Customer Reviews

The Golden Cord (Five Star Science Fiction & Fantasy)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Golden Cord is set in a lush and dangerous world where Drake Bloodstone must choose between protecting his own people and leaving them to pursue a perilous quest against the dragons. Either way his life and very soul face destruction as he tries to fight off the forces of evil. This is quest fantasy at its best. A page-turner with gripping characters and a wondrously original setting.

In this adventure fantasy book, Drake Bloodstone is a young man who is sworn to protect and serve his small village. With danger lurking on all sides, Drake becomes a protector to all as he embarks on a quest filled with dangerous griffins, wyverns and dragons. I found Drake's connection to the world of spirits and his love back home to be intriguing and can't wait to see how it develops more in the books to come. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to the great dragon battles in the past. It definitely had a huge role-play adventure feel to it, which was fun in some respects but would probably make it a bit predictable for experienced role-play enthusiasts. I thought the climax of the book was great, and left me wanting to know more about what is to come (I won't give any of it away). I would definitely recommend this book.

The Golden Cord is book one in Paul Genesse's new The Iron Dragon Series due for release on April 16th through Five Star. The story follows Drake, a hunter and village guardian in the treacherous Thornclaw Forest. When two Drobin--dwarves known for their enslavement of humans and hated by the villagers--show up in Cliffton, dragging with them a wicked Aevian Wyvern, Drake is thrust into a journey that threatens to destroy him and his family. The Drobin are searching for their lost kin and Drake volunteers to help them against the wishes and desires of his fellow villagers. And the great dragon Draglune and his dark minions have risen up, vying to destroy everything he loves.
Genesse has a firm grasp on the high fantasy concept. The Golden Cord is like Dragonlance, only in a new world, shared only in one imagination--his. Magic, fantastic creatures, and a hero's journey are major factors in this work (adventure fantasy if you will). One of the strong points is Genesse's style. It's not too overbearing, which can be a problem in fantasy, but balances action, dialogue, and description evenly. The world, while certainly very serious, does have a fun feel to it. It's a little like Tolkien, although, at this point, not quite at that epic scale. I call it fun fantasy, though that's probably not the proper term for it.
This is quite a fun book, to put it simply. The love story was really cute, which might have been what Genesse was hoping for. It felt realistic, as if these were really two people from a small village that actually loved one another. This, of course, does create some tension among the villagers, which proves rather beneficial to push the plot forward. Tension arises elsewhere, in another village, later on in the book, giving you an idea of just how complex the social relations really are in such small communities. While Genesse doesn't spend time going into all the intricacies of these relationships, he gives you just the right amount to make you understand that these villages follow a code and have rules that must be followed.
With a quick moving plot, just the right balance of magic, weird critters, and action, The Golden Cord is a great opening for a new fantasy series. I look forward to the next book. This is definitely a series to watch.

P.S.: The cover is gorgeous!

In most fantasy fiction, there is always a world to save from ultimate evil or doom. This holds true for the Golden Cord as well. What's different about this book is that it is filled with dread at every single step. Paul Genesse has created a world so treacherous at every turn that it makes Middle Earth look like Disneyland in comparison. Not only do dragons, griffins and wyverns (usually grouped as aevians in the book) pose a constant threat from above for the protagonists, but there are plenty of other enemies to deal with, some of which cannot be seen or harmed with weapons. The entire quest to save the world (of which this book is only the first part) takes on a sense of utter hopelessness from the beginning, since obstacles are plentiful, and the reader cannot expect safety for the heroes at any time in the story. In this way, the book succeeds brilliantly in putting the reader on edge. The author does borrow from well known fantasy concepts, but even then, they are turned around enough to make them interesting, e.g. magical healing having to do with the manipulation of time. For my own personal tastes, the book could have benefitted from a bit more comic relief in some places, but a harsh world such as this probably has little place for it. The story works quite well as it is, considering the setting and the characters feel like realistic products of their world to make the read feel honest and thoroughly enjoyable.

Okay, so I know I'm a bit late getting around to reading and posting a review for "The Golden Cord." But the good news is that rather than having to wait a year to read the second book in this solid YA fantasy adventure series, I'll be able to continue the story in just a couple months, when "The Dragon Hunters" goes on sale on May 15, 2009. Here's a bunch of reasons why I'll be reading the sequel:

1. Cool worldbuilding: Paul Genesse establishes a fantasy world that isn't just the setting for a quest, it is an actor in the adventures that take place. The mysteries of the void, the dangers from above, the need to seek constant shelter from the sky in the branches and roots of the cover trees, the dangers from thorns and fever ants, and the knowledge and use of wild animal cries to keep tabs on the dangers around all feed into the actions of the characters, back in the village and on the trail. While younger readers may be a bit impatient during the first few chapters while the complex and novel world is being established, they should persevere. The action starts up soon and keeps up at a thrilling pace just a few chapters in and there is significant payoff for the careful worldbuilding as the book progresses.

2. A good mix of action, angst, and romance. The Golden Cord has fine action sequences, like many a fantasy novel, but Paul Genesse takes the time to make the protagonist and his companions much more than hack and slashers. They have hopes, fears, doubts, secret motivations, and backstories that give the action gravitas. Plenty of swordplay and slaying for the action junkies, but also plenty of self-doubt and romance for those looking for a deeper story.

3. A hero who is responsible. So many stories glorify the independent rogue, who defies his parents and goes off to seek fame, fortune, and glory by doing daring things. In The Golden Cord, the hero is responsible, protective of his village and his family, willing to set aside his own desires and passions for the greater good, and not in the slightest self-righteous about doing so. This factor alone sets The Golden Cord above most sword and sorcery quests and makes it YA book that parents and libraries should be proud to have their charges read.

4. Nice touches of humor and warmth. Not only is the romantic interest a warm and loving one, but the relationships with friends and comrades and those lost along the way are poignant and true. The relationship between the protagonist and his guard dogs is especially telling and realistic--something that adventure novels rarely get right.

5. I want to see how the story progresses. Yeah, sure, the good guy almost always wins in the end. But there is enough tension and complexity in the relationships here, that it will not only be interesting to see how the triumph occurs, but how the triumph impacts life, love, family, and community.

I think Paul Genesse has a long, productive writing career ahead of him, starting with The Golden Cord.

What a great read!! Full of peril and danger at every turn, it was truly a page turner. I had a difficult time putting the book down. Paul Genesse has mastered the art of keeping the reader interested throughout the entire book. The world the book takes place in is only a small part of what must be a huge expanse that I truly look forward to exploring in the future. The background was detailed with a taste of more to come. Knowing that the story before me has details yet to be seen fills the imagination and leaves me hungering for more. The richness of description left me impressed. It is amazing what Paul can do with just a few words that would take me a page to impress upon a reader. I only wish this book had existed when I was younger. This rich and detailed adventure would have captured me earlier than other authors did. It is an appropriate read for any age. Great fun!! Very enjoyable!!

It has been some time since I last read a young adult high fantasy. Any high fantasy really. And I'm not just talking about a story involving dragons. Recently I've felt a lot of the high fantasy is too Tolkien-esque and I can figure out the end from the first paragraph. In Paul Genesse's THE GOLDEN CORD I was entranced by the story from the very beginning.

The main character, Drake, is presented with a situation that tests everything he believes in. I was really worried that he was going to make what I deemed to be the wrong choice but he came through in the end and from that moment I knew I would enjoy reading about this character. He's so human in his thoughts and emotions and there are times I just wanted to beat Drake over the head to get him to see the choice but he pulls through in some way or another. This book includes a couple of dwarfs. Since Tolkien's time this race has become predictable. My favorite character in the book is Bellor, the senior dwarf. Paul Genesse gives us what we expect but puts a whole new spin on it.

I am looking forward to reading the sequel. This book is geared towards young adult and while there is one scene where seduction is attempted it didn't bother me. First because nothing is described and second because the reasoning behind the final decision is something I agree with. I really enjoyed this book and it kept my attention to the very end. In fact I am glad the sequel is currently sitting on my shelf.

The Golden Cord was fantastic from the get go. The characters have tons of depth, the writing keeps you on the edge of your seat and I never wanted to put the book down. You see the relationships of the characters as they grow and the depth that brings to the writing. I am so excited the third book in this series is coming out this year, in fact I cannot wait.

The Golden Cord is an exciting read that pulls you through the pages. The writing hits the perfect tone for the story and develops in a believable stream. This fantasy is not just for hard core dragon fans; its for everyone who likes a strong story, excellent writing and a book that wraps you up and carries you away until the last page.

Do yourself a favor and check out this talented new author!

Length:: 3:41 Mins

A wonderful new fantasy from a different perspective in the fantasy world. Dwarfs!