Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

Backyard Dragons by Lee French My rating: 4 of 5 stars Claire is fighting to become the Spirit Knight she knows she is, but between the minor gender problem and her sprite turning out to be a dragon who has a family that needs rescuing, she has an awful lot to learn. When her mentor and adoptive dad, Justin, has his own battles to fight she ventures out, and learns that sometimes people get hurt if they don’t know what they are doing. Book 2 in the Spirit Knights series follows Claire as she struggles to gain her footing in a very unfamiliar world. It’s a great urban fantasy novel that tends YA but still pulls in a broader fantasy audience. I really enjoyed how Claire groped her way through as her mentor leaves her hanging; Justin was written as a complex character and I thought it was really critical to the overall plot development that he gain some depth to show how dangerous the world of the Spirit Knight is. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series, especially as Claire...

The Confliction by M.R. Mathias My rating: 3 of 5 stars There is no getting out of it, the Confliction is coming and it will require all 5 Dragoneers to defeat the Sarax and their seemingly undefeatable leader, who is more powerful than anyone ever anticipated. While I really enjoyed the suspense of this story, particularly given the powerful enemy who seemed to have an endless supply of maguffins, I really felt like this trilogy was not actually wrapped up. There is more to the story coming, but I think perhaps a series is in order, rather than trilogy, perhaps even starting with Clover’s story. All of the Dragoneers seemed far too immature at the end, particularly given their circumstances, so it seems there is far more beneath the surface than this somewhat short wrap up suggests. I also would really like to see more of the dragons, as it felt like they were a bit of an accessory to this story. Still I like the universe as it’s been revealed and hope to see more dragony books...

Cold Hearted Son of a Witch by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Zah and Ricky have to find the magic mushrooms or Prince Richard will die. While they are on their quest Jenka and Jade must safely escort the King’s Rangers, but the map they find on their journey will lead them to the temple of Dou, and a revelation of a new threat that could be the one they cannot defeat. Son of a Witch is book 2 of the Dragoneers Saga and in typical Mathias fashion picks up right where book 2 left off. Mathias works in characters from previous books and even novellas or prequel series to wind the story along in a blossoming fantasy universe. While this certainly is the “bridge” of the trilogy, it doesn’t lack for action or plot, and does a great job of what middle books are supposed to do - character development. I really enjoyed the maturation and the revelations behind several of the main characters, as well as the villains. Looking forward to the final book! View all my reviews Plea...

That Frigid Fargin Witch by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Vanx vows to vanquish that frigid, fargin’ Hoar Witch after what she has done to his friends with her mottled mutations. With the help of Chelda and new friend, Foxwise Posythorn, he seeks out an underworld way into her fortress. He never meant for Chelda to get stuck there, but she determines to help the Fae after what the witch did to their queen. Can she help them guard the Heart Tree against the witches strange creatures? Again picking up immediately where the previous book left off, Vanx and his friends set off on the final leg of Vanx’s personal quest. I was relieved to discover that this book had a lot more action in it (and less journey) than the others, and even the dialogue seemed more on point. Vanx also had some personal decisions to ponder and play out, which helped the plot along better than the previous two books also. I was pleased to find that this book made me want to turn pages and see how the ...

Saint Elm's Deep by M.R. Mathias My rating: 3 of 5 stars With Gallarael saved - mostly, Vanx is free to pursue his personal quest, and heads North with Darbon, who is trying to get over his lost love. Finding a new band of merry men, Vanx strikes out to pursue the Hoar Witch, who is presumably his grandmother, if legends about his father are to believed. Naturally it’s a trip fraught with danger and mystery, and has become habit for Vanx, lots of loss. Can he find out his real claim to the Saint Elm name? In book three of the Vanx Malic series he goes deeper into his roots, which has been a mystery for some time. Drawn by some unknown force he pursues a difficult course and again, risks life and limb for knowledge, his limbs and his companions. I felt like this story was not just an afterthought, or wrapping up a dying plot point, as it seemed with book 2, but I still was frustrated by some of the superficiality of the characters and the past pace of the plot. I’m hoping tha...

Dragon Isle by M.R. Mathias My rating: 3 of 5 stars Vanx Malic has to go to Dragon Isle to save Gallarael, the daughter of his former lover. To do that he has to get the blood of the most vicious dragon there, the crimson fire breather Pyra. He has help, but knows it will likely come down to him. What he doesn’t realize is his goddess will give him his own calling that will lead him to adventures he never anticipated. Dragon Isle picks up immediately where book 1 of the series left off, with what’s left of the group fighting to save Gallarael. While an interesting read, and I enjoyed the change in scenery, it felt very much like a bridge or filler book. It didn’t quite measure up to the first book, even though it clearly moved the story along, which I appreciated. I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t quite as invested in these characters like the Wardstone trilogy or even the first book of the Vanx Malic series. It was a quick read and enjoyable, just superficial comparatively. Vie...

Kings, Queens, Heroes, & Fools by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Hyden Hawk has been charged to find the Silver Skull of Zorellin, leaving his friend Mikahl to defend his new title as High King and reclaim Wildermont from the combined forces of Shaella and Ra’Gren, her reluctant ally. Due to Hyden she now has a new dragon and a new mission, to free her lover, Gerard, from the demonic realm he to which he was forced to retreat. But does Gerard retain any of his old self, or has he turned into the new king of hell? Can anyone fight against him once he’s freed? Picking up right where The Sword and the Dragon leaves off, Kings, Queens, Heroes and Fools follows the story of Hyden Hawk and Mikahl in their new roles, while delving deep into the new political atmosphere created in the original book. As typical of Mathias, there are a lot of characters to follow and a lot of magic to help, but I found that it seemed much easier to follow the plot as there were two clear alignme...

Deathsworn Arc: The Last Dragon Slayer by Martyn Stanley My rating: 4 of 5 stars Saul has recruited (somewhat by accident) a formidable little band. Charged by Empress Jade to track and eliminate a Noble Dragon, he finds himself with two elves, a dwarf, and 3 men - one of whom was the only survivor of the last dragon slain. Can they make the dangerous journey to the dragon, much less kill such a magnificent beast? I really enjoyed this story, both because I love fantasy and because this fantasy is somewhat different. For one thing, it throws you into the journey without loads of back story; you are just suddenly with Saul seeking out the man who was the last dragon slayer. In some ways it reminds me of an RPG, where you start on the quest and get bits of pertinent information as you go along. Unlike an RPG, the side quests are to a minimum; rather the character development deepens on the journey. In any case, it is a solid start to the series, as I am both intrigued by the plot ...

Trigon Daze: by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars Vanx Malic has managed to free his friend, Chelda, from the spell that kept her bound to the Shadowmane, and hoping that what he saw in the Mirror of Portent can be prevented, or at least changed. When the Trigon start the invasion just as he saw he isn’t sure if he can protect his friends or if the zombie warriors will just bowl over everything in their path, with the help of the grand dracus hovering over the battle. Losses are inevitable, but is this war even winnable? He has to try…. In general I love M.R. Mathias’ series, but I have to admit I felt like this was one of the weaker, more connective filler novels. Necessary, but not the absolute best. There wasn’t loads of character development as we were already familiar with most of the cast, and I think that is where Mathias shines in some of his other novels. I did LOVE the short story at the end about Foxwise Posey-thorne, I thought that really added a lot of love to th...

The Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mathias My rating: 4 of 5 stars The trolls are invading, and have been sited even near Jenka’s remote town of Crag. While out hunting, he encounters something he never thought he would see, a dragon, and what’s more, a dragon who defends him. Thus begins Jenka’s journey to Jade, his bonded dragon, and together they find others who likewise have kept a deep secret of actual communication with dragons. When they discover the real reason behind the increased troll activity, they must bond together as Dragoneers to fight the coming horde. But will they be able to protect the Kingdom and fight the great conflict to come? Tolkein once said, “It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.” M.R. Mathias has taken that to heart and showcases dragons at both their best and worst in this beginning of the Dragoneer saga. He sets the stage by introducing Jenka and a quick back story, but the story then is off and running at a pretty h...