Scan barcode
A review by pandorasxbox
Dragon Soul by Danielle Bennett, Jaida Jones
2.0
I love this series, but this is without a doubt the weakest book in the series. As I was reading them, I tried to figure out exactly why I wasn't as into the story. In the end, I came up with the following two reasons.
First of all, the characters in this book aren't as dynamic as they were in the past two books. I'm probably one of the only people who wasn't crazy about Rook's character. Thom I was quite fond of, but the change in dynamics and setting and all that just didn't quite work for me. As for the new characters, I have to admit I pretty much adored Madoka, and she has a lot to so with what I enjoyed about the book. I would love to see more of her and Badger. Malahide, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. I dreaded coming to the sections she narrated. So, all in all, it's not a good sign when only one quarter of characters are appealing.
The other thing that bothered me was a vague sense of inconsistency and contradiction. What makes it worse is that there really isn't anything I could point to and say "there: there's an example!". I feel as though it was a lot of smaller things that just left me off kilter and kept me from truly getting into the story. Thom saying for that for the first time he was thinking and not doing... and then proceeding to try to deconstuct Rook's character. Characters saying one thing on one page and another on the next. I don't know if it's a fair assessment, or if it's just me, but it did bother me a lot.
On other thing that bothered me slightly (while I'm ranting), is the simplicity of the antagonists. Only one of the two is even given a name, and we don't even get much of a backstory on the one who does beyond the fact that his loyalties lay with the Ke-Han, which is a shame, cause there was quite a bit to work with there. Their motives were really undefined. In the past two books, the stakes were simplistic but clear. Here
Also, while I'm at it, what was with Malahide? I like that it wasn't her sole defining character trait, but it did sort of come out of left field, and felt totally unnecessary. It was almost like someone came up with the idea at last minute and they decided to just throw it in there.
Not every book in a series can be perfect, and so my distaste for this one is forgivable. I can't wait to read Steelhands, which so far promises to deliver some fantastic characters, which is really all I need.
First of all, the characters in this book aren't as dynamic as they were in the past two books. I'm probably one of the only people who wasn't crazy about Rook's character. Thom I was quite fond of, but the change in dynamics and setting and all that just didn't quite work for me. As for the new characters, I have to admit I pretty much adored Madoka, and she has a lot to so with what I enjoyed about the book. I would love to see more of her and Badger. Malahide, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. I dreaded coming to the sections she narrated. So, all in all, it's not a good sign when only one quarter of characters are appealing.
The other thing that bothered me was a vague sense of inconsistency and contradiction. What makes it worse is that there really isn't anything I could point to and say "there: there's an example!". I feel as though it was a lot of smaller things that just left me off kilter and kept me from truly getting into the story. Thom saying for that for the first time he was thinking and not doing... and then proceeding to try to deconstuct Rook's character. Characters saying one thing on one page and another on the next. I don't know if it's a fair assessment, or if it's just me, but it did bother me a lot.
On other thing that bothered me slightly (while I'm ranting), is the simplicity of the antagonists. Only one of the two is even given a name, and we don't even get much of a backstory on the one who does beyond the fact that his loyalties lay with the Ke-Han, which is a shame, cause there was quite a bit to work with there. Their motives were really undefined. In the past two books, the stakes were simplistic but clear. Here
Spoiler
two random guys decide to build a dragon, for power and glory and all. Because one cobled together dragon is going to defeat all of Volstov when Volstov still has the Basquiat. Not to mention the fact that Xi'an managed to hold out against fourteen dragons over an extended period of time. I get that the magician is crazy, but it doesn't makes sense. Maybe a dragon would restart the war, and maybe shift the odds in Xi'an's favor, but in the long run- it's not as big a threat as it seemed like. Maybe that's one example of clear cut inconsistency. Or maybe it's just me.Also, while I'm at it, what was with Malahide? I like that it wasn't her sole defining character trait, but it did sort of come out of left field, and felt totally unnecessary. It was almost like someone came up with the idea at last minute and they decided to just throw it in there.
Not every book in a series can be perfect, and so my distaste for this one is forgivable. I can't wait to read Steelhands, which so far promises to deliver some fantastic characters, which is really all I need.