Dragonfall
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Description
The bestselling first book in the Dragon Scales duology, in which long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm.
Dragonfall is a slowburn, lush and inventive romance between a thief and the last male dragon in human form. Drawn together by an ancient artifact, they soon face a power that could break the world
Recommended by USA Today for readers of dragon-filled fantasy and Fourth Wing
"In Dragonfall, Lam has forged a fresh and intricate world, a smoldering romance, and a fire-new take on dragons." —Samantha Shannon, New York Times-bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
"What you will find here may be exactly what you love in fantasy: Dragonfall is an intriguing blend of magic, a thief, trickery, and an unexpected dragon." —Robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Fool’s Assassin
"Dragonfall is a romance fantasy like you've never read before. A queer-norm world with new ways of telling tales, L. R. Lam is breaking boundaries and binaries yet again with a brilliant fantasy book that you won't want to miss." —Hannah Kaner, #1 Sunday Times-bestselling author of Godkiller
Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the "gods" remember, and they do not forgive.
Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge.
The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completely--body, mind, and soul—and then kill them.
Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.
Book Information
Posts
Puh, was ein Ritt. Ich habe mich ehrlich gesagt ziemlich auf dieses Buch gefreut – queer und Drachen? Count me in, friends ... well, ist nach hinten losgegangen :’D Die Grundidee der Geschichte (Drachen wurden in andere „Dimension“ verband und von Menschen verraten und wollen nun wieder in unsere Welt zurück. Everen, männlicher Drache, soll eben dies möglich machen, kommt durch Magie in unsere Welt und muss ein Band mit einem Menschen eingehen und dessen Vertrauen gewinnen. Und und und.) Klang gut und hat Potenzial. Potenzial wurde – für mich – leider nicht genutzt. Erst einmal bin ich nicht mit den Charakteren warmgeworden. Unsere Hauptcharaktere, Everen und Arcady, sind für mich eindimensional geblieben. Sie haben beide eine spannende Vergangenheit und bringen viele Dinge mit, die sie zu wirklich coolen Charakteren werden lassen können, aber wie sie sich verhalten und auch wie sie miteinander umgehen, war für mich einfach ... extrem langweilig und oft auch nicht nachvollziehbar. Ausschlaggebende Emotionen und Entwicklungen haben sich mir einfach nicht erschlossen. Ich konnte auch die Anziehung zwischen Arcady und Everen nicht nachvollziehen – vor allem nicht, wann sich die emotionale Anziehung entwickelt hat und wie das überhaupt passiert ist. Es wird extrem viel Zeit mit Umgebungsbeschreibung verbracht und viele Situationen werden sachlich und kühl behandelt. Generell ist die Zeit, die Arcady und Everen miteinander verbringen extrem gerafft, wodurch wir viel nicht mitbekommen und Situationen einfach abgeschnitten werden, damit man woanders weitermachen kann. Irgendwie wundert es mich nicht, dass ich keine Bindung aufbauen konnte. Was aber der größte Knackpunkt für mich war, war der Erzählstil an sich. Everen und Arcady erzählen die Geschichte aus der Ich-Perspekte. (schön und gut) Andere Charaktere, Cassia, Magnes und Sorin, werden aber in der dritten Person geschrieben und ich verstehe einfach nicht, was das soll. Meiner Meinung nach kann es schon ein gutes Stilmittel sein, wenn man bestimmte Stellen hat, die aus einer anderen Perspektive geschrieben sind, aber das muss halt gut gemacht sein. Hier hat es mich immer rausgerissen und ich muss sagen, ich mochte die Perspektiven von Cassia, Magnes und Sorin auch viel lieber. Es hat sich so angefühlt, als wäre Lam im Schreiben dieser Perspektive sicherer. Generell gab es viele Wortwiederholungen, manchmal hat es sich gelesen wie eine Gebrauchsanleitung (von den Emotionen her) und es war einfach nicht spannend. Vor allem Gespräche (wie über Gender und gendern und auch über Arcady’s Vergangenheit) haben auf mich unglaublich gestellt und unnatürlich gewirkt. Es war oft so ein „Hä, wo kommt das jetzt her? Wo kommen der Raum und die Emotionen und das Vertrauen dafür jetzt her?“. Es fühlt sich so an, als hätte man extrem viel und auch wichtiges unterbringen wollen, aber nicht gewusst wie. Generell ist das Pacing viel zu schnell und als Leser*in kommt man einfach nicht mit und versteht zum Teil gar nicht, warum bestimmte Dinge gerade passieren. Die Charaktere handeln unlogisch (vor allem Arcady und Everen) und wenn es dann mal emotional wird, erzählt dir z.B. Arcady ganz nüchtern im Kopf, dass sie wussten, dass sie das nicht tun sollten, aber das erst später verstehen würden. Ich weiß, dass das Buch als eine Art „Bericht / Geschichte“ von jemand anderem in dieser Welt verfasst wurde, aber for real, das rechtfertigt das trotzdem nicht. Die Drachen waren ... ehm ... naja ... lassen wir das. Ich bin einfach echt enttäuscht und werde wahrscheinlich nicht weiterlesen ...
An interesting spin on dragon fantasy.
I have to admit that I bought the book not knowing it was about a dragon dating a human thief (the signs were obvious tho) and went into the story with some scepticism. However, I really enjoyed the world building and the bond between Arcady and Everen. It was a bit tough to get into the world and its magic system but I did get it eventually. Against everything I expected I really liked the romance. It felt refreshing and more emotional than most other romantasy books nowadays. Furthermore, I liked the idea of the dragons being banished and being seen as gods. I also did not expect the plottwist at the end and am eager to read the second novel. Even though Everen was my favorite character, I took some issue with how his perspective was written and the "you" threw me off at times. It was nothing that bothered me too much tho. I just loved how he was annoyed by so many manmade things and the author really convinced me that he was in fact a dragon and not just a human with scales. However, whilst I liked the idea of how gender is handled in the world, the dialogue regarding it sometimes felt forced into the story. In addition I did not warm up to Sorin and if it weren't for her always saying that she's an assassin, I would not believe it because she is terrible at her job. But she has a cute Wyvern so I forgive her. Overall I liked the story and worldbuilding and hope that the author improves a bit in their writing in Emberclaw.
Of dragons, prophecies, betrayal and a bond spanning worlds.
The story starts out as high fantasy at its best, showing us the plot through the eyes of a dragon. Not any ol' dragon of course. With this comes a lot of exposition dump, but I didn't mind this at all. On the contrary, I enjoyed the rich worldbuilding and felt like having something unique in my hands. As the plot moves on, the story changes, at times becoming a mini heist, at times a story of betrayal, then again a training montage for thievery. So the middle part of this book took me out of the story many times, in my opinion not really knowing for a big part what kind of story it wants to tell. For me the book is at its best when it stays with Everen and Arcady, as they explore (and often times loathe) their bond. I would have been completely happy to see the world solely through their eyes. However, there are two more POVs in this book, and even though the chapters drive the plot forward, I couldn't seem to care about them, sadly. The book is very enjoyable and I love the two main protagonists as well as the cliffhanger / game changer at the end. Overall it left me slightly disappointed. 3,5/5 stars
Of dragons, prophecies, betrayal and a bond spanning worlds
The story starts out as high fantasy at its best, showing us the plot through the eyes of a dragon. Not any ol' dragon of course. With this comes a lot of exposition dump, but I didn't mind this at all. On the contrary, I enjoyed the rich worldbuilding and felt like having something unique in my hands. As the plot moves on, the story changes, at times becoming a mini heist, at times a story of betrayal, then again a training montage for thievery. So the middle part of this book took me out of the story many times, in my opinion not really knowing for a big part what kind of story it wants to tell. For me the book is at its best when it stays with Everen and Arcady, as they explore (and often times loathe) their bond. I would have been completed happy to see the world solely through their eyes. However, there are two more POVs in this book, and even know the chapters drive the plot forward, I couldn't seem to care about them sadly. The book is very enjoyable and I love the two main protagonists as well as the cliffhanger / game changexr at the end. Overall it left me slightly disappointed. 3,5/5 stars Thank you Netgalley and DAW for the eARC
While I did like the idea, the writing style and the chemistry between our two MCs, I still found this book lacking. For one, in my opinion, fewer POVs would’ve worked better. Just Arcady and Everen would’ve been enough. Another thing I wasn’t fond of was the worldbuilding. While I had a pretty good picture of the characters, I couldn’t imagine the world they lived in. The magic system, the „Strikes“ and some other things were poorly explained as well. All in all, an interesting read that would’ve profited from better worldbuilding.
Description
The bestselling first book in the Dragon Scales duology, in which long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm.
Dragonfall is a slowburn, lush and inventive romance between a thief and the last male dragon in human form. Drawn together by an ancient artifact, they soon face a power that could break the world
Recommended by USA Today for readers of dragon-filled fantasy and Fourth Wing
"In Dragonfall, Lam has forged a fresh and intricate world, a smoldering romance, and a fire-new take on dragons." —Samantha Shannon, New York Times-bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
"What you will find here may be exactly what you love in fantasy: Dragonfall is an intriguing blend of magic, a thief, trickery, and an unexpected dragon." —Robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Fool’s Assassin
"Dragonfall is a romance fantasy like you've never read before. A queer-norm world with new ways of telling tales, L. R. Lam is breaking boundaries and binaries yet again with a brilliant fantasy book that you won't want to miss." —Hannah Kaner, #1 Sunday Times-bestselling author of Godkiller
Long ago, humans betrayed dragons, stealing their magic and banishing them to a dying world. Centuries later, their descendants worship dragons as gods. But the "gods" remember, and they do not forgive.
Thief Arcady scrapes a living on the streets of Vatra. Desperate, Arcady steals a powerful artifact from the bones of the Plaguebringer, the most hated person in Lumet history. Only Arcady knows the artifact's magic holds the key to a new life among the nobles at court and a chance for revenge.
The spell connects to Everen, the last male dragon foretold to save his kind, dragging him through the Veil. Disguised as a human, Everen soon learns that to regain his true power and form and fulfil his destiny, he only needs to convince one little thief to trust him enough to bond completely--body, mind, and soul—and then kill them.
Yet the closer the two become, the greater the risk both their worlds will shatter.
Book Information
Posts
Puh, was ein Ritt. Ich habe mich ehrlich gesagt ziemlich auf dieses Buch gefreut – queer und Drachen? Count me in, friends ... well, ist nach hinten losgegangen :’D Die Grundidee der Geschichte (Drachen wurden in andere „Dimension“ verband und von Menschen verraten und wollen nun wieder in unsere Welt zurück. Everen, männlicher Drache, soll eben dies möglich machen, kommt durch Magie in unsere Welt und muss ein Band mit einem Menschen eingehen und dessen Vertrauen gewinnen. Und und und.) Klang gut und hat Potenzial. Potenzial wurde – für mich – leider nicht genutzt. Erst einmal bin ich nicht mit den Charakteren warmgeworden. Unsere Hauptcharaktere, Everen und Arcady, sind für mich eindimensional geblieben. Sie haben beide eine spannende Vergangenheit und bringen viele Dinge mit, die sie zu wirklich coolen Charakteren werden lassen können, aber wie sie sich verhalten und auch wie sie miteinander umgehen, war für mich einfach ... extrem langweilig und oft auch nicht nachvollziehbar. Ausschlaggebende Emotionen und Entwicklungen haben sich mir einfach nicht erschlossen. Ich konnte auch die Anziehung zwischen Arcady und Everen nicht nachvollziehen – vor allem nicht, wann sich die emotionale Anziehung entwickelt hat und wie das überhaupt passiert ist. Es wird extrem viel Zeit mit Umgebungsbeschreibung verbracht und viele Situationen werden sachlich und kühl behandelt. Generell ist die Zeit, die Arcady und Everen miteinander verbringen extrem gerafft, wodurch wir viel nicht mitbekommen und Situationen einfach abgeschnitten werden, damit man woanders weitermachen kann. Irgendwie wundert es mich nicht, dass ich keine Bindung aufbauen konnte. Was aber der größte Knackpunkt für mich war, war der Erzählstil an sich. Everen und Arcady erzählen die Geschichte aus der Ich-Perspekte. (schön und gut) Andere Charaktere, Cassia, Magnes und Sorin, werden aber in der dritten Person geschrieben und ich verstehe einfach nicht, was das soll. Meiner Meinung nach kann es schon ein gutes Stilmittel sein, wenn man bestimmte Stellen hat, die aus einer anderen Perspektive geschrieben sind, aber das muss halt gut gemacht sein. Hier hat es mich immer rausgerissen und ich muss sagen, ich mochte die Perspektiven von Cassia, Magnes und Sorin auch viel lieber. Es hat sich so angefühlt, als wäre Lam im Schreiben dieser Perspektive sicherer. Generell gab es viele Wortwiederholungen, manchmal hat es sich gelesen wie eine Gebrauchsanleitung (von den Emotionen her) und es war einfach nicht spannend. Vor allem Gespräche (wie über Gender und gendern und auch über Arcady’s Vergangenheit) haben auf mich unglaublich gestellt und unnatürlich gewirkt. Es war oft so ein „Hä, wo kommt das jetzt her? Wo kommen der Raum und die Emotionen und das Vertrauen dafür jetzt her?“. Es fühlt sich so an, als hätte man extrem viel und auch wichtiges unterbringen wollen, aber nicht gewusst wie. Generell ist das Pacing viel zu schnell und als Leser*in kommt man einfach nicht mit und versteht zum Teil gar nicht, warum bestimmte Dinge gerade passieren. Die Charaktere handeln unlogisch (vor allem Arcady und Everen) und wenn es dann mal emotional wird, erzählt dir z.B. Arcady ganz nüchtern im Kopf, dass sie wussten, dass sie das nicht tun sollten, aber das erst später verstehen würden. Ich weiß, dass das Buch als eine Art „Bericht / Geschichte“ von jemand anderem in dieser Welt verfasst wurde, aber for real, das rechtfertigt das trotzdem nicht. Die Drachen waren ... ehm ... naja ... lassen wir das. Ich bin einfach echt enttäuscht und werde wahrscheinlich nicht weiterlesen ...
An interesting spin on dragon fantasy.
I have to admit that I bought the book not knowing it was about a dragon dating a human thief (the signs were obvious tho) and went into the story with some scepticism. However, I really enjoyed the world building and the bond between Arcady and Everen. It was a bit tough to get into the world and its magic system but I did get it eventually. Against everything I expected I really liked the romance. It felt refreshing and more emotional than most other romantasy books nowadays. Furthermore, I liked the idea of the dragons being banished and being seen as gods. I also did not expect the plottwist at the end and am eager to read the second novel. Even though Everen was my favorite character, I took some issue with how his perspective was written and the "you" threw me off at times. It was nothing that bothered me too much tho. I just loved how he was annoyed by so many manmade things and the author really convinced me that he was in fact a dragon and not just a human with scales. However, whilst I liked the idea of how gender is handled in the world, the dialogue regarding it sometimes felt forced into the story. In addition I did not warm up to Sorin and if it weren't for her always saying that she's an assassin, I would not believe it because she is terrible at her job. But she has a cute Wyvern so I forgive her. Overall I liked the story and worldbuilding and hope that the author improves a bit in their writing in Emberclaw.
Of dragons, prophecies, betrayal and a bond spanning worlds.
The story starts out as high fantasy at its best, showing us the plot through the eyes of a dragon. Not any ol' dragon of course. With this comes a lot of exposition dump, but I didn't mind this at all. On the contrary, I enjoyed the rich worldbuilding and felt like having something unique in my hands. As the plot moves on, the story changes, at times becoming a mini heist, at times a story of betrayal, then again a training montage for thievery. So the middle part of this book took me out of the story many times, in my opinion not really knowing for a big part what kind of story it wants to tell. For me the book is at its best when it stays with Everen and Arcady, as they explore (and often times loathe) their bond. I would have been completely happy to see the world solely through their eyes. However, there are two more POVs in this book, and even though the chapters drive the plot forward, I couldn't seem to care about them, sadly. The book is very enjoyable and I love the two main protagonists as well as the cliffhanger / game changer at the end. Overall it left me slightly disappointed. 3,5/5 stars
Of dragons, prophecies, betrayal and a bond spanning worlds
The story starts out as high fantasy at its best, showing us the plot through the eyes of a dragon. Not any ol' dragon of course. With this comes a lot of exposition dump, but I didn't mind this at all. On the contrary, I enjoyed the rich worldbuilding and felt like having something unique in my hands. As the plot moves on, the story changes, at times becoming a mini heist, at times a story of betrayal, then again a training montage for thievery. So the middle part of this book took me out of the story many times, in my opinion not really knowing for a big part what kind of story it wants to tell. For me the book is at its best when it stays with Everen and Arcady, as they explore (and often times loathe) their bond. I would have been completed happy to see the world solely through their eyes. However, there are two more POVs in this book, and even know the chapters drive the plot forward, I couldn't seem to care about them sadly. The book is very enjoyable and I love the two main protagonists as well as the cliffhanger / game changexr at the end. Overall it left me slightly disappointed. 3,5/5 stars Thank you Netgalley and DAW for the eARC
While I did like the idea, the writing style and the chemistry between our two MCs, I still found this book lacking. For one, in my opinion, fewer POVs would’ve worked better. Just Arcady and Everen would’ve been enough. Another thing I wasn’t fond of was the worldbuilding. While I had a pretty good picture of the characters, I couldn’t imagine the world they lived in. The magic system, the „Strikes“ and some other things were poorly explained as well. All in all, an interesting read that would’ve profited from better worldbuilding.