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hyrulebalverine's reviews
32 reviews
Marked by the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I hadn't read the Marked by the Dragon series prior to obtaining this omnibus edition from Kickstarter, so went into this story blind. I'm actually glad that I started with the omnibus as the way each of the books incorporated into this omnibus ends is very reminiscent of how Stephen King broke The Green Mile up into 6 smaller parts and released each part on a monthly basis.
The first four books of the series were released between July and December of 2021, and tell a fast paced and easily resolved story, where nearly every character seemingly exists solely to push the plot forward, with very few there to flesh out or expand upon the world itself. The story itself is decent and entertaining, if someone simplistic, but the conflicts of the story are resolved with virtually no effort from the protagonists.
While the story could have easily ended at the end of the fourth book, there were a couple of plot points that could have had a stronger or more detailed resolution, which brings us to the 5th book, which was released 2 years after the original book in the series. This serves to tie up those dangling threads and end the series on a somewhat happier note, but again, seems to end with minimal effort or action from the protagonist, and does little to explain the reasoning as to why the character that caused the resolution did what they did, which seems very counter to their nature.
The last book written in this series was the prequel, which fleshes out the backstory of the main character, and, being a short 15-page story, acts as a prologue to the first book. I do appreciate that the events that set this story into motion are not some big prophesized moment or some grand design, but rather just a simple accident that forced our main character into a situation that nobody could have predicted.
With that said, while this is probably not going to be your favorite book, and is nowhere near as complex as series such as Shannara, the Cosmere, the Wheel of Time, etc., it is a fun ride. Don't set your expectations too high and enjoy this palette cleanser story.
The first four books of the series were released between July and December of 2021, and tell a fast paced and easily resolved story, where nearly every character seemingly exists solely to push the plot forward, with very few there to flesh out or expand upon the world itself. The story itself is decent and entertaining, if someone simplistic, but the conflicts of the story are resolved with virtually no effort from the protagonists.
While the story could have easily ended at the end of the fourth book, there were a couple of plot points that could have had a stronger or more detailed resolution, which brings us to the 5th book, which was released 2 years after the original book in the series. This serves to tie up those dangling threads and end the series on a somewhat happier note, but again, seems to end with minimal effort or action from the protagonist, and does little to explain the reasoning as to why the character that caused the resolution did what they did, which seems very counter to their nature.
The last book written in this series was the prequel, which fleshes out the backstory of the main character, and, being a short 15-page story, acts as a prologue to the first book. I do appreciate that the events that set this story into motion are not some big prophesized moment or some grand design, but rather just a simple accident that forced our main character into a situation that nobody could have predicted.
With that said, while this is probably not going to be your favorite book, and is nowhere near as complex as series such as Shannara, the Cosmere, the Wheel of Time, etc., it is a fun ride. Don't set your expectations too high and enjoy this palette cleanser story.
Sacrifice of the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Wrath of the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Call of the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Egg of the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Scale of the Dragon by Richard Fierce
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A Witch's Sin by Daniel B. Greene
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went into this book blind, only knowing of Daniel B. Greene because of a video he posted on YouTube. A Witch's Sin is at its heart a noir style detective story, but the setting is a post-apocalyptic cyber punk style world, in a megastructure similar to the building in the Karl Urban Dredd movie. Only this megastructure is hundreds of floors high with each floor being it's own "mini city" and the richer you are, the higher live in the structure.
To add yet another twist, this world also has the supernatural: vampires are a part of everyday culture. One might think that with all of these elements in one story, that the writing would be convoluted or confusing, but Greene writes a compelling story that truly works. As our main character, Taya, attempts to solve the mystery of what happened to young Nita, the reader will feel the same tension Taya experiences as she struggles to know who to trust and what is really going on.
To add yet another twist, this world also has the supernatural: vampires are a part of everyday culture. One might think that with all of these elements in one story, that the writing would be convoluted or confusing, but Greene writes a compelling story that truly works. As our main character, Taya, attempts to solve the mystery of what happened to young Nita, the reader will feel the same tension Taya experiences as she struggles to know who to trust and what is really going on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ML Spencer writes this book in a style that gives you exposition and backstory in an organic way rather than feeling forced. For example, the early chapters of this book introduce us to two of our main characters. As they interact with each other, getting to know one another, we get point of view shifts allowing the reader to learn about one character as the other learns about them.
She also has some subtle foreshadowing for events that will stand out when these events do happen. There are still some standard tropes and some easily anticipated story beats, but these are outnumbered and outshined by the clever writing and some darker story moments.
She also has some subtle foreshadowing for events that will stand out when these events do happen. There are still some standard tropes and some easily anticipated story beats, but these are outnumbered and outshined by the clever writing and some darker story moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War
Minor: Animal death and Child abuse
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx by A.R. Cook
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An enjoyable, if simple, story. A young man from the "modern" world of 1800s Spain ends up in an adventure that takes him across his own world and the worlds of Magic, Monsters, and Gods. If I had to compare this to another series, I would call it a more grown up Xanth; simple and quick adventure with versions of magical creatures you're sure to recognize (and some you may not) but no groan inducing puns or teenage protagonists.
Blood of the Stars (Special Edition) by Karyne Norton
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0