Scan barcode
debbieh2109's review
5.0
Another great book in series very intense at times. Marlies on a mission to rescue Zaarusha son from Zen but she ends up getting caught and injured so Tomaaz has to rescue both mother and dragon. But, in the end the reunion with Tomaaz and his family was great. But, the adventure continues when Tomaaz and Roberto has to return to see what Zen is creating . Looking forward to next book in series.
constant2m's review
5.0
Starting in the same place and time as Ezaara, the first book in the Riders of Fire series, Dragon Hero follows the journeys of Tomaaz (Ezaara's brother) and Hans and Marlies (Ezaara's parents). We finally get to hear the backstories of Hans and Marlies, as well as meet some of the people and dragons that were a part of their previous lives as dragon riders. Tomaaz is a complex, wonderful character. He has so much heart and an incredibly strong moral compass. While Ezaara explored Dragon's Hold and ventured outside to the Wastelands briefly, Dragon's Hold gives us a much closer look at Lush Valley as well as the journey to and life in Death Valley.
The thing is, while Ezaara has my heart, Dragon Hero dug so much deeper into the story and the lore of Dragon's Realm. After failing to reach Ezaara before she set off with Zaarusha, Marlies sets off on her own quest for the Dragon Queen, to rescue the queen's son in Death Valley or die trying. Along the way, she meets up with some old friends from her dragon rider days and attempts to subvert tharuk trackers and mind readers and ultimately Zens himself. In the meantime, Lush Valley is under attack, Hans is falsely imprisoned, and Tomaaz is thrown into the the midst of a world he has never known before. Those he once thought were friends turn against him; those he rarely thought of became the most significant people in his world.
Great bravery is required of Tomaaz, but kindness is not. Still, he consistently makes choices that show compassion toward any and all in need. He is a remarkable young man, so much more than the typical male teen hero. And his compassion causes even more suffering to both him and those he loves, and yet shows he is willing to make morally right choices, regardless of the personal consequences.
A special thanks to Eileen Mueller for gifting me a free copy of this audiobook. I have reviewed it of my own accord because it's amazing and I couldn't not.
The thing is, while Ezaara has my heart, Dragon Hero dug so much deeper into the story and the lore of Dragon's Realm. After failing to reach Ezaara before she set off with Zaarusha, Marlies sets off on her own quest for the Dragon Queen, to rescue the queen's son in Death Valley or die trying. Along the way, she meets up with some old friends from her dragon rider days and attempts to subvert tharuk trackers and mind readers and ultimately Zens himself. In the meantime, Lush Valley is under attack, Hans is falsely imprisoned, and Tomaaz is thrown into the the midst of a world he has never known before. Those he once thought were friends turn against him; those he rarely thought of became the most significant people in his world.
Great bravery is required of Tomaaz, but kindness is not. Still, he consistently makes choices that show compassion toward any and all in need. He is a remarkable young man, so much more than the typical male teen hero. And his compassion causes even more suffering to both him and those he loves, and yet shows he is willing to make morally right choices, regardless of the personal consequences.
A special thanks to Eileen Mueller for gifting me a free copy of this audiobook. I have reviewed it of my own accord because it's amazing and I couldn't not.
inked_up_bookshelf's review
5.0
Eileen truly picked up the speed with this second novel in the series. Having the first story focus on Ezzara we not learn what happened during her time but with that of her family(ma, pa and Tomas). There is so much action, traveling and many new "faces" to be seen its fascinating that I was able to keep track of everything. There was a lot of thought into each character we meet and their backgrounds. I cannot wait to move onto the next book.
secre's review
4.0
Eileen Mueller really picks up the pace in Dragon Hero and this is definitely a good thing. It's a distinctly darker book than the previous instalment, but still manages to keep the tone of a young adult novel. From Ezaara we shift perspective to her brother, Tomaaz, as he gets a rude awakening to a world completely unfamiliar to him when his sister is taken from their village by a dragon. Having been brought up to loathe and detest dragons and their riders, it is quite a shock to discover that his parents were at one point in their lives, dragon riders themselves. Flitting between the view points of Tomaaz, his father, Hans and his mother, Marlies, Dragon Hero is not just a coming of age story but expands to a far wider view point.
The three plot lines interlace and weave in and out of each other, with characters coming together only to strike off in different directions. I far preferred the characterisation of Tomaaz to his sister, Ezaara, finding him less prone to making stupid and easily foreseeable errors. Despite the two characters being twins, Tomaaz is presented as a far more mature and reliable character even when thrust deeply out of his comfort zone. He doesn't trust blindly or run in half cocked and he doesn't believe everything some flattering half-wit tells him. It makes for a far more engaging read with a character you can truly empathise with. Additionally, the parents are far more fleshed out here rather than just being minor bit players who have more of a background role in the story. The interactions between parent and child make for some excellent coming of age moments.
Whilst I have quite enjoyed my forays into this world so far, this is the first book that truly engaged me, drawing me into the universe and refusing to let go. It's as though the series has grown into itself somewhat, offering more depth and varying shades of grey to the universe. The only part this really falls down is the bad guy; that does seem a tad black and white. He's bad because he's bad without any real motivation other than the standard evil dominion of the world malarkey that is thrown about. I do like the imagination shown with the tharuks though and their motivations for serving such a brutal master are perhaps more believable. All in all, a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading on.
The three plot lines interlace and weave in and out of each other, with characters coming together only to strike off in different directions. I far preferred the characterisation of Tomaaz to his sister, Ezaara, finding him less prone to making stupid and easily foreseeable errors. Despite the two characters being twins, Tomaaz is presented as a far more mature and reliable character even when thrust deeply out of his comfort zone. He doesn't trust blindly or run in half cocked and he doesn't believe everything some flattering half-wit tells him. It makes for a far more engaging read with a character you can truly empathise with. Additionally, the parents are far more fleshed out here rather than just being minor bit players who have more of a background role in the story. The interactions between parent and child make for some excellent coming of age moments.
Whilst I have quite enjoyed my forays into this world so far, this is the first book that truly engaged me, drawing me into the universe and refusing to let go. It's as though the series has grown into itself somewhat, offering more depth and varying shades of grey to the universe. The only part this really falls down is the bad guy; that does seem a tad black and white. He's bad because he's bad without any real motivation other than the standard evil dominion of the world malarkey that is thrown about. I do like the imagination shown with the tharuks though and their motivations for serving such a brutal master are perhaps more believable. All in all, a really enjoyable read and I look forward to reading on.
sednadragon35's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this I loved Tomaaz as a character and his journey. I found his and Lovina's relationship interesting and I love how he was able to show her love and how she reacted to that love. I found her back story heartbreaking yet I found out inspiring of how she was able to her out of that situation. Leading to a good ending.
More...