focused on the bond between dragon and rider instead of entire human nations fighting against the wizard. The sense of intimacy in this book was very well done.
In a nutshell, the book is a quick read with very pleasing dragon characters, lots of riding action, and flawed characters trying to break from their shell with the help of their dragons. It was a good read, and I would like to read the sequel sometime.
The first chapter tosses the reader into the middle of the action, which feels like quite a bang: an enslaved teenage human woman named Camilla sneaks into the coliseum where the Ilesh Wood Elves that are her owners are excitedly waiting for several dozen dragon eggs to hatch. What initially seemed like an accident changes her life forever when a prized gold baby dragon named Radiance bonds with her the instant she is born.
Horrified upon realizing a precious dragon has bonded to a slave (a process which is apparently irreversible), Camila is locked up and uncertain of what has happened. I really enjoyed how the story starts. This is probably the first time I read a book that starts with this specific conflict, and it was handled very well. The second chapter was good, but I would have wanted to enter this mysterious city of Ilesh with Wood Elves that have created some kind of corrupted magic. We only see vague glimpses of this city or, err... country when Camila is taken to some unspecified place within their territory to work in the dragon stables. It would have been nice to see her watch the lucky elves bonded to other dragons learning how to prepare saddles. Most of this portion of the story focuses on the pain Camila feels from uncontrollable magic that is causing a chronic burn in her right hand. The writing here was certainly great. I was just left wishing to know more about this city. We discover that two other slaves bonded with two male silver dragons: Camila's younger brother Lavilor and a teenage slave Camila detests named Sylvara. If there were any scenes where Camila interacted with her brother upon such a life-changing event and their separation from their mother, I don't recall them. The book seems to skip all of these scenes and spends most of the novel focusing on the trio of humans and their bonded dragons escaping Ilesh and Camila's personal growth and struggles.
The second POV features another teenager named Kario (later on adding the second name Kario Flameheart) as she is exiled from her people for bonding with a mythical immortal dragon named Nelexi. Whereas Camila spends most of her story frustrated at her situation, Kario's sheltered upbringing among peaceful free humans shows a quaint innocence that is quite a stark contrast.
The contrasts don't end there. Camila soon discovers an ancient evil called the Nightmare, and she decides to make its destruction her life-long mission. At the same time, the dragon Nelexi tells Kario about their mission as a bonded pair, and she is commanded to perform various tasks to ensure world peace. Everything hints both heroines are destined to fight this mysterious nightmare, and I will assume they will bump into each other in book 2.
What was my favorite part of the story? By far, it was the loving bond and sense of awe as humans and dragon grow closer together. I had not felt this joy reading about a dragon-riding duo growing together since Eragon. So, if a reader is hungry for more books with this theme, this story will be up their alley.
I also enjoyed the different species of Elves that we met along the way. While the Ilesh elves are barely mentioned, we briefly meet Sea Elves, Light Elves, and Fire Elves. These last elves fascinated me. Are they bonded with a magical fire tree? Can they travel beyond their lands carrying a potted fire plant? Are Ilesh elves also restricted by the geography of bonded plants? I would have enjoyed learning a bit more. Since Camila and Kario spend most of the story traveling to the same destination, we don't get many chances to stop by and find out.
Lavilor was a fine supporting character, but I would have wanted to see more of Sylvara. Yes, I know, bully characters are one of my biggest pet peeves, and those scenes bore me out of my wits. However, this book avoids the topic so much that we don't get to really dislike her. We only know Camila resents her. While it is true Sylvara never approached Camila and helped dress her hand wound, I do wish to maintain the benefit of the doubt she isn't as terrible as Camila claims. Perhaps the changes in her personality happened immediately when she bonded to her dragon Sleet, and the reader never gets to see her doing bad things because the story begins right when the three characters bonded to their dragons.
The shapeshifter dragon mages were interesting. We get a good chance to meet them as the Elf female mage Serose teaches Camila in their hiding spot. This portion of the novel confused me a bit. When we have scenes where characters are fugitives and hurry to leave, I never quite understood if the barrier field the book mentions was an impenetrable defense barrier surrounding Ilesh that zaps anyone on sight or if the field only surrounded the dragon mage hideout. I also didn't quite know what kind of place this was. Is it a stable? A cave? I don't really remember seeing a description of the hideout.
Akin to many fantasy novels, the big villain is an amorphous evil heralded by a wizard. I prefer my villains to have their own POVs, and ones that are more morally grey. So, I do feel the book could have defined these characters much better. The only villains that seemed cool were some corrupted dragons. It seems like they are the only ones where we get a chance to see their personality and motives.
As for story pacing, it did feel a bit uneven at times, especially in the middle. We have very long dialogues of the dragons talking about the nightmare to their riders and the history and lore of the world. I would have preferred if they had been tightened and got more elf society screen time instead. However, when Camila begins to feel her inner voice and the magic trying to be released, the text is so beautifully crafted that I feel grateful the book focused on the bond between dragon and rider instead of entire human nations fighting against the wizard. The sense of intimacy in this book was very well done.
In a nutshell, the book is a quick read with very pleasing dragon characters, lots of riding action, and flawed characters trying to break from their shell with the help of their dragons. It was a good read, and I would like to read the sequel sometime.
Read
April 23, 2023Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Heart of Fire is available now.
The books starts when Camilla, the protagonist, finds a way to see dragons hatch. When a dragon chooses her as its companion, things shift. What was once viewed as something exclusive to the elves (the ability to bond with dragons) is now proven to be available to humans as well. The accepted way of things changes as Camilla faces new challenges and triumphs.
At its heart, Heart of Fire is a book about relationships. Aside from Camilla’s relationship with her brother and her complicated feelings about family, I really liked the relationships with the dragons. I feel like the communication (sort of telepathy) between the different characters and the dragons was used more as character development than as a conversation between the humans and dragons. I found that to be an interesting way to show what a character who is a little reticent- as Camilla came across- is thinking or feeling.
The book takes a while to get going, but stay patient: once things are set up, it’s an entertaining book. The author obviously had a strong idea of what was going to happen and why. The world is an interesting one, with dragons (yay!), elves, and magic. I particularly liked how magic worked. It was a different take which I enjoyed reading about.
I struggled a little bit with the characters. I felt like they were kept at arm’s length, although that could have been me. I thought that the dragons’ interactions are what gave us the best looks at how Camilla thinks. While this was a really cool dynamic, I do wish that Camilla-and other characters to a lesser degree- were just a little bit more accessible.
At the end of the day, Heart of Fire is an enjoyable fantasy, and Raina Nightingale is an author with a lot of promise.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
The books starts when Camilla, the protagonist, finds a way to see dragons hatch. When a dragon chooses her as its companion, things shift. What was once viewed as something exclusive to the elves (the ability to bond with dragons) is now proven to be available to humans as well. The accepted way of things changes as Camilla faces new challenges and triumphs.
At its heart, Heart of Fire is a book about relationships. Aside from Camilla’s relationship with her brother and her complicated feelings about family, I really liked the relationships with the dragons. I feel like the communication (sort of telepathy) between the different characters and the dragons was used more as character development than as a conversation between the humans and dragons. I found that to be an interesting way to show what a character who is a little reticent- as Camilla came across- is thinking or feeling.
The book takes a while to get going, but stay patient: once things are set up, it’s an entertaining book. The author obviously had a strong idea of what was going to happen and why. The world is an interesting one, with dragons (yay!), elves, and magic. I particularly liked how magic worked. It was a different take which I enjoyed reading about.
I struggled a little bit with the characters. I felt like they were kept at arm’s length, although that could have been me. I thought that the dragons’ interactions are what gave us the best looks at how Camilla thinks. While this was a really cool dynamic, I do wish that Camilla-and other characters to a lesser degree- were just a little bit more accessible.
At the end of the day, Heart of Fire is an enjoyable fantasy, and Raina Nightingale is an author with a lot of promise.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
April 19, 2023
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: World on a brink of war, for better or worse, as status quo needed shaking up, with those in power – abusing it for their own gain, subduing entire other races, magic, even dragons. But the Nightmare threatens not just them. His darkness might just consume entire world in the meager existence of undeath, filled with hate and fear. And so, unlikely heroes gather knowledge and power, in hopes to someday see their victory, against enemy so ancient, and so powerful, warriors greater than them fell. But the world is changing, and so, there is hope.
My Opinion: It’s a bit of a struggle to get through the start of the book, about one third and a handful of it, as writing itself is very bumpy and in need of farther editing. Other than that, the concept is very interesting, and keeps improving as the tale goes on. Appearances of new races, along side contact with old and forgotten ones. Sentient dragons who themselves seem to be a race, and therefore there’s a dilema in certain points of this realm, whether it would be morally acceptable to kill them as animals, for they cause harm. There’s very solid action too, characters are well written, even if not all are very likeable, think that’s human, and not a con. Am genuinely looking forwards to another book.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: World on a brink of war, for better or worse, as status quo needed shaking up, with those in power – abusing it for their own gain, subduing entire other races, magic, even dragons. But the Nightmare threatens not just them. His darkness might just consume entire world in the meager existence of undeath, filled with hate and fear. And so, unlikely heroes gather knowledge and power, in hopes to someday see their victory, against enemy so ancient, and so powerful, warriors greater than them fell. But the world is changing, and so, there is hope.
My Opinion: It’s a bit of a struggle to get through the start of the book, about one third and a handful of it, as writing itself is very bumpy and in need of farther editing. Other than that, the concept is very interesting, and keeps improving as the tale goes on. Appearances of new races, along side contact with old and forgotten ones. Sentient dragons who themselves seem to be a race, and therefore there’s a dilema in certain points of this realm, whether it would be morally acceptable to kill them as animals, for they cause harm. There’s very solid action too, characters are well written, even if not all are very likeable, think that’s human, and not a con. Am genuinely looking forwards to another book.
August 4, 2024
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Heart of Fire
Thank you to Raina Nightingale for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Heart of Fire is a story full of lore and world building. As Camilla, Flameheart and the other key characters begin their journey, the reader will be told the history of elves, Dragonriders and unique creatures created by the gods. The break to tell history does slow the story down a bit, but gives needed background knowledge.
The writing style of this novel focuses on dialogue and the inner thoughts of the characters. Due to this it is a telling versus showing style of storytelling. There is less focus on the settings, and instead dives into how the characters feel about what has happened to them. Camilla in particular has moments where she is working through her anger over past events as a slave, and is actively learning how to understand why she is angry.
This novel does not go into depth of detail with battles, or conflicts. Conflicts that do arise are quickly resolved. Whereas discussion on things such as choices, and the cause and effect of them are explored in great detail. Heart of Fire focuses on the love between characters without turning into a romance. It shows the platonic side of love, and the connection between characters. This novel can be enjoyed by both young adults and adults.
Thank you to Raina Nightingale for providing me with a copy of this book! I voluntarily leave this review!
Heart of Fire is a story full of lore and world building. As Camilla, Flameheart and the other key characters begin their journey, the reader will be told the history of elves, Dragonriders and unique creatures created by the gods. The break to tell history does slow the story down a bit, but gives needed background knowledge.
The writing style of this novel focuses on dialogue and the inner thoughts of the characters. Due to this it is a telling versus showing style of storytelling. There is less focus on the settings, and instead dives into how the characters feel about what has happened to them. Camilla in particular has moments where she is working through her anger over past events as a slave, and is actively learning how to understand why she is angry.
This novel does not go into depth of detail with battles, or conflicts. Conflicts that do arise are quickly resolved. Whereas discussion on things such as choices, and the cause and effect of them are explored in great detail. Heart of Fire focuses on the love between characters without turning into a romance. It shows the platonic side of love, and the connection between characters. This novel can be enjoyed by both young adults and adults.
August 23, 2023
Ahhhhh. What a cliffhanger at the end of this one!
This was a short, sweet read that features a fascinating and quasi-spiritual bond between dragons and dragonriders that should appeal to fans of A Wizard of Earthsea as well as Mercedes Lackey and Tamora Pierce. Fans of classic, good vs. evil fantasy will also find much to love here.
Heart of Fire is an upper middle grade/lower YA epic fantasy that has a tight focus on its two teenage protagonists (Camilla and Kario) and the deep, non-romantic bonds the humans share with their dragons. Nightingale's prose shines best in the passages that explore this bond and its spiritual underpinnings, as well as the quieter, more philosophical moments that undergird the book.
Camilla is a fascinating character--at once sympathetic, but also very flawed due to her traumatic history. Much of her story is focused on Camilla working through the anger and hate that motivate her, as well as what I read as a kind of survivor's guilt. There's a moving passage later on when Camilla is
Although Camilla is perhaps the more fleshed out and central character, Kario may have been my favourite. I think in part this was due to her relationship with her dragon, Nelexi. Their conversations gave Nightingale fantastic opportunities to flex her philosophical muscles.
Check this one out if you love any of the aforementioned authors, love upper MG/lower YA, and are looking for a fantasy that focuses on deep friendships and partnerships rather than romance.
This was a short, sweet read that features a fascinating and quasi-spiritual bond between dragons and dragonriders that should appeal to fans of A Wizard of Earthsea as well as Mercedes Lackey and Tamora Pierce. Fans of classic, good vs. evil fantasy will also find much to love here.
Heart of Fire is an upper middle grade/lower YA epic fantasy that has a tight focus on its two teenage protagonists (Camilla and Kario) and the deep, non-romantic bonds the humans share with their dragons. Nightingale's prose shines best in the passages that explore this bond and its spiritual underpinnings, as well as the quieter, more philosophical moments that undergird the book.
Camilla is a fascinating character--at once sympathetic, but also very flawed due to her traumatic history. Much of her story is focused on Camilla working through the anger and hate that motivate her, as well as what I read as a kind of survivor's guilt. There's a moving passage later on when Camilla is
Although Camilla is perhaps the more fleshed out and central character, Kario may have been my favourite. I think in part this was due to her relationship with her dragon, Nelexi. Their conversations gave Nightingale fantastic opportunities to flex her philosophical muscles.
Check this one out if you love any of the aforementioned authors, love upper MG/lower YA, and are looking for a fantasy that focuses on deep friendships and partnerships rather than romance.
May 15, 2024
*I was send this book for review by the author. This in no way impacts my opinion.
The author’s pitch for this book for me was very compelling: adult dragon fantasy, with women protagonists and very little romance. I agree with this assessment. Though I agree that it is a book that could be enjoyed by adult readers I feel it is one that would also prove to be a good entry point for YA readers as well.
The plot itself on paper may sound like stories you’ve read before but I think this narrative was well executed. It had interesting layers which played out in compelling ways.
The Characters in this story were interesting and easy to root for though maybe not ones I felt deeply connected to. I had a good time following them and they were a good face for the story.
The writing was nice and accessible. It made for a quick and easy reading experience. The pacing was nicely fast and I flew through it!
The world building in this book was decently visual and easy to imagine. The descriptions were to the point and it was easy to situate yourself.
Overall I had a good time starting this series. It was fun and easy to get through!
The author’s pitch for this book for me was very compelling: adult dragon fantasy, with women protagonists and very little romance. I agree with this assessment. Though I agree that it is a book that could be enjoyed by adult readers I feel it is one that would also prove to be a good entry point for YA readers as well.
The plot itself on paper may sound like stories you’ve read before but I think this narrative was well executed. It had interesting layers which played out in compelling ways.
The Characters in this story were interesting and easy to root for though maybe not ones I felt deeply connected to. I had a good time following them and they were a good face for the story.
The writing was nice and accessible. It made for a quick and easy reading experience. The pacing was nicely fast and I flew through it!
The world building in this book was decently visual and easy to imagine. The descriptions were to the point and it was easy to situate yourself.
Overall I had a good time starting this series. It was fun and easy to get through!
Read
April 24, 2023Heart of Fire is an interesting novel and a solid take on a classic fantasy tale, namely that of saving the world and people from the bad guy. I liked the different take on dragons and also on magic, and I very much enjoyed the world the story lived in. Somehow the setting Nightingale created felt old and lived-in, and very different from the European-esq places many fantasy stories take place in.
The story had a bit of a bumpy start for me. The first third of the book felt a little slow and confusing, but beyond that things really picked up and I found myself reading easier and feeling more immersed in the story. It also took me a little while to feel connected with the characters, but I eventually did after seeing them go through challenges and grow from their experiences.
I enjoyed the messages that underlaid the traditional fantasy plot. Beneath the world-saving, the book is about relationships. There is a lot of exploration of love, but not of the romantic kind, which I really appreciated. It is about the love of family and friendship and how important that is when faced with challenges. I thought this was done well, and in a way that younger readers would be able to connect with and appreciate. I also liked the themes of free will and destiny that we looked at through the different lenses and experiences of each character.
Overall I found this a solid read, and an interesting start to a series. I think it is best suited to young adult readerswho might want to explore fantasy stories with love, but not romance.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy for me to voluntarily review.
The story had a bit of a bumpy start for me. The first third of the book felt a little slow and confusing, but beyond that things really picked up and I found myself reading easier and feeling more immersed in the story. It also took me a little while to feel connected with the characters, but I eventually did after seeing them go through challenges and grow from their experiences.
I enjoyed the messages that underlaid the traditional fantasy plot. Beneath the world-saving, the book is about relationships. There is a lot of exploration of love, but not of the romantic kind, which I really appreciated. It is about the love of family and friendship and how important that is when faced with challenges. I thought this was done well, and in a way that younger readers would be able to connect with and appreciate. I also liked the themes of free will and destiny that we looked at through the different lenses and experiences of each character.
Overall I found this a solid read, and an interesting start to a series. I think it is best suited to young adult readerswho might want to explore fantasy stories with love, but not romance.
My thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy for me to voluntarily review.
August 4, 2023
I received this book for free, and definitely enjoyed it! It reads very differently to other fantasy stories, mostly due to the large focus on dialogue and character development rather than on plot. What made it really interesting were the philosophical questions asked, about hate and love, about slavery, etc. On surface level, its a story about dragons, but under the tip of the iceberg is a lot of focus on themes and emotions.
I really liked the relations between dragon and rider: it's hard not to compare this book to Eragon, because there are quite a few similarities, but one thing that this story does differently is indeed make the dragon more important than usual. Without spoiling too much, I have to say that dragons and humans really have a symbiotic relationship, rather than that of a person with his horse (which is a much more master/servant relationship) prevalent in other fantasy stories.
In terms of what could be better; the dialogue does sometimes go on a bit too long without enough happening, and sometimes gets quite convoluted; you definitely have to pay attention to what is happening! But if you want a lot of action, don't read this book.
My favourite character was by far was the dragon Nelexi, because though she is really strong, yet she still respects her rider for who she is.
I really liked the relations between dragon and rider: it's hard not to compare this book to Eragon, because there are quite a few similarities, but one thing that this story does differently is indeed make the dragon more important than usual. Without spoiling too much, I have to say that dragons and humans really have a symbiotic relationship, rather than that of a person with his horse (which is a much more master/servant relationship) prevalent in other fantasy stories.
In terms of what could be better; the dialogue does sometimes go on a bit too long without enough happening, and sometimes gets quite convoluted; you definitely have to pay attention to what is happening! But if you want a lot of action, don't read this book.
My favourite character was by far was the dragon Nelexi, because though she is really strong, yet she still respects her rider for who she is.
April 17, 2023
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I love the world we’re introduced to here! A lot of care was taken to make the world feel consistent and as a result, it feels real and authentic. I loved the different ways we weee shown the way things worked, all without feeling like it was an info dump.
I do like the characters. They are a bit reserved but I like that aspect to them. You don’t see that a lot with fantasy characters so I appreciate a more shy and introverted protagonist. It’s a nice difference from other stories in the genre.
The plot is a bit of a slow start and I really can’t pinpoint why. It’s not bad by any means but it just took me a bit to really get into the story. Once I did, it was an awesome ride!
Definitely worth checking out. Expect a bit of a slog in the beginning but stick with it for the awesomeness that follows!
I love the world we’re introduced to here! A lot of care was taken to make the world feel consistent and as a result, it feels real and authentic. I loved the different ways we weee shown the way things worked, all without feeling like it was an info dump.
I do like the characters. They are a bit reserved but I like that aspect to them. You don’t see that a lot with fantasy characters so I appreciate a more shy and introverted protagonist. It’s a nice difference from other stories in the genre.
The plot is a bit of a slow start and I really can’t pinpoint why. It’s not bad by any means but it just took me a bit to really get into the story. Once I did, it was an awesome ride!
Definitely worth checking out. Expect a bit of a slog in the beginning but stick with it for the awesomeness that follows!
March 22, 2023
It took me a little while to get into "Heart of Fire". The delivery feels breathless and shy. It's a cracking story though and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters feel a little bit reserved and that made me more interested in them than I might have been otherwise. There's a great imagination at work here, and I'm looking forward to seeing what book 2 brings.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
April 16, 2023
I really liked “Heart of Fire.” The characters were engaging and felt real. Some really interesting concepts were introduced through the relationships between the character. Camilla and Radiance struggle with what love and freedom mean in the face of evil. The ancient Nelexi tells the young Flameheart “all the truly ancient are forever young.” I am really looking forward to the next book to see how these concepts and relationships develop.
January 11, 2025
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S HEART OF FIRE ABOUT?
I can't quite talk about the story of the book without saying something I shouldn't, so, I'll let Nightingale describe it:
THE GOOD
First off, the dragons are cool. You give me cool dragons and I'm going to let you get away with a lot.
I think this world is fantastic. I love the relationships between dragons and riders—the bonds between them, and how they communicate with one another. I like a lot of the suggested ways that dragons and riders change and evolve over time.
I think the geo-political and racial relationships are intriguing—and how people on different continents relate to dragons (and many other creatures, likely). The elven-human dynamic is something I really want to see developed.
I think Kario is a fasctinating character and I relished the bits of time we got with her and Nelexi—I wanted more.
THE BAD
I don't think that Nightingale brought everything in her mind onto the page. She clearly has a lot of this world worked out in details that there's no way to communicate. Every author has those—that's not what I'm talking about. But in the Preface, she talks about having two of the characters in her mind since childhood—she knows them well, she understands their story in a way that many authors would likely envy. But—this is just a guess—I think she knows the story so well that I don't think she realized she didn't give her readers all the details we needed to follow.
I stopped writing things like "so, I missed something?" or "how did we get here?" after a bit. I just couldn't follow good chunks of both storylines—but Camillla's more than Kario's.
Although—and this gets us on to the other "Bad" topic—I'm okay with not following Camilla's because I just couldn't like her. She was petulant, self-centered, egotistical, and short-sighted. All these are things that can be grown out of, and I'm not suggesting protagonists have to be likable. But I didn't want to spend time in her head—it's just a nasty place. Her dragon, Radiance, was fine. Her brother seemed okay—as did the other dragon rider with them (I'm going to leave names out because it feels like something you need to learn as you read)—although there's room for some personal growth there, although I think that character has made the right kind of strides on that front so you can root for them.
But Camilla? I really hope in the next book in the series, she's grown up a lot.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HEART OF FIRE?
Nightingale swung for the fences with this one, you can practically see the effort on the page as you read. But I think she missed too many of the pitches she took, and foul-tipped pretty frequently when she made contact. But she got on-base enough to stay in the game, and even to chalk up a win. That's the end of the baseball metaphors, I promise.
There's so much promise in this book—and enough delivery on them to come back for the second volume. But not enough to be enthusiastic about it. I do want to know what happens, and I think most who read this will share in that.
Also, cool dragons. Can't overlook that.
The parts of the book that worked—worked pretty well, and made me want to keep going. Still, I can only give this the most lukewarm of recommendations—I know I'm in the minority when it comes to this book—go read what others had to say about it.
---
WHAT'S HEART OF FIRE ABOUT?
I can't quite talk about the story of the book without saying something I shouldn't, so, I'll let Nightingale describe it:
Camilla has always been told that humans are inferior. They cannot use magic. If they bond to dragons, they will doom the creatures to extinction. She has never believed a word of it. She has always known that she can use magic, and she suspects it is the elves who harm the dragons by keeping them to themselves. Now, she is presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: a dragon's clutch is hatching and while she will earn the wrath of her captors if she is caught, she has the chance to see a dragon hatch and perhaps even to Recognize.
Kario's people have feared dragons since time immemorial. When an unrealistically huge black dragon flies in while she is hunting, she is certain she will die. Instead, her life is changed when Nelexi, Obsidian Guardian of Areaer, chooses her as her final rider. Kario takes the name Flameheart, but she is soon homesick and afraid that she is insufficient to be the partner of a god.
THE GOOD
First off, the dragons are cool. You give me cool dragons and I'm going to let you get away with a lot.
I think this world is fantastic. I love the relationships between dragons and riders—the bonds between them, and how they communicate with one another. I like a lot of the suggested ways that dragons and riders change and evolve over time.
I think the geo-political and racial relationships are intriguing—and how people on different continents relate to dragons (and many other creatures, likely). The elven-human dynamic is something I really want to see developed.
I think Kario is a fasctinating character and I relished the bits of time we got with her and Nelexi—I wanted more.
THE BAD
I don't think that Nightingale brought everything in her mind onto the page. She clearly has a lot of this world worked out in details that there's no way to communicate. Every author has those—that's not what I'm talking about. But in the Preface, she talks about having two of the characters in her mind since childhood—she knows them well, she understands their story in a way that many authors would likely envy. But—this is just a guess—I think she knows the story so well that I don't think she realized she didn't give her readers all the details we needed to follow.
I stopped writing things like "so, I missed something?" or "how did we get here?" after a bit. I just couldn't follow good chunks of both storylines—but Camillla's more than Kario's.
Although—and this gets us on to the other "Bad" topic—I'm okay with not following Camilla's because I just couldn't like her. She was petulant, self-centered, egotistical, and short-sighted. All these are things that can be grown out of, and I'm not suggesting protagonists have to be likable. But I didn't want to spend time in her head—it's just a nasty place. Her dragon, Radiance, was fine. Her brother seemed okay—as did the other dragon rider with them (I'm going to leave names out because it feels like something you need to learn as you read)—although there's room for some personal growth there, although I think that character has made the right kind of strides on that front so you can root for them.
But Camilla? I really hope in the next book in the series, she's grown up a lot.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HEART OF FIRE?
Nightingale swung for the fences with this one, you can practically see the effort on the page as you read. But I think she missed too many of the pitches she took, and foul-tipped pretty frequently when she made contact. But she got on-base enough to stay in the game, and even to chalk up a win. That's the end of the baseball metaphors, I promise.
There's so much promise in this book—and enough delivery on them to come back for the second volume. But not enough to be enthusiastic about it. I do want to know what happens, and I think most who read this will share in that.
Also, cool dragons. Can't overlook that.
The parts of the book that worked—worked pretty well, and made me want to keep going. Still, I can only give this the most lukewarm of recommendations—I know I'm in the minority when it comes to this book—go read what others had to say about it.
Read
February 2, 2023This is a review by the author.
When I first saw Camilla (by the way, the first syllable rhymes with 'Can' and the second two rhyme with 'Vanilla') and Radiance, I was eight or nine, certainly no older than nine. Her transforming bond with her gold dragon was the thing I saw, that I absolutely knew. The fire that makes them as much one being as two, and gives Camilla abilities that typically belong only to the dragons, was so clear and true. But I wasn't ready to write her story yet. I thought I was: the idea of seeing a story, a character, and not being ready was not one I knew. So I tried writing it: I don't actually remember how many time I wrote it. And, somewhere along the line, I put a Love Interest in there, since that was what books had in them, right? I didn't really get to read a lot of upper YA/Adult books (I was what? ten? eleven? at this point), but I certainly read the descriptions and summaries, and love interests were everywhere in those, that I read, and a good number of the YA/Adult books I did get to read - at least the epic fantasy ones - had that.
And I wasn't old enough yet to realize how much it didn't fit me.
But, then, a few years ago, I saw another scene of Camilla's story (a scene I will finally get to writing in book three), and I knew I was finally ready to write it. I was ready to know Camilla now, to know things about her person and her journey that I couldn't have known that I didn't know when I was nine.
This is an epic fantasy, with powerful magic, dreadful enemies, and fantastic creatures. Camilla has to parley with elves who inhabit burning trees, escape from and contest nightmare creatures and magic, learn her own wild magic that burns her from within. There are unique takes on fantasy creatures - and if they're not unique, they were to me when I invented them. I was perhaps ten when I first imagined the dragonmages - creatures born from the death of rider-dragon pairs, and possessing most of the memories of their "parents", along with both forms and, in many cases, both sexes. I still marvel sometimes: at that point, I'd never heard of dragon-shifters, or creatures formed with the memories of others, or really any of these things - if I'd first created them now, I'd have thought they were inspired by other fantasy creations in books I've now read. But I hadn't read those books now. They weren't - they developed organically from the needs of my world.
But it is really a story about relationships and character flaws and mistakes and growth - and sometimes, is something a flaw even when it appears one? or a virtue? There is no romance in it, none at all, but it is no less fundamentally a story about love. Love is what defines Camilla's relationship with Radiance - one that is far more complicated than it at first appears, with challenges to be overcome that neither human nor dragon are aware of at first. There's Camilla's relationship with her little brother, Lavilor, who it falls to her to protect, one with complexities, too, as protection and understanding what his real needs are, and her own fears and goals in life, clash. She's not even his mother, she's his sister, both of them thrown into a world they never asked for from the moment they were born, and one that changes in ways neither can imagine.
And contrasted to Camilla's life, is Kario Flameheart's relationship to Nelexi, a dragon-god of awesome power and knowledge - but one who is intimately aware of the limits of her knowledge, the limits of her experience, and also the need to allow younger creatures to find themselves, to find their own knowledge and have their own experiences, without being shaped by hers. And that is a challenge in her relationship to Flameheart, the child she chose to be her friend and her last rider before she returns to the Heart of Fire. And having that friendship is a challenge, one in which even Nelexi might make mistakes.
What does love mean? What challenges can love present even to loving others? Is what we call love one thing or always the same thing? What is the place of vengeance and hatred? What does freedom mean, and how are love and free will related?
This is a story about Camilla's encounters with these issues in her own attempt to love her dragon and her brother and be loyal to those she loves. And the answers she finds for herself might not be the answers someone else does.
When I first saw Camilla (by the way, the first syllable rhymes with 'Can' and the second two rhyme with 'Vanilla') and Radiance, I was eight or nine, certainly no older than nine. Her transforming bond with her gold dragon was the thing I saw, that I absolutely knew. The fire that makes them as much one being as two, and gives Camilla abilities that typically belong only to the dragons, was so clear and true. But I wasn't ready to write her story yet. I thought I was: the idea of seeing a story, a character, and not being ready was not one I knew. So I tried writing it: I don't actually remember how many time I wrote it. And, somewhere along the line, I put a Love Interest in there, since that was what books had in them, right? I didn't really get to read a lot of upper YA/Adult books (I was what? ten? eleven? at this point), but I certainly read the descriptions and summaries, and love interests were everywhere in those, that I read, and a good number of the YA/Adult books I did get to read - at least the epic fantasy ones - had that.
And I wasn't old enough yet to realize how much it didn't fit me.
But, then, a few years ago, I saw another scene of Camilla's story (a scene I will finally get to writing in book three), and I knew I was finally ready to write it. I was ready to know Camilla now, to know things about her person and her journey that I couldn't have known that I didn't know when I was nine.
This is an epic fantasy, with powerful magic, dreadful enemies, and fantastic creatures. Camilla has to parley with elves who inhabit burning trees, escape from and contest nightmare creatures and magic, learn her own wild magic that burns her from within. There are unique takes on fantasy creatures - and if they're not unique, they were to me when I invented them. I was perhaps ten when I first imagined the dragonmages - creatures born from the death of rider-dragon pairs, and possessing most of the memories of their "parents", along with both forms and, in many cases, both sexes. I still marvel sometimes: at that point, I'd never heard of dragon-shifters, or creatures formed with the memories of others, or really any of these things - if I'd first created them now, I'd have thought they were inspired by other fantasy creations in books I've now read. But I hadn't read those books now. They weren't - they developed organically from the needs of my world.
But it is really a story about relationships and character flaws and mistakes and growth - and sometimes, is something a flaw even when it appears one? or a virtue? There is no romance in it, none at all, but it is no less fundamentally a story about love. Love is what defines Camilla's relationship with Radiance - one that is far more complicated than it at first appears, with challenges to be overcome that neither human nor dragon are aware of at first. There's Camilla's relationship with her little brother, Lavilor, who it falls to her to protect, one with complexities, too, as protection and understanding what his real needs are, and her own fears and goals in life, clash. She's not even his mother, she's his sister, both of them thrown into a world they never asked for from the moment they were born, and one that changes in ways neither can imagine.
And contrasted to Camilla's life, is Kario Flameheart's relationship to Nelexi, a dragon-god of awesome power and knowledge - but one who is intimately aware of the limits of her knowledge, the limits of her experience, and also the need to allow younger creatures to find themselves, to find their own knowledge and have their own experiences, without being shaped by hers. And that is a challenge in her relationship to Flameheart, the child she chose to be her friend and her last rider before she returns to the Heart of Fire. And having that friendship is a challenge, one in which even Nelexi might make mistakes.
What does love mean? What challenges can love present even to loving others? Is what we call love one thing or always the same thing? What is the place of vengeance and hatred? What does freedom mean, and how are love and free will related?
This is a story about Camilla's encounters with these issues in her own attempt to love her dragon and her brother and be loyal to those she loves. And the answers she finds for herself might not be the answers someone else does.
March 1, 2023
This unusual novel is a rewarding read for older young adults. Set in a fantasy world of elves, humans, dragons, orcs, it has great world-building that (refreshingly) does not draw on that faux-mediaeval-European culture which is the stock in trade of so much fantasy literature. Instead it offers a world that feels more ancient, perhaps African in inspiration, and a magic that is all of its own.
It is an intense drama of three human girls and their dragon companions, drawn into a quest for self-knowledge, as they find themselves destined to be players in a battle against a great evil whose nature they do not understand. The characters are well-developed and both minor and major characters deepen as the plot unfolds. We are drawn first into the world of Camilla, and so her world view shapes the reader’s perspective – but as we read further, meeting Fire-heart and learning more about Sylvara (a more minor but still important character), we learn that not everything that Camilla believes is true, and she must have the humility to learn more than magic if she is to achieve her goals.
The novel is suffused with reflections about freedom and slavery, love and hatred, anger and acceptance, destiny and free will. It asks, interestingly, what evil is, what goodness is, what love and friendship are, and it explores the importance of family bonds, as well as bonds of later partnership. These themes are dealt with well, but their complex and relatively lengthy expression - through both internal monologue and dialogues between the girls and their dragon companions – leaves the book rather too cerebral for readers on the younger end of the young-adult spectrum. Although sexuality is not directly explored, the novel raises interesting (and sometimes confusing) questions about gender identity, expressed through characters who are simultaneously male and female. The overwhelming emotional relationship between each girl and her dragon provides one of the most powerful drivers for the novel, and it is difficult not to see this as an expression or allegory of awakening sexuality. Certainly, the intensity of those relationships leaves no room for the familiar fantasy cliché of “princess meets her handsome prince”, and the novel is all the better for that.
All in all, an engaging and unexpected read that will offer great rewards to adolescent girls and young adults as they immerse themselves in the relationships that it describes and grapple with the questions that it asks.
It is an intense drama of three human girls and their dragon companions, drawn into a quest for self-knowledge, as they find themselves destined to be players in a battle against a great evil whose nature they do not understand. The characters are well-developed and both minor and major characters deepen as the plot unfolds. We are drawn first into the world of Camilla, and so her world view shapes the reader’s perspective – but as we read further, meeting Fire-heart and learning more about Sylvara (a more minor but still important character), we learn that not everything that Camilla believes is true, and she must have the humility to learn more than magic if she is to achieve her goals.
The novel is suffused with reflections about freedom and slavery, love and hatred, anger and acceptance, destiny and free will. It asks, interestingly, what evil is, what goodness is, what love and friendship are, and it explores the importance of family bonds, as well as bonds of later partnership. These themes are dealt with well, but their complex and relatively lengthy expression - through both internal monologue and dialogues between the girls and their dragon companions – leaves the book rather too cerebral for readers on the younger end of the young-adult spectrum. Although sexuality is not directly explored, the novel raises interesting (and sometimes confusing) questions about gender identity, expressed through characters who are simultaneously male and female. The overwhelming emotional relationship between each girl and her dragon provides one of the most powerful drivers for the novel, and it is difficult not to see this as an expression or allegory of awakening sexuality. Certainly, the intensity of those relationships leaves no room for the familiar fantasy cliché of “princess meets her handsome prince”, and the novel is all the better for that.
All in all, an engaging and unexpected read that will offer great rewards to adolescent girls and young adults as they immerse themselves in the relationships that it describes and grapple with the questions that it asks.
May 10, 2023
Heart of Fire, the first book in the Dragon Mage series by Raina Nightingale, is a captivating fantasy novel that explores the intricate relationships between humans and dragons. The story revolves around two young women, Camilla and Kario, who are thrust into the world of dragons and magic, each with their own unique journey.
Camilla, a slave who has always known that she can use magic, defies her captors to attend the hatching of a dragon clutch. She is determined to ride a dragon, despite being told that humans are inferior and cannot bond with dragons. Meanwhile, Kario, a hunter from a tribe that fears dragons, is chosen by Nelexi, the Obsidian Guardian of Areaer, as her final rider. Kario takes the name Flameheart, but she is homesick and unsure of her ability to be the partner of a god.
Nightingale weaves an intriguing tale of sentient dragons and their relationship with humans. The world-building is thorough and detailed, immersing the reader in a unique and fascinating world. However, the pacing can be slow in the book's first half as the author introduces the characters and sets up the world. Nevertheless, the well-written characters keep the story engaging, even during slower moments.
One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of relationships. The bond between Camilla and her brother, as well as their connection to the dragons, is touching and well-developed. The story also features many unlikeable characters, which adds depth to the tale.
Overall, Heart of Fire is an enjoyable fantasy novel with a unique world and intriguing use of sentient dragons. While the pacing can be slow at times, the well-written characters and exploration of relationships make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author or publisher to review. This is my honest, unbiased opinion, first published on my website, https://ginaraemitchell.com
Camilla, a slave who has always known that she can use magic, defies her captors to attend the hatching of a dragon clutch. She is determined to ride a dragon, despite being told that humans are inferior and cannot bond with dragons. Meanwhile, Kario, a hunter from a tribe that fears dragons, is chosen by Nelexi, the Obsidian Guardian of Areaer, as her final rider. Kario takes the name Flameheart, but she is homesick and unsure of her ability to be the partner of a god.
Nightingale weaves an intriguing tale of sentient dragons and their relationship with humans. The world-building is thorough and detailed, immersing the reader in a unique and fascinating world. However, the pacing can be slow in the book's first half as the author introduces the characters and sets up the world. Nevertheless, the well-written characters keep the story engaging, even during slower moments.
One of the strengths of the book is its exploration of relationships. The bond between Camilla and her brother, as well as their connection to the dragons, is touching and well-developed. The story also features many unlikeable characters, which adds depth to the tale.
Overall, Heart of Fire is an enjoyable fantasy novel with a unique world and intriguing use of sentient dragons. While the pacing can be slow at times, the well-written characters and exploration of relationships make it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author or publisher to review. This is my honest, unbiased opinion, first published on my website, https://ginaraemitchell.com
March 1, 2023
I loved the way Heart of Fire explores the themes of prejudice and the meaning of freedom. Three girls, and three dragons, their lives interwoven. Camilla, a slave, who refuses to believe she is inferior to her captors and is obsessed with freedom. She sees dragons enslaved by evil Elves and she is fascinated by their magical powers which the elves have subverted. But she steals the chance to see a dragon hatch, and at once it chooses her as its destined rider. And a great quest begins!
Far away, Kario, Flameheart, a sensitive, sunny girl from the open plains, also finds her life transformed when a powerful, godlike dragon chooses her.
Finally there is Sylvara, a girl whom Camilla intensely dislikes and views as her enemy, but she is also chosen by a dragon and finds her own destiny in that relationship. Camilla cannot forgive her for the hurts that she has caused in the past. Is there a reason why their destinies are linked?
I really felt the relationships between all three girls and their dragons which is beautifully presented. They all have their beliefs challenged, their courage tested and they all end up understanding the world a bit differently.
This is a great book for girls and young women who are interested in the power of love and friendship. And if you love it, there are more books in the series and more to follow!
Far away, Kario, Flameheart, a sensitive, sunny girl from the open plains, also finds her life transformed when a powerful, godlike dragon chooses her.
Finally there is Sylvara, a girl whom Camilla intensely dislikes and views as her enemy, but she is also chosen by a dragon and finds her own destiny in that relationship. Camilla cannot forgive her for the hurts that she has caused in the past. Is there a reason why their destinies are linked?
I really felt the relationships between all three girls and their dragons which is beautifully presented. They all have their beliefs challenged, their courage tested and they all end up understanding the world a bit differently.
This is a great book for girls and young women who are interested in the power of love and friendship. And if you love it, there are more books in the series and more to follow!
Want to read
February 3, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
Camilla, a human slave to elves, wants nothing more than to see a dragon hatch. Wants to be bonded with a dragon. Wants it so badly she’s willing to have the skin whipped off her back just for the impossible chance.
This next fantasy entry with broad age appeal is a great example of my point. It begins expressly interested in character and story. Something is happening. Our MC wants something.
What she wants is hopeless and dangerous, but she still wants it so desperately that she doesn’t care about the danger. Her life means nothing if she can’t have just this one glimpse of something beautiful.
It’s a wonderful beginning. It’s full of promise and conflict. It deftly introduces those setting details necessary to give our story context. It upends the goodly elves trope.
There could be some more scene details to ground me in the action, but there’s nothing in this story to dislike. Everything pulls me in. It’s focused and developing fast and I don’t know just what’s going to happen next. I’m in!
Camilla, a human slave to elves, wants nothing more than to see a dragon hatch. Wants to be bonded with a dragon. Wants it so badly she’s willing to have the skin whipped off her back just for the impossible chance.
This next fantasy entry with broad age appeal is a great example of my point. It begins expressly interested in character and story. Something is happening. Our MC wants something.
What she wants is hopeless and dangerous, but she still wants it so desperately that she doesn’t care about the danger. Her life means nothing if she can’t have just this one glimpse of something beautiful.
It’s a wonderful beginning. It’s full of promise and conflict. It deftly introduces those setting details necessary to give our story context. It upends the goodly elves trope.
There could be some more scene details to ground me in the action, but there’s nothing in this story to dislike. Everything pulls me in. It’s focused and developing fast and I don’t know just what’s going to happen next. I’m in!
June 10, 2023
This is an amazing Coming of Age novel, with tragic hardships far beyond what most modern children know. Camilla and her brother are swept up, unexpectedly, in events beyond their control with the love and aid of dragons, they flee their captors. Now they must fight their own fear and anger to survive alone and gain the knowledge to fight the Nightmare.
While there is some intense action in places, this is a deep dive into the inner turmoil of growing up and dealing with the tumult of emotions arising from the circumstances of their lives. The author does an excellent job of exploring the sometimes extreme ways a young person, just beginning to have adult type responsibilities, must wrestle with – of insecurity and learning to forgive.
I highly recommend this to readers of all ages, as even adults often must wrestle with similar issues and the perspective is enlightening.
While there is some intense action in places, this is a deep dive into the inner turmoil of growing up and dealing with the tumult of emotions arising from the circumstances of their lives. The author does an excellent job of exploring the sometimes extreme ways a young person, just beginning to have adult type responsibilities, must wrestle with – of insecurity and learning to forgive.
I highly recommend this to readers of all ages, as even adults often must wrestle with similar issues and the perspective is enlightening.
April 16, 2023
This was such a fun read. Nightingale did an excellent job building a unique world and bringing it to life. I enjoyed getting to know many of the characters, Camilla, Kario, and Sylvara are all different, and have enough depth that they feel real. They each bring their own pasts to the story, and sometimes they clash because of them. I wasn't sure how I felt about Sylvara at first, but I'll let you form your own opnion of her. I loved Camilla's rebellious spirit, and I could relate to Kario's unsureness when it came to her destiny. The story itself is packed with magic, magical creatures and fantasy races, as well as enough tension and twists to keep you reading from cover to cover. I can't wait to see what book two has in store!
April 27, 2023
3.5 rounded up
I feel like there's a lot of potential to this series, but there was so much history to cover in this one that it felt very info dump-y. I also had some trouble connecting to both main characters because I don't feel like I got a chance to know them very well before the story started. The dual POVs haven't met up yet in the story either, but I have a feeling that when the storylines merge it will all start to make more sense.
I feel like there's a lot of potential to this series, but there was so much history to cover in this one that it felt very info dump-y. I also had some trouble connecting to both main characters because I don't feel like I got a chance to know them very well before the story started. The dual POVs haven't met up yet in the story either, but I have a feeling that when the storylines merge it will all start to make more sense.
April 20, 2023
All her life, Camilla has been in servitude to the elves, and her entire existence rests in the hands of creatures she has come to despise. She desperately wishes to observe the Hatching, a rare event where dragons emerge from their eggs and bond with a non-dragon partner. Unexpectedly, Camilla–a human–finds herself Recognizing one of the most prominent dragons of them all, much to the surprise and dismay of the elves. Now that Camilla has a dragon in tow, she finds herself leaving the world she has always known to enter into one filled with magic, mystery, and power. She must be careful, however, for the hate and anger Camilla feels can overpower her if left unchecked. This first in the Dragon-Mage series introduces readers to Camilla and her companions while also providing a foundation for the world in which Camilla lives. As a fantasy tale, much time is devoted to world building, which adds depth to the chapters in the way of detailed descriptions. Readers familiar with Star Wars will recognize similar themes of good versus evil in this story, especially in the fact that the line between the two is not always clear. Interestingly, the chapters are not numbered; instead, their titles provide clues as to where the story is going next. Additionally, the narrative vacillates between characters, offering multiple points of view throughout the story. Occasional pencil drawings are interspersed within the text to enhance understanding of the narrative through their visual appeal. Upper middle grade and young adult readers with an interest in fantasy adventures will enjoy reading about Camilla and her journey through this epic novel. It is a good fit for confident readers, and it entices those readers to continue into book two upon this story’s conclusion.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
February 6, 2023
I really liked the concept and the dragons but I had a hard time liking the characters.
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