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dragoninwinterfell 's review for:
Isles of the Emberdark
by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
The first part of Isles of the Emberdark was a little hard to get through, especially the sections that wove in the original short story as flashbacks. I never read that story, but even so, those integrations felt somewhat awkward and disrupted the flow. Thankfully, once part one wrapped up, the novel hit its stride, and the rest of the book was a smooth, engaging read.
The heart of the story lies in its two protagonists, Dusk and Starling, who are both compelling in completely different ways. Starling, a dragon trapped in human form and stripped of her powers as punishment, is upbeat, loyal, and fiercely protective of her crew as they travel between worlds. Dusk, on the other hand, is a solitary trapper on an underdeveloped planet, desperate to protect his people from outsiders. Their contrasting perspectives complement one another beautifully, fleshing out the novel with depth and balance.
I especially loved the twist on the “alien invasion” trope. There are no monstrous extraterrestrials here. Instead, the threat comes from other humans living on more advanced planets. Rather than brute force, they use calculated offers that seem generous but slowly tighten like a noose around Dusk’s people. It’s a smart, unsettling exploration of exploitation, colonization, and power imbalance.
Despite a rocky start, Isles of the Emberdark grew into an exciting, layered novel with strong characters and a thought-provoking premise. Starling and Dusk’s journeys are both memorable, and once the book found its rhythm, I couldn’t put it down.
The heart of the story lies in its two protagonists, Dusk and Starling, who are both compelling in completely different ways. Starling, a dragon trapped in human form and stripped of her powers as punishment, is upbeat, loyal, and fiercely protective of her crew as they travel between worlds. Dusk, on the other hand, is a solitary trapper on an underdeveloped planet, desperate to protect his people from outsiders. Their contrasting perspectives complement one another beautifully, fleshing out the novel with depth and balance.
I especially loved the twist on the “alien invasion” trope. There are no monstrous extraterrestrials here. Instead, the threat comes from other humans living on more advanced planets. Rather than brute force, they use calculated offers that seem generous but slowly tighten like a noose around Dusk’s people. It’s a smart, unsettling exploration of exploitation, colonization, and power imbalance.
Despite a rocky start, Isles of the Emberdark grew into an exciting, layered novel with strong characters and a thought-provoking premise. Starling and Dusk’s journeys are both memorable, and once the book found its rhythm, I couldn’t put it down.