Customer Reviews

Father of Dragons (The Binding of the Blade, Book 4)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rest easy, Father of Dragons is the best yet in a five book series. I found it to be an exciting read, less ponderous than its forbears. Graham has clearly found his element as he introduces mighty dragons, traitorous travelers, and a shamed race of people in this fantasy. As noted before, one character's miraculous return was a bit over the top. For me, it was far too Gandalf like. I would much rather have had Joraiem return, or maybe Alazare, the titan that initially defeated Malek. However, these are minor points.
As mentioned above, Graham introduces some new characters, some more interesting than others. He is certainly broadening his already vast-feeling fantasy world, giving it a Tolkienesque feel-- almost. The land of Kirthanin still seems too small to be a true Tolkienesque world.
Finally, I should mention that the story is looking up. Hope is on the way. The prologue gives a hopeful feel to a certain new character (if they did it once they can do it again). Finally, an epilogue to the story keeps the final chapter's cliffhanger ending from feeling too abrupt.
Father of Dragons is definitely the best of the series, topping my previous favorite Shadow in the Deep, and hopefully to be topped by Book 5.

I liked the pace of this book and agree that it is definately the best in this series so far.

Unlike the other reviewers, I was pleased by the unexpected return of a certain individual. In fact, that was the only thing that got me to read "Father of Dragons!" The first book in this series had an ending that I found so awful I refused to read any further. When I heard the rumor that a presumably dead person had returned in the fourth book, however, I decided to give the series one more try. So, I bought the other three books, and I enjoyed them.

So, if you like happy endings and boycotted the series after the first book, I encourage you to give this series another try. I am glad I did! I am now eagerly awaiting the final book.

I gave the previous installments in this series high marks, and the writing in this, the fourth book, is just as good. Yet, the story within the beginning part seemed more disjointed. I guess that was from trying to tie all the loose ends together.

One element of a certain person's return seemed a bit over-the-top to me, and the beginning of the book confused me until I realized that it was a flashback to the demise of an important character, long ago. Once into the story proper, it read much like the last books and was very entertaining.

When I reached the end though, I felt cheated. Everything, from multiple subplot directions, was heading toward a massive, final conclusion in the war against Malek, and then... it just ended. Of course, with a great ray of hope--but it ended! No huge battle where you discovered the fate of the characters, good or bad. Did I mention it just ended?

Was the day saved? Did certain characters facing imminent death, die, or not? Did the bad guys die or live to fight another day? Was a certain character truly Malek in disguise? Etc...

I am amending my review here, as it has become clear that there is supposed to be a book five. I still wish the book would have ended in a less abrupt fashion and at a less critical time in the story. I was expecting at least another chapter or two. It is still a great continuation of the series, but it didn't feel like a complete novel, in my opinion.

I want to know how it really ends, so I'll definitely be watching for book five.

I am very glad to say that I enjoyed this book just as much, if not more than it's predisesors. The begining took a bit to get going, by having a rather long segment about characters who only appeared briefly in the first book, but even that is tied in at the end. The diolog, which was, up till this point in the series, rather to modern for the setting, is much better in this book, and the characters are contiuing to develop. A certain characters return though, was I felt, a little bit too much. I was ready for that character to have served his purpose and died, but it did not bog down the story too much. One of a few gripes I have is about Evrim, who lost an arm in Shadow of the Deep. I felt that his recovery was rather unrealistic considering the magnitude of his loss. One day he has his arm bitten off, and the next he is climbing a mountain. The other is not really a complain, merely a slight annoiance at writing technique. When the author kills off a character, he tends to do it so suddenly, that it tends to leave the reader in shock, rather than sadness. I tend to read very quickly during suspenceful books, and with Joriem, and now another character, their deaths were so sudden that I missed them, and had to go "wait a second" and read the paragraph again. Other than the two things I mentioned, it was a great book. The ending was genious. I nearly made me cry just from the sweetness of it, but to get it, it is good to have the prologe of the first book fresh in your mind. It also did not leave you hanging as much as the third one did, while still leaving plenty to be resolved in the last book. Overall a great book. I thouroly enjoyed it and am anxously awaiting the series conclusion.
-E

The lonely hero is about to die. The army is facing annihilation. And far off, wings of hope sped to the rescue. Can they get there in time?
Is this a scene from Return of the King--or the ending of Father of Dragons? The fourth of five books in the series, Father of Dragons ends with a monstrous cliffhanger. But the book is more than just a buildup to All My Holy Mountain. With new characters introduced and old friends brought back, this book increases the stakes in the war for Kirthanin. As I finished it, I felt a strange excitement, a longing for the day when all things shall be made new.

Excellent book!!! It grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go!! The "Binding of the Blade" series is one of the best I have read in a long,long time!!! And I read All the time!! Can't wait for the next book in the series!

I received my products in a timely fashion and in excellent condition...I would certainly recommend this seller to others...Thank you and may God bless and prosper you.

I absolutely loved this book. I think Graham has done an excellent job with this fourth in the series.

This book was a long awaited sequel, and it was worth the wait! With page-turning action, some romance, prophecy, and fun thrown in, this book is great! It has just enough resolution to satisfy, but enough mystery to keep you guessing. I will definitely read the next book!

Father of Dragons (Binding of the Blade)
I have greatly enjoyed the Binding of the Blade series by L. B. Graham. These books are a must read for Chronicles of Narnia lovers.