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Title: Dragon Blood by Patricia Briggs ISBN: 0-441-01008-3 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent sequel
Comment: If you've read Dragon Bones and enjoyed it, you will love this sequel. This book furthers the tale of Wardwick, the Hurogs as a family, and Hurog as a land. This is a tale of the Five Kingdoms and its politics, and how they all affect Hurog (in the aspects of Ward, the family, and the land). Many sequels do not live up to the first in a series, but I was just as enthralled by this volume as I was with Dragon Bones. I do suggest reading Dragon Bones first, as Dragon Blood WILL reference major elements of the earlier book.
Rating: 4
Summary: It's in the Veins
Comment: Dragon Blood, by Patricia Briggs, is the sequel to Dragon Bones. It's a much quieter novel than its predecessor, but with much more drastic implications for Ward and his people. I actually liked it a bit better than the first as well. When I was reading it, it seemed like it was moving a little too slow, but when I was finished, I felt a lot more satisfied. While quieter, it has a lot more meat to it.
This is a nice little novel, with none of the few problems that the previous book had. At 275 pages, it is a quick and easy read. Briggs fills this book with more examination of character and less fighting, with only one big fight toward the end of the book. This time, Ward must prove himself as a political leader and not just a warrior. Thus, the action quotient is very much lower. Briggs makes up for it, though, by telling an interesting story that doesn't need a lot of sword fights. She concentrates on characterization, making this a much stronger book.
The book is told in a partial first person from Ward's point of view, with other chapters from various other characters' points of view as well (told in third person). This really enhances the characterization, as we not only get Ward's thoughts on a lot of issues, but also some of the other characters' thoughts as well. This is most effective in the blossoming romance between Tisala and Ward. Ward is very attracted to her and wants to marry her, but she feels that she is too old for him and too much of a warrior and less of a homemaker. Briggs really handles this romance nicely, with both parties being tentative but not sinking down into the depths of cliché. It's very adult, and if Briggs writes another sequel, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for these characters.
The rest of the characterization isn't bad either. Briggs give them just enough that they aren't stereotypes. Even Jakoven escapes the dreaded superficial characterization problem. He's thoroughly evil, but he's given just that much of an extra dimension that he becomes more than just the villain. He's sadistic and ruthless, but he's also intelligent. Even his eventual downfall is caused more by a daring move on our heroes' part then by Jakoven doing something stupid. I liked that.
The plot of the book is quite interesting as well. Briggs explores the idea of dragons in this world a lot more, and we in doing so we find out even more about Oreg, ostensibly the wizard of Hurog but in reality one of the elder dragons from a long-dead time. We find out more about the history of the land from Oreg as he recounts what happened with Farsonbane all those years ago. When he uses Farsonbane against a settlement, Jakoven shows just how insane he is and Ward becomes even more determined to stop him. Briggs ties it all together very nicely, with only a couple of slow moments in the middle of the book that drag it down a notch. She spends just a bit too much time on Ward's torture scenes and the attempts to made to get him out of there. I don't know if they could have been shortened at all, as most of them are rather important, but I believe she could have punched them up a bit. Don't worry about gross scenes here, though, as they aren't very graphic at all. Though sometimes you may wish they were to liven them up a bit.
Still, this period of the book doesn't go on very long, though considering the book isn't very long to begin with, it's sad that there are any slow parts whatsoever.
The ending of the book is also a bit anticlimactic, though it doesn't have anywhere near the problems that the first book had. It very logically flows from events in the book, so there's no problem there. It just seems a bit quick. There are a couple of confrontations, some quick magic, and the problem appears to be solved. There's also not really much of an aftermath, so the book feels like it just ends. I don't really have a problem with that, though, as long as the ending is effective. It is, for the most part, except for the quick way that it happens.
The slow part and the quick ending aren't enough to detract from the quality of this book, though. It's not a groundbreaking book at all, but it fulfills the purpose for which it was written: it entertains, it passes the time in an enjoyable manner, and it tells a good story. What more could you ask for? You'll like it even more if you're a sucker for dragons like I am.
Rating: 4
Summary: Better than its cover
Comment: Arguably this novel has the world's most atrocious fantasy cover painting ever. I haven't seen a cover this schlocky since about 1974.
I hope the cover doesn't drive people away from the book, which is really clever, captivating, and funny (without being cloying). There's good dramatic tension between the characters and a worthwhile plot line that builds on (and is really more adeptly handled than) the plot of the first book in the series.
I look forward to reading Briggs' next book -- this one was good, and I think she's steadily improving. But, gah, her editor really needs to find her a more appropriate cover artist.
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Title: Devlin's Luck (Sword of Change, Book 1) by Patricia Bray ISBN: 0553584758 Publisher: Spectra Pub. Date: 30 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: Devlin's Honor (Sword of Change, Book 2) by Patricia Bray ISBN: 0553584766 Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 03 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs ISBN: 0441008135 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 27 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Devlin's Justice (Sword of Change, Book 3) by Patricia Bray ISBN: 0553584774 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 30 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: Song of the Beast by Carol Berg ISBN: 0451459237 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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