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Obsidian Chronicles #1
Dragon Weather
Arlian had never left his home village in the Obsidian Mountains. The green hills, white peaks, and black glass were all he had ever known of life, and though he dreamed of travel and adventure, he knew deep in his heart that he would probably never leave.
Until the dragon weather came. Incredible heat, oppressive humidity, dark and angry clouds . . . and dragons. Dragons with no feelings, no empathy, no use for humans; dragons who destroyed his entire village and everyone in it. Everyone, that is, except Arlian.
Orphaned and alone, Arlian the child is captured by looters and sold as a mining slave. Seven years later Arlian the man escapes, fueled by years of hatred for the dragons, bandits, and slavers that took his youth away--and a personal vow to exact retribution from those who have wronged him.
As Arlian makes his way through life, he is obsessed with the concept of justice, and that obsession informs every task, every decision. Even Black, the man he befriends and grows to love as a brother, has little influence against Arlian's obsession. His entire life has one purpose, and one purpose only: to mete out justice.
But can one righteous man change the entire world for the better? Or is he doomed by his own actions to become as unjust as those he seeks to destroy?
Until the dragon weather came. Incredible heat, oppressive humidity, dark and angry clouds . . . and dragons. Dragons with no feelings, no empathy, no use for humans; dragons who destroyed his entire village and everyone in it. Everyone, that is, except Arlian.
Orphaned and alone, Arlian the child is captured by looters and sold as a mining slave. Seven years later Arlian the man escapes, fueled by years of hatred for the dragons, bandits, and slavers that took his youth away--and a personal vow to exact retribution from those who have wronged him.
As Arlian makes his way through life, he is obsessed with the concept of justice, and that obsession informs every task, every decision. Even Black, the man he befriends and grows to love as a brother, has little influence against Arlian's obsession. His entire life has one purpose, and one purpose only: to mete out justice.
But can one righteous man change the entire world for the better? Or is he doomed by his own actions to become as unjust as those he seeks to destroy?
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
72 people are currently reading
1829 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
October 3, 2014
There was a time when I didn't read fantasy. Come on. How could I? Reading horror and suspense and spy-thrillers was one thing. At least the characters had normal names. But fantasy? And fantasy with dragons? Just look at the names--Arlian, Quickhand, Black, Drisheen, Lord Enziet, Coin, Lord Kuruvan. And the places where these weird-named people lived--Smoking Mountain, Dreaming Mountains, Manfort, Arithei. Really? I can't read books with these kinds of names. I'll never get them straight, I can't pronounce half of them, and besides, I can't take a book seriously with silly names, outlandish settings, and dragons. No, not gonna do dragons. Give me people with supernatural abilities, give me demons and ghosts, even give me an occasional vampire. I can handle all that.
But I can't handle dragons.
At least, I used to think that. Until I read Dragon Weather by Lawrence Watt-Evans.
I originally bought this paperback sometime in the early 2000s (it was published in 1999) for my wife. She liked Lord of the Rings, had read The Chronicles of Narnia to our children, so I figured she'd like it. Well, she did. She loved it. A lot. And she told me how much she liked it. Then she told me I should read it. Yeah, OK honey, like that's going to happen. But she kept telling me to read it, that I would like it, and she kept telling me, so, eventually, I read it.
I've been married for 23 years now, and when my wife tells me I should do something, I've come to learn that most of the time (like, 99.9% of the time) she's dead on. As she was with her suggestion to me to read Dragon Weather.
You can read the description of the story on the book's GR page, so I wont' get into it here. Suffice to say there's a main character named Arlian who lives on the Smoking Mountains, there are fearsome dragons, a guy named Lord Enziet who's not exactly a kindly gentleman, and a group of people called The Dragon Society. There is conflict, there is intrigue, there is magic, and there is killing. All the ingredients of most fantasy stories out there.
What sets this fantasy story above most of the others is the way Watt-Evans writes characters. They may have bizarre names, but man, they behave just like I do, or just like I would. They fight their ways through difficulties with courage, sometimes with sarcasm, sometimes with ferocity, and sometimes they simply surrender to the fight. Just like me as I live my life, sometimes with courage, sometimes with sarcasm, at time with ferocity, and, in my weaker moments, sometimes surrendering. The characters in this story are real. They bleed when they get hurt, the feel pain, they hope and they despair. I easily identify with them.
And, just as in my own life, characters have multiple layers, layers that, after spending enough time with the person, get peeled off to reveal a fuller picture of the true person hidden under the layers and masks and deceptions. I've never met a stock, two-dimensional person in my life, and don't recall any such characters in Dragon Weather. By the end of the story, my view of numerous characters had changed completely through the course of the narrative. When an author can do that, that's always a good thing.
I must admit, as much as I now like reading fantasy, I think The Obsidian Chronicles trilogy, of which Dragon Weather is the first installment, is the only dragon-themed work I've read. But if, and when, I do read more stories with dragons in them, as I'm sure I eventually will, I will measure all of them, every single one of them, against Lawrence Watt-Evans's brilliant, engaging, violent, hopeful chronicle of Arlian, Lord Enziet, and the dragons.
For my next review, I'll revisit a bestselling superthriller (that's what these types of books used to be called) from 1980 that has since been made into a mega-hit movie franchise, whose author did voice-overs for TV commercials for products like Tiparillos and Tuna Helper, and has a three-word title like all the other novels written by the same author. Can you guess?
But I can't handle dragons.
At least, I used to think that. Until I read Dragon Weather by Lawrence Watt-Evans.
I originally bought this paperback sometime in the early 2000s (it was published in 1999) for my wife. She liked Lord of the Rings, had read The Chronicles of Narnia to our children, so I figured she'd like it. Well, she did. She loved it. A lot. And she told me how much she liked it. Then she told me I should read it. Yeah, OK honey, like that's going to happen. But she kept telling me to read it, that I would like it, and she kept telling me, so, eventually, I read it.
I've been married for 23 years now, and when my wife tells me I should do something, I've come to learn that most of the time (like, 99.9% of the time) she's dead on. As she was with her suggestion to me to read Dragon Weather.
You can read the description of the story on the book's GR page, so I wont' get into it here. Suffice to say there's a main character named Arlian who lives on the Smoking Mountains, there are fearsome dragons, a guy named Lord Enziet who's not exactly a kindly gentleman, and a group of people called The Dragon Society. There is conflict, there is intrigue, there is magic, and there is killing. All the ingredients of most fantasy stories out there.
What sets this fantasy story above most of the others is the way Watt-Evans writes characters. They may have bizarre names, but man, they behave just like I do, or just like I would. They fight their ways through difficulties with courage, sometimes with sarcasm, sometimes with ferocity, and sometimes they simply surrender to the fight. Just like me as I live my life, sometimes with courage, sometimes with sarcasm, at time with ferocity, and, in my weaker moments, sometimes surrendering. The characters in this story are real. They bleed when they get hurt, the feel pain, they hope and they despair. I easily identify with them.
And, just as in my own life, characters have multiple layers, layers that, after spending enough time with the person, get peeled off to reveal a fuller picture of the true person hidden under the layers and masks and deceptions. I've never met a stock, two-dimensional person in my life, and don't recall any such characters in Dragon Weather. By the end of the story, my view of numerous characters had changed completely through the course of the narrative. When an author can do that, that's always a good thing.
I must admit, as much as I now like reading fantasy, I think The Obsidian Chronicles trilogy, of which Dragon Weather is the first installment, is the only dragon-themed work I've read. But if, and when, I do read more stories with dragons in them, as I'm sure I eventually will, I will measure all of them, every single one of them, against Lawrence Watt-Evans's brilliant, engaging, violent, hopeful chronicle of Arlian, Lord Enziet, and the dragons.
For my next review, I'll revisit a bestselling superthriller (that's what these types of books used to be called) from 1980 that has since been made into a mega-hit movie franchise, whose author did voice-overs for TV commercials for products like Tiparillos and Tuna Helper, and has a three-word title like all the other novels written by the same author. Can you guess?
December 3, 2012
I loved it! Easily one of my favorite fantasy novels, primarily because it doesn't gloss over the combat. Action scenes are bloodcurdling and gritty, just the way I like them, and I found myself snickering away at every daring ploy and maneuver the main character managed. Watt-Evans pulled off making a clever main character without making him seem infallible and invulnerable, which in my opinion is a common problem for clever main characters, especially in this genre.
There is also an exploration of the morality of vengeance, which is just strong enough to make you stop and contemplate for a minute, but doesn't get in the way of the story by sounding preachy. Book 1 is easily the strongest in the trilogy; the other two are a bit weaker, but worth reading. It was my opinion that the excitement and momentum from book one carried through to the other two, even at their more dull parts. The series I'd give four stars; this book, five!
Be careful reading it, you might be tempted to start swishing a stick around and pretending it's a rapier.
There is also an exploration of the morality of vengeance, which is just strong enough to make you stop and contemplate for a minute, but doesn't get in the way of the story by sounding preachy. Book 1 is easily the strongest in the trilogy; the other two are a bit weaker, but worth reading. It was my opinion that the excitement and momentum from book one carried through to the other two, even at their more dull parts. The series I'd give four stars; this book, five!
Be careful reading it, you might be tempted to start swishing a stick around and pretending it's a rapier.
June 17, 2015
An easier to read Count of Monte Christo with dragons and magic. What more do you need? The world that's set up in this series and the rules for the dragons are highly original and i loved this book.
I'm waiting for the movie...seriously.
I'm waiting for the movie...seriously.
July 13, 2014
Synopsis
Arlian was content with village life on the Smoking Mountain…until the dragons came and destroyed everyone he loved and everything he had. Without family, friends, or property, Arlian is determined to avenge his loved ones and his village…but will his mission be his undoing?
The first in a trilogy.
The Good
Lawrence Watt-Evans is a talented writer, no question. His prose here is crisp and exciting. There is also plenty of action and suspense. Arlian is a likable hero, and the kind for whom you can't help but cheer.
The Bad
There was a small amount of profanity, but the main problems are the violence and sexual content. The rather lurid description of a woman's nude body was unnecessary, and at least one character is killed only for sport. Some of the violent scenes are bloody as well. Not only that, but…the novel runs a little too long; some trimming would have helped.
Conclusion
A great, well-written story that was muddled by inappropriate content and too much length; that's how I can best sum up Dragon Weather. I have the next two novels in my collection, but I'm not sure now if I'm going to read them.
Score: 3/5
Arlian was content with village life on the Smoking Mountain…until the dragons came and destroyed everyone he loved and everything he had. Without family, friends, or property, Arlian is determined to avenge his loved ones and his village…but will his mission be his undoing?
The first in a trilogy.
The Good
Lawrence Watt-Evans is a talented writer, no question. His prose here is crisp and exciting. There is also plenty of action and suspense. Arlian is a likable hero, and the kind for whom you can't help but cheer.
The Bad
There was a small amount of profanity, but the main problems are the violence and sexual content. The rather lurid description of a woman's nude body was unnecessary, and at least one character is killed only for sport. Some of the violent scenes are bloody as well. Not only that, but…the novel runs a little too long; some trimming would have helped.
Conclusion
A great, well-written story that was muddled by inappropriate content and too much length; that's how I can best sum up Dragon Weather. I have the next two novels in my collection, but I'm not sure now if I'm going to read them.
Score: 3/5
January 8, 2021
Just another middle-grade fantasy with Dragons in its cover. It's a decent read. The main character bored in his life in his village sets off to a journey. Overall, it’s good.
April 2, 2014
Dragon Weather by Lawrence Watt-Evans
This is book one of the Obsidian Chronicles. It starts with a bang and keeps moving at a fast pace. A totalitarian government may be being manipulated by a secret society. The dragons are all dead or are they. A young boy finds out the hard way and his life is dedicated to finding justice.
Arlian grows from a child to an adult through the course of the book. The deprivations he faces are all character building and determines who he is and the challenges he must face. He has unusual teachers, to say the least.
His monochrome ideas of justice begin to mutate as he deals his own justice to those who have tormented him and those around him. You can see a character shift that results from the experiences he has that alter his monomaniacal viewpoint. In that way it is a coming of age story as well as a fantasy adventure.
I look forward to reading the ensuing volumes in the trilogy.
I recommend it.
web site: http://www.watt-evans.com/
This is book one of the Obsidian Chronicles. It starts with a bang and keeps moving at a fast pace. A totalitarian government may be being manipulated by a secret society. The dragons are all dead or are they. A young boy finds out the hard way and his life is dedicated to finding justice.
Arlian grows from a child to an adult through the course of the book. The deprivations he faces are all character building and determines who he is and the challenges he must face. He has unusual teachers, to say the least.
His monochrome ideas of justice begin to mutate as he deals his own justice to those who have tormented him and those around him. You can see a character shift that results from the experiences he has that alter his monomaniacal viewpoint. In that way it is a coming of age story as well as a fantasy adventure.
I look forward to reading the ensuing volumes in the trilogy.
I recommend it.
web site: http://www.watt-evans.com/
January 28, 2009
It was too bad to continue reading. The very begining was awsome, then it whent on rapid decline as Arlian came out of the mines where he was sold as a slave. All I can say is this THIS IS THE WORST BOOK I EVER READ IN ALL MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!! I'm not joking. Even boring books are better than this book. You may disagree, but this book stinks. I mean seriously, *****s (people) without hands or feet and :( I don't even want to write the word:() evil lord dragons is just wrong. This book is so bad I'll even write a warning, and trust me, I don't write warnings unless nessesary. WARNING: THIS BOOK IS WRONG IN MANY WAYS! DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP OFF IT'S SHELF, YOU ARE WASTING TIME! YOU COULD BE READING A BOOK THAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD INSTEAD OF WRONG AND BAD!
May 12, 2016
This book is very, very good. The prose is great, the story draws you right in, and the characters are almost worthy of A Game of Thrones - though not quite. Still, that's saying a lot. The only two flaws, I feel, are the dragging in certain areas and how good Arlian gets at fencing, provided he's only being trained by a guardsman.
Arlian really grows throughout the story - and I refer to both his character and his age. He starts out as a young boy and grows up in an unforgiving place of darkness, hardening him and equipping him with the skills necessary to begin his journey into the cruel world ahead. By the end of the book he is a man whose experiences have greatly changed him - a metamorphosis that happens gradually and believably. Our hero, a sympathetic person despite his lust for vengeance (which is done quite well), traverses the land in search of the man who sacked his village and sold him into slavery - Lord Dragon (who is not a dragon, but is, but isn't). Along the way, he encounters such memorable characters as the cynical, wise Black, whose world-weary attitude is a good foil to Arlian's curious, enterprising ways; Sweet, whose initial outlook despite her physical condition displays an incredibly strong character, making her tragic fate all the worse; the mystical people of Arithei and Arlian's friend in the mine, whose death affects him deeply; enigmatic Lady Rime, who interestingly chooses to side with our hero against the other lords, each of whom Arlian encounters in a gripping, unique duel. Lord Dragon's crew are also found, and each one is a man of his own -more than mere looters, they are people. Last but certainly not least is our villain Lord Dragon, who in his seven hundred years of life has grown so cold and desensitized that any sense of morality he has has been stripped and replaced by objective, inhuman calculation, playing perfectly into the revelation at the end. Speaking of which, the dragons in these books are perhaps the most bestial I've seen dragons portrayed - intelligent, yet animalistic and gratuitously violent, making for some of the most menacing dragons I've ever come across in fantasy. This contrasts magnificently with the multi-dimensional human cast, highlighting the fact that they are people and not stock characters.
The book does not pull its punches - there is blood, heavy violence and sexual content. To my chagrin, I have seen several negative reviews whose sole reasoning behind the low rating was the presence of these elements. This is not gratuitous inclusion for the sake of itself - it is a useful element in conveying the harshness of the medieval-esque world these characters inhabit, and I felt does not detract in the slightest from the epic tale of Arlian becoming Lord Obsidian and hunting down his enemies. I have yet to read the other Obsidian Chronicles, so as of now the most I can do is give this installment a glowing review. Again, it ain't A Game of Thrones, but it is a damn good book and worth your money.
Arlian really grows throughout the story - and I refer to both his character and his age. He starts out as a young boy and grows up in an unforgiving place of darkness, hardening him and equipping him with the skills necessary to begin his journey into the cruel world ahead. By the end of the book he is a man whose experiences have greatly changed him - a metamorphosis that happens gradually and believably. Our hero, a sympathetic person despite his lust for vengeance (which is done quite well), traverses the land in search of the man who sacked his village and sold him into slavery - Lord Dragon (who is not a dragon, but is, but isn't). Along the way, he encounters such memorable characters as the cynical, wise Black, whose world-weary attitude is a good foil to Arlian's curious, enterprising ways; Sweet, whose initial outlook despite her physical condition displays an incredibly strong character, making her tragic fate all the worse; the mystical people of Arithei and Arlian's friend in the mine, whose death affects him deeply; enigmatic Lady Rime, who interestingly chooses to side with our hero against the other lords, each of whom Arlian encounters in a gripping, unique duel. Lord Dragon's crew are also found, and each one is a man of his own -more than mere looters, they are people. Last but certainly not least is our villain Lord Dragon, who in his seven hundred years of life has grown so cold and desensitized that any sense of morality he has has been stripped and replaced by objective, inhuman calculation, playing perfectly into the revelation at the end. Speaking of which, the dragons in these books are perhaps the most bestial I've seen dragons portrayed - intelligent, yet animalistic and gratuitously violent, making for some of the most menacing dragons I've ever come across in fantasy. This contrasts magnificently with the multi-dimensional human cast, highlighting the fact that they are people and not stock characters.
The book does not pull its punches - there is blood, heavy violence and sexual content. To my chagrin, I have seen several negative reviews whose sole reasoning behind the low rating was the presence of these elements. This is not gratuitous inclusion for the sake of itself - it is a useful element in conveying the harshness of the medieval-esque world these characters inhabit, and I felt does not detract in the slightest from the epic tale of Arlian becoming Lord Obsidian and hunting down his enemies. I have yet to read the other Obsidian Chronicles, so as of now the most I can do is give this installment a glowing review. Again, it ain't A Game of Thrones, but it is a damn good book and worth your money.
September 29, 2018
I bought this at an airport on the way to go on vacation. This book drew me in and I couldn't put it down. The main character of this book and series has remained one of my favorite main characters of all time.
November 3, 2024
I liked this book! It was a good story line, and I enjoyed following the MC’s journey. I do think it was longer than it needed to be. Also, there were many typos…
March 27, 2017
I loved this book. The story just felt full and complete, and I never wavered from loving the main character. I was concerned the main character would deviate from his honourable perspectives or lose some integrity, but that never happened. The ending was intense, made complete sense, and I was completely satisfied. Overall, amazing fantasy story with a character with similar values to Drizzt Do'urden, in my opinion, but maybe for younger audiences.
October 8, 2016
This book was recommended to me as part of a "blind date with a book" exchange. I knew nothing about it going in, and it is not the type of book I would normally pick out for myself. Because of this, I was a little hesitant giving this book a chance.
However, I'm really glad that I did! After the first 50 or so pages, the book really hit its stride. I'd describe this book as a rise-to-power revenge story, almost like The Count of Monte Cristo + dragons. The author knows how to use pacing to keep the story briskly moving along, so there are no dull moments.
The pacing can almost be too quick at times, with multiple changes of scene and nearly 7 years passing in this story - all within the first hundred pages. With some books, this would be a turn-off, since that type of rapid pacing can really detract from character growth and fail to provide a window into what the main character is thinking. LWE manages to avoid this, and I was very satisfied with the protagonists development and decisions.
For being such a fast-paced book, there are quite a few opportunities to reflect on choices made by the main character throughout the story. Moral questions that initially seem black and white turn out to be relatively complex and not easily resolved.
Finally, one of the best parts of the story is its unique take on dragons. Granted, I have not read a lot of stories with dragons before (most of my experience comes from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series). That being said, the story quickly establishes that dragons are intelligent creatures that have warred with humanity through the years. Beyond that, the species is shrouded in mystery for most of the novel. As the author slowly teases more information, you begin to realize you are in for a treat.
Overall, Dragon Weather was a great read! It's not a sprawling epic, but it does not try to be. It is a refreshing and fun story with characters you love to root for and hate.
However, I'm really glad that I did! After the first 50 or so pages, the book really hit its stride. I'd describe this book as a rise-to-power revenge story, almost like The Count of Monte Cristo + dragons. The author knows how to use pacing to keep the story briskly moving along, so there are no dull moments.
The pacing can almost be too quick at times, with multiple changes of scene and nearly 7 years passing in this story - all within the first hundred pages. With some books, this would be a turn-off, since that type of rapid pacing can really detract from character growth and fail to provide a window into what the main character is thinking. LWE manages to avoid this, and I was very satisfied with the protagonists development and decisions.
For being such a fast-paced book, there are quite a few opportunities to reflect on choices made by the main character throughout the story. Moral questions that initially seem black and white turn out to be relatively complex and not easily resolved.
Finally, one of the best parts of the story is its unique take on dragons. Granted, I have not read a lot of stories with dragons before (most of my experience comes from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series). That being said, the story quickly establishes that dragons are intelligent creatures that have warred with humanity through the years. Beyond that, the species is shrouded in mystery for most of the novel. As the author slowly teases more information, you begin to realize you are in for a treat.
Overall, Dragon Weather was a great read! It's not a sprawling epic, but it does not try to be. It is a refreshing and fun story with characters you love to root for and hate.
August 24, 2021
I think I could’ve written this book.
Very little about the book—its writing or the story itself—was substantial. Combat was a formula of thrust, swing, parry, riposte, and a gimmick to finish off the offender. At no point was Arlian in any real danger. The story moved at breakneck pace, slowing for no characters’ development. The nature of magic, a quintessential element in any sword & sorcery book, was never grounded in the universe, making the rest of the setting rather superficial.
It was full of silly tropes, like the scales of fate and justice that are never balanced, and instead oscillate wildly in Arlian’s obsessive mind. His arguments with himself were never terribly introspective nor entangled: always black and white and never decisive. The recurring locations might make for a good movie, and sheer number of minor characters gives no shortage of roles to cast. There were a few surprises that attempted to distinguish the book from others in the genre, though the writing was unsupportive and diminutive.
A fine enough book for a fast read, but Dragon Weather was simply not what I was expecting and a resultant disappointment.
Very little about the book—its writing or the story itself—was substantial. Combat was a formula of thrust, swing, parry, riposte, and a gimmick to finish off the offender. At no point was Arlian in any real danger. The story moved at breakneck pace, slowing for no characters’ development. The nature of magic, a quintessential element in any sword & sorcery book, was never grounded in the universe, making the rest of the setting rather superficial.
It was full of silly tropes, like the scales of fate and justice that are never balanced, and instead oscillate wildly in Arlian’s obsessive mind. His arguments with himself were never terribly introspective nor entangled: always black and white and never decisive. The recurring locations might make for a good movie, and sheer number of minor characters gives no shortage of roles to cast. There were a few surprises that attempted to distinguish the book from others in the genre, though the writing was unsupportive and diminutive.
A fine enough book for a fast read, but Dragon Weather was simply not what I was expecting and a resultant disappointment.
September 27, 2014
I've had it with novels with one-dimensional characters. Watt-Evans possibly has a good story buried somewhere in the novel, but the lack of personality and consistency within Arlian make me unwilling to seek it for more than 1/3rd of the way through.
I liked the beginning as the novel showed some promise of good themes such as bringing justice to the oppressed. Then Arlian seemed to realize that fighting for justice would put a serious crimp in his style and that it'd be easier just to sort of... keep moving on. He was a consummate actor though he hadn't seen much more than a hole in the ground and could think of large pictures and the ebb and flow of commodities without so much as a hitch. I understand the author tried to attribute this to his accidental consumption of dragon venom, but...
...I'm not buying it. With minor clean-up, which would also have served to shorten the book, this would have been more appropriately classified as YA rather than any mature revelation of a creative character or plot.
I liked the beginning as the novel showed some promise of good themes such as bringing justice to the oppressed. Then Arlian seemed to realize that fighting for justice would put a serious crimp in his style and that it'd be easier just to sort of... keep moving on. He was a consummate actor though he hadn't seen much more than a hole in the ground and could think of large pictures and the ebb and flow of commodities without so much as a hitch. I understand the author tried to attribute this to his accidental consumption of dragon venom, but...
...I'm not buying it. With minor clean-up, which would also have served to shorten the book, this would have been more appropriately classified as YA rather than any mature revelation of a creative character or plot.
January 15, 2012
Never before have I been reading a book and been so convinced I was reading the text from a video game. Such a bizarre sensation. I mean, I've certainly read books that I thought had insufficient character development, or were just too plot heavy. But this was just a whole other deal. It was weird.
Props for not just being a knockoff of another fantasy novel, and at least it wasn't necessarily predictable. I definitely felt that the author had a very clear picture of the world he wanted to describe, but I just never felt any human empathy or understanding for the main character, who seemed to me to just run around like an avatar.
Props for not just being a knockoff of another fantasy novel, and at least it wasn't necessarily predictable. I definitely felt that the author had a very clear picture of the world he wanted to describe, but I just never felt any human empathy or understanding for the main character, who seemed to me to just run around like an avatar.
February 7, 2015
This book was okay. The storyline was very predictable I never really feared for the main character because it seems he got out of things so easily, and he was just really lucky. Since it was really predictable it wasn't as good of a read than it could have been. Also the main character was kind of annoying at times because he made so many stupid decisions. Although I did like how the author wrote the sword fighting scenes, it is apparent that he really knows a lot about sword play. I also thought the way he explained how dragon's breathe fire was pretty great as well.
January 5, 2018
In all honesty, this book was mediocre. There was a lot of thought and heart put into it, but it's still so meh. It's just a story about a man's revenge adventure. It's also filled with rape, and literally /every single named woman/ is raped and also a cripple. Not to mention there are so many punctuation issues... *Sigh* There are a lot of good books out there. Unless you specifically like bland revenge stories with paper thin motivations and unapologetic, constant abuse against woman, avoid this series. I'm not going to be reading anything else from it.
April 25, 2013
Edges close to 3 stars, but there's definitely something missing in this. Not sure what exactly, but it just doesn't work. It's totally plot-driven, but, even though it's 500 pages, it feels more like you're reading an outline. Characterless characters abound, and even the main character is mostly unlikeable. Not awful, but just not very good. I may read more, but not with much enthusiasm.
April 16, 2018
Not much happens in a book so long, The protagonist thinks and talks too much and does little and other times he doesn't think much. How come he didn't look for magical ways to help the mutilated girls.
April 19, 2009
awful, sexist, horrible, cheap ending. not even worthy of being a desperate airport read.
June 12, 2015
My favorite book of all time. Just as good after a second read.
August 18, 2023
This book does not pass the Bechdel test.
July 15, 2018
Dragon destroys boy's village, boy seeks revenge against dragons and those who took advantage of the situation. I liked that it was not an epic quest at the start, he gets sold into slavery, works the mines, travels in caravans, really down to earth. This changes in the next part when he becomes something like the count of monte cristo and its not bad, he earned it but its a big change.
There is some grim-dark stuff in here mostly at the start when he befriends a shady brothel full of sex slaves who have their feet cut off so they can't escape and some are kill when they are caught helping him. I stopped reading grim-dark cause all the characters were unlikable but with our MC we see a thoughtfulness not seen in revenge quests. He wonders if killing a changed man is worth it, or if he should make a deal to find someone more important, of giving his gift on long life will he want to keep other long lived people alive to prevent loneliness. other signs of this thoughtfulness is MC caring around a bag of momentous of people who died to remember them by and even goes to another country just to tell the family of the loss of a crazy old man.
The reason I don't give it a 4 or 5 star is cause i felt the characters should have figured out some secrets faster and the change to a more epic storyline was sudden. The old man turned out to be a wronged noble, the looters turned out to be power behind the throne, basically everyone was actually super important. So instead of a story about a nobody determined to find a way to do the impossible in a world where the important people don't give a damn and the damned don't care much either.
There is some grim-dark stuff in here mostly at the start when he befriends a shady brothel full of sex slaves who have their feet cut off so they can't escape and some are kill when they are caught helping him. I stopped reading grim-dark cause all the characters were unlikable but with our MC we see a thoughtfulness not seen in revenge quests. He wonders if killing a changed man is worth it, or if he should make a deal to find someone more important, of giving his gift on long life will he want to keep other long lived people alive to prevent loneliness. other signs of this thoughtfulness is MC caring around a bag of momentous of people who died to remember them by and even goes to another country just to tell the family of the loss of a crazy old man.
The reason I don't give it a 4 or 5 star is cause i felt the characters should have figured out some secrets faster and the change to a more epic storyline was sudden. The old man turned out to be a wronged noble, the looters turned out to be power behind the throne, basically everyone was actually super important. So instead of a story about a nobody determined to find a way to do the impossible in a world where the important people don't give a damn and the damned don't care much either.
August 16, 2020
Watt-Evans tells what's at heart a simple revenge story, with his unique practical characters, trying to figure out the inner workings of the world to find a way to achieve what seems like an impossible task. When Arlian is the only survivor of his remote mountain village after a trio of dragons attack it, it's bad enough. Waking up in the rubble, he's quickly captured by looters who sell him into slavery. From this horrible start to his life, he swears vengeance, not only on the looters and slavers, and their leader, the mysterious Lord Dragon. If that were all he hoped to achieve, it might seem like a monumental task, but Arlian also wants revenge on not only the dragons which destroyed his home and family, but all dragons across the world, to prevent future acts of butchery.
Arlian carefully plots and improves his position throughout the book, all the while dealing with a world where greed and cruelty run rampant. He's forced to adopt to this, even while trying to stay true to his principles of decency and doing good for humanity. Can he preserve his inner good character while focused on revenge and being willing to risk everything to earn it?
Watt-Evans again brings a great mix of world building, action, evil dastardly deeds, and even horror to the mix as the reader roots for Arlian along the way. A swashbuckling tale without the glossy coat of bright shiny varnish.
Arlian carefully plots and improves his position throughout the book, all the while dealing with a world where greed and cruelty run rampant. He's forced to adopt to this, even while trying to stay true to his principles of decency and doing good for humanity. Can he preserve his inner good character while focused on revenge and being willing to risk everything to earn it?
Watt-Evans again brings a great mix of world building, action, evil dastardly deeds, and even horror to the mix as the reader roots for Arlian along the way. A swashbuckling tale without the glossy coat of bright shiny varnish.
October 17, 2019
------------SPOILERS-----------
I remember reading this book once I think it was either in 8th grade or freshman year? I don't really remember, but I was really entranced by this story and Arlians adventures, I loved the tale of vengeance that was painted with the dragons coming out of nowhere to destroy his village, him being sold into slavery, the myth with the dragon venom and human blood mixing granting immortality, his interactions with the miners, him being let out of the mine due to a good deed he had, his wandering, him coming across the brothel, etc.
Lots of this book had memorable moments to me and it was really endearing watching him go from clueless former miner-slave to losing his virginity to becoming a distinguished lord and swordsman. The fight with Lord Dragon towards the end of the book was pretty satisfying and set up the sequel very nicely. I read this book again after my first read and enjoyed it again, this is definitely one of my favorite books and its sort of obscure so it adds my love for it too, it's like my own personal fantasy world tale that I can recount and share with friends and family. Great book. I love it. Might have some classic cliches with the character having some dumb luck and being a bit too clever for all the other characters in the story, but it gives that ¨old tale¨ feel where the protagonist is just simply a cut above all others and befalls a unique fate of sorts.
I remember reading this book once I think it was either in 8th grade or freshman year? I don't really remember, but I was really entranced by this story and Arlians adventures, I loved the tale of vengeance that was painted with the dragons coming out of nowhere to destroy his village, him being sold into slavery, the myth with the dragon venom and human blood mixing granting immortality, his interactions with the miners, him being let out of the mine due to a good deed he had, his wandering, him coming across the brothel, etc.
Lots of this book had memorable moments to me and it was really endearing watching him go from clueless former miner-slave to losing his virginity to becoming a distinguished lord and swordsman. The fight with Lord Dragon towards the end of the book was pretty satisfying and set up the sequel very nicely. I read this book again after my first read and enjoyed it again, this is definitely one of my favorite books and its sort of obscure so it adds my love for it too, it's like my own personal fantasy world tale that I can recount and share with friends and family. Great book. I love it. Might have some classic cliches with the character having some dumb luck and being a bit too clever for all the other characters in the story, but it gives that ¨old tale¨ feel where the protagonist is just simply a cut above all others and befalls a unique fate of sorts.
May 3, 2018
I was actually quite impressed with the direction this book took. It was written in a fairly unambitious manner and the main character starts out pretty black and white, with a straightforward view of the world, but the philosophical questions he starts to wrestle with as the story continues drew me in. I was more and more curious about how he would change and evolve with his world view.
Also, some fantasy books jump from the personal to the global too abruptly. One person's crusade becomes a fight for the survival of the universe, but the transition is clumsy and only partly believable. In this book, however, the development of the main character's personal vendetta into a broader fight for justice into a question of the survival of humankind happens almost imperceptibly. Very well done.
I like how the book ended, and I don't think it needs a sequel, per se. But if I come across the sequel, I'll be sure to read it!
Also, some fantasy books jump from the personal to the global too abruptly. One person's crusade becomes a fight for the survival of the universe, but the transition is clumsy and only partly believable. In this book, however, the development of the main character's personal vendetta into a broader fight for justice into a question of the survival of humankind happens almost imperceptibly. Very well done.
I like how the book ended, and I don't think it needs a sequel, per se. But if I come across the sequel, I'll be sure to read it!
September 11, 2019
I enjoyed the first book of the Obsidian Chronicles. However, it is a fairly typical coming of age story, with the dragons being the bad guys and our protagonist swearing vengeance on them. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy getting to know the characters and the world they lived in, but it does come with some hangups.
I was less interested in the epic adventure and more interested in the personal conflicts of the characters. There were some rather intense character motivation events, but I can't help but feel that they were glossed over a tad by the author. This isn't helped by the fact that our protagonist is rather monotone. There may or may not be a story reason for this, but it drags the book down when your fun adventure protagonist is acting like a robot.
I don't want to get hung up on the negatives. It was a fun book and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
I was less interested in the epic adventure and more interested in the personal conflicts of the characters. There were some rather intense character motivation events, but I can't help but feel that they were glossed over a tad by the author. This isn't helped by the fact that our protagonist is rather monotone. There may or may not be a story reason for this, but it drags the book down when your fun adventure protagonist is acting like a robot.
I don't want to get hung up on the negatives. It was a fun book and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
August 27, 2017
A good easy fantasy read. I liked the story but the writing drove me a little crazy. The author tends to repeat himself a LOT! I don't mind a little review of the story now and then, but my gosh, I didn't need to hear the main character rehearse his list of reasons for wanting revenge over and over AND OVER again. The book needed a good edit.
Still, I was really involved in the story (a young boy is the only survivor of a dragon attack, is sold into slavery, manages to escape and make something of his life, goes after everyone and everything responsible for his rough life.) There are good bones to the world-building but don't expect a lot of details. Good action sequences and some good characters.
Still, I was really involved in the story (a young boy is the only survivor of a dragon attack, is sold into slavery, manages to escape and make something of his life, goes after everyone and everything responsible for his rough life.) There are good bones to the world-building but don't expect a lot of details. Good action sequences and some good characters.
July 28, 2018
The main character is a bit of an ass sometimes (definitely lawful good in the annoying way) and his ridiculous luck made me roll my eyes at times, but I'd say this was well written and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it.
The only real disagreement I have with it is that he should not have been told about dragon venom within the first few pages of the book. There's a perfect spot a few hundred pages in for him to have learned about it for the first time without changing any of the events of the book whatsoever. Maybe the author felt that would be throwing new information at you too soon before it became relevant, but I'd MUCH rather have had that be a mystery for the first half of the book.
The only real disagreement I have with it is that he should not have been told about dragon venom within the first few pages of the book. There's a perfect spot a few hundred pages in for him to have learned about it for the first time without changing any of the events of the book whatsoever. Maybe the author felt that would be throwing new information at you too soon before it became relevant, but I'd MUCH rather have had that be a mystery for the first half of the book.
November 14, 2022
Damn, can’t remember reading anything as cringe as this book in a very long time. The story makes no sense whatsoever, as in none. Twists and turns in the story are solved by the lamest, most simplistic strategies and they always work.
What’s worse is that the lead character is the most annoying arse I’ve ever seen for a ‘Hero’ in a fantasy story. He’s childish, only cares about his revenge, needs constant acknowledgement about how he is saving the damsels in distress and about how just and fair he is.
First time I read a fantasy book where I was hoping that the main character would get a proper beating.
Lastly the ending is just plain dumb. If you think about the setting for more than a minute you will see it makes no sense.
Goddamn this was a horrible book.
What’s worse is that the lead character is the most annoying arse I’ve ever seen for a ‘Hero’ in a fantasy story. He’s childish, only cares about his revenge, needs constant acknowledgement about how he is saving the damsels in distress and about how just and fair he is.
First time I read a fantasy book where I was hoping that the main character would get a proper beating.
Lastly the ending is just plain dumb. If you think about the setting for more than a minute you will see it makes no sense.
Goddamn this was a horrible book.
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