Dragon's Tongue: Book 1 Of The Demon Bound (Bk. 1) [Hardcover]

Laura J Underwood (Author), Matt Stawicki (Author)

Book Description

Series: Demon-Bound | Publication Date: July 5, 2006

Alaric Braidwine, young mageborn bard in training, has no idea that he's about to become part of a legend. Traveling to Dun Gealach to learn magecraft under the Council of Mageborn, he finds himself drawn into a fiendish plot by a blood mage who wants to be a god.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Here is an exciting—and a most satisfying—tale of magical adventuring." -- Andre Norton

From the Publisher

Look for Wandering Lark, Book Two of The Demond-Bound, coming March 2005!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc. (July 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592220274
• ISBN-13: 978-1592220274
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,231,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

While she does not claim to be Shakespeare or Poe, Laura J. Underwood is the author of seven novels, three short story collections, a number of novellas, chapbooks and short stories and some nonfiction. Her books include MARKING THE SIGNS AND OTHER TALES OF MISCHIEF from Yard Dog Press, where you can also find her novel ARD MAGISTER, her novella SHADOW LORD and various other works. Her novel DRAGON'S TONGUE was released by Meisha Merlin in May 2006, and HOUNDS OF ARDAGH was released by Five Star Press in October 2006.

Her latest works include THE CITY UNDER THE BRIDGE from Wolfsinger Publications (2009), SONG OF SILVER from Dark Regions (2009), and most recently, Book 2 of "The Demon-Bound" Duology was released by Yard Dog Press. So if you want to know what happened to Alaric Braidwine, read WANDERING LARK (2010) from Yard Dog Press.

When not writing, Laura works for the Knox County Public Library System where she is First Assistant at the Carter Branch, hikes her native Appalachian mountains, plays a harp with the head of a unicorn and occasionally fences with the SFWA Musketeers. She lives in East Tennessee with her parents and a pernicious feline of few grey cells who frequently forgets that windows do have glass.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable, June 12, 2006

By 

Richard A. Siler "rasiler2" (Chamblee, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon's Tongue: Book 1 Of The Demon Bound (Bk. 1) (Hardcover)

If you've not read any of Laura's work before, this is an excellent place to start. DRAGON'S TONGUE exists as part of a much larger world-in-development, and other novels and stories have been published in this world already (at later points in its history), but this book is where it all starts. DRAGON'S TONGUE and its sequel, WANDERING LARK (which should be out in '07), provide the origin of an epic saga that will continue for many years.

DT focuses on the lives of and the relationship between a teacher and his pupil. Fenelon Greenfyn, a rather notorious rogue who sits on the Coucil of Mageborn, is given the task of tutoring a young bard called Alaric Braidwine, who isn't overly happy to have discovered his mageborn talents. Alaric was trained as a bard by the legendary Ronan Tey, a friend of his family. As Alaric arrives at Dun Gealach to begin his studies of magecraft, evidence crops up that he has smuggled a demon into the heavily-guarded premises. The demon in question is Vagner, in the 'employ' of Tane Doran, a blood mage seeking an extraordinary power. The key to this power is a song...a song taught to Alaric by Ronan Tey, and Vagner (himself quite the music lover) captures Alaric and brings him back to Doran. The trouble is Alaric has no recollection of learning this song or of ever having heard it.

To put it simply: DRAGON'S TONGUE is a FUN read. This book is very engaging, with lively characters, a rich setting, a great deal of danger, good doses of humour throughout, unlikely friendships and alliances, and the coming of age of a boy who unwittingly becomes a pawn of fate. It is written in a style that can appeal to both teenagers and adults, so it should find a broad audience. A musician herself, Laura writes her bard characters with honesty and realism (and has in fact composed all the music that appears in the books).

Buy this book; I highly recommend it. And if you enjoy it (which I'm certain you will), explore some of Laura's other works, particularly the other books and stories set in the same world. [...]

4.0 out of 5 stars I liked it pretty well., October 1, 2006

By 

Christa (Decatur, Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dragon's Tongue: Book 1 Of The Demon Bound (Bk. 1) (Paperback)

Really, I did enjoy it, and I do plan to buy the sequel, especially as this book felt very much like the whole point was to get Alaric bonded to the demon and off on his way to adventuring. I'm only holding back a star because I wished for a little more depth from some of the characters. I can forgive Alaric for being rather callow; despite being twenty, the author explains that the mageborn are much slower to mature. Fenelon was also pretty childish, in that he had to needle and taunt everyone, all the time, even when it was clearly to no one's advantage. His uncle, Turlough, came across as a petty, greedy tyrant, when a case could be made for him having a genuine concern about Alaric, especially after he's demon-bonded. Worst of all though, the villian, Tane Doran, came across as very cartoonish. He was just purely evil for the sake of power. Apparently he is descended from 'Dark Ones', which to me implies a lack of free will about being good or evil. Only the demon, Vagner, grows much as a character. It's a minor nitpick; the overall story is very interesting.

There were lots of hints that the next book should let Alaric grow up and become more nuanced as a person. I have high hopes.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Terrific Story! BUY THIS BOOK!!!, February 27, 2006

By 

Margaret H. Bonham "skywarrior" (Montana, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dragon's Tongue: Book 1 Of The Demon Bound (Bk. 1) (Paperback)

I got an ARC from Laura directly, and I have to say that this is easily her best book yet. The book's pacing and characters were so good, I got lost in this book almost immediately. She's become really confident in Ard-Taebh and has come up with a great tale that's worth staying up past 2 am for.

One thing I had no idea was what a rogue Fenelon was. Oh sure, we got a tease from Ard Magister, but really, I never knew until I read this book.

One of the surprises was Vagner. Despite him being a ferocious demon, I really took a liking to him. All I can say is check out this book! I can't wait for the second, Wandering Lark.