Scan barcode
livid_olive's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
zaphod46's review against another edition
3.0
Continuing saga of Firekeeper, the heros have to return to the foreign kingdom
to prevent a powerful dragon (and the rest of the kingdom) fromfallingintothe hands of one of the few actual practitioners of magic left.
to prevent a powerful dragon (and the rest of the kingdom) fromfallingintothe hands of one of the few actual practitioners of magic left.
eoghann's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing. The book felt like it existed to set up the next volume in the series rather than being a story in its own right.
littlewolf92's review against another edition
3.0
I think it was good, in a way. I enjoyed the story, but it just... drags. She spends a little too much time on building up to the issue, when it really just gets hard to read/boring because there is too much uneeded segues.
rokinjaguar's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Somehow made a totally different culture feel like home. By the end of the book I had a fondness for New Kelvin and didn’t really care if they went back to Hawk Haven or not. It’s rare for me to be sold on a new, strange location and culture.
Melina is a particularly horrid villain and I truly hated her. Citrine was very sympathetic and complex, but she had more agency than just being a creature to pity.
Toriovico just wants to dance. :(
Melina is a particularly horrid villain and I truly hated her. Citrine was very sympathetic and complex, but she had more agency than just being a creature to pity.
Toriovico just wants to dance. :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Kidnapping, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Abandonment
cgonya1's review
4.0
I feel a little weird starting the first blog about this series with the third book. However, I started this series over a year ago, and I just keep finding other books more interesting. This isn't a bad series, it's actually quite good, but I just lose interest with long dialogues and less action.
The third book starts with Firekeeper and Derian returning to Bardenville to place grave markers where Prince Barden and his community lost their lives. The two discover that a new expedition has been undertaken and the plan is to re-build. Firekeeper's wolf family and the rest of the Royal Beasts feel threatened and violated. How does Firekeeper manage to stop a human-animal war while also staying true to her family?
On the other side of Firekeeper's family are the humans. They know her as Lady Blysse, and when she asks King Tedric for aide with New Bardenville, he proposes a bargain. If she will return to New Kelvin and pursue Melina Shield, then he will handle New Bardenville. Feeling that she has no choice, Firekeeper along with Derian, Lady Elise, Wendee, Edlin, Sir Jared, Grateful Peace, and nine year old Citrine Shield will cross the border to discover what sorcery Lady Melina is conducting.
The beginning did pull me in because I was interested in seeing the interaction between Derian and Firekeeper's wolf family. However, before that could happen the two face the New Bardenville and I was antsy. I honestly thought that the confrontation would be more action. That it would provide more "badassery" from Firekeeper. Unfortunately, it was talk, talk, and more talk. The series seems to follow around political discussions more so than violent actions. It's a medieval timeline with more information/relationship dumping. This made the book slow down over time, then it picks back up towards the end.
The evil one, Melina, is again our antagonist in this book. She has made herself close to The Healed One, the ruler of New Kelvin. However, there are some in the New Kelvinese government who doubt her sincerity. Melina is the perfect Lady Villain. She is poise, manners, etiquette, abusive, conniving, and a witch. I saw on other reviews that readers wanted to see her more fleshed out. I don't think you can really flesh out someone who's greatest desire is simply more magic/power. I think Jane Lindskold created a great villainess.
I did take a star off because the character I wished to see fleshed out was Firekeeper. In all three books, she doesn't seem to develop much. Her education with her human family doesn't seem to grow and expand. I also would think she would be able to speak better after being in their company. However, she still seems underdeveloped. Lady Elise even mentions that she is still around a year and a half in human years. But when the reader sees into Firekeeper;s thoughts and her dialogue with Blind Seer, then we see that she is actually more of a teenager/young adult. She still makes mistakes. I just wish she was more compatible with her human family.
Overall I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. Stay tuned for the 4th novel next month.
https://caitlinmariegonya.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-dragon-of-despair-by-jane-lindskold.html
The third book starts with Firekeeper and Derian returning to Bardenville to place grave markers where Prince Barden and his community lost their lives. The two discover that a new expedition has been undertaken and the plan is to re-build. Firekeeper's wolf family and the rest of the Royal Beasts feel threatened and violated. How does Firekeeper manage to stop a human-animal war while also staying true to her family?
On the other side of Firekeeper's family are the humans. They know her as Lady Blysse, and when she asks King Tedric for aide with New Bardenville, he proposes a bargain. If she will return to New Kelvin and pursue Melina Shield, then he will handle New Bardenville. Feeling that she has no choice, Firekeeper along with Derian, Lady Elise, Wendee, Edlin, Sir Jared, Grateful Peace, and nine year old Citrine Shield will cross the border to discover what sorcery Lady Melina is conducting.
The beginning did pull me in because I was interested in seeing the interaction between Derian and Firekeeper's wolf family. However, before that could happen the two face the New Bardenville and I was antsy. I honestly thought that the confrontation would be more action. That it would provide more "badassery" from Firekeeper. Unfortunately, it was talk, talk, and more talk. The series seems to follow around political discussions more so than violent actions. It's a medieval timeline with more information/relationship dumping. This made the book slow down over time, then it picks back up towards the end.
The evil one, Melina, is again our antagonist in this book. She has made herself close to The Healed One, the ruler of New Kelvin. However, there are some in the New Kelvinese government who doubt her sincerity. Melina is the perfect Lady Villain. She is poise, manners, etiquette, abusive, conniving, and a witch. I saw on other reviews that readers wanted to see her more fleshed out. I don't think you can really flesh out someone who's greatest desire is simply more magic/power. I think Jane Lindskold created a great villainess.
I did take a star off because the character I wished to see fleshed out was Firekeeper. In all three books, she doesn't seem to develop much. Her education with her human family doesn't seem to grow and expand. I also would think she would be able to speak better after being in their company. However, she still seems underdeveloped. Lady Elise even mentions that she is still around a year and a half in human years. But when the reader sees into Firekeeper;s thoughts and her dialogue with Blind Seer, then we see that she is actually more of a teenager/young adult. She still makes mistakes. I just wish she was more compatible with her human family.
Overall I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. Stay tuned for the 4th novel next month.
https://caitlinmariegonya.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-dragon-of-despair-by-jane-lindskold.html
hollowworld7's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
mimsy42's review
2.0
A continuation of the series, but somewhat disappointing. Only minor characters are furthered and the main ones are holding relatively fast. Firekeeper is fearing a war between Men and Beasts, but diplomacy averts it in this book. Worth it if you enjoy spending time in the world, but seems to be in a holding pattern for the overall story arc.
reader_fictions's review
2.0
At this point, I am somewhat regretting having picked up free copies of the first five books in this series. Having done so, I feel compelled to read them all. Unfortunately, I am not any more enthused by this series than I was at the beginning, perhaps less so. For whatever reason, the characters and plots have never particularly interested in me.
My complaints here are similar to my complaints for the two previous books in the series. First of all, for an epic fantasy series, there is remarkably little action. Second of all, in addition to there being a dearth of action, romance lacks almost entirely as well. Without either of these, getting any real excitement going is tough. Not that there cannot be good books without these things, however, I do not think the writing and plotting are good enough to carry the reader without them in this case.
Speaking of romance, I am now three books into a six book series and there has been absolutely no romance, except for one mutual affection (upon which no action has been taken beyond talk), one unrequited crush, and some action for Melina, the bad guy. What the heck? This pretty much disproves one stereotype, the one that women are always more interested in romance than men. The Wheel of Time series has tons of romance in it, whereas, this one, penned by a woman, focuses instead on politics.
Two (maybe three, since, at that point, I might as well complete the series, books to go. I sure hope they get more interesting soon!
My complaints here are similar to my complaints for the two previous books in the series. First of all, for an epic fantasy series, there is remarkably little action. Second of all, in addition to there being a dearth of action, romance lacks almost entirely as well. Without either of these, getting any real excitement going is tough. Not that there cannot be good books without these things, however, I do not think the writing and plotting are good enough to carry the reader without them in this case.
Speaking of romance, I am now three books into a six book series and there has been absolutely no romance, except for one mutual affection (upon which no action has been taken beyond talk), one unrequited crush, and some action for Melina, the bad guy. What the heck? This pretty much disproves one stereotype, the one that women are always more interested in romance than men. The Wheel of Time series has tons of romance in it, whereas, this one, penned by a woman, focuses instead on politics.
Two (maybe three, since, at that point, I might as well complete the series, books to go. I sure hope they get more interesting soon!