Title: War of the Dragon King
Author: Mary Jay
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing
ISBN: 978-1685371050
Pages: 544
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Reviewer: Lily Amanda
Hollywood Book Reviews
Set in a rich and atmospheric world, War of The Dragon King is a sumptuous treat for fantasy fans, written by author Mary Jay. In the Kingdom of Lumnkar, humans have always considered dragons to be ruthless creatures that are an enemy to mankind. The king is determined to exterminate every living dragon in his kingdom so that he can expand his territory. Egil, the king’s nephew, is the only one who can stop the king from killing these misunderstood beings.
A kind-hearted young man, Egil is forced to join the Rangers Guild, much to his chagrin, as he lacks discipline of stealth and elite archery which is required to become a ranger. He is also a subject of ridicule in the training group. He, however, finds solace in a young peasant girl, Liliana, whose friendship he holds dearly and is spurred to win her heart. While here, he also discovers more about the dragons, grasping their genuine nature and resolves to face his uncle, in a dangerous quest meant to save the dragons from death.
This potent, fast-moving novel intertwines emotional intrigue, ample action and fantastical elements. Distinct and realistic, the plot is compelling with wordplay abounding in the prose. Across, meaningful themes as well as parallels to the strength of comradeship, cooperation, fortitude, love and triumph, resulting in readers having an aesthetic experience that will linger long after the reading is done.
Here, characters are hewn and developed via their dialogue which integrate their deep concerns and quiet musings into everyday speech. Mary Jay presents us with a young protagonist, who is unskilled in combat, and whose favorite pastime activity is reading, and the least likely opponent to confront the king and stop his cruel ambition. This artistic aspect is imaginative and one which earns the book a high poise, drawing upon the readers’ suspense to find out whether he will succeed on this worthy but risky quest. Inverting its genre’s usual motifs, War of the Dragon King is a resonant novel that fantasy lovers will find much to love.
The skillful writing of the novel creates a lingering feeling of mystery and an endless interest. Its five-hundred-plus pages should not keep you off reading this book, as every chapter has plentiful surprises that you will not see coming. War of The Dragon King is altogether a worthy gem that deserves to be read and passed on.