Dragon Witch [Paperback]

Dolly Lien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2001

Dragon Witch: Tempest Sanct Joliet, born during a raging dragon battle, is bonded irrevocably with the golden dragon, A'dryan. An outcast because of the events of her birth, she is loved only by her teacher, Miriam and her father. Fearing for her life should she be labeled a witch, Wendall Sanct Joliet makes Tempest promise never to use her powers. Tempest keeps her promise until the day she finds the mysterious stranger lying mortally wounded deep in the ancient forest.

Golden dragon: Adrian Westbrooke lays dying until he is given human form by two meddling gods. But Adrian has no memories of his past. He only knows he loves the beautiful, red-haired healer from the moment he opens his eyes. However, Tempest is betrothed to William Mirabelle and honor forbids her the love she feels for Adrian.

Dark enchanter: Sardon di Mercia wants Tempest's powers and is willing to use all the evil sorcery he is capable of to make her his bride-even murder. To defeat the evil surrounding them, Tempest and Adrian must use all the magic and courage they possess. But only with the aid of the gods can they realize their true destiny.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Being born a Scorpio has given me an interest in everything from Christianity to the occult and virtually everything in between. As a result, my reading and writing is pretty eclectic. I love reading everything from horror to fantasy and science fiction to romances.

My first romance was written when I was in the eighth grade but I never tried to write another book until after my son was raised and had a family of his own. He got me started playing D&D and from there, it was just a natural progression to writing down what my imagination cooked up.

I am currently a member of RWA and FF&P, which is a sub-genre chapter of RWA. I have been a correspondent for our local newspaper and write a computer column for Cascade Valley Voices, which is more of a "how not to" rather than a "how to" column. I am also the facilitator of the Leavenworth Writer's Guild and a member of the Leavenworth Writer's Garret. I also write the Garten Haus Newsletter for my apartment building.

I wrote Dragon Witch because I was never quite satisfied with not having enough romance in all those fantasy novels I read. Dragon Witch is my first novel and inspired by my collection of over fifty dragons, which surrounds me as I sit at my computer.

I am helped greatly by my devoted writing companion, Patrick Macintosh--a cobalt blue parakeet who loves mimicking my telephone and computer, and squawking at me whenever I stop typing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Imajinn Books (August 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893896447
• ISBN-13: 978-1893896444
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,092,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DRAGON WITCH ~ A SPECIAL STORY!, August 25, 2001

By 

Romance-reader "romance-reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Witch (Paperback)

One night while a dragon battle rages outside, Lady Christiana struggles to give birth inside the castle walls. S'rdonne, the black dragon is on the brink of successfully destroying his enemy, a much younger golden dragon. The only dragon capable of stopping S'rdonne and his desire to rule over Dragondom as the Great Wyrm. As the mortally wounded golden dragon, plunges to his inevitable death, a girl child takes her first breath and cries. "At that moment, child and dragon become one, bonded irrevocably, eternally." Miraculously, the golden dragon survives.

Tempest, as the child was named, is better known as the Dragon Witch. A title given by her superstitious clansmen, resulting from her unusual birth and healing abilities. Her two allies are Tristan, her father's bastard son and Miriam, her devoted nursemaid and sage counsel. At her coming of age and betrothal, S'rdonne reappears and so does a badly injured Adrian, the golden dragon. What began 16 years ago continues, as Tempest and Adrian's destiny and love unfolds. All the while, they are unknowing pawns in a centuries old game of vengeance, observed and controlled by two game masters via their crystal ball.

This is Dolly Lien's first book and I read it because, frankly, I was intrigued. A dragon lover. Certainly a new concept in a genre with werewolves and vampires aplenty. I have to say unabashedly - I loved it! This author has created an extraordinary world filled with dragons, sorcerers, and witches. Plus, for those that yearn for it (myself included) - a love story to match. This an exceptional book guaranteed to give pleasure to those that have waited a long time for something special and new.

Ms. Lien, I'm waiting for Tristan's story!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What could have been a good story........, March 26, 2002

By 

Luv 2 Read (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Witch (Paperback)

Dragon Witch boasts a very intriguing plot: dragons who shapechange, a soulbond that must be denied, an evil sorcerer intend on destruction! Unfortunately, while all those elements are there, the plot itself is so uncontrolled that it is almost impossible to enjoy the story at points. The characterization is one-dimensional and the worldbuilding haphazard at best.

The book shrieks of cliche and poor plotting. For example:
The heroine is hated by her mother. (birth mother, no less!) They bicker and fight. People die and are resurrected because the "gods" don't think that the heroine needed to deal with her actions. The author consistently shies from any and all character-building conflict, changing events through blatant deus ex machina most often.

The dragons are inconsistent and close to unbelievable. There aren't too many of them, and the rules that govern their existence are never explained. The magic of the world seems to draw from wicca practices and, possibly, druidic, but hints are only mentioned in a few places. Most of the time Tempest's amazing supernatural powers are never explained besides the constant refrain of "she's a Dragon Witch!" What exactly a Dragon Witch is the reader is left to wonder -- it seemed that she was just a dragon witch simply because a dragon was fighting as she was being born!

The hero and heroine never actually fall in love, and you certainly never feel that they are *in* love -- the hero feels that he is predestined to marry her, and she clings stubbornly to an agreement her father made -- an excuse that seemed more and more flimsy as the novel moved forward. The sorcerer is vanquished with remarkable ease for someone so old and evil.

To top it all off -- it takes FOREVER to get to the meat of the book. The backstory should have been quartered -- or more, and the characters seemed to wander from room to room, spending lots of time in bed or in the forest when an evil sorcerer was haunting the castle!

It is clear that this is one of Lien's first efforts - she doesn't have a firm control over the characters or the setting. While I intend on reading another Imajinn book before giving up entirely on the imprint, I firmly believe that some major revisions and plot reworking could have made this a remarkable book. This is certainly not a good example of the excellent small press (and electronically published) fiction that is being produced nowadays.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars for Dragon Witch, August 26, 2001

By 

Karen K. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragon Witch (Paperback)

Flame haired Tempest is born to Lord Wendall and Lady Christiana on a day when two dragons, one golden and one black, are battling in the skies above. Just as the evil black dragon S'rdonne seems ready to destroy the golden dragon A'dryan, the mid-wife Miriam removes the caul from the face of the newborn Tempest to allow her to breathe. The cries of the newborn flow into the wounded golden dragon, healing him and binding the two irrevocably, allowing him to send the black dragon fleeing. S'rdonne must wait for another day to kill the last of the golden dragon hatchlings and rule supreme as the Great Wyrm over Dragondom. Thus begins the life of Tempest Sanct Joliet, called "beloved" by her father and "Dragon Witch" by her unforgiving mother, Lady Christiana. But even though Tempest does not have her mother's love, she has allies in others - Miriam, Lady Christiana's healing woman, and Tristan, Tempest's half brother. From the young age of five, Tempest has a shadow hanging over her head - the black dragon S'rdonne, in recognizing the witch's power Tempest has, plots to kill her and steal her power so that he may destroy the last of the golden dragons. When he is unsuccessful, he returns later plotting to make her his slave. But there are other forces at work here. Two immortals are manipulating events and the people like pieces on a chessboard, and the golden dragon L'ysira is determined that Tempest is meant to be her son A'dryan's mate. Shortly after Tempest's 16th birthday, she is betrothed to Lord William, and though she doesn't love him, she knows that the marriage will please her father. Then one day, Tempest finds a severely wounded, handsome young man in the forest and brings him home to help him heal. He does not recall his name or what happened to him so Tempest names him Adrian. Tempest and Adrian are immediately drawn to each other, but they have many obstacles to overcome. Tempest has been pledged to Lord William and Adrian has no memory of who and what he is. The evil S'rdonne is determined to end the life of the young dragon, who has become the young warrior Adrian, and enslave Tempest. This is a story you will have difficulty putting down. Ms. Lien has woven a wonderful tale of fantasy, romance and intrigue. You'll fall in love with the spirited Tempest and the handsome Adrian as danger and intrigue swirls around them! This is a marvelous first novel for Ms. Lien, and if this is an example of what she can write, I'll be standing in line to buy her next book! Karen K.