Vetch was still alive because he was simply too stubborn to die. He refused to show any emotion to his master, Khefti-the-Fat, even when he was beaten and starved. As an Altan serf, Vetch had no rights among the conquerers, the Tians. He had watched the Tian army murder his father and then his whole family enslaved and separated. Vetch had little or no hope that his life would improve, but he felt that it was unfair that one of the famed Jousters, warriors who rode dragons, had to make his life a little more miserable. After hauling a heavy bucket of water for a long distance, the Jouster had taken the bucket and dumped the water over his head before Vetch could stop him. Of course, Khefti blamed Vetch for not watering the tala plants and started to beat him, as usual. But the Jouster was not a typical Tian and felt pity for Vetch. The Jouster, Ari, needed a dragon boy to tend to his dragon, Kashet. And so Vetch's whole life was changed in an instant as he was taken to the dragon compound and taught how to tend to the great dragons of the Tian army. Vetch found, to his surprise, that he liked the dragons and the dragons seemed to respond to his care. If Vetch had to be a serf, this was the best place to be, but Vetch still dreamed of freedom and hatched a daring plan to escape from his captors...
I simply loved this book. Vetch was such an engaging and wonderful character that I was really rooting for him the whole time. The secondary characters were also wonderful and I suffered along with Ari as he tried to reconcile his honor with his orders, the great overseer Haraket, the falconer Baken and so many others. I thought that the world this book was set in was quite fascinating and was reminiscent of ancient Babylonia and Egypt. The dragons were different than other dragons in that they were definitely animals and incapable of thinking for themselves, but they could learn some affection for their masters if shown kindness and love. My only complaint with the book is that it was not edited very well and there are quite a few grammatical errors, nothing that detracts from the story, but the editor did not do a good job. Still, I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series to see what happened to all of these new friends I have found!
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Customers say
Customers find this book an enjoyable read with a clear storyline and well-developed characters, particularly appreciating the complex character of Vetch and the dragons throughout the series. Moreover, the world-building receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its imaginative re-invention of ancient Egyptian culture, while others praise the vivid descriptions and realistic portrayal.
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31 customers mention enjoyment, 31 positive, 0 negative
27 customers mention story quality, 26 positive, 1 negative
I thought it was a good story, but didn’t appreciate how often the author repeated obvious things and told rather than showed the reader the story....Read more
I really enjoyed this story. The characters and cultures were believable. The tale was well thought out start to finish....Read more
Enjoyed the story, kept my attention, liked the characters, moved along at a good pace. Will read the next book in the series.Read more
...of Egyptian dragons, had that been a real time... still, a satisfying ending.Read more
24 customers mention character development, 24 positive, 0 negative
...A main character beaten but not broken, a not-so-perfect savior, dragons, and a world familiar enough to be believable....Read more
...If you like fantasy books and love dragons, this is the book for you. You will definitely want to get the rest of the series!Read more
...But maybe.... The characters are interesting and their development makes for a very good story. I have read almost all of Ms. Lackey's...Read more
...I can not wait for the next two. The characters are so well developed that you care about them immediately. This book is well worth your time....Read more
10 customers mention world building, 10 positive, 0 negative
...Vetch and Ari are wonderful characters and the world building is excellent....Read more
...In short, another complex, well imagined world that is a pleasure to readRead more
As per the usual, Mercedes Lackey does an amazing job of creating a unique world that really pulls readers in....Read more
...I enjoy her style and the way she creates other world's and populates them with all kinds of people ,animal's, environs. Have read most of her series.Read more
8 customers mention detail, 7 positive, 1 negative
...& the story stays in my mind far easier than other writers, with vivid descriptions great pacing & emotional connectionsRead more
...Wonderful descriptions and memorable characters.Read more
The author paints her world with slow, vivid detail. The descriptions, architecture, landscapes are exact and as realistic as could be described....Read more
...Highly believable with great characters and fabulous description. Can't wait to get to book 2Read more
5 customers mention believable characters, 5 positive, 0 negative
...Highly believable with great characters and fabulous description. Can't wait to get to book 2Read more
...just enough real historic fact of Pharonic history to make this very realistic, while retaining the fantasy with the dragons....Read more
...The dragons were believable and I loved the everyday life in caring for them....Read more
I have all the Dragon Jousters books. They make dragons seem almost real. Another bunch of goodies from Mercedes Lackey!Read more
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- Denise MacPhersonReviewed in Canada on January 1, 2018
Sensational read, with superb character development.
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - javelinxReviewed in Germany on March 23, 2004
Wonderful story
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nicoletta santiReviewed in Italy on May 30, 2014
Joust
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase - Jennifer IresonReviewed in Canada on August 29, 2019
My favorite Author.
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