Rating: 8/10
Synopsis:
SOON TO BE ADAPTED INTO A VIDEO GAME!
Steeped in blood. Ruled by those with dragons.
Cimeren is a world divided by a mysterious forest and the vast Lake on Fire. Suspicion brews on both sides, and the south has fallen into chaos as battles and quarrels rage between kingdoms.
In the border outpost of Nevergrace, Cyran Orendain is dealing with the loss of his brother and his lord as he strives to face the mounting challenges of a squire of the dragonguard.
But when Cyran’s guard-master is called to face the most powerful of the southern kings and bear witness to a secret stolen from the north, Cyran is dragged into a war that has been bubbling under the surface for centuries.
Dragons are not only weapons—they are engines of war. And even though Cyran is not trained in the ways of the dragonguard, he must adapt and learn to become one of them or his homeland and all of Cimeren will be destroyed.
But he was not born a champion.
He may break, and he will bleed.
Review
A world full of dragons, political conspiracies, magic, and infernal turmoil is what R.M Schultz has delivered in this epic series. This book is your classic fantasy DND adventure-style experience; talking dragons! (Which is awesome. We need more animal-talking characters in fantasy books). Knights using dragons to fight epic jousting wars in the sky? Also awesome. Plenty of lore that is on the scale of Skyrim and Baldur’s Gate III? Check. There are plenty of interesting characters and each has their own motivations within this story.
That said, I did want a world map. And I would have preferred the glossary to be at the front rather than the back. At times I would have gone for less heavy worldbuilding in some parts. And some scenes did have a slower pace. I would also have wanted simpler introductions to other characters as the novel does often introduce new characters, quite often. But it adds to a colorful cast of characters with unique personalities. Overall, these are minor nitpicks.
The story is as complex, but also retains its simplicity to many degrees. War is the dominating theme and politics is the background of all that happens behind it. That is the best way I would summarise it. There is no good or bad in the sides of the war, which Cyran is unfortunately swept up in. Sometimes I felt Cyran was often reacting to events, being that he is a squire, then taking charge. Although this is the first book, I believe in the second book he will be taking more of charge. I honestly think we need a spin-off series with Pavron the Dragon Thief, as I feel we need a different world to explore. I would have loved to have seen an Arabian-style setting with this novel’s worldbuilding. I would really want to see what it would be like. It’s extremely well-detailed throughout the novel. I thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Escapist Book Tours for allowing me on the tour!
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