3.52k reviews for:

The Rage of Dragons

Evan Winter

4.25 AVERAGE

adventurous challenging slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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: Yes

This book was such a page turner! Action packed from page one. This will have your jaw on the floor and on edge the entire time as the stakes are always so high

Main character is unhinged and dumb which makes the plot line very unpredictable. 

Fight scenes were depicted perfectly and progression of tau’s character was both amazing and heart wrenching to read. 

I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne


My expanded review on BookNest... The Rage of Dragons BookNest review

I have just finished reading The Rage of Dragons, and the fact that I read this in two days is testimony to how much I loved it!

The Rage of Dragons is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is a heart-wrenching, mind-blowing tale of love and hatred, of sacrifice and inspiration. But most of all, this is an epic story of vengeance.

I have never read an African-inspired fantasy novel before, so was not sure what to expect and did not know if it would grip me. Well, I was wrong to doubt. Winter paints the culture in a magnificent manner, quickly creating a depth to the world that I rarely encounter.

“For it’s in the crucible of hard days that potential becomes power.”

It is a thought provoking story that tackles issues on social hierarchy, attitude to lower classes, and the effects of war on the mind. Whenever I could not hide away to read, I found myself thinking about this novel. About the challenges the characters faced, how they would cope, how their every action defined them and what would happen next. That is the sign of a great book!

“Life is nothing more than moments in time. To achieve greatness, you have to give up those moments. You have to give your life to your goal.”

One of the greatest aspects of this novel were the battle scenes. They were vivid, and immersive. I felt like I was witnessing the horror of war, and I got goosebumps during the small scale skirmishes that brought to mind the team fights from Gladiator.

I could go on all day about how much I loved this book and why, but I have just chosen a few of the most prominent ones. I will write an expanded review for BookNest where I cover the rest very soon :). But, as I have tried to explain, and hope I did, this book is a must read! I will struggle to wait for the sequel to be released, but I consider myself fortunate I got to read this magnificent book.

20th FEB

In a recent newsletter from Evan Winter, it was said that the cover has been designed for book two, The Fires of Vengeance. And will be shared soon!

Also the actual content is in its final refining stages!

Really cannot wait for the sequel. One of my top five anticipated books this year!
adventurous dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

that last act gave me full on CHILLS and i was yelling cheering crying alongside tau. took it to a 5 star read for me! this was so epic and the worldbuilding is so immersive. i do wish tau was more strategic or had more character development, I hope that’s in the next book
adventurous fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

2023 review -
The Rage of Dragons," written by Evan Winter and published in 2017, tells the story of Tau Solaren, a "low born" individual in a caste society inspired by Africa. Born into the "low born common" class, Tau and others like him are destined to serve in the nation's army, mere pawns for the Noble caste in their century-long war against an aboriginal faction. However, when a life-changing event occurs, Tau's path is forever altered, compelling him to take up arms and seek vengeance against the nobles who have wronged him. In his journey, Tau seeks personal retribution and becomes a beacon of inspiration for an oppressed people, fighting for their long-awaited freedom.

"The Rage of Dragons" is an incredibly inspiring story that manages to deliver a familiar narrative in a refreshing and exciting way. I absolutely loved the African-inspired themes and lore, which transported me to a completely new and captivating world. While the story revolves around revenge, Evan Winter skillfully weaves in elements of love, brotherhood, and honor, striking a perfect balance in the storytelling.

Tau, the protagonist, embodies a symbol that readers can aspire to, reminding us that our worth is not defined by our social standing. I particularly resonated with Tau's strong work ethic, which serves as a testament that with determination, anything is possible. This aspect struck a personal chord with me as a former athlete.

On my second read, I opted for the physical book instead of the audiobook and appreciated the additional details Evan Winter included in the hardcover edition, such as the glossary and maps. These touches enhanced my reading experience and deepened my immersion into the world he created.

Overall, "The Rage of Dragons" provided me with immense pleasure during both my initial and subsequent readings. I truly savored the experience and highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an enthralling and thought-provoking adventure.

2019 review -
With hours to spare, The Rage of Dragons was my favorite book of 2019. I was gripped from the moment I began this journey with Tau. I loved TRD's African-inspired story-telling, as it provided a refreshing setting for a "fantasy genre."

I've seen on Audible that TRD combines Gladiator and Game of Thrones; however, it's clearly influenced by the Red Rising trilogy. An oppressive cast system (golds and reds/chosen and commons), an unlikely hero (Tau/Darrow) who is fueled by the death of a loved one (father/wife) and vengeance upon those responsible, and by doing so, galvanizes an entire class to break "the chains" of centuries of oppression - to go on, a begrudging group of strangers that unite under the drive of the hero to become best friends and compatriots and a mentor who once was the best but had some falling out.

All that being said, Winter still creates a world entirely his own, and there is no surprise this book was named top of its genre for 2019 at the beginning of a series. I cannot wait to continue reading!
adventurous tense fast-paced