Customer Reviews

Dragon Champion (Age of Fire, Book 1)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

E. E. Knight's Dragon Champion continues the popular tradition of animal perspective fantasy, but instead of rabbits, moles, or other woodland creatures as the protagonists, he carries it a step further with an animal which itself is a fantasy - dragons. It's a very clever concept, and like Knight's Vampire Earth series, he executes the basic concept with wit, excitement and flair.

Told from the viewpoint of Auron (later AuRon, when his wings develop and he can fly), it's a tale of a dying breed among men, Elves and Dwarves, and one dragon's quest to learn his place in the world and how he might change it.

This is not a fairy tale, for there is plenty of graphic violence, and the novel opens with a rather savage birth ritual involving survival of the fittest from a clutch of hatching dragon eggs. Knight blends his story with fascinating dragon lore, and manages to cover nearly everything you've ever heard regarding dragons, keeping the legends plausible, while maintaining his narrative pace and picaresque plot.

Knight does not make the mistake, as so often occurs in this sub-genre of fantasy, of making every human character evil. There are good and bad men, and there are good and bad dragons.

This novel is complete in itself, but my understanding is that Knight plans to continue the series with novels told from the perspectives of AuRon's surviving sister and brother, and then a grand finale fourth volume tying all three together.

Get in on the beginning, readers. It's going to be something special.

I'm not big into epic fantasy, though I loved Robin Hobb's Mad Ship trilogy and a few others. I picked up Dragon Champion because I had seen it several times on my way to another shelf to pick up my usual fare of dark/urban fantasies and paranormal thrillers. I opened it, planning to satisfy my curiosity and put it back, but it was not to be.
This dragon snatched me into his world so easily I didn't realize it had happened till two hours later when I came to myself, sitting on the floor under the shelf from which I'd taken the book. Dragon Champion is a fierce, haunting tale of terrible loss, self-sacrifice and heroism. The end gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. There is so much I love about this book I dare not share it here and spoil your enjoyment. So, go pick it up...I dare you to read the first few pages and put it back on the shelf.....I dare you!

If you wander by a set of books, simply the front cover will draw you to this book. Upon seeing the front cover, I immediately read the back cover. Auron is born with natural skill and cunning, enabling him to survive. He is the rare scaleless gray dragon, which means that he doesn't have an insatiable hunger for gold and gems like other dragons. His remaining brother that is allowed to live betrays his family and Auron's mother and sister are immediately killed. He hides with his sister until his father comes back and they are spotted, and their father finds out what has happened and is attacked. Auron and his sister must split ways, in hopes that one will find their father and the other will draw away the attackers. Auron then begins his journey alone into becoming a Drake. This is a wonderful book, and anyone a fan of science fiction and fantasy will love this book!!

I won't ruin the story for you, or compare it with other writer's works. The story of this dragon is told from the Dragon's PoV and that alone makes it a rarity. The author manages to give the characters life, with emotions, passions and motives that are not all carbon copy's of one another and they are all strung together in a masterful way.

I read a LOT of fantasy and I'm not into vampires much. Let's just say that this book alone made me decide to pick up the first in the Vampire series and give it a try.

I hope you'll like this and give it a try. There are only a few powerful fantasy authors that are currently offering up books worth reading at every printing. E.E. Knight is one of them in MY book.

I have read all of the Vampire Earth novels and was a little startled to see that Knight had written a book about dragons. Not only about dragons but from a dragon's POV. I said WTH and picked it up. I was immediately entranced. The first chapter alone had me hooked. I read this book in two nights I only put it down to sleep. Like his Vampire Earth books this novel has all the elements of a great series. There were several scenes when I actually teared up. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it. Read this book!

Dragon Champion is a fictional novel that was written by E. E. Knight. This fictional story is of the Fantasy genre. It deals heavily with dragons and their niche in the world. Hosting a variety of classical races, which include elves, and dwarves, the story touches on the basics of fantasy lore while exploring new territory, and new ideas. A new land, with new races, and time-honored racial conflicts allows this story to touch on the old, while creating a fresh and energizing perspective into the world of dragons.

Dragon Champion is the story of Auron, a newly born dragon hatchling, and his experience with the world as he grows up. It begins on a sad note with his separation from his parents and family. Auron must learn to survive in the world using his wit, physical prowess, and his innate dragon abilities. Through various interactions with other races, Auron gains new perspectives that allow him to overcome his stature shortcomings and excel as a dragon.

Although being an avid fan of dragons makes the beginning of the story difficult to read, E. E. Knight was able to create a vivid world that casts dragons in a semi-unique light. Not since the olden tales that depict dragons being hunted by brave knights does an author skillfully encapsulate the experience of the hunted. Telling the story from a dragon's perspective allows a new tale to unfold that highlights an animalistic perspective, while also encompassing the higher intelligence of this fantastic race.

E. E. Knight creates a fanciful and original world with vivid descriptions and an original plot. Unorthodox humor is shown in multiple ways including original verbiage and dialogue, and racial interactions. This creates ongoing interest and long-lasting charm. I found the Dragon Champion's plot to be enjoyable, and the characters to be memorable. Although there were some parts that seemed to drag-on, the overall book flowed well with more twists than a dragon's tail. It was a solid read, and proud addition to my book collection.

This is a wonderful book into a new world of dragons. It does not re-tell any old stories about dragon and their myths but creates a few of its own myths in the process. Auron is a young gray dragon survives through many different odds. Auron is a complex character that gives you the idea that he really is a dragon and not just a story about a dragon. Each part of the story that revolves around the dragon world that Auron knows is very interesting.

The world that EE Knight has created for this book is very complex and well thought out. Each race that you run into gives you a new understanding of the complex world that he has created. This is all shown through Auron's eyes as he travels this world. This is not the same world that you find in many other stories. This is unique fantasy at its best.

While reading this book I could not put it down. I had to finish reading it from the moment I got the book. It will be on that I shall very much love to read over and over. I can't wait for the next book! EE Knight has out down himself again.

Dragon Champion by E.E. Knight is the first book in the Age of Fire sequence. I'd seen Knight by an author I'm a fan of so I decided to give him a read. Knight is more known for his pulpy Vampire Earth books, but as I'm a fan of high fantasy I went with his new series instead.

Dragon Champion has all the staples of High Fantasy going for it. It has elves, dwarves, and of course dragon's. It even has a dragon on the cover. ( Beautifully drawn by Paul Youll.) The protagonist is an orphan. Sounds cliche right? Well it certainly could be, but Knight take the cliche and turns it around. Perhaps not 180 degrees, but at least a sharp 90.

The orphan protagonist is Auron, a rare scaleless gray dragon, and the story is told entirely from his viewpoint. It follows his life from an emerging hatchling to a full fledged dragon. Along the way he experiences loss, finds new friends, makes new enemies, and discovers what it is to truly be a dragon.

The world building is very good. Knight sets sown several varied histories of the world, differing of course on which race is recording them. The creation mythologies are well layed out. He also does a fine job with characterization. For the most part his characters are very believable. The book sets a strong pace, but also gives the reader time to rest and reflect.

All in all Knight does very well in this endeavor. He takes what could be a tired concept and injects it with new life. I very much enjoyed Dragon Champion and will be looking to pick up the soon to be released follow up Dragon Avenger.

7.5 out of 10

When Auron broke out of his egg, he saw one of the hatchlings kill another and the one who did the killing was left lame. Elves and dwarves entered their cave while their father was away, killing his mother and one of his sisters. Auron and another sister survived and he used himself as bait to draw the people who wanted to enslave him so his sister could race to freedom and find their father.

Auron is caught and taken on a boat but a kind hearted elf frees him. He befriends a trading dwarf who removes the collar off his neck and helps him guard the caravan of goods taken to the steppes. After his job is complete Auron cares for a human child but before he can get her to her people, they meet the oldest known dragon who covets knowledge not treasure. After he takes the girl to a human settlement, he returns to the dragon's cave to learn all he can. Auron becomes the feudal lord of a group of blighter hominids that once ruled the world but are now on the point of extinction. Circumstances force him to leave his domain when he finds out the wizard behind the deaths of his mother and sister is now using enslaved and bewitched dragons and some blighters who join him willingly to do away with all the hominid races races. Auron must find away to stop him or the world that he knows will be destroyed.

E.E. Knight makes the transition from the science fiction of his Vampire Earth series to a fantasy saga with an ease at s amazing but not surprising with someone with his enormous amount of writing talent. Told from the perspective of a dragon fresh from the egg to sixty years of age (a toddler in dragon terms) readers will be enchanted by this touching story about a species persecuted, hunted, and killed to the point of near extinction. The audience will love Auron and will look forward to future tales about him.

Harriet Klausner

This is such a great little read and despite the fact that the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth(pre-order version) are all available for the kindle, this one is not. If you're like me this is going to drive you crazy so I'll wait on buying any of these until I see that the effort is put into kindlizing the original.

As for a review: This is a refreshing read on a baby gray dragon as he explores the wonders and terrors of a world where his kind are becoming scarce. It's got action, drama, and life lessons. Definitely worth a read for those favoring fantasy over science fiction.