The world of the Dragon is indeed alive with Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman.
Eon, a young boy of unknown origin possessing the special ability to see all eleven energy dragons, is tasked by his master to become the next Dragoneye apprentice. It is the year of the Rat, and everyone wants to know who the Rat Dragon will choose as his new apprentice. Despite being lame, Eon has accepted the arduous task of Dragoneye training, involving a combination of rigorous sword-work and tests of mental stamina that will give one the power to control an energy dragon. Everyone around Eon looks down on him, from servants in his masters court to members of the elite Dragoneye council. How can someone with a disability ever hope to wield the energy powers of the Dragon?
At first glance this story may sound like the typical faceless boy-in-the-crowd who would become king fantasy novel. But, Goodman has penned something that is anything but typical fantasy. Eon holds a secret that could cost him and his master their lives. Eon is really Eona, a sixteen-year old girl. And, women have no place in the world of the Dragoneye.
The story is more than just your run-of-the-mill kingdom power struggle too. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is filled with several subplots that have been smartly interwoven into this unique story. What you end up with is an intense fantasy novel filled with endearing characters that will immediately capture your heart. Goodman delivers a seamless blend of childhood fantasy abundant in adult themes and nontraditional character types. Alison draws on the rich spirit of Chinese culture to create a world that is filled with wonder, yet still abundantly real.
The book is not with out its predictability factor; although there is the hint of suspense at times, most of the surprises are telegraphed. Nonetheless, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn remains a poignant story that is engaging with vivid imagery that will find a place in the heart of any reader.
Buy Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Release Date: December 26, 2008
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Is Eon: Dragoneye Reborn a good book? I would say yes, after reading it in one sitting. It’s engaging, tightly woven, and most of all, realistic. This world doesn’t follow the Tolkien model, and in my opinion, benefits from the deviation.
The Asian influences are apparent, textured, and add a vibrancy and flavor to a world that is delicately expressed. For fans of world-building, Goodman provides a quantity of it that is not typically seen in YA books, and it marks a welcome change.
Regarding the characters, they are well thought out and rounded. There is a flatness to the antagonists, but that’s the standard. Hopefully, in the sequel Goodman will flesh out Eon’s enemies more fully and detail their reasoning/delve into their characters. There certainly was potential for it towards the end of the novel, which was a welcome change.
The downfall of the book which keeps it from being a GREAT book however, is that for many readers, I suspect that the surprises and revelations will not really be that enlightening. While part of the charm of Eon lies in its slow build, the tension in the plot suffers as most of the characters’ epiphanies can be surmised long before Goodman introduces them. While younger readers may be roped into the suspense by their naivety, older readers certainly will have a few moments of frustrated skimming as they wait for the revelation to occur so the action can begin.
Other than that, this is a book I would highly recommend to all avid fantasy readers, but especially for girls who are looking for something new to pursue after books like Tamora Pierce’s The Song of the Lioness Quartet. Eona is no Alanna, but she has a fire all of her own and stands for the old “girl power” that is sadly not realized enough in YA books (though that trend seems to be changing rapidly in recent years). Female readers will be rooting along for Eona to embrace her femininity and the power that comes attached - a power equal to any man’s. I certainly was.
This is a book that you definitely will want to have the sequel on hand for to read after you finish with the first.
I’m looking for a good new fantasy novel. I really am an old fan of Dungeons and Dragons and loved all the novels in that series and the DragonLance series.
I was not a fan of paolini’s Eldest series. I thought all the talk was just talk. Only because he was in high school or something when he first wrote the first book is why he got such acclaim.
“Wow, a teenager wrote a fantasy novel. This is great” instead of “this is great fantasy.”
I want fantasy to not be cliche. Especially if they’re going to go into the dragon genre of fantasy.
AThis series sounds real at least. With the Chinese mythos. instead of the whole everything comes from Tolken methodology.