Title: Eon Dragoneye Reborn
Author: Alison Goodman
Publisher: Viking (Penguin Group)
Publish Date: December 2008
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is the first half of a new fantasy duology about a young Dragoneye candidate who is not only a cripple and thus an outcast, but is also harboring a much more dangerous secret – and keeping that secret is getting harder and even more important as we follow Eon through the twists of this tale. The gorgeous cover is a tantalizing taste of the story within.
Terrific world building takes the reader through this new fantasy world with its strong ties to the cultures of the East. Goodman’s characters are real people, full of fears, hopes, dreams, love and hate. Imperial politics, rigid social strictures and a culture based on privilege and ancestry is the skeleton the skin of this story hangs on. Dragoneyes are the lucky twelve chosen to be the human link to the dragons of magic or Hua that are represented in the twelve year cycle of power beginning with Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each year, the ascendant dragon chooses a new apprentice to be trained in this magic. The magic of the dragons is a power used to keep monsoons at bay, minimize earthshakes and keep the well being of the Empire. It is forbidden to use this power martially, but some factions at court may be on the verge of doing just that to wrest control of the Empire from the reigning Imperial Majesty whose hopes lie in Eon’s small hands. Eon is to be one of the twelve to go before the Rat dragon.
This is Eon’s one chance to prove worth and change fortunes. Constant training has all led up to this one, all important ceremony. Can the crippled candidate even have a chance at catching the interest of the Rat dragon? With few friends and a couple of allies harboring secrets of their own, Eon must break the rules and win the magic needed without betraying their trust.
Dragoneye Reborn was compelling; complex and full of lively and interesting characters, I was reluctant to put it down. Eon is very brave and intelligent but is still beset by doubts and fears that are very real. The inner turmoil of the main characters caused by and reflecting back at the political upheaval in the court keeps the reader guessing. This colorful and action packed book is full of fascinating characters that shine out of a well-realized world where we learn bits and pieces of the history of each subject without a feeling of information overload. Full of magic, sword fighting, backstabbing, political scheming and rebellion – I’d recommend this book to both young readers and those still young at heart. This is a story that transcends the young age of its protagonist and will capture the interest of fantasy lovers of all ages.
