Customer Reviews

Dragon Blood

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 cliche. 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 isnt 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.

The keep of Hurog was torn asunder by magic in order to save it. Now Ward, the lord of Hurog, is seeing to the task of rebuilding the land. His closest friend is Oreg, half dragon and half man, comfortable in either form. They are content to stay in the holding and not have anything further to do with the evil High King Jakoven or the intrigues of the court.

Unfortunately, Jakoven wants Hurog, a land steeped in magic and to get it he arrests Ward and throws him in the Asylum where the king's mages and torturers work on him. They hope to prove that Ward is unfit to rule but the lord has powerful allies who are able to stop the King's plan at the last minute. Free to go home, Ward knows he must join the rebellion and topple the High King from the throne before he can use the powerful magical artifact, the Bane, which can control dragons and destroy empires.

Patricia Briggs is a master storyteller who creates fanciful adult fairy tales that readers will love. DRAGON BLOOD has a charismatic hero who wins the hearts of the audience with his inner strength, compassion and good heart. The use of magical beings such as dragons, dwarves and other creatures of myth and legend don't distract from the believability of the plot. This reviewer hopes that some of the characters in this fantasy get a chance to have their story told.

Harriet Klausner

I notice I tend to just not review books I don't enjoy. I now look for Patricia Briggs. She is an excellent story-teller. I have to say mind-candy but this is chocolate. I don't have any strong desire to re-read her books. But I do wish to see more of her characters. I read fantasy to relax/escape - I don't want things to be too realistic. These stories have real sensible people and events that are horrendous as well as fantastical but there is hope and triumph. I've started reading Game of Thrones four times now because friends say they like it but it is too dark and too depressing and the magic isn't... what is the point if no one ever triumphs if all the heroes are mired in despair? If I want death and despair I'll follow the news from Iraq (which I do anyway). I need heroes and heroines with sense and magic with logic and limits. I need lovely scenes to offset the horrendous - I want humour to offset the despair. Patricia Briggs delivers.

"Dragon Blood" is the sequel to "Dragon Bones" and I would certainly recommend that you don't read this one before you've read the book before it - I would be incredibly confused if I had done that!

Probably my most helpful comment about this book is that if you liked "Dragon Bones" you'll like this one - they are similar books in terms of subject matter (following the same characters) and cover similar topics (fighting, wizardry, magic).

Patricia Briggs is excellent at writing stories with depth. Politics plays a significant role here as well as the fantasy staples of battles, wizardry, confusion etc. There's a love story in this book which is well written, gentle and not at all cheesy. Ward of Hurog the main character is tortured and Briggs writes excellently how he feels following this experience - his shame and his fear that the memories will affect him when he comes up against these opponents in future.

If you've come to these books through "Moon Called" you'll find them very different but still with the mark of Briggs' excellent writing skills.

The sequel to 'Dragon Bones' is every bit as good as that exceptional book. It's 4 years after the events of Dragon Bones, and the five kingdoms have been putting themselves back together, especially Hurog Keep and it's guardian Wardwick. Now twenty three, Ward is content rebuilding his home, and practising the magic binding him, the land and his people together.

But the High King has determined that four years have dulled the memory of most of his subjects to the heroism of Ward's saving of the kingdom/s and sends along his men to bring back Ward to 'interview' him and establish his fitness to rule Hurog. Ward goes along with his captors because he literally knows what the consequences are of the various choices he has. Ward is subjected to a week of torture before his relatives can reach him, and not even Oreg's awesome dragon based power can save him. Ward eventually saves himself, with a little unexpected assistance, that makes him the enemy of the High King - certainly no friend before, but now each is an unmistakable threat to the other. Ward must gather his allies, and fight for right, justice, and, as ever, for Hurog.

I'm just as taken with Ward as I was in the previous book. He is an exceptional character - inherently strong and with a strong sense of justice that guides his moral code. He has been through emotional and physical hardships, and continues to prevail without letting those experiences twist him with their bitterness. He's one of those genuine hero's who is truly surprised when others perceive him as such. It's a story of heroism, of politics, of leadership, of healing, of love and of family. Again, I'm amazed at all the threads and themes Briggs manages to pack into one volume.

I highly recommend this book and it's predecessor. The events of Dragon Bones are referred to many times in Dragon Blood, so to get the most out of the latter, you should read the former. It will be no hardship to do so!

I picked this up at a local bookstore one afternoon when I was in the mood for fantasy, and looking for something not too weighty (in either sense of the word)! Dragon Blood delivered exactly what I was looking for. It is lightweight and fun -- a great read if you just want to escape.

Though not particularly groundbreaking, Dragon Blood didn't have anything about it that was overtly derivative -- no deja vu moments from McCaffrey or Tolkein, for example. Briggs has created a world and characters that genuinely interest me.

Another thing to note is that this book stands on its own. It is her second book in this world, but there is nothing in the book that requires you to read the first. I usually like to read a series in order, but my local store was out of the first (Dragon Bones). Dragon Blood gave me all the background I needed.

It was such a great read that I passed it on to a fellow reader. She enjoyed it as much as I did.

Dragon Bones is a light, delightful, quick read! Give this new author a try!

Briggs has done something quite nice with this tale: She's broken a number of genre stereotypes, and done so quietly. True, I never found myself in much worry or concern for the fate of Ward, but some of his companions were nicely jeopardized. Briggs does a nice job of relating a competent, hard-working and sincere lord, short on resources, short on support, and short on charismatic dash, but long on everything that really matters: Loyalty, sincerity, courage, brains. She also presents a number of interesting supporting characters, with nice possibilities and intriguing stories all their own.

Unfortunately, this unassuming little novel never truly gels, and the story, despite some good twists, really fantastic opportunities, and wonderful personalities, wanders about aimlessly until, in one of the more unusual and original endings I've read lately, it rushes to a hurried climax. The only regret I have with the ending is the deus ex machina. Actually, the 'hand of God' rescue appears in a couple of places through the story, and was one of my greater disappointments with this novel.

A decent read none-the-less, as long as you don't have anything better on the shelf. I'm not at all sorry I read this, and will read Patricia Briggs' books again... As long as I have an afternoon to kill, and nothing better to read.

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.

You absolutely must read Dragon bones before this one... the two together make a story worth reading. There are some fabulous twist in this book that will really take the reader by surprise, and just a splash of romance that is delightful in any fantasy reading.

"Dragon Blood" completes "The Hurog Duology" roughly four years past "Dragon Bones" by continuing the effortless character and plot devices mingled with exciting adventures and a satisfying amount of practical magic. Regrettably the engaging series ends, nevertheless any subsequent adventures involving other individuals would be welcome.

Wardwick along with his allies have been rebuilding Hurog and during Ward's available time receives magical training from Oreg. Tisala, who appears briefly in the prior story as Haverness's daughter, supports the compliment of supplementary characters such as half-dragon Oreg and the now-likable Tosten. The ruthless King Jakoven and magician Jade Eyes are the ideal antagonists in the focused story filled with great characters.

There are disturbing insinuations and moments, which may be questionable for young readers. A detailed map of the significant terrains and comprehensive appendix would have been useful.

Thank you.