24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Paradise Island meets Red Sonja, December 1, 2003
This review is from: Mistress of Dragons (Hardcover)
Have you ever read a book you just wanted to finish to find out what happened, but weren't particularly interested in the characters? That's how I felt about Mistress of Dragons.
The plot was a sort of hackneyed: wonder-woman-meets-sleeping beauty, complete with lesbian amazons, a clueless prince, and an all-knowing dragon. The baddy is of the `I'm so eeevil variety.' My main problem with this book is it felt like a prequel, and the characters were not very likeable. The author writes the story with several well-developed relationships already in place. Yawn. I scarcely cared weather Melisande would be true to Belona, or whether the king would prove adulterous. There was not an iota of romantic suspense, (Which I sort of dig in these type of novels), and the ending was depressing and screams: Read the sequel!
Overall, I think this novel would work more for me, if the relationships between the main characters were new and we could experience them unfold with the characters, rather than so deeply entrenched. To surmount this, the author tries to tease us with a potential relationship between two main characters but this was so forced the outcome was easily predictable from the start. Feh.
This book left me feeling dismayed rather than entertained. Perhaps the sequel will be better...But, I'll wait until paperback.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Humans Are Revolting, May 23, 2004
This review is from: Mistress of Dragons (Hardcover)
Mistress of Dragons is the first novel in the The Dragonvarld series. Long ago, the world was ruled by the dragons. They were greedy, capricious and deadly, especially the younger ones. Then mankind appeared in the world and the dragons saw them as another prey. In fact, they savored the taste of human flesh.
But the Dragon Wars had exhausted the dragons and despoiled their world. The twelve dragon families formed a parliament to govern their own behavior and eventually the parliament outlawed predation on humans and proscribed any interference whatsoever in their affairs without prior parliamentary approval. Moreover, they limited contact with the humans to one dragon, Draconas, who wore human form.
The kingdom of Seth was isolated from the rest of Dragonvarld by high mountains. Three centuries in the past, a dragon had entered the kingdom and devoured both animals and humans. The kingdom was saved by the magic of the Mistress of Dragons, who asked only that the kingdom construct and maintain a monastery to provide a vigilant watch for intruding dragons.
In this novel, High Priestess Melisande of the Temple of the Watchful Eye performs her daily scan for intruders and discovers a dragon approaching the monastery. After alerting the garrison, she reports to the current Mistress of Dragons and is told to continue to observe the beast. She warns off the dragon and he claims that he only wants to talk to her mistress, but Melisande does not believe him. As he draws close, the Mistress releases the collective powers of the priestesses and the warriors attack with spear and arrow, thus driving away the beast with various wounds.
When the dragon Braun reports his reception to the Dragon Parliament, they consider once again taking action against Maristara, the dragon who rules Seth through the hierarchy of the Temple. And once again, nothing is decided. However, Draconas himself devises a plan and implements it with the aid of Braun.
In this story, Draconas begins to suspect that someone in parliament (or close to it) is aiding Maristara and keeping her informed of parliamentary actions. He starts to keep his plans secret from all except Braun and Anora, the Prime Minister. He subsequently encounters the conspirator in human form, but is not able to determine his true identity.
This story shows Draconas learning for himself that plans seldom survive contact with the enemy. Time after time he finds himself struggling to respond to the unexpected actions of his opponents (and his allies). This segment ends with him taking desperate action to save a few parts of his plan from total failure. It is time for a new and better plan.
The story is action packed and abounds with surprises and plot twists. However, the characterization is a little wooden. Moreover, the good guys seem to be hopelessly naive, but probably that conclusion just reflects my frustration with their foolish actions. The sequel may show a little more savvy from Draconas and Anora.
Recommended for Weis fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of slow reacting and very conservative dragons trying to respond to the fast moving pace of human society, with a few dragon traitors pulling the strings of the humans.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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20 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
soaring sword and sorcery fantasy, May 16, 2003
This review is from: Mistress of Dragons (Hardcover)
Dragons rule much of the world though they do so secretly with human props serving as monarchs and much of the enslaved race unaware of their existence. Perhaps the only exception is the isolated mountainous matriarchal nation of Seth where the Mistress of Dragons rules. The current Mistress is near death and her chosen replacement Melisande waits her turn to rule the nation and keep its people safe from dragons, last spotted two decades ago. Melisande will do her duty, but prefers her current lifestyle in the amazonian monastery living with her lover.
However, King Edward of Idlswylde turns to Draconas for help with a dragon causing death and destruction. Draconas advises the monarch that his only hope reside among the amazons in Seth and he will personally go there. However, Draconas, a dragon in human garb, has his own agenda using Edward as a pawn so he can complete his mission as a member of the ruling Parliament of Dragons to find the law breaking renegade. When Melisande and Draconas meet, the world will never be the same.
MISTRESS OF DRAGONS is an exciting opening tale that demonstrates Margaret Weis' abilities to make a world governed mostly by dragons seem real. The story line is fast-paced, loaded with action, and filled with strong charcaters of both genders. Several twists add to the fun of a soaring sword and sorcery fantasy.
Harriet Klausner
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