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mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
In this first book of his Morlock Ambrosius origin story, James Enge provides us with a 'classic' epic fantasy tale, centered around the clash between dwarves and dragons, augmented with a little alternative history, a story of parallel worlds, and a really interesting take on the Arthurian legends. It's an odd mix of storytelling elements, but A Guile of Dragons works quite well, despite a few awkward passages.
The opening chapters certainly felt a bit rushed, as if Enge were impatient to have Ambrosius grow up, without getting into the whole coming-of-age storytelling mess. Don't get me wrong, there are some authors who have done the coming-of-age thing well (Tad Williams immediately comes to mind), but all too often it feels like padding, so I'm not disappointed that Enge passed it by.
Fortunately, once we get outside the city and meet back up with Earno, the man responsible for Merlin's exile, the story really begins to pick up. There's a subtle antagonism between the two men that you can feel, and enough conflicted loyalties on both sides to really add some tension to the tale. Neither are particularly likable as protagonists, which does present a bit of a challenge - especially when the dwarves so often steal the show - but they're interesting, and admirable in their own way.
It's with the first appearance of the dragons, however, that Enge completely won me over.
The dragons broke through the clouds in groups of three, casting distorted shadows behind them by their own light. There were perhaps a dozen groups. Most of them soared steeply out of the range of sight, but three dragons flew directly to the windows of the High Hall of the East. One roosted directly before the windows (the mountain shook beneath them) and peered within: smoke and fire trailing from his jaws, his bright scales shedding red light at their edges, his slotted eyes as red and gold as molten metal.
It seems as if dragons have become somewhat passé in recent years, as gritty realism and militaristic tales have come to dominate much of the market, so it was refreshing to encounter real dragons again - intelligent, greedy, treasure-seeking, malevolent creatures, full of magic and fire. Add to that the idea of a guile, of a collared dragon claiming mastery over a group of its kin, herding them and marshaling them into a sort of army, and you've got one hell of a great story.
The writing is crisp, and flows well; the battle scenes are played out beautifully; and the characters are both complex and engaging. A Guile of Dragons isn't a particularly deep fantasy tale, although I can sense a great story waiting to be told. Perhaps readers already familiar with the character will find more nuances to the tale than I, but it's still more than adequate as an introduction to Ambrosius' world, and strong enough to make me want to read Wrath-Bearing Tree, the second book of A Tournament of Shadows.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The opening chapters certainly felt a bit rushed, as if Enge were impatient to have Ambrosius grow up, without getting into the whole coming-of-age storytelling mess. Don't get me wrong, there are some authors who have done the coming-of-age thing well (Tad Williams immediately comes to mind), but all too often it feels like padding, so I'm not disappointed that Enge passed it by.
Fortunately, once we get outside the city and meet back up with Earno, the man responsible for Merlin's exile, the story really begins to pick up. There's a subtle antagonism between the two men that you can feel, and enough conflicted loyalties on both sides to really add some tension to the tale. Neither are particularly likable as protagonists, which does present a bit of a challenge - especially when the dwarves so often steal the show - but they're interesting, and admirable in their own way.
It's with the first appearance of the dragons, however, that Enge completely won me over.
The dragons broke through the clouds in groups of three, casting distorted shadows behind them by their own light. There were perhaps a dozen groups. Most of them soared steeply out of the range of sight, but three dragons flew directly to the windows of the High Hall of the East. One roosted directly before the windows (the mountain shook beneath them) and peered within: smoke and fire trailing from his jaws, his bright scales shedding red light at their edges, his slotted eyes as red and gold as molten metal.
It seems as if dragons have become somewhat passé in recent years, as gritty realism and militaristic tales have come to dominate much of the market, so it was refreshing to encounter real dragons again - intelligent, greedy, treasure-seeking, malevolent creatures, full of magic and fire. Add to that the idea of a guile, of a collared dragon claiming mastery over a group of its kin, herding them and marshaling them into a sort of army, and you've got one hell of a great story.
The writing is crisp, and flows well; the battle scenes are played out beautifully; and the characters are both complex and engaging. A Guile of Dragons isn't a particularly deep fantasy tale, although I can sense a great story waiting to be told. Perhaps readers already familiar with the character will find more nuances to the tale than I, but it's still more than adequate as an introduction to Ambrosius' world, and strong enough to make me want to read Wrath-Bearing Tree, the second book of A Tournament of Shadows.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
corriespondent's review against another edition
1.0
I've only given up on a handful of books in my life. I really wanted to like this book, because it smacks of Arthurian legend and Tolkein and dragons all in one book, and I even read the end, which was dramatic, but I couldn't force myself to slog through the middle to get there.
kodermike's review against another edition
5.0
High Fantasy often faces the criticism that it is a poor reflection of the works that have gone before it, most notably Tolkien. By employing the same basic mythos with a highly Western European (and generally, British) composition, many chide that too much of fantasy falls into this trap and needs to be refreshed with something edgier, or something more original. The end result is generally a poor facsimile that inevitably fails to shine in comparison.
"A Guile of Dragons" is not some mere copy.
Yes, it employs many of the elements that we might quickly label a High Fantasy trope - dwarves, dragons, ancient terrors, and the name Merlin (or at least his son, Morlock). Its important to remember that it is not what elements a writer uses, but how they use them, that brings distinction. Enge does not treat these elements lightly - the history and culture of the dwarves alone are an integral part of this story, hinting at a depth we never see a bottom to. The shortness of the work (@300 pages) is belied by the depth and fullness of the characters that populate it. These are thick characters, populating the pages not because they fill a need but because it is their story to tell.
Set as a prequel for Enge's character, Ambrosius, aka Morlock syr Theorn, "A Guile of Dragons" introduces us to a small cast of recurring characters, each of whom demonstrates a depth and fullness usually reserved for the titular character. Not having read the other books in this milieu proved to not be a problem - as a prequel, it is a well contained volume, beginning with the birth of Morlock, son of Merlin, and the circumstances that place young Morlock in the care of the dwarves of Thrymhaiam to the north. This is also the story of Morlock's first real adventure (other feats are alluded to, but nothing so grand), following a metre and pace that is reminiscent of a classic saga even when the story telling is modern.
For in the Northold, the dwarves find themselves cut off from the Graith of Guardians as a guile of dragons invades, reigniting the Longest War from before the dawn of history. Morlock, a thaen of the Graith, adopted son of the dwarves, trapped between both worlds, faces the failings of each as he is thrust into battling the dragons themselves.
Enge, who's unsecret real world identity is a classics professor, demonstrates that a writer is influenced by the books and life you lead. "A Guile of Dragons" is a worthy epic for any fantasy reader, containing a surprising depth and fullness that is rarely found in so short a book. I cannot say more about this book without spoiling it, so I will just say that I wholly and heartily recommend that it be read.
"A Guile of Dragons" is not some mere copy.
Yes, it employs many of the elements that we might quickly label a High Fantasy trope - dwarves, dragons, ancient terrors, and the name Merlin (or at least his son, Morlock). Its important to remember that it is not what elements a writer uses, but how they use them, that brings distinction. Enge does not treat these elements lightly - the history and culture of the dwarves alone are an integral part of this story, hinting at a depth we never see a bottom to. The shortness of the work (@300 pages) is belied by the depth and fullness of the characters that populate it. These are thick characters, populating the pages not because they fill a need but because it is their story to tell.
Set as a prequel for Enge's character, Ambrosius, aka Morlock syr Theorn, "A Guile of Dragons" introduces us to a small cast of recurring characters, each of whom demonstrates a depth and fullness usually reserved for the titular character. Not having read the other books in this milieu proved to not be a problem - as a prequel, it is a well contained volume, beginning with the birth of Morlock, son of Merlin, and the circumstances that place young Morlock in the care of the dwarves of Thrymhaiam to the north. This is also the story of Morlock's first real adventure (other feats are alluded to, but nothing so grand), following a metre and pace that is reminiscent of a classic saga even when the story telling is modern.
For in the Northold, the dwarves find themselves cut off from the Graith of Guardians as a guile of dragons invades, reigniting the Longest War from before the dawn of history. Morlock, a thaen of the Graith, adopted son of the dwarves, trapped between both worlds, faces the failings of each as he is thrust into battling the dragons themselves.
Enge, who's unsecret real world identity is a classics professor, demonstrates that a writer is influenced by the books and life you lead. "A Guile of Dragons" is a worthy epic for any fantasy reader, containing a surprising depth and fullness that is rarely found in so short a book. I cannot say more about this book without spoiling it, so I will just say that I wholly and heartily recommend that it be read.
mferrante83's review against another edition
4.0
A Guile of Dragons by James Enge features the return of Morlock Ambrosius though not in quite the same way as the previous novel, The Wolf Age. I rather loved the The Wolf Age with the fantastic character of Morlock and an original and fascinating setting it was a high water mark for the first three Morlock novels. A Guile of Dragons takes things back to the start detailing the birth and rise of Morlock Ambrosius and marks the beginning of a new serious of Morlock novels.
Of course, given that I really enjoyed Blood of Ambrose and The Wolf Age going backwards in time for A Guile of Dragons offers a tricky proposition. It is definitely difficult to filter my disappointment that we won’t be seeing another “present day” adventure with Morlock out of my actual reaction to A Guile of Dragons. Rest assured this novel is textbook Enge with crisp prose and a fascinating world leavened by frequent humor and high action. Whereas the previous Morlock novels delivered readers a man already set in his ways A Guile of Dragons seems to set in motion of more in depth study of how the youth we meet becomes the man seen in those earlier novels.
The opening of the novel provides readers with a glimpse at the birth of Morlock and actually gives readers a better understanding of his father, Merlin. Absent in the previous series seeing Merlin here completely divorced of Morlock’s opinion of his father, paints the famous magician in a new light while the circumstances of Morlock’s birth offer new insight into the role he plays in A Guile of Dragons as well as The Wolf Age. As in The Wolf Age, A Guile of Dragons also exhibits the casual manipulation of the mortal world via divine hands and as in the previous novel Enge uses these characters in a way similar to a Greek chorus.
As he did with the werewolves of his previous novel Enge takes a fantasy staple and manages to give it a unique and fascinating twist. While the dwarves seen in A Guile of Dragons definitely resemble your typical fantasy dwarves Enge plays upon reader expectations as the novel delves into the history of this race offering up some fascinating and surprising morsels as novel moves forward towards its conclusion. Of course at the center of this all is Morlock himself and Enge shows a deft hand at differentiating this younger Morlock from the Morlock of the previous novels. This is a Morlock whose outsider nature, even among his adopted family, has still left him raw around the edges. A Morlock who hates his birth father deeply and a Morlock desperate to prove himself to the world. Having read the previous novels you can see the skeleton of the man he would become and his portrayal in A Guile of Dragons as someone who even at a young age carried a rather hefty emotional burden.
While A Guile of Dragons offers a self-contained story it definitely feels like it is building to a more unified and connected story than the previous novels (which were very episodic). A Guile of Dragons further fleshes out the world of Morlock while leaving ample room to build even further detail. A Guile of Dragons also seems to tone back some of the more magical elements seen in the previous novels. While magic is definitely alive and present in the novel it is a far subtler affair and completely absent are airships or giant mechanical spiders. Enge definitely seems to going for a slower burn with A Guile of Dragons but that isn’t to say there isn’t action. Enge offers up threats, mysteries, and battles aplenty to keep the pace flowing and there were definite moments where I didn’t want to stop turning the pages. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Morlock Ambrosius.
Of course, given that I really enjoyed Blood of Ambrose and The Wolf Age going backwards in time for A Guile of Dragons offers a tricky proposition. It is definitely difficult to filter my disappointment that we won’t be seeing another “present day” adventure with Morlock out of my actual reaction to A Guile of Dragons. Rest assured this novel is textbook Enge with crisp prose and a fascinating world leavened by frequent humor and high action. Whereas the previous Morlock novels delivered readers a man already set in his ways A Guile of Dragons seems to set in motion of more in depth study of how the youth we meet becomes the man seen in those earlier novels.
The opening of the novel provides readers with a glimpse at the birth of Morlock and actually gives readers a better understanding of his father, Merlin. Absent in the previous series seeing Merlin here completely divorced of Morlock’s opinion of his father, paints the famous magician in a new light while the circumstances of Morlock’s birth offer new insight into the role he plays in A Guile of Dragons as well as The Wolf Age. As in The Wolf Age, A Guile of Dragons also exhibits the casual manipulation of the mortal world via divine hands and as in the previous novel Enge uses these characters in a way similar to a Greek chorus.
As he did with the werewolves of his previous novel Enge takes a fantasy staple and manages to give it a unique and fascinating twist. While the dwarves seen in A Guile of Dragons definitely resemble your typical fantasy dwarves Enge plays upon reader expectations as the novel delves into the history of this race offering up some fascinating and surprising morsels as novel moves forward towards its conclusion. Of course at the center of this all is Morlock himself and Enge shows a deft hand at differentiating this younger Morlock from the Morlock of the previous novels. This is a Morlock whose outsider nature, even among his adopted family, has still left him raw around the edges. A Morlock who hates his birth father deeply and a Morlock desperate to prove himself to the world. Having read the previous novels you can see the skeleton of the man he would become and his portrayal in A Guile of Dragons as someone who even at a young age carried a rather hefty emotional burden.
While A Guile of Dragons offers a self-contained story it definitely feels like it is building to a more unified and connected story than the previous novels (which were very episodic). A Guile of Dragons further fleshes out the world of Morlock while leaving ample room to build even further detail. A Guile of Dragons also seems to tone back some of the more magical elements seen in the previous novels. While magic is definitely alive and present in the novel it is a far subtler affair and completely absent are airships or giant mechanical spiders. Enge definitely seems to going for a slower burn with A Guile of Dragons but that isn’t to say there isn’t action. Enge offers up threats, mysteries, and battles aplenty to keep the pace flowing and there were definite moments where I didn’t want to stop turning the pages. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Morlock Ambrosius.
firerosearien's review against another edition
4.0
The book is well written - at some points serious, at others complete with a Pratchett-esque humor - with an interesting mythos.
Unfortunately it doesn't quite work as a stand alone- there are too many in-references to a world i don't know much about; it's a bit like having captain marvel as your intro to the MCU.
So I can't really say I *loved* it, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading one of the previously published books in the series.
Unfortunately it doesn't quite work as a stand alone- there are too many in-references to a world i don't know much about; it's a bit like having captain marvel as your intro to the MCU.
So I can't really say I *loved* it, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading one of the previously published books in the series.
wmhenrymorris's review against another edition
Epic in its arc and trappings but literary in its prose and complex in its structure. In other words: exactly my kind of thing.
silene's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Enge presents a fascinating world with slowly revealed secrets. The pacing and world-building, unfortunately, are often uneven. Most of the characters are rather flat, with the exception of Morlock, Tyr, Deor, and Earno. Unfortunately, I find Earno consistently tedious. The character development is deeply uneven with many characters only popping up for plot purposes. Enge’s named female characters with any type of significant role are poorly written with a fixation on men. I was disappointed with the lack of female characters- until we met Aloe. Then I wanted him not to write female characters at all if he can’t do it well. All criticism aside, the plot is intriguing and well-orchestrated, the setting is utterly fascinating, and Morlock has a fulfilling character arc by the end.
brokenfiction's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn't call James Enge unknown or unsung among fantasy authors these days. Clearly he is known and must sell fairly well, or Pyr wouldn't keep taking chances on him. We seem to be rich with talent in this age, given the Rothfusses and Weekses and Abercrombies, but I still feel that Enge doesn't get the recognition or fame he richly deserves. The tales of Morlock the Maker get better with each book that is released, and this latest - A Guile of Dragons - is no different. Do yourself a favor and go forth and read these and be amazed at his ability.
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