I originally picked this book up because of the cover. Let’s face it - when you’re a fantasy fan like me, it’s hard to resist a pretty dragon picture! It’s a staple in the genre. I was pleased, however, to read a completely different take on the subject. Dragons have been used so many times in fantasy, it’s practically a cliché. If you want your story to immediately have a fantastical feel to it, just add some dragons up in the sky, and voila. It’s suddenly a fantasy! But always before, dragons were powerful, mysterious creatures. They were either indifferent to humans or formed some sort of magical link to one human, but other than that, they were aloof. Independent. Proud.
The dragons in this story are very different. For starters, there were some very serious problems when they hatched. Many of the dragons died early and the ones who survived were small, deformed, and not strong enough to fly. Instead of being a mystery to humans, they were completely dependent on humans for their very basic survival - not what I’m used to reading. Some of the dragons are dimwitted as well, but others are very bitter and resentful of their station in life. They have built in memories from their ancestors that tell them that life is not supposed to be like this and they hate it with a passion.
Enter our two main human characters: Thymara and Alise. When the people of the Rain Wilds River, who have been supporting the dragons, decide that they can no longer do so, these two women are part of the group that helps the dragons on their journey to an abandoned city upriver where they believe the dragons will be better off. Or at least, out of their way. The two women couldn’t be more different. Thymara is one of the Rain Wilds people, but she is also an outcast, born with a strange affliction that gives her very reptilian features. Many of the other people in the group are similarly afflicted. Because of this, they were suggested as “volunteers” to help the dragons on their way. Thymara, worried that she is a burden on her family, agrees to go, against her father’s wishes.
Alise is by far my favorite character in the book. She is from a larger city down river and has been fascinated with dragons ever since she was a child. For years, she has studied every book she could find on them. A plain girl, she never expected to get married, but the opportunity presented itself when a young wealthy Trader agreed to a marriage of convenience. He wanted to get his parents off his back about settling down and, in return, he offers to fund Alise’s studies. Of course, Alise wishes for more affection from her husband, but when her homelife becomes unbearable, she decides to take a trip upriver to see the dragons in person. For the first time on this trip, she feels free. Away from her parents, away from her husband, she gets to grow as her own person. I think that’s what makes her so appealing - she has the most development over the course of the story. She changes from being shy and meek to being strong and independent.
I definitely recommend this book. It’s a very interesting world filled with complex characters and one dragon in particular who is lovable despite having a huge chip on her shoulder.
No comments:
Post a Comment