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A review by novelbloglover
Mark of Loyalty by Sarah K.L. Wilson
5.0
Book Review
Title: Mark of Loyalty (Dragon School #12)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: *****
Review: After seeing our heroes escape at the end of Bright Hopes, with the Dominar and the Chosen One, it really marks the turning point in the series where our heroes are going to begin fighting back against the darkness. As the group prepare to ride to the Haz’drazen, who has ordered all loyal dragons to return to their homeland, Leng takes the role of leader in dividing the Lightbringers up and sending them to collect the others and recruit as many powerful people as they can. However, the interesting thing he is we learn that Leng and Shonan are brothers and that they were separated when Shonan was chosen to become the Dominar. Unlike normal royalty, the Dominar title is given by birth right but rather by a Council who chosen a region, the city by random draw. From there, the name of all the families are written down and one is selected, then every unmarried member of that family between 15 and 75 is written out and one is selected and that person becomes the Dominar. It is strange to assume that Leng could have easily been chosen and he would never have meet Amel and fallen in love with her, although I wouldn’t have minded Shonan taking Leng’s place.
As Leng tells her a bit about his brother, he notices the glowing mark on Amel’s arm that mirrors the one that Shonan has, the same one that lit up when they healed Savette and he warns her to keep it hidden although he won’t tell her why. I loved the brief scene where Amel tells Shonan that she is loyal to him and if he wants to take back what is his, the role of the Dominar, then she will help him in any way she can even though that very thought is treason. When Amel tells Leng what she told his brother, he isn’t angry but sad, as he lost his brother once and thought he would never see him again and doesn’t want to give him up again but Hubric agrees with her that Shonan is a far better choice that Iskaris for the role of Dominar and is going to help her take back what was stolen from him. Upon arriving at the dragon lands, many other riders are also there summoned back by the Haz’drazen to be counted but they also learn that Starie is on her way there and they need to be seen before she gets there to prove that Savette is the real Chosen One as Starie plans on killing her.
However, Amel’s mark on her arm begins to glow and Leng gives her one of his scarves to keep the glow from showing even under her leathers. It isn’t that simple as only free dragons are allowed to enter and human have to plead their case before being allowed entrance but Raolcan’s brother is guarding the gate and they must wait their turn to be heard. However, this doesn’t happen as Starie arrives shortly afterward and because of the oath the dragons took she is entitled to speak with the Haz’drazen but when Savette challenges her right as the true Chosen One, Raolcan’s brother tells them both girls will go through a test and the one that emerges with the mark of the dragon is the true chosen one and the other will either die in the test or be banished from the dragon lands and warned never to return. Many of the other riders support Starie and it is going to be challenge keeping Savette save through the night ready for the test at dawn. Leng also comes back to explain that the mark on Amel’s arm marks her as a champion of the light just like his brother and they will be the greatest support for Savette throughout the course of the war.
Just before dawn breaks, Amel and the others head to the Dawn gate ready for the test to begin. Shonan has also taken his brother aside and told him that he intends to reclaim his position as Dominar as it is a sacrifice he is willing to make for the good of the Dominion and it’s people. Starie and Savette both enter and although Starie emerges first, Savette also reappears both baring marks. Starie tries to claim that Savette’s marks are fake but when dragons can read the minds of humans, they know that Savette is the true Chosen One and declare it. The second Savette’s name is spoken, Starie explodes in rage and begins drawing Ifrits from the earth. The dragons retreat to protect their Queen and homeland and Raolcan manages to get Amel out of there but they both know the war has truly begun now. Mark of Loyalty has to be one of the best books in the series that I have read so far and I can’t wait to finish the series very soon.
Title: Mark of Loyalty (Dragon School #12)
Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Rating: *****
Review: After seeing our heroes escape at the end of Bright Hopes, with the Dominar and the Chosen One, it really marks the turning point in the series where our heroes are going to begin fighting back against the darkness. As the group prepare to ride to the Haz’drazen, who has ordered all loyal dragons to return to their homeland, Leng takes the role of leader in dividing the Lightbringers up and sending them to collect the others and recruit as many powerful people as they can. However, the interesting thing he is we learn that Leng and Shonan are brothers and that they were separated when Shonan was chosen to become the Dominar. Unlike normal royalty, the Dominar title is given by birth right but rather by a Council who chosen a region, the city by random draw. From there, the name of all the families are written down and one is selected, then every unmarried member of that family between 15 and 75 is written out and one is selected and that person becomes the Dominar. It is strange to assume that Leng could have easily been chosen and he would never have meet Amel and fallen in love with her, although I wouldn’t have minded Shonan taking Leng’s place.
As Leng tells her a bit about his brother, he notices the glowing mark on Amel’s arm that mirrors the one that Shonan has, the same one that lit up when they healed Savette and he warns her to keep it hidden although he won’t tell her why. I loved the brief scene where Amel tells Shonan that she is loyal to him and if he wants to take back what is his, the role of the Dominar, then she will help him in any way she can even though that very thought is treason. When Amel tells Leng what she told his brother, he isn’t angry but sad, as he lost his brother once and thought he would never see him again and doesn’t want to give him up again but Hubric agrees with her that Shonan is a far better choice that Iskaris for the role of Dominar and is going to help her take back what was stolen from him. Upon arriving at the dragon lands, many other riders are also there summoned back by the Haz’drazen to be counted but they also learn that Starie is on her way there and they need to be seen before she gets there to prove that Savette is the real Chosen One as Starie plans on killing her.
However, Amel’s mark on her arm begins to glow and Leng gives her one of his scarves to keep the glow from showing even under her leathers. It isn’t that simple as only free dragons are allowed to enter and human have to plead their case before being allowed entrance but Raolcan’s brother is guarding the gate and they must wait their turn to be heard. However, this doesn’t happen as Starie arrives shortly afterward and because of the oath the dragons took she is entitled to speak with the Haz’drazen but when Savette challenges her right as the true Chosen One, Raolcan’s brother tells them both girls will go through a test and the one that emerges with the mark of the dragon is the true chosen one and the other will either die in the test or be banished from the dragon lands and warned never to return. Many of the other riders support Starie and it is going to be challenge keeping Savette save through the night ready for the test at dawn. Leng also comes back to explain that the mark on Amel’s arm marks her as a champion of the light just like his brother and they will be the greatest support for Savette throughout the course of the war.
Just before dawn breaks, Amel and the others head to the Dawn gate ready for the test to begin. Shonan has also taken his brother aside and told him that he intends to reclaim his position as Dominar as it is a sacrifice he is willing to make for the good of the Dominion and it’s people. Starie and Savette both enter and although Starie emerges first, Savette also reappears both baring marks. Starie tries to claim that Savette’s marks are fake but when dragons can read the minds of humans, they know that Savette is the true Chosen One and declare it. The second Savette’s name is spoken, Starie explodes in rage and begins drawing Ifrits from the earth. The dragons retreat to protect their Queen and homeland and Raolcan manages to get Amel out of there but they both know the war has truly begun now. Mark of Loyalty has to be one of the best books in the series that I have read so far and I can’t wait to finish the series very soon.