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23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great concept, sags a little in the middle, still worth reading, December 19, 2008
This review is from: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Hardcover)
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This is a very engaging novel about a young girl who is forced to live her life as a young man in order to fulfill her destiny. It is a coming of age story, like many great works of fiction in the young adult fantasy genre. Alas, this novel is certainly good, but not great: the story is exceedingly predictable. This in itself if not a reason not to read the book--there is definitely some comfort in understanding exactly what you are getting when you pick up a book--mysteriously gifted young person unfairly kept down by circumstances out of their control, young person's potential finally recognized by those around them, a dire secret keeps young person's full capacity from saving them from a certain doom, young person goes on a journey of personal discovery to become who they really are. This plot works for Harry Potter, for Star Wars, and for Snow White. So, not much there that you haven't seen before...but the trappings, and the journey itself are quite nice. I haven't read much recent YA fiction set in China (although technically, this is a made-up country, not China itself, the tone is very Chinese with occasional bits of Japanese influence thrown in), although the current Temeraire series (see Temeraire Vol 1-3 Box Set With Bonus Poster)has a very very charming Chinese dragon in it, and one novel takes place in China. The historical details are quite interesting, and nicely done. The writer has a light touch, and although I felt on occasion that she gave away too much too quickly in the beginning, overall she was very readable. Both my wife and I read this book, and we both ended up satisfied with the ending, which was very very exciting. We had a hard time putting the book down for the last 100 pages or so, and by the last page, I was out of breath. Unfortunately, we also both agreed that the middle section could have been edited down significantly to make a tighter story. The task that the heroine needed to accomplish was so obvious to readers that watching her struggle through the problem was dull and frustrating. It was important to the plot that this struggle not seem overly facile, but I think that about 250 pages in the middle might have been condensed to about 125 and it still might have been a bit saggy.
This is not going to be the next HP--there may not be another one of those for a hundred years, to be honest. But there is no shame in not being HP. This book is a fun, at times thrilling adventure, full of heart and intrigue, and with an excellent ending and very engaging characters. Eon, Lady Dala, and Ryko are all folks I would like to get to know better in the next book, and I confess that by the end, even the "villain" Lord Ido gained some real appeal as a character. I confess that I am quite looking forward to the sequel--I will be buying it as soon as I see it!
If you are a fan of young heroines, a fan of Chinese flavored fantasy, and are willing to embrace a truly fascinating vision of dragons, this book will certainly satisfy. If you are looking for true originality...well, there is enough new here to make things interesting for a time, but you may loose interest about 200 pages in. I encourage you to march on through, because the ending is a wonderful ride.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Writing. Good Story. Difficult Ending., November 16, 2008
This review is from: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Hardcover)
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EON DRAGONEYE REBORN is a fantasy-action, swordplay novel dealing with Eastern culture and mythical dragons. At its core is the study of how female culture was subdued only to break through in times of desperate need.
The dragon culture of the novel permeates throughout, but only for the masculine ...that is until Eon (actually a teenage girl known secretively as Eona) fights her way into the fire-breathing realm. Mystical and not-just-a-bit enchanting, Eon is an interesting read that plunges the reader deeper and deeper into this nearly fairytale land. Author Alison Goodman (a woman writing in a sword and sorcery action novel?!) is to be commended for her ability to keep the reader engrossed in the story, especially as Eon/Eona falls and falls and falls, giving us a sense of dread that keeps getting upped as the novel progresses.
Death is ever-present in the story, too, as favorite characters get poisoned, beheaded or run-through with sharp blades. The main antagonist is a deeply disturbed dragon master named Ido who's lust for power might hold the key to Eon's life and his/her ability to call the Mirror Dragon, a beast that hasn't been seen for many years and is, apparently, a female dragon too.
The big battle that ensues toward the end of the novel is interesting but pretty transparent (I knew how Eon could call up his/her dragon about halfway through the story).
The other annoying part of the story is how it ends; obviously a tie-in for a future book. Although I accept this ending, it was bothersome to not learn what had happened to a few characters by the end of this story rather than (forcibly?) pulling it into a sequel.
Also, there were just a few too many kowtowings going on. I understand the need for decorum within such a culture, but it caused the story to drag at times.
But all-in-all the depth of the tale and the extreme struggles that Eon/Eona had to go through kept me reading, as did some nicely worded fight scenes. A good read; it just bugs me that I now have to wait to read what happens to these characters when I feel Mrs. Goodman could've given us more on the characters and a few less ceremonial kowtows.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Read!, August 24, 2009
This review is from: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Hardcover)
How I do so wish that book reviewers would start eating more fiber in their diets. "8th Grade and up" Ya know, The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings was originally considered a children's story as well. Let's all get over the "Young Readers" badge of shame that keeps adults from reading a good story.Perhaps it got it's Young Reader status because it doesn't drop the F bomb or depict explicit sex and gratuitous violence? Ignore all that, find a comfy sofa and a good reading lamp and sit down to a very enjoyable day of storytelling.
Eon is a VERY well written story that weaves together Chinese horoscope/dragon/political intrigue/gender bias and other themes beautifully.
Well done Allison and I look forward to the next installment. Say hello to The Fairy Tree in Fitzroy Gardens for me - Melbourne is my most favorite city on Earth.
This REALLY needs to be a movie. Move over Eragon.
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