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snowwolf75's review
4.0
Very fitting and satisfying end to the series, especially after all the main character had gone through.
gmvader's review
4.0
Timothy Zahn is, by one specific unit of measure, my favorite author. That is, I own and have read over thirty of his books. That's more than any other author that I have read, though there are a few that approach that number. This is a skewed scale, obviously. Some authors haven't been writing as long as Zahn and some authors I just haven't known about for as long. Therefore I refer to Zahn by the moniker of a favorite author.
Dragon and Liberator is both a great book and a slightly mediocre one.
First, this book is the poster child for why I love multibook series. This sixth book that finishes up the Dragonback series is one huge climax. This makes it intensely fast-paced – one of Zahn's signature abilities – and very satisfying as mysteries and foreshadowings from the previous five books are all pulled together for this final showdown. A single book can not convey the level of tension and character development that can be put into a well written series. A single book can not drag on an on with the kind of inflated prose that can be put into a poorly written series, either. Thankfully, this is one of the former type.
Which is another fascinating point. These characters really have grown. So much that if you compare them to the way they were in the first book that they don't even seem like the same characters. On the other hand the changes are so subtle that you don't remember changes taking place. This is how people change, we rarely think to ourselves that we need to start seeing the world in a different way. Rather our viewpoints change as a reflection of our experiences.
The problem with having read so many of Zahn's books is that I begin to see recycled situations and scenarios. Even certain character traits tend to get stirred into the new pot. It recalls memories of listening to a John William's soundtrack. When listening to Harry Potter you hear hints of E.T. and Star Wars. Sometimes there are sprinkles of Indiana Jones thrown in. The soundtrack is still new but it's definitely distinguishable as a John William's piece just from hearing it.
Being a John Williams is not a bad thing.
There are a few Deus Ex Machina-seeming moments in this book that, while Zahn apparently planned on them from the beginning, the foreshadowing was so subtle that I literally had to reread those parts to make sure I understood what had happened.
This series has progressed from the first book to become something quite spectacular. Not only do the characters change and grow up because of what happens to them but the story ramps up the danger with each book. I still remember the first time one of the good guys was forced to kill an enemy instead of just outsmart them. It was almost breathtakingly shocking. In this final book the enemy has quit trying to capture Jack and Draycos – it's now a death sentence. In return, Draycos and Jack are taking the war to the enemy. They're in a battle for survival and they've finally come to the realization that playing nice isn't going to cut it anymore.
Jack has fully accepted Draycos' warrior ethic by this point and when faced with a decision to put his own life in danger to save others he doesn't hesitate. He reflects on it while he's doing it and realizes that what he is doing is not because he likes the other persons, or cares for them, but because it is right. This point is a character climax for Jack. He's been conditioned his entire life to look out for himself first and others if they will be useful.
This book was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. It starts with Alison and Taneem getting locked in a safe aboard the enemies ship and Jack and Draycos arrested on Brum-a-Dum and the action escalates from there into three hundred pages of the signature Zahn avalanche of clever plots and brilliant action.
This book is perfect for people of all ages.
Dragon and Liberator is both a great book and a slightly mediocre one.
First, this book is the poster child for why I love multibook series. This sixth book that finishes up the Dragonback series is one huge climax. This makes it intensely fast-paced – one of Zahn's signature abilities – and very satisfying as mysteries and foreshadowings from the previous five books are all pulled together for this final showdown. A single book can not convey the level of tension and character development that can be put into a well written series. A single book can not drag on an on with the kind of inflated prose that can be put into a poorly written series, either. Thankfully, this is one of the former type.
Which is another fascinating point. These characters really have grown. So much that if you compare them to the way they were in the first book that they don't even seem like the same characters. On the other hand the changes are so subtle that you don't remember changes taking place. This is how people change, we rarely think to ourselves that we need to start seeing the world in a different way. Rather our viewpoints change as a reflection of our experiences.
The problem with having read so many of Zahn's books is that I begin to see recycled situations and scenarios. Even certain character traits tend to get stirred into the new pot. It recalls memories of listening to a John William's soundtrack. When listening to Harry Potter you hear hints of E.T. and Star Wars. Sometimes there are sprinkles of Indiana Jones thrown in. The soundtrack is still new but it's definitely distinguishable as a John William's piece just from hearing it.
Being a John Williams is not a bad thing.
There are a few Deus Ex Machina-seeming moments in this book that, while Zahn apparently planned on them from the beginning, the foreshadowing was so subtle that I literally had to reread those parts to make sure I understood what had happened.
This series has progressed from the first book to become something quite spectacular. Not only do the characters change and grow up because of what happens to them but the story ramps up the danger with each book. I still remember the first time one of the good guys was forced to kill an enemy instead of just outsmart them. It was almost breathtakingly shocking. In this final book the enemy has quit trying to capture Jack and Draycos – it's now a death sentence. In return, Draycos and Jack are taking the war to the enemy. They're in a battle for survival and they've finally come to the realization that playing nice isn't going to cut it anymore.
Jack has fully accepted Draycos' warrior ethic by this point and when faced with a decision to put his own life in danger to save others he doesn't hesitate. He reflects on it while he's doing it and realizes that what he is doing is not because he likes the other persons, or cares for them, but because it is right. This point is a character climax for Jack. He's been conditioned his entire life to look out for himself first and others if they will be useful.
This book was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish. It starts with Alison and Taneem getting locked in a safe aboard the enemies ship and Jack and Draycos arrested on Brum-a-Dum and the action escalates from there into three hundred pages of the signature Zahn avalanche of clever plots and brilliant action.
This book is perfect for people of all ages.
kailey_luminouslibro's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
In this final book of the series, Jack and Draycos are running out of time to stop the genocide of Draycos' entire race, the K'da. The machinery of war is lining up to annihilate the K'da spaceships that will be arriving soon, but Jack and Draycos don't know where the final rendezvous point will be. Their only hope is to follow their enemies and hope that they can warn the K'da in time.
I loved this book so much! Every book in the series is action-packed and full of mystery and danger. I loved that the plot answers all of the questions that came up in the previous books, but then new mysteries and new questions are introduced, so you are always wondering and guessing what could possible happen next. And finally everything comes together for an exciting conclusion and all our questions are explained.
Alison Kayna has become completely entangled in Draycos' plans, and it is interesting to see how this group trusts each other, but only partially. They trust each other for now, but things could change quickly as the situation unfolds. You can never quite tell if certain people are only pretending to side with the enemy as double agents, or if they have truly changed their allegiance.
Draycos' warrior ethic of always doing what is right and noble gets this ragtag group into trouble sometimes, but in the end, they fully embrace his morality and are ready to lay down their lives to save the innocent K'da. He inspires them with both physical courage and moral courage.
I love all the characters, the plot, the themes, the writing style! Everything about this series is just so delightful!
I loved this book so much! Every book in the series is action-packed and full of mystery and danger. I loved that the plot answers all of the questions that came up in the previous books, but then new mysteries and new questions are introduced, so you are always wondering and guessing what could possible happen next. And finally everything comes together for an exciting conclusion and all our questions are explained.
Alison Kayna has become completely entangled in Draycos' plans, and it is interesting to see how this group trusts each other, but only partially. They trust each other for now, but things could change quickly as the situation unfolds. You can never quite tell if certain people are only pretending to side with the enemy as double agents, or if they have truly changed their allegiance.
Draycos' warrior ethic of always doing what is right and noble gets this ragtag group into trouble sometimes, but in the end, they fully embrace his morality and are ready to lay down their lives to save the innocent K'da. He inspires them with both physical courage and moral courage.
I love all the characters, the plot, the themes, the writing style! Everything about this series is just so delightful!
onemanbookclub's review
3.0
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
STOP EVERYTHING!!!
Are you telling me there's a ScyFy series written by the king of Star Wars novels about an orphan with his own AI-controlled spaceship AND who has a symbiont relationship with a dragon warrior-poet who lives on his back as a giant golden tatoo?
Yes. Yes I am.
The story was a blast, and I'm a sucker for dragons. Slightly unfortunately, I found the Dragonback series to be well written for the demographic it's targeted for--upper middle grade--but not so well written for my grown up expectations. The writing and plot were both terribly simplistic. Conclusions to conflicts were resolved with unrealistic ease. The characters discovered or revealed a new skill that saved the day exactly when it was needed. The ebooks had an annoying number of misspelled words and misplaced punctuation. BUT, as I usually find with fun middle-grade stories, once I realigned expectations, I sat back, kicked-off my shoes, and enjoyed the story.
By the end of book 6 I was perfectly happy with the resolution and how things were tied up. The annoying things stayed annoying, and there was much more fiction than science. But the 13-year-old nerd in me was too happy to be reading about a quick thinking, 14-year-old thieving conman, his AI powered spaceship, and an awesome poet-warrior dragon living in a tatoo on his back!
Do you have a 13-year-old nerd somewhere inside of you? Or maybe you are a 13-year-0ld nerd! Either way, I bet you're going to enjoy this fun space romp. I did!
No content issues at all.
Best for 12 and up.
Happy Reading!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
STOP EVERYTHING!!!
Are you telling me there's a ScyFy series written by the king of Star Wars novels about an orphan with his own AI-controlled spaceship AND who has a symbiont relationship with a dragon warrior-poet who lives on his back as a giant golden tatoo?
Yes. Yes I am.
The story was a blast, and I'm a sucker for dragons. Slightly unfortunately, I found the Dragonback series to be well written for the demographic it's targeted for--upper middle grade--but not so well written for my grown up expectations. The writing and plot were both terribly simplistic. Conclusions to conflicts were resolved with unrealistic ease. The characters discovered or revealed a new skill that saved the day exactly when it was needed. The ebooks had an annoying number of misspelled words and misplaced punctuation. BUT, as I usually find with fun middle-grade stories, once I realigned expectations, I sat back, kicked-off my shoes, and enjoyed the story.
By the end of book 6 I was perfectly happy with the resolution and how things were tied up. The annoying things stayed annoying, and there was much more fiction than science. But the 13-year-old nerd in me was too happy to be reading about a quick thinking, 14-year-old thieving conman, his AI powered spaceship, and an awesome poet-warrior dragon living in a tatoo on his back!
Do you have a 13-year-old nerd somewhere inside of you? Or maybe you are a 13-year-0ld nerd! Either way, I bet you're going to enjoy this fun space romp. I did!
No content issues at all.
Best for 12 and up.
Happy Reading!
kodi_rae's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A satisfying end to the series though I felt some questions were wrapped up pretty quickly and could have been explored much further. Maybe the author intended to make a spin-off at one point?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, War, and Confinement
Minor: Grief
jurassicreader's review
5.0
Please vote on list Best Timothy Zahn novels.
A thrilling conclusion to the Dragonback series and my personal favorite. I was especially happy because Zahn manages to bring all the plot threads to a satisfying conclusion. It was great reading about Jack and seeing him mature throughout the series. Excellent suspense and action just as there was in the previous entries. A terrific read and I'm a little sad to be done with series. Recommended for science fiction adventure fans.
A thrilling conclusion to the Dragonback series and my personal favorite. I was especially happy because Zahn manages to bring all the plot threads to a satisfying conclusion. It was great reading about Jack and seeing him mature throughout the series. Excellent suspense and action just as there was in the previous entries. A terrific read and I'm a little sad to be done with series. Recommended for science fiction adventure fans.
youngheart80's review
5.0
An excellent ending to an excellent book series. I was especially surprised to see how well all the threads tied together at the end.
rachela1eaf's review
5.0
What a fantastic conclusion to this series! I loved seeing everything pull together; Zahn really tied together a lot of threads that I've been excitedly following throughout the series. It all felt natural and made sense--but it was never predictable. There was lots of twists and intrigue, and you never quite knew what everyone was up to. Definitely kept me on my toes! But I did like how many characters turned out to be trustworthy, despite my misgivings about them--I like a story where most of the characters you come to care about turn out to be the good guys. Zahn also did a good job of of managing the two stories of Alison and Jack. He kept up the tension and intrigue in both quite well, and I was engaged in both of their storylines. I'm sad it's over, but I'm quite satisfied with the endings for both of them.
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