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emallovesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bibliophile80's review against another edition
3.0
Recommend by Lindsay, my fantasy-loving friend. I'd give this 3.5 stars. The description was a bit over-the-top dramatic at times, but the characters were great, the plot was cool, and the concept of the Sunrunners was truly innovative (to me, at least). I don't know that I want to commit another couple of weeks to the sequel right now, but I am glad I read this.
ludacrystal414's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book better when I was younger. It lacks the depth that I remembered. And I know the ebook is missing parts. I read the paperback often enough to know which parts. Pretty disappointing. I’m rating it 3 stars for sentimental reasons.
tauwillow's review against another edition
4.0
I originally read this years and years ago, and was lucky to rediscover this with the help of the “Whatsvthat Book” forum.
I am a longtime sci fi - fantasy fan, and this series fits so comfortably there. Sometimes you just want real escapism without the dystopia.
Additionally, this is an incredible story of an effort toward good governance, and what sacrifices and self reflection that entails. I cannot think of another book that uses that moral directive as the core of its story. I love it, and I want more books about good guys working hard to be good.
I am a longtime sci fi - fantasy fan, and this series fits so comfortably there. Sometimes you just want real escapism without the dystopia.
Additionally, this is an incredible story of an effort toward good governance, and what sacrifices and self reflection that entails. I cannot think of another book that uses that moral directive as the core of its story. I love it, and I want more books about good guys working hard to be good.
kellpossible's review against another edition
3.0
Originally read this (and the subsequent 5 books) at the age of 15 or so -- just re-read as a more discerning 24-year-old. The verdict? Better at 15 than at 24, but still worth the read.
What Ms. Rawn does well :
She creates an inventive and descriptive system of magic that is fun to watch develop. The world she creates is not flawless, but has really cool socio-political aspects (the Riall'im, for one) that are inventive and fun. When I was 15 I thought she did a beautiful job putting a lot of depth into a lot of characters -- at 24 I find them to be not as well developed as I remembered, but still engaging. There are few fantasy writers (GRRM comes to mind) who attempt to flesh out so many characters, minor and major, with as much success, even if some are more successful than others.
What Ms. Rawn does not do so well :
Write. Not that her prose is bad, per se, but there is a fair bit more unnecessary explaining and a lot less showing than I would appreciate. Some of the 'good'-aligned characters are rather nauseating when it comes to a) being in love and b) being friends with each other. There is a bit too much joking and witty banter and twinkling of eyes between all 'good' characters, regardless of personality, to be believable or enjoyable. Similarly, all the characters that are in love are so ardent to the point of being disgusting. As a 15-year-old the nuances of these friendships and lovey-dovey-ness eluded me and my grand ideas of romance. As an adult it's not terribly well executed, even if we are to take it at face value; that is to say, as fantasy.
What Ms. Rawn does well that she may not have intended to do well :
Villians. Now, let me preface this by saying that not all her villians are nuanced. Some of them are as 2D as cardboard. That being said, there are a couple 'evil'-aligned characters who are just so...so...so...I don't know, refreshingly and single-mindedly evil that you can't help but cheer them on. It doesn't hurt that she makes some of her main characters so sickeningly smart/great/beautiful/righteous/loving/amazeballs that you want them taken down a peg. Plus, while nearly all the 'good' characters are predictably 'good' (maybe a token, minor exception here or there) there are a couple of 'evil' characters whose characters take such unpredictable paths that they become fun.
Overall :
Though you will find plenty of places to make critiques in the series -- most obviously with the main, 'good', characters to my mind -- if you relax and take it as a slightly-pulpy-80's-fantasy-novel you will probably enjoy yourself. It's decently paced, fairly well characterized, and has interesting political and magic systems. Definitely worth a shot.
What Ms. Rawn does well :
She creates an inventive and descriptive system of magic that is fun to watch develop. The world she creates is not flawless, but has really cool socio-political aspects (the Riall'im, for one) that are inventive and fun. When I was 15 I thought she did a beautiful job putting a lot of depth into a lot of characters -- at 24 I find them to be not as well developed as I remembered, but still engaging. There are few fantasy writers (GRRM comes to mind) who attempt to flesh out so many characters, minor and major, with as much success, even if some are more successful than others.
What Ms. Rawn does not do so well :
Write. Not that her prose is bad, per se, but there is a fair bit more unnecessary explaining and a lot less showing than I would appreciate. Some of the 'good'-aligned characters are rather nauseating when it comes to a) being in love and b) being friends with each other. There is a bit too much joking and witty banter and twinkling of eyes between all 'good' characters, regardless of personality, to be believable or enjoyable. Similarly, all the characters that are in love are so ardent to the point of being disgusting. As a 15-year-old the nuances of these friendships and lovey-dovey-ness eluded me and my grand ideas of romance. As an adult it's not terribly well executed, even if we are to take it at face value; that is to say, as fantasy.
What Ms. Rawn does well that she may not have intended to do well :
Villians. Now, let me preface this by saying that not all her villians are nuanced. Some of them are as 2D as cardboard. That being said, there are a couple 'evil'-aligned characters who are just so...so...so...I don't know, refreshingly and single-mindedly evil that you can't help but cheer them on. It doesn't hurt that she makes some of her main characters so sickeningly smart/great/beautiful/righteous/loving/amazeballs that you want them taken down a peg. Plus, while nearly all the 'good' characters are predictably 'good' (maybe a token, minor exception here or there) there are a couple of 'evil' characters whose characters take such unpredictable paths that they become fun.
Overall :
Though you will find plenty of places to make critiques in the series -- most obviously with the main, 'good', characters to my mind -- if you relax and take it as a slightly-pulpy-80's-fantasy-novel you will probably enjoy yourself. It's decently paced, fairly well characterized, and has interesting political and magic systems. Definitely worth a shot.
inkfire's review against another edition
5.0
There were a few points where the pacing dragged a little, but I couldn't put it down the rest of the time. Intricate characters, complex development arcs, high stakes. It was all good, and I loved it. Will definitely read again.
steffan20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
searobin56's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly very good. Good characters, good story, good action. I really enjoyed it.
kerry2046's review against another edition
3.0
Oh-ho, The Dragon Prince. More like the I-Have-Uncontrollable-Sexual-Urges-But-Because-I-Feel-Bad-About-It-Everyone-Forgives-Me Prince. If that is what being a Dragon Prince is, I'm really not feeling it.
The premise was so promising, and I honestly enjoyed it up until Part 3. I had, however, already started hating the main romance by part 2; Sioned isn't as strong or interesting as I like my female leads to be. The Prince was occasionally funny but overall too self-righteous. Ultimately, I was looking forward to how the plot would unfold. Would it become an epic adventure or would the political intrigue reach scandolous heights? It was kind of the latter, but it fell flatter (Rhyming to comfort my disappointed soul). I wanted to believe in the relationships but what is there to believe in when they want to bang from the get go. Their biggest hurdles were always sexual... I just wanted to believe their relationship was not possible or something could genuinely tear them apart. It was all too, 'I love you and forgive all that crap you just did, again.'
It was part 3 that destroyed any kind of enjoyment I had with this book. I was able to suspend my own personal morals and beliefs for a bit of fun and for a while I did. The princes performance at the Rialla was brilliant. and sometimes genuinely funny. The book was well written and in depth, it all read very smoothly. But, Roelstra, that awfully terrible bad guy, was by far the most intriguing character.
The romance between the two leads was unrelatable and pretty underwhelming. I struggle with the whole lust-at-first-sight-means-we're-actually-in-love malarkey. One minute they were all so good, next thing they have eyes for others, but only in lust not love, because obviously all relationships begin in lust... Even Toibin and Chay (the best couple in the story that i would much rather read about and found easier to believe) were all lust before love. Because sunrunners with firey ways inspire firey lust in everyone who meets or touches them...
I think what I hated most was our Dragon Prince. This is how open-minded I was during this thing; I was willing to overlook the angelic warrior with a brain (ohmygosh so tortured) thing and I was able to overlook when he got on his high-horse and called his lusted a hoe (He didnt want used goods and he was being just as horny as the rest). What royally buggered the plot was in part 3.
I wont spoil it... but don't tell me that he is a man swept up by his emotions and natural urges, therefore rendering him incapable of making coherent and morally acceptable decisions. And for those around him to excuse it. To say that he did what had to be done or that he could'nt avoid. He could. Maybe not drugged but he could!
At least Roelstra admitted to what he was and what he did. And he was just more interesting, anyone who burns people, casually may I add, alive is a better character in my book. Yo, just give me a book about that psycopath being terrible to everyone and I'll be happy for years to come.
The premise was so promising, and I honestly enjoyed it up until Part 3. I had, however, already started hating the main romance by part 2; Sioned isn't as strong or interesting as I like my female leads to be. The Prince was occasionally funny but overall too self-righteous. Ultimately, I was looking forward to how the plot would unfold. Would it become an epic adventure or would the political intrigue reach scandolous heights? It was kind of the latter, but it fell flatter (Rhyming to comfort my disappointed soul). I wanted to believe in the relationships but what is there to believe in when they want to bang from the get go. Their biggest hurdles were always sexual... I just wanted to believe their relationship was not possible or something could genuinely tear them apart. It was all too, 'I love you and forgive all that crap you just did, again.'
It was part 3 that destroyed any kind of enjoyment I had with this book. I was able to suspend my own personal morals and beliefs for a bit of fun and for a while I did. The princes performance at the Rialla was brilliant. and sometimes genuinely funny. The book was well written and in depth, it all read very smoothly. But, Roelstra, that awfully terrible bad guy, was by far the most intriguing character.
The romance between the two leads was unrelatable and pretty underwhelming. I struggle with the whole lust-at-first-sight-means-we're-actually-in-love malarkey. One minute they were all so good, next thing they have eyes for others, but only in lust not love, because obviously all relationships begin in lust... Even Toibin and Chay (the best couple in the story that i would much rather read about and found easier to believe) were all lust before love. Because sunrunners with firey ways inspire firey lust in everyone who meets or touches them...
I think what I hated most was our Dragon Prince. This is how open-minded I was during this thing; I was willing to overlook the angelic warrior with a brain (ohmygosh so tortured) thing and I was able to overlook when he got on his high-horse and called his lusted a hoe (He didnt want used goods and he was being just as horny as the rest). What royally buggered the plot was in part 3.
I wont spoil it... but don't tell me that he is a man swept up by his emotions and natural urges, therefore rendering him incapable of making coherent and morally acceptable decisions. And for those around him to excuse it. To say that he did what had to be done or that he could'nt avoid. He could. Maybe not drugged but he could!
At least Roelstra admitted to what he was and what he did. And he was just more interesting, anyone who burns people, casually may I add, alive is a better character in my book. Yo, just give me a book about that psycopath being terrible to everyone and I'll be happy for years to come.