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niidz's review against another edition
3.0
Compared to the other 2 books i was much more interested in this one solely because two of the main POVs were female characters but apart from that the book just fell away from me, the plot was interesting, their quest to "find the missing pieces of the dragons" but even with the plot and the two new main female characters there were moments especially with Rook's POV where i just wanted the book to end.
tyecaptain's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely have a type. And that type is ferocious and fiery.
It's too late for this crap, I'm so sad that's it's over. That is all.
It's too late for this crap, I'm so sad that's it's over. That is all.
omiai's review against another edition
2.0
I adored the first book in this series, Havemercy, or at least, I loved the characters of Hal and Royston. When it came to the other characters, Rook and Thom, I tended to glass over those parts, finding the characters a little uninteresting and the war element not so good. So when I got this book and realised that the main story was about those characers, I was a bit disappointed. But I didn't let it put me off, and read this book, desperate to continue the series.
Again I found the characters of Rook and Thom rather boring. Their story this time, however, was much more interesting, so I found that element an improvement. The other 2 new characters in this book, Madoka and Malahide, I also didn't find particularly interesting. The interaction between the two became more interesting as the book went on, but it was very near the end of the book when i started actually liking them.
This book was a real down point for me in this series. The first and second books (Havemercy, Shadow Magic) both had characters, stories and interactions that I found interesting and fascinating, but this book the characters just didn't do it for me, and character, as you can probably tell, is very important to me.
But the storyline itself was really good. We mainly follow Rook and Thom on a journey to try and find Rook's dragon, Havemercy, and the brutal journey they endure in the process.
So although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others, the writing style of Jones and Bennett is still fantastic, and don't let my review put you off reading the series, especially the first 2 books, because they are truly wonderful books with (mostly) wondeful, loveable characters.
Again I found the characters of Rook and Thom rather boring. Their story this time, however, was much more interesting, so I found that element an improvement. The other 2 new characters in this book, Madoka and Malahide, I also didn't find particularly interesting. The interaction between the two became more interesting as the book went on, but it was very near the end of the book when i started actually liking them.
This book was a real down point for me in this series. The first and second books (Havemercy, Shadow Magic) both had characters, stories and interactions that I found interesting and fascinating, but this book the characters just didn't do it for me, and character, as you can probably tell, is very important to me.
But the storyline itself was really good. We mainly follow Rook and Thom on a journey to try and find Rook's dragon, Havemercy, and the brutal journey they endure in the process.
So although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others, the writing style of Jones and Bennett is still fantastic, and don't let my review put you off reading the series, especially the first 2 books, because they are truly wonderful books with (mostly) wondeful, loveable characters.
somedaysitsharder's review against another edition
2.0
After devouring the first two books in the series, I was, to my disappointment, more or less bored to tears by this one. It took me months to read whereas I finished the first two in mere days.
My main issue with this book was that simply nothing happens for large stretches of it and the rest of it is perfectly predictable. The set of characters isn't bad - I don't mind Rook as a narrator as much as other people seem to - and the story itself could be worse, but this book felt like it was droning on forever. Lots of people run around looking for pieces of dragon. This sounds like it could be exciting enough, but it isn't because for all the interesting characters (gosh, I loved Malahide from start to finish), most of their journeys are spent not talking to each other.
Whereas Havemercy and Shadow Magic come to life through the dynamics between their characters, in Dragon Soul Rook and Thom spend the majority of their search brooding in silence and contemplating each other and their situation. Except sometimes Rook says mean things and Thom takes it all in silence and doesn't say anything. The same basically applies to Malahide, Madoka and Badger. And when they finally all meet, which you know will happen from the start because it's clear they're all after the same thing, conversation is sort of inhibited by language barriers and the fact that they all don't trust each other. ...which amounts to "a bit meh" for me, personally.
On a plot level, I also didn't feel like much was a stake for me to care about. Rook's personal investment in the quest was leaving me rather cold because while I can stand him well enough, I don't actually like him to a point where I sympathize. Malahide's ambition was muted enough and she didn't seem invested in it beyond not wanting to fail her boss, and Madoka, in all fairness, didn't really seem to know what she was doing or why most of the time. As did Thom, who rarely and barely contributed. It left me wondering why any of them would bother and why I would even care what happens to the dragon soul. I wasn't given the impression that the fate of countries and their shaky peace was at stake, as was the case in the first two books, where you really felt like the characters were working to achieve something important.
The final showdown comes and goes without redeeming any of it because by the time things start to happen, I just want it to be over already.
So yeah. I'm sort of disappointed I didn't enjoy it more. Maybe I'll like the next one better.
My main issue with this book was that simply nothing happens for large stretches of it and the rest of it is perfectly predictable. The set of characters isn't bad - I don't mind Rook as a narrator as much as other people seem to - and the story itself could be worse, but this book felt like it was droning on forever. Lots of people run around looking for pieces of dragon. This sounds like it could be exciting enough, but it isn't because for all the interesting characters (gosh, I loved Malahide from start to finish), most of their journeys are spent not talking to each other.
Whereas Havemercy and Shadow Magic come to life through the dynamics between their characters, in Dragon Soul Rook and Thom spend the majority of their search brooding in silence and contemplating each other and their situation. Except sometimes Rook says mean things and Thom takes it all in silence and doesn't say anything. The same basically applies to Malahide, Madoka and Badger. And when they finally all meet, which you know will happen from the start because it's clear they're all after the same thing, conversation is sort of inhibited by language barriers and the fact that they all don't trust each other. ...which amounts to "a bit meh" for me, personally.
On a plot level, I also didn't feel like much was a stake for me to care about. Rook's personal investment in the quest was leaving me rather cold because while I can stand him well enough, I don't actually like him to a point where I sympathize. Malahide's ambition was muted enough and she didn't seem invested in it beyond not wanting to fail her boss, and Madoka, in all fairness, didn't really seem to know what she was doing or why most of the time. As did Thom, who rarely and barely contributed. It left me wondering why any of them would bother and why I would even care what happens to the dragon soul. I wasn't given the impression that the fate of countries and their shaky peace was at stake, as was the case in the first two books, where you really felt like the characters were working to achieve something important.
The final showdown comes and goes without redeeming any of it because by the time things start to happen, I just want it to be over already.
So yeah. I'm sort of disappointed I didn't enjoy it more. Maybe I'll like the next one better.
arnicas's review
3.0
So, I enjoyed, but perhaps not as much as the earlier two. This one badly needed cutting down -- way too much interior monologue and meandering reactions to things, without being plot-or-character necessary. The other books were a lot tighter. But I did enjoy the desert setting, the new characters, and especially the "crazy" wizard-in-hiding.
lostinabookbrb's review
2.0
I think my frustration with this book was the authors' constant need to point out things that don't need to be.
-SOME SPOILERS; NOT REALLY BIG ONES-
Such as, when a character says something and it is followed up my "I explained the relationship between such and suchs." I know you explained it, you don't have to repeat yourself. It's like the author's don't really trust the readers to get it. This happened in Havemercy, too. I don't know why it bothered me even more here.
I also had a problem with liking most of the main characters (excluding Malahide). Madoka seemed to be a more female and not a jackass version of Rook. Thom was a complete pansy and I don't know exactly how that came to be the reader is constantly reminded that he is from the ghetto named Molly. You'd think that spending your life in a not-very-good-at-all neighborhood and being raised by working ladies, he'd have the know how to sleep with a knife on him. I get that he was at the University but surely there was something he took away from Molly.
And then there is Rook.
I think the reason I don't like Rook is because he seems to miss the bullseye of being a badass. Maybe I am missing something. He's written like he's supposed to be intimidating, a bit sociopathic, and with the capabilities to rip people limb from limb if he needs to. However, I don't think that was pulled off effectively.
There are characters I read where I completely believe that they could tell a King to kiss their ass and get away with it. Rook is not one of those people. I was half expecting him to get beat up by those more capable. In fact, I think it would have been more interesting.
Pros?
A female character who gets the interest of a prince and doesn't swoon. In fact, she wants to look after his safety and her interests which I think is awesome.
Plus, no full out romantic plot. I think there's a thing between Madoka and Badger. Then there's the weird fixation that Rook has with Havemercy: Much like he wants to have a love thing going on. BUT OVERALL, no real romance to go on. I know some people will think it's bad form not to have a couple in a story like this but I'm glad there wasn't one.
-SOME SPOILERS; NOT REALLY BIG ONES-
Such as, when a character says something and it is followed up my "I explained the relationship between such and suchs." I know you explained it, you don't have to repeat yourself. It's like the author's don't really trust the readers to get it. This happened in Havemercy, too. I don't know why it bothered me even more here.
I also had a problem with liking most of the main characters (excluding Malahide). Madoka seemed to be a more female and not a jackass version of Rook. Thom was a complete pansy and I don't know exactly how that came to be the reader is constantly reminded that he is from the ghetto named Molly. You'd think that spending your life in a not-very-good-at-all neighborhood and being raised by working ladies, he'd have the know how to sleep with a knife on him. I get that he was at the University but surely there was something he took away from Molly.
And then there is Rook.
I think the reason I don't like Rook is because he seems to miss the bullseye of being a badass. Maybe I am missing something. He's written like he's supposed to be intimidating, a bit sociopathic, and with the capabilities to rip people limb from limb if he needs to. However, I don't think that was pulled off effectively.
There are characters I read where I completely believe that they could tell a King to kiss their ass and get away with it. Rook is not one of those people. I was half expecting him to get beat up by those more capable. In fact, I think it would have been more interesting.
Pros?
A female character who gets the interest of a prince and doesn't swoon. In fact, she wants to look after his safety and her interests which I think is awesome.
Plus, no full out romantic plot. I think there's a thing between Madoka and Badger. Then there's the weird fixation that Rook has with Havemercy: Much like he wants to have a love thing going on. BUT OVERALL, no real romance to go on. I know some people will think it's bad form not to have a couple in a story like this but I'm glad there wasn't one.
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