Tag: dragons

3.5 star, YA

Review: Flamefall by Rosaria Munda

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: The Aurelian Cycle #3

Revolutionary flames ignite around Annie, Lee, and a brand new POV character in the second book of the Fireborne trilogy.

After fleeing the revolution and settling into the craggy cliffs of New Pythos, the Dragonlords are eager to punish their usurpers–and reclaim their city. Their first order of business was destroying the Callipolan food supply. Now they’re coming for the Dragonriders.

Annie is Callipolis’s new Firstrider, and while her goal has always been to protect the people, being the government’s enforcer has turned her into public enemy number one.

Lee struggles to find his place after killing kin to prove himself to a leader who betrayed him. He can support Annie and the other Guardians . . . or join the radicals who look to topple the new regime.

Griff, a lowborn dragonrider who serves New Pythos, knows he has no future. And now that Julia, the Firstrider who had protected him, is dead, he is called on to sacrifice everything for the lords that oppress his people–or to forge a new path with the Callipolan Firstrider seeking his help.

With famine tearing Callipolis apart and the Pythians determined to take back what they lost, it will be up to Annie, Lee, and Griff to decide what to fight for–and who to love.

With war on the horizon from an enemy previously thought vanquished, this society Annie and Lee live in continue to make us question what is the right decision to make in hard circumstances in Flamefall. For a story about dragons, this series and book stands out for its exploration of government and politics with the added bonus of dragons thrown into the mix.

Annie is now head of the fleet of dragons, a feat that once would not have been possible as she was born into a serf family. With such great responsibilities, she is already put to the test with the looming threat from escaped dragonlords who were now refocusing their attention on the kingdom that once was theirs.

Continue reading “Review: Flamefall by Rosaria Munda” →
4 star, YA

Review: Legion by Julie Kagawa

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Talon Saga #4

legion -julie kagawaThe legions are about to be unleashed, and no human, rogue dragon or former dragon slayer can stand against the coming horde.

Dragon hatchling Ember Hill was never prepared to find love at all–dragons do not suffer human emotions–let alone the love of a human and a former dragonslayer, at that. With ex-soldier Garret dying at her feet after sacrificing his freedom and his life to expose the deepest of betrayals, Ember knows only that nothing she was taught by dragon organization Talon is true. About humans, about rogue dragons, about herself and what she’s capable of doing and feeling.

In the face of great loss, Ember vows to stand with rogue dragon Riley against the dragon-slaying Order of St. George and her own twin brother Dante–the heir apparent to all of Talon, and the boy who will soon unleash the greatest threat and terror dragonkind has ever known.

Talon is poised to take over the world, and the abominations they have created will soon take to the skies, darkening the world with the promise of blood and death to those who refuse to yield.

4 Drink Me Potions

With increasing intensity and action on every page, Legion amps it up as our heroes descend on further chaos planned by the dragons of Talon.

For a series, I just wanted to say that it really doesn’t falter much. It’s consistently good, with a solid mix of suspense, unfolding plot lines set from the start, and new and old relationships changing and rebuilding into something better. Julie Kagawa, you continue to amaze me.

That being said, stuff goes down in this fourth book of Talon. St. George has no idea what abominations are coming their way, pure evil crafted from the depths of Talon, while our band of ever growing heroes have a dilemma to choose: stay and fight for their enemies or hide away until another day for survival.

Ever consistent in who they’ve become, Garrett’s sense of honour battles with Riley’s duty to the dragon hatchlings he’s taken care of for years. And meanwhile, long gone is the young, naive girl who just wanted to have a summer for herself before duty kicked in. In her place? A hardened warrior with a heart that still melted for those who never had the choice to live as they wanted.

The only thing that drives me crazy is Ember’s brother, Dante. I just want to shake him sometimes for the decisions he makes and the value he places on his own freedom by getting to the top. He’s been so thoroughly brainwashed and convicted by what Talon preaches that even the horrors he’s seen – and even done by his own hand ’cause it’s what Talon calls for – seems to unfaze him. Makes me think of the kinds of people out in our world that similarly are in such a position, and what it takes for redemption.

I’m not going to make this review long. I mean, at this point, I’ve kind of repeated myself many times on why I really enjoy this series. If you haven’t picked one of these books up yet, I highly recommend it!

Overall Recommendation:

Legion continues with seemingly insurmountable challenges for our mix of dragon and human heroes as they face what Talon has in store for the world. With plenty of fighting and continual romance between a certain dragon and ex-dragon slayer, there’s something for action and romance fans here that should keep the pace going until you’ve hit the very last page.

4 star, YA

Review: Soldier by Julie Kagawa

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Talon Saga #3

soldier -julie kagawaThe price of freedom is everything.

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She’s lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former-enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side.

As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragonslayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon’s new order rises.

4 Drink Me Potions

Soldier is everything its namesake calls for: action-packed, thrilling, sometimes ridiculously dangerous for our favourite band of rogues, but most importantly, features the past of one dear Garret Xavier Sebastian.

While the previous books focused heavily on dragons and rogue history, this one gave insight into how the Order of St. George – aka the dragonslayers – was run and more into Garret’s history with them. I normally think middle books are rather boring but Julie Kagawa has never really failed me yet when it comes to writing any exciting novel.

Betrayals, spontaneous escape plans and crazy quests for information to save the world continued to litter the pages of this book. And it wasn’t just in one location this time. While Riley and Ember were moving across the US, Garret’s off digging for information in the UK, headquarters of the Order. Globetrotting aside, let me just add that there were some Eastern influences here that made this story more diverse, although I kind of wish more could be expanded in that direction. I’m sorry for being vague but I don’t wanna be giving away too many tidbits!

But the true highlight of the plot was uncovering the juiciest bit of news: Talon may have some connections with St. George in the most unexpected place. To bring it to light and try to save the rogues (and the Order, of course)? Someone – ahem, namely a certain soldier ’cause who else is gonna do it – is going to have to risk everything to bring that info to the right people.

On the other end of the spectrum, romantic tensions are still ongoing. Ember and Riley’s dragon connection is finally given a name and definition. Does that bother me? Not at all. It’s becoming clearer to me that Garret is endgame, but I love Riley dearly and hope however it falls, he’s still got two good friends. Sorry Team Riley, but I think this may be less of a love triangle than you hope.

And as always, Kagawa ends off with an explosive finale that, compared to the other 2 books, spiraled into something that needs to be answered now! I certainly look forward to whatever may come next and hope my racing heart will be prepared for it.

Overall Recommendation:

As heart racing and spellbinding as the previous books in the series, Soldier definitely does not suffer from middle book syndrome. Diving into the heart of the Order of St. George, secrets come to light and lives are at risk as the band of rogues continue to fight for their freedom. With romance aplenty between Ember and the soldier or the rogue, this book ends on a bang that will leave you wanting to find out what happens next! I totally recommend you continue the series as it just never seems to disappoint!