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A review by stxrlight
Echoes of Dragons by C. Borden
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Echoes of Dragons is a high fantasy with a slow-pace, multiple POV'S and many creatures/species, both good and evil: dwarves, trolls, dragons, elves, humans, half elf-humans, mages, merpeople, drow, pixies and more!
Personally, the unique way the magic is described in different species and the creatures/species themselves is what excited me about this book the most. The prologue, while very dark, excited me a lot too because of the dragon egg. The way the dragons are described so far is just so unique and exciting to me, and I remain curious to the dragon lore as well as the elves, dwarves, other species and the magic in general.
I must say the first few chapters after the prologue felt a tad too descriptive and rushed, but lacking depth in terms of thoughts, motivations and actual dialogue interactions. It felt chaotic and could have been structured better, but the potential of the book, the magical intrique, secrets and looming threat is what kept me going.
Also the book should have had some trigger warnings mentioned up front: torture, gore, mention/memory of cannibalism, rape (not described in detail, but it happened in the past for one of the characters), wars, cruelty, death, manipulation.
While I don't have many trigger warnings, mention/descriptions of cannibalism isn't for me and I nearly quit reading because of it. It wasn't too descriptive so I gave it a shot, but if it had been addressed again I wouldn't have continued.
What also bothered me is that the main storyline is only clear through the POV of the enemy, the other travelers have their own missions that had nothing to do with the impending danger but was just a way to get all of them together. Their almost instant loyalty towards each other is also rushed. They barely know each other, to have that kind of trust and loyalty already in others you met on your journey only recently is unrealistic.
So while aspects regarding relations are rushed over, sometimes lacking some depth, the storyline is the opposite and drawn out in the slow pace. It feels out of tune and could have been executed better.
The entirety of the first book is only of how these characters met through their different missions that eventually find overlap, and then the looming threat. There is no actual progress otherwise (other then for the dragons perhaps), I'm assuming that will happen in the next book of the series.
That said, the depth and creativity as well as uniqueness regarding the magic, creatures, species and their different customs are very lovely! So it has both good aspects and lesser ones that'll hopefully improve in the next book.
Personally, the unique way the magic is described in different species and the creatures/species themselves is what excited me about this book the most. The prologue, while very dark, excited me a lot too because of the dragon egg. The way the dragons are described so far is just so unique and exciting to me, and I remain curious to the dragon lore as well as the elves, dwarves, other species and the magic in general.
I must say the first few chapters after the prologue felt a tad too descriptive and rushed, but lacking depth in terms of thoughts, motivations and actual dialogue interactions. It felt chaotic and could have been structured better, but the potential of the book, the magical intrique, secrets and looming threat is what kept me going.
Also the book should have had some trigger warnings mentioned up front: torture, gore, mention/memory of cannibalism, rape (not described in detail, but it happened in the past for one of the characters), wars, cruelty, death, manipulation.
While I don't have many trigger warnings, mention/descriptions of cannibalism isn't for me and I nearly quit reading because of it. It wasn't too descriptive so I gave it a shot, but if it had been addressed again I wouldn't have continued.
What also bothered me is that the main storyline is only clear through the POV of the enemy, the other travelers have their own missions that had nothing to do with the impending danger but was just a way to get all of them together. Their almost instant loyalty towards each other is also rushed. They barely know each other, to have that kind of trust and loyalty already in others you met on your journey only recently is unrealistic.
So while aspects regarding relations are rushed over, sometimes lacking some depth, the storyline is the opposite and drawn out in the slow pace. It feels out of tune and could have been executed better.
The entirety of the first book is only of how these characters met through their different missions that eventually find overlap, and then the looming threat. There is no actual progress otherwise (other then for the dragons perhaps), I'm assuming that will happen in the next book of the series.
That said, the depth and creativity as well as uniqueness regarding the magic, creatures, species and their different customs are very lovely! So it has both good aspects and lesser ones that'll hopefully improve in the next book.