103 of 105 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oh No! Another Dragon Book? Yes, But It's Good., June 12, 2002
This review is from: Dragon Bones (The Hurog Duology, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
This is my third Patricia Briggs novel and all the things she has done so well - interesting and sympathetic characters, a fast-moving story that doesn't need 500+ pages to get started, let alone finish a story, and new territory every outing - were all in Dragon Bones. The two central characters definately carry the story. Ward is an honorable man making do under trying circumstances that include the death of his tyrannical father, an ancient curse, a family ghost and some rather twisted political manovering. He deals with all this while attempting to preserve his land and family. The other standout, Oleg, is the family ghost/wizard/bastard cousin/? and if you thought Ward had problems wait til you hear Oleg's. Briggs' characters always draw you into the story, so that even if the plot isn't perfect you are willing to overlook it to find out what happens to your favorite characters.
Another thing I enjoy about Patricia Briggs' books is her sense of humor. The chapters all have headers of rather wry observations by Ward that add nice commentary to the story that follows. Or take Ward's horse. Ward decides to rename his father's vicious battle stallion from Stygian to Pansy and then enjoys using it to confound his uncle's attempts to have the horse put down -how can he be a frightful beast? His name is Pansy = ) I enjoy little touchs of the absurd like that.
The quest to restore Ward's birthright forms the bulk of the story and many, though not all, of the secrets that are hinted at are resolved. Fortunately for us the sequel, Dragons Blood, is scheduled for publication in 2003 and will hopefully provide us with another enjoyable story as well as clearing up some lingering questions. I recommend Patricia Briggs' Dragon Bones and her other works (When Demons Walk, Hobb's Bargain) and I think she should definately get more recognition. There aren't a lot of fantasy writers out there today who are willing to write good, short novels that don't rely on the reader investing huge sums of cash or time to slog through 12 volumes at 600 pages each. Not everyone has to write (nor read) the Grand Epic. I for one enjoy a refreshing sip of a light wine before my heavy meal.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply Fantastic, March 7, 2002
This review is from: Dragon Bones (The Hurog Duology, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Ms. Briggs weaves a richly detailed world, with dark overtones and obstacles that would leave the typcial fantasy hero searching for a quiet corner to hide in. Mental illness seems to be a common affliction in the land of Hurog. Ward's father is megalomaniacle with homocidal tendencies, his mother lives in a drug-assisted psychotic stupor, his suicidal brother has chosen fugue and exile, and his sister is mute. Ward only acts autistic to avoid attrating paternal attention!
After his father dies, his cousins betray him and the high king declares him unfit to rule, he gathers his siblings, a mentally-disturbed ghost, an aging stablemaster, and a dwarven prince masquerading as an armsman, and sets out to become a hero. . .
The amazing thing about this novel is that it worked. Really, really worked. The masterfully-drawn characters vibrate with life. The vein of humor that is Briggs's hallmark shines brighly against the dark and hostile world. Ward is a very sympathetic hero, and the story is colored by his determined, unflinching efforts to do the right thing. He and his band of wanderers echo the best parts of Robin Hood, Arthur's round table, and Miles Vorkosigan. The story is by turns tragic, humorous, adverturous and touching, and the pacing is flawless.
While I'm waiting for the promised sequel, I may have to laminate the cover (clear contact paper for those who don't know this trick) so that I can re-live this adventure often in the coming months.
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50 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bones beneath the keep, January 8, 2003
This review is from: Dragon Bones (The Hurog Duology, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Dragon Bones is a nice, light little fantasy. It's short, relatively self-contained (a sequel just came out, but this book does stand by itself nicely) book that goes down smooth and easy, though it doesn't really have much body. I enjoyed it and it has a really nice climax (though the ending is a bit of a cheat). It just didn't really seem to mean much.
The first thing I'll address is the ending, because it's really the only thing that's wrong with an otherwise very interesting plot. The climax was exciting, with Ward having to make a decision that really builds his character. I was beginning to wonder how Briggs was going to end the book, and thought that maybe it would be a typical cliffhanger, making the reader wait until the next book to find out what happens. But then I found out I was wrong, and I was so pleased. I love it when characters have to make hard decisions. The bad thing is, though, subsequent events make it so that the decision ultimately doesn't mean anything, and it's robbed of most of its drama. Sure, the fact that he had to make the decision is character-building, and I'm glad Briggs didn't take the decision out of his hands, like sometimes happens. The problem is that Ward is saved from the consequences of his actions, and I was a bit sorry to see that.
Otherwise, this is a very good novel. It won't take very long to read, as it's very light. It's not very filling, though. There's plenty of action, which is nice. Swords flash, arrows fly, and the bad guys die. It's quite an exciting book, once it gets going. It just doesn't seem to have a lot of substance. It's a snack, almost. It's well-written, with very good prose and an air-tight plot. You definitely won't go wrong by picking this up and spending an afternoon with it.
The characterizations are very well done, with only Kariarn being the two-dimensional villain. A few figures at the beginning of the book start out looking like stereotypical bad guys too, but they develop a depth to them when Briggs writes from their point of view (the book is mostly in first person from Ward's point of view, but there are sections of the book written from others' point of view that were told to Ward after the fact). Ward's cousins, Beckram and Erdrick, start out as typical tormentors of both Ward and his sister. Garranon and his brother Landislaw are the men who come to take Ward away to the insane asylum after Ward won't produce Landislaw's slave. However, we find out that Garranon is the enforced lover of the king who just wants freedom for his people. Landislaw disappears from the story, so he doesn't get much characterization, but the others are very well-rounded by events. We find out that they are just doing what they have to do in order to get by in a crazy world under a cruel and sadistic king. It's nice to see characters get this kind of treatment, rather than becoming complete stereotypes.
Ward, the main character, is very interesting as well. He's played a role for so much of his life that he doesn't know where the real Ward is anymore. He's always fantasized about being his ancestor (the one who killed the dragon, though he doesn't find that out until this book), a great hero in all of the stories. When he sets out to prove himself, that's what he sees himself becoming. Ward has to learn through what happens in this novel to be his own person and a good leader. He is devastated when he finds out that his ancestor killed the dragon, and that his ancestor is the one who brought the curse down on his family that has made it what it is today. He has to work through all of that, and it makes for a very interesting character arc. He's a very good storyteller, and I'm glad Briggs decided to write this book in first person. It adds a sense of immediacy to the actions, and makes some of the choices he makes that much more intriguing.
The other characters fulfill their roles well, though there really isn't a lot to them. Tosten, Ward's formerly suicidal brother, isn't very interesting. He sulks when he thinks that Ward likes Oreg better than him (not knowing what Oreg really is). He does what he needs to do, but doesn't really distinguish himself. Oreg is a child and most of the time acts like one. The rest of them are fairly nondescript. They're certainly not badly done, they're just there.
The book is well worth a read, though. I did really enjoy it. I will definitely look up the sequel and see if it's as good. If you're in the mood for light fantasy, you could do worse than picking up Dragon Bones.
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