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A review by novelbloglover
Ancient Allies by Sarah K.L. Wilson
4.0
Book Review
Title: Ancient Allies (Dragon School #14)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Review: Seeing Amel help both Renn and Rakturan escape from the Ifrits at the end of Dire Quest, we can see Amel starting to grow into her position and gain more confidence as a dragon rider. After summoning the Trogs, ancient beings revered by even dragons, they choose Rakturan as their champion for dealing with the Ifrits but they also give Amel a part of their gift as she was the one who was able to summon them when they were needed. Rakturan asks Amel to deliver a message to his uncle in the north with Renn and stay for as long as she can in order to help him gather some allies before heading back to the Dominion. Amel is aware of how much is resting on her shoulders but the gift from the Trogs does ease her a little as it allows her to see her loved ones, Hubric, Savette, Shonan and Leng alive and still fighting.
As she and Renn prepare to leave at first light, Amel knows that the fate of Baojang and the Dominion could be and possibly is resting on her shoulders. On their way to Rakturan’s uncle they make a stop in the desert lands where Renn tries to touch an ancient artefact and ends up unconscious because of it, and Amel has had enough of Baojang and wants to return home but she has a message to deliver first. When they actually arrive, Amel has to deal with the Baojang people without her translator and guide to the different culture so she has to wing it. She relays that she has a message but is met by Rakturan’s cousin, Jalla who offers to help Renn as she recognises what has caused his wounds. Amel seems pleased until she learns that Renn’s mistake has made them both slaves to Jalla until she says otherwise which means she is now stuck in Baojang and can’t leave and even Rakturan might not even be able to help her as he mentioned that the war lords mainly kept to themselves but in this time of unrest he can’t guarantee that his presence is a good thing in certain places.
Amel isn’t taking well to being a slave as she is used to making her own decisions and her visions aren’t helping. Savette asks again for allies as they are struggling without them, she sees Leng and Shonen gaining allies wherever they can and she knows she has to return to the Dominion soon. However, she accidentally submitted Rakturan to an ancient trial, the same one Renn unknowingly attempted and the winner and rightful ruler of all Baojang will be the one that removes the item. The trial itself is going to be difficult as the item will only be released to someone who is pure of heart and I am remembering that Jalla doesn’t have the purest of intentions and honestly I really dislike her as a character.
As the trial begins both Rakturan and the Crescent Prince seem evenly matched and the trial goes on through the night. Jalla mentions that no trial has ever gone on this long, as the second day begins the Crescent Prince’s strength is waning so he calls an Ifrit to take his place as second as anyone is allowed to join the trial at any time. The Ifrit seems to be overwhelming Rakturan who is exhausted so Amel steps up to take his place. Instantly her gift from the Trogs comes in full force as she is pushed into the bodies of her friends to give them hope even when they are at their lowest. She helps Savette defeat a huge amount of Ifrits and retake on the cities but when she is pushed in Hubric’s body, I think it was her actions that led to the death of Haskell, the woman Hubric loves. Eventually she manages to free the item within and use it to dispel the Ifrits, it seems to be a pipe/musical instrument of some sort but it is almost immediately snatched away by Jalla. Overall, Ancient Allies was an amazing book but I couldn’t enjoy it to the fullest because I spent most of it just hating Jalla and I just can’t seem to find anything redeemable about her character.
Title: Ancient Allies (Dragon School #14)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: ****
Review: Seeing Amel help both Renn and Rakturan escape from the Ifrits at the end of Dire Quest, we can see Amel starting to grow into her position and gain more confidence as a dragon rider. After summoning the Trogs, ancient beings revered by even dragons, they choose Rakturan as their champion for dealing with the Ifrits but they also give Amel a part of their gift as she was the one who was able to summon them when they were needed. Rakturan asks Amel to deliver a message to his uncle in the north with Renn and stay for as long as she can in order to help him gather some allies before heading back to the Dominion. Amel is aware of how much is resting on her shoulders but the gift from the Trogs does ease her a little as it allows her to see her loved ones, Hubric, Savette, Shonan and Leng alive and still fighting.
As she and Renn prepare to leave at first light, Amel knows that the fate of Baojang and the Dominion could be and possibly is resting on her shoulders. On their way to Rakturan’s uncle they make a stop in the desert lands where Renn tries to touch an ancient artefact and ends up unconscious because of it, and Amel has had enough of Baojang and wants to return home but she has a message to deliver first. When they actually arrive, Amel has to deal with the Baojang people without her translator and guide to the different culture so she has to wing it. She relays that she has a message but is met by Rakturan’s cousin, Jalla who offers to help Renn as she recognises what has caused his wounds. Amel seems pleased until she learns that Renn’s mistake has made them both slaves to Jalla until she says otherwise which means she is now stuck in Baojang and can’t leave and even Rakturan might not even be able to help her as he mentioned that the war lords mainly kept to themselves but in this time of unrest he can’t guarantee that his presence is a good thing in certain places.
Amel isn’t taking well to being a slave as she is used to making her own decisions and her visions aren’t helping. Savette asks again for allies as they are struggling without them, she sees Leng and Shonen gaining allies wherever they can and she knows she has to return to the Dominion soon. However, she accidentally submitted Rakturan to an ancient trial, the same one Renn unknowingly attempted and the winner and rightful ruler of all Baojang will be the one that removes the item. The trial itself is going to be difficult as the item will only be released to someone who is pure of heart and I am remembering that Jalla doesn’t have the purest of intentions and honestly I really dislike her as a character.
As the trial begins both Rakturan and the Crescent Prince seem evenly matched and the trial goes on through the night. Jalla mentions that no trial has ever gone on this long, as the second day begins the Crescent Prince’s strength is waning so he calls an Ifrit to take his place as second as anyone is allowed to join the trial at any time. The Ifrit seems to be overwhelming Rakturan who is exhausted so Amel steps up to take his place. Instantly her gift from the Trogs comes in full force as she is pushed into the bodies of her friends to give them hope even when they are at their lowest. She helps Savette defeat a huge amount of Ifrits and retake on the cities but when she is pushed in Hubric’s body, I think it was her actions that led to the death of Haskell, the woman Hubric loves. Eventually she manages to free the item within and use it to dispel the Ifrits, it seems to be a pipe/musical instrument of some sort but it is almost immediately snatched away by Jalla. Overall, Ancient Allies was an amazing book but I couldn’t enjoy it to the fullest because I spent most of it just hating Jalla and I just can’t seem to find anything redeemable about her character.