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A review by perilous1
Dragonbound by Jade Lee
3.0
Those who appreciate the worldbuilding and fantastical immersion of Anne Bishop may find appeal in this book. A competent storyteller, Lee weaves a dark and intricate tale of magic, politics, subversion, and entrapment. The descriptions are vibrant and the prose is deeply engrossing. I especially appreciated the unique symbiotic relationship between humans and dragons in this particular envisioning.
The story centers largely around the powerful connection between a ruthless emperor’s enslaved Copper dragon, and the beast's final dragonmaid caregiver, Sabina. The story alternates between the past, in which both the Copper and Sabina are tormented by the same vile man, emperor Dag Racho--and the present, after Racho has been killed and his dragon imprisoned in his body.
The copper dragon, Cordain, projects a force of character that is just inhuman enough to be both believable and easily misunderstood regarding his true intentions. Sabina is strong-willed and ambitious, requiring a good deal of patience to fully sympathize with. Together, they share a horrific history of abuse and betrayal at the hands of a manipulative and pitiless sociopath. Restoration between them is both the goal and seemingly insurmountable challenge amid an array of external dangers.
My biggest difficulty with the book was in regards to the graphic repeated rape of a virginal 16-year-old. I'm not sure if I should call it statutory rape or semi-consensual pedophilia, given the fantasy context. But the result for this reader was the same—a sad revulsion that seemed to nullify the overarching romantic plot. I don't believe I would have read it at all had I been forewarned about this particular part of the content, and so I feel that readers ought to be advised.
The story centers largely around the powerful connection between a ruthless emperor’s enslaved Copper dragon, and the beast's final dragonmaid caregiver, Sabina. The story alternates between the past, in which both the Copper and Sabina are tormented by the same vile man, emperor Dag Racho--and the present, after Racho has been killed and his dragon imprisoned in his body.
The copper dragon, Cordain, projects a force of character that is just inhuman enough to be both believable and easily misunderstood regarding his true intentions. Sabina is strong-willed and ambitious, requiring a good deal of patience to fully sympathize with. Together, they share a horrific history of abuse and betrayal at the hands of a manipulative and pitiless sociopath. Restoration between them is both the goal and seemingly insurmountable challenge amid an array of external dangers.
My biggest difficulty with the book was in regards to the graphic repeated rape of a virginal 16-year-old. I'm not sure if I should call it statutory rape or semi-consensual pedophilia, given the fantasy context. But the result for this reader was the same—a sad revulsion that seemed to nullify the overarching romantic plot. I don't believe I would have read it at all had I been forewarned about this particular part of the content, and so I feel that readers ought to be advised.