Aerie (The Dragon Jousters, Book 4) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: dragon pens, dragon boys, baby dragons, Great King, Lord Kiron, Chosen of Seft (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

It's fun to see a different spin on dragons...and as usual Lackey makes it all compelling. -- Locus

Product Description

Kiron has secretly gathered an army of dragon riders to seek refuge in the abandoned desert city they have named Sanctuary, where they join with other dragon riders to rid their world of both war and magical domination. But now it is time to build a new society in Aerie: an ancient city that seems to have been designed for dragon riders and their dragons.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075640391X
• ISBN-13: 978-0756403911
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,416 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Dragon Jousters Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Death of the DragonJousters...., October 30, 2006

By	frfubar8 "joe reader" (USA) - See all my reviews

The 4th in Mercedes Lackey's 'Dragon Jouster' series, Aerie reads less like a fantasy novel and more like an exploration of dysfunctional families/relationships. I spent most of the book wondering where the author was trying to go with the story and also if she might be purging some anger at a relative or two.

Without giving away too much the book meanders back and forth between the angst of young lovers, the unrealistic demands of family and only at the very last minute is a pat conclusion conjured almost out of thin air. I would have been satisfied with a three book series (even though 'Sanctuary' was disappointing as well) rather than have the fourth book end it on such a lackluster note.

If you haven't read any of this series then by all means pick up 'Joust' and 'Alta', the first two books. They are fresh, original and very good reads. I recommend them highly....just don't go any further.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ending the series with a whimper, February 3, 2007

By	A. Roads "SCIgirl" (Las Cruces, NM United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It took several pages before I could get interested in this book, but once I did I was pleasantly surprised ... for about half the book. The characters of Kiron and Aket-ten were showing greater complexity than they had in the past books, and I enjoyed the misunderstandings in their relationship, as well as the developing mystery that drove the plot. Then - POOF! - the real, understandable reasons for their disagreements were swept aside, the mystery was cleared up, and deus ex machina descended to solve all the problems for the Tians and Altans. It was such a disappointing ending to the series. I've been loyally reading all of Mercedes Lackey's books for the past twelve years, and I can't help feeling a little betrayed by the decline in quality.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting fantasy, October 4, 2006

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Kiron once known as the serf named Vetch was a captured peasant in the land of Tia, which was at war for years with his native Alta. He was Ari's dragon boy and stole a dragon's egg, caring for it until it hatched and then when it was grown enough he flew it to Alta where he taught the dragon riders how to bind their dragons to them with love not drugs. The Magi, an evil group of priests, were responsible for the war and the deaths that ensued in their quest to become the rulers of both lands. Kiron placed a significant role in defeating them.

The dragons and their Jousters, the king and queen of Alta and Tia, and some others fled their destroyed land and moved into the city of Sanctuary, located in the desert. In time more and more people showed up so they the Jousters and their dragons were forced to move to the stone caved up of Aerie. Lord Kiron is the de facto ruler of the Jousters and he realizes that with the war at an end and the two kingdoms about to become one the Jousters will act more like a police force than an army. However, in a border town all the inhabitants disappear and through the use of magic it is discovered that an old and ancient enemy is preparing to war against the two lands. Only the gods can stop them if they choose to interfere with the Jousters taking up a vanguard position against the Nameless Ones.

This is the fourth and probably the last book of the Dragon Jousters and readers have seen how Kiron has changed and grown into his power through the strength of his personality and his great leadership abilities. This is an exciting saga that shows prejudice can be overcome when former enemies work together for the common good. Mercedes Lackey has a unique voice and an ability to write tales that readers want to read.

Harriet Klausner