Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. So much that weeks after I read it I look fondly back and wish I were reading something as pleasurable right now. It is the perfect blend of fast-paced readability, bone-chilling scenes, characters that resonate, and good old fashioned fantasy.
Dragon Blood is more a straightforward fantasy novel that seems to have a more mature voice than its predecessor. It picks up four years after the events of Dragon Bones and all the characters are a little more mature and self-possessed. This is most evident in Ward and Oreg who are no longer quite so burdened by the abuse of their pasts. In fact Ward fits more the archetype of hero in this book than he did in the previous. All plot points that were left hanging in book one are answered in this sequel. There is romance but it isn't overt. Really, the true strength of the writing comes from the relationships between all the characters and how Briggs can imbue such poignancy, horror, humanity (or lack thereof), and love/hate into people who, in some cases, only have a few lines written about them. This author knows how to say so much in a simple, elegant way that is no less eloquent for its very brevity.
Highly recommended book!
Dragon Blood is more a straightforward fantasy novel that seems to have a more mature voice than its predecessor. It picks up four years after the events of Dragon Bones and all the characters are a little more mature and self-possessed. This is most evident in Ward and Oreg who are no longer quite so burdened by the abuse of their pasts. In fact Ward fits more the archetype of hero in this book than he did in the previous. All plot points that were left hanging in book one are answered in this sequel. There is romance but it isn't overt. Really, the true strength of the writing comes from the relationships between all the characters and how Briggs can imbue such poignancy, horror, humanity (or lack thereof), and love/hate into people who, in some cases, only have a few lines written about them. This author knows how to say so much in a simple, elegant way that is no less eloquent for its very brevity.
Highly recommended book!
Helpful Score: 1
This book is fabulous. It creates characters you fall in love with and want to keep as friends. The world creation is great and the characters show their personalities through their actions. Great read.
Helpful Score: 1
Ward Hurog, lord of the dragon lands is kidnapped by the King's men and brutally tortured - more psychological than physical. Tisala, warrior woman and his soon to be lady love, helps with the rescue attempt and the ensuing war against the insane King.
This is book two in the series and a good addition to the tale of Hurog and the Five Kingdoms. The romance is light and sweet between Ward and Tisala - hopefully more to come in the next installment. This is fantasy at it's best blending dragons, mages, war and romance to perfection
This is book two in the series and a good addition to the tale of Hurog and the Five Kingdoms. The romance is light and sweet between Ward and Tisala - hopefully more to come in the next installment. This is fantasy at it's best blending dragons, mages, war and romance to perfection
Helpful Score: 1
The only down sides to this book are that it is short and that the series is only two books. At the end you ~want~ things to continue, but, sadly, it's a duology.
The characters are good and likeable. The villain is evil, but isn't comicly so. The characters are all different from eachother. The plot is intricate but not tediously intricate.
Scenes and character discriptions could have been a little more detailed, but they weren't bad.
All in all I reccomend this book (and everything else Briggs has written.)
The characters are good and likeable. The villain is evil, but isn't comicly so. The characters are all different from eachother. The plot is intricate but not tediously intricate.
Scenes and character discriptions could have been a little more detailed, but they weren't bad.
All in all I reccomend this book (and everything else Briggs has written.)
