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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dragons of Deceit was my first Dragonlance read in over a year. And my first Weis and Hickman read in a couple of years. I did reread the Chronicles back in 2021 as a buddy read which was a nice trip down memory lane. I mentioned the new books getting released to a coworker I knew also enjoyed this world in years past. He ended up picking up a copy of Dragons of Deceit and getting through it before I even did. One question I had for him was whether he felt I needed to read any previous series beyond the chronicles and he said that shouldn't be needed. I'd like to confirm this. If a reader hasn't read any Dragonlance there may be a lot of history and references that go unappreciated, but if you've at least read the chronicles, you should pick up on a lot of those moments.
I felt the pacing was on par with previous Weis and Hickman Dragonlance novels. There is always the usual good versus evil themes of these books, but I don't think they are ever intended to be deep philosophical stories. This is the first Dragonlance audiobook I've done in quite some time though. I was a bit confused on some of the pronunciations of people and places. I didn't really question the narration of Kristen Potter and thought she did an excellent job overall. But it got me curious so I did a bit of online research to find out that many of those I questioned were indeed previously mispronounced in my own inner dialogue all these years. This is where I find the perfect reading experience can actually end up being emersion reading where you can visual follow along with a solid audio narration. I don't get to do that style of reading often but it always a really interesting experience when I get to.
The world building was nice for a fan of this world. It was interesting to see the parts of this world and it's timelines away from what we know from the previously tales. As mentioned earlier I think this book could be enjoyed by a reader whether they are familiar with the Chronicles or not. I felt there was enough information shared along the way to grasp what was going on in this one.
The character development was good. As usual with this world I always wish we had more direct involvement from dragons but that's probably just me. I found myself constantly waiting for Destina to begin acting like a Solamnic Knight. Her arc was ongoing but I'm not sure we really witnessed much development from her beyond what she showed she was capable in defending her people alongside her mother near the beginning. Tas will still do as Tas does. I joked with my friend who read this that I've come to realize at times I find Tas hilarious and at other times I just want to throttle his neck with the things he says or does. And honestly, that's Kender in a nutshell I suppose! It was nice to see so many familiar characters in this one. It makes me excited for more Dragonlance, games and novels being read.
Probably the biggest issue that stands out for me is the title of this. Perhaps I missed something glaring but I don't recall any deceitful dragons in this book. I don't know if they feel all books have to be "Dragons of X" but I felt it would have been more fitting as something like Solamnic Deceit perhaps.
All in all I still felt like it was what I expect from a Dragonlance novel and more specifically from Weis and Hickman. I think at this stage if you're a fan of this world you're probably already planning on reading this. If you're not already entrenched in this world, give it a try. Just be aware there are a lot of books out there at this point and some of the older ones may be hard to come by if you want to try and go back.
I felt the pacing was on par with previous Weis and Hickman Dragonlance novels. There is always the usual good versus evil themes of these books, but I don't think they are ever intended to be deep philosophical stories. This is the first Dragonlance audiobook I've done in quite some time though. I was a bit confused on some of the pronunciations of people and places. I didn't really question the narration of Kristen Potter and thought she did an excellent job overall. But it got me curious so I did a bit of online research to find out that many of those I questioned were indeed previously mispronounced in my own inner dialogue all these years. This is where I find the perfect reading experience can actually end up being emersion reading where you can visual follow along with a solid audio narration. I don't get to do that style of reading often but it always a really interesting experience when I get to.
The world building was nice for a fan of this world. It was interesting to see the parts of this world and it's timelines away from what we know from the previously tales. As mentioned earlier I think this book could be enjoyed by a reader whether they are familiar with the Chronicles or not. I felt there was enough information shared along the way to grasp what was going on in this one.
The character development was good. As usual with this world I always wish we had more direct involvement from dragons but that's probably just me. I found myself constantly waiting for Destina to begin acting like a Solamnic Knight. Her arc was ongoing but I'm not sure we really witnessed much development from her beyond what she showed she was capable in defending her people alongside her mother near the beginning. Tas will still do as Tas does. I joked with my friend who read this that I've come to realize at times I find Tas hilarious and at other times I just want to throttle his neck with the things he says or does. And honestly, that's Kender in a nutshell I suppose! It was nice to see so many familiar characters in this one. It makes me excited for more Dragonlance, games and novels being read.
Probably the biggest issue that stands out for me is the title of this. Perhaps I missed something glaring but I don't recall any deceitful dragons in this book. I don't know if they feel all books have to be "Dragons of X" but I felt it would have been more fitting as something like Solamnic Deceit perhaps.
All in all I still felt like it was what I expect from a Dragonlance novel and more specifically from Weis and Hickman. I think at this stage if you're a fan of this world you're probably already planning on reading this. If you're not already entrenched in this world, give it a try. Just be aware there are a lot of books out there at this point and some of the older ones may be hard to come by if you want to try and go back.
A very OK story that takes place before, during, and after the War of the Lance. The main character Destina is respectable sometimes, absolutely stupid at others. Honestly, the best parts of the book were probably the kender. I loved Weis and Hickman's fantasy novels when I was a teenager, but maybe I've just outgrown them. Please note that this is NOT a complete story, in that it ends on a cliffhanger. I don't think that I'll be continuing the series
I have no idea what is going on. It's not written very well, not in the usual style of Margaret Weis that I'm used to. There's too much explanation for world building yet not enough at the same time. We've gone from a girls birthday party to war in very little time with no tension, no build up, just "Hey here's Monday morning, here's Tuesday evening, the end." Also Destina? As a girl born of Destiny?
adventurous
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Many years ago, I stumbled across a book called Dragons of Autum Twilight, book one in the Dragonlance Chronicles. There was a dragon on the front (I’m a sucker for dragons), and characters who looked right out of the cover at the reader, inviting them on an adventure. I opened the book and immediately fell in love with the world of Krynn, the characters, and the writing.
Fast forward more years than I’ll admit. I’ve read those books more times than I can count. I have devoured every new novel that takes place in Krynn, seen visions of the world painted by many authors. Each new novel adds to the lore and shows a new perspective. I like the majority of them, but the books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the creators of the world of Krynn, are special. I was ecstatic to hear the news that they were returning to the world they birthed.
Dragons of Deceit is the first of the new trilogy, Dragonlance Destinies. It’s been years since the last Dragonlance written by the masters was released, but they didn’t miss a beat. I wondered before reading it if this book would appeal more to new readers or to readers returning and hoping to see the characters they love.
The thing that I’ve always loved about the Dragonlance series is that it feels as though the world continues long after you’ve read the last sentence and closed the book. Reading Dragons of Deceit was like catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while. They’ve had new adventures, met new people. The world has kept going, but it happily welcomed me back.
The book follows Destina, the daughter of a Solamnic knight. She loves her father, the knighthood, and all it stands for, until the oath all knights take (“My honor is my life”) causes her to lose him. Her life crumbles around her and she hatches a hare-brained scheme: travel back in time and save her dad. Of course, in order to do that, she’ll have to visit a certain well-traveled kender to acquire the Device of Time Journeying. That’s when things start to go sideways, as they always do when kender are involved.
Sometimes a long-running series finds itself in a bind. Do you continue with a storyline that new readers might be confused by, but rewards longtime readers? Or do you tell a story that has an entry point for new readers, risking alienating returning readers who want something new (I’m thinking of the multitude of Spiderman origin stories here)?
Weis and Hickman cleverly sidestepped this issue and wove a tale that will appeal to new readers and longtime fans alike. There is a mix of old and new characters, and a story arc that leans on already-established lore while still managing to be an entry point. All the important history is given throughout the book, while still somehow avoiding the dreaded info dump. New readers will be able to follow the plot without confusion, although there are things that returning readers will appreciate more.
Destina is an intriguing character, one at odds with herself. She is loyal and looks up to her father but is rather snotty toward her mom. She puts a huge burden of responsibility on herself, and it weighs her down until she has nothing left. I can’t say that I liked her in the usual sense; she was distinctly unlikable at times, which sometimes makes for a more complex story. I couldn’t fault her motivation. Wouldn’t we all do pretty much anything to help a loved one if we had the chance?
Tas was fantastic, of course. I really love that doorknob of a kender! He’s the perfect blend of innocence and unknowing wisdom. He provided laughs aplenty and a few moments that caused me to choke up a little. There’s a scene involving a helm topped with the hair from the mane of a griffin (if you know, you know) that caused my stone heart to melt.
The story was fast-paced and exciting, the sort of adventure I love reading about. It ended with a bang and left me wishing I had a Device of Time Journeying of my own, so that I could travel forward and read book two. Unsurprisingly, Dragons of Deceit was incredible. When I finished the last word, I was stymied: do I immediately reread it, or do I go back to the Chronicles– the original three that started it all- and reread every brilliant Dragonlance book written by Weis and Hickman? Deciding is nearly impossible, and that is the best kind of problem to have.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2022/08/15/dragons-of-deceit-dragonlance-destinies-vol-1-by-margaret-weis-and-tracy-hickman/
Fast forward more years than I’ll admit. I’ve read those books more times than I can count. I have devoured every new novel that takes place in Krynn, seen visions of the world painted by many authors. Each new novel adds to the lore and shows a new perspective. I like the majority of them, but the books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the creators of the world of Krynn, are special. I was ecstatic to hear the news that they were returning to the world they birthed.
Dragons of Deceit is the first of the new trilogy, Dragonlance Destinies. It’s been years since the last Dragonlance written by the masters was released, but they didn’t miss a beat. I wondered before reading it if this book would appeal more to new readers or to readers returning and hoping to see the characters they love.
The thing that I’ve always loved about the Dragonlance series is that it feels as though the world continues long after you’ve read the last sentence and closed the book. Reading Dragons of Deceit was like catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while. They’ve had new adventures, met new people. The world has kept going, but it happily welcomed me back.
The book follows Destina, the daughter of a Solamnic knight. She loves her father, the knighthood, and all it stands for, until the oath all knights take (“My honor is my life”) causes her to lose him. Her life crumbles around her and she hatches a hare-brained scheme: travel back in time and save her dad. Of course, in order to do that, she’ll have to visit a certain well-traveled kender to acquire the Device of Time Journeying. That’s when things start to go sideways, as they always do when kender are involved.
Sometimes a long-running series finds itself in a bind. Do you continue with a storyline that new readers might be confused by, but rewards longtime readers? Or do you tell a story that has an entry point for new readers, risking alienating returning readers who want something new (I’m thinking of the multitude of Spiderman origin stories here)?
Weis and Hickman cleverly sidestepped this issue and wove a tale that will appeal to new readers and longtime fans alike. There is a mix of old and new characters, and a story arc that leans on already-established lore while still managing to be an entry point. All the important history is given throughout the book, while still somehow avoiding the dreaded info dump. New readers will be able to follow the plot without confusion, although there are things that returning readers will appreciate more.
Destina is an intriguing character, one at odds with herself. She is loyal and looks up to her father but is rather snotty toward her mom. She puts a huge burden of responsibility on herself, and it weighs her down until she has nothing left. I can’t say that I liked her in the usual sense; she was distinctly unlikable at times, which sometimes makes for a more complex story. I couldn’t fault her motivation. Wouldn’t we all do pretty much anything to help a loved one if we had the chance?
Tas was fantastic, of course. I really love that doorknob of a kender! He’s the perfect blend of innocence and unknowing wisdom. He provided laughs aplenty and a few moments that caused me to choke up a little. There’s a scene involving a helm topped with the hair from the mane of a griffin (if you know, you know) that caused my stone heart to melt.
The story was fast-paced and exciting, the sort of adventure I love reading about. It ended with a bang and left me wishing I had a Device of Time Journeying of my own, so that I could travel forward and read book two. Unsurprisingly, Dragons of Deceit was incredible. When I finished the last word, I was stymied: do I immediately reread it, or do I go back to the Chronicles– the original three that started it all- and reread every brilliant Dragonlance book written by Weis and Hickman? Deciding is nearly impossible, and that is the best kind of problem to have.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2022/08/15/dragons-of-deceit-dragonlance-destinies-vol-1-by-margaret-weis-and-tracy-hickman/
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes