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The Rage of Dragons

Book 1 in the series:The Burning

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The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter is a fantasy novel inspired by African culture, following the story of Tau Solarin, a lower caste member of the Omehi people who embarks on a journey of revenge after a tragic event. The book delves into Tau's transformation from a reluctant warrior to a skilled swordsman driven by a single purpose, set against a backdrop of a war-torn world with complex politics and a rich magic system. The writing style is described as immersive, with detailed descriptions of battles and a second half full of secrets that enhance the story.

Characters:

Characters are varied and complex, though the main protagonist's intense focus on revenge may detract from their depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by vivid, immersive combat scenes and cultural richness, allowing readers to engage with the unique African-inspired setting.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative is driven by themes of vengeance, societal conflict, and personal transformation, primarily focusing on the protagonist's evolution from reluctance to fierce determination.

Setting:

Set in a war-torn African-inspired land, the environment reflects the cultural backgrounds and conflicts driving the characters.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast, filled with action and training sequences, but can experience slower moments that require patience.
Tau’s sword arm was numb and he couldn’t wait for the day’s training to be done. “I’m baiting him,” he lied as Jabari pushed him closer to the cliffs. Another step and Tau would be out of the fighting...

Notes:

The Rage of Dragons is based on an African-inspired setting, making it unique in the fantasy genre.
The protagonist, Tau, is part of a caste system where only women can wield magic and summon dragons.
The story revolves around themes of vengeance, as Tau seeks revenge for his father's murder.
The first book in the series, The Rage of Dragons, was originally self-published before being picked up by Orbit.
The world-building draws heavily from African culture and history, creating a distinctive backdrop for the narrative.
The story includes a relentless focus on hand-to-hand combat and military training, appealing to action lovers.
Despite being marketed as having important female characters, some readers found the portrayal of women to be underwhelming.
Many readers feel there is a large emphasis on action, with some feeling it overshadows character development and depth.
The series is designed to be a four-book saga, with strong anticipation for subsequent installments after the first book's release.
Evan Winter wrote this book with the aim of introducing more diverse representation in fantasy literature.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include violence, themes of loss and grief, and instances of revenge-fueled brutality; also mentioned are discussions of colonization and oppression.

From The Publisher:

Game of Thrones meets Gladiator in this blockbuster debut epic fantasy about a world caught in an eternal war, and the young man who will become his people's only hope for survival.

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S TOP 100 FANTASY BOOKS OF ALL TIME

Winner of the Reddit/Fantasy Award for Best Debut Fantasy Novel

The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable war for almost two hundred years. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.

Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war.

Young, gift-less Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He's going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land. Only, he doesn't get the chance.

Those closest to him are brutally murdered, and his grief swiftly turns to anger. Fixated on revenge, Tau dedicates himself to an unthinkable path. He'll become the greatest swordsman to ever live, a man willing to die a hundred thousand times for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.

The Rage of Dragons launches a stunning and powerful debut epic fantasy series that readers are already calling "the best fantasy book in years."

The BurningThe Rage of Dragons

Ratings (39)

Incredible (14)
Loved It (11)
Liked It (11)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (137):

Read It (42)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (77)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (14)

4 comment(s)

Sept 23, 2019 - can't connect to characters; world is "epic" = lots of melodrama with little foundation, gritty and ragey; can't handle a long-game revenge story

 
Incredible
3 months

Very well-written.


If I’m not mistaken this was published amidst a sea of books within the same genre and this stood out quite a bit, deservedly so.


Look forward to seeing your works over the coming years, thanks Evan.

 
Incredible
8 months

This go-round was my second time attempting to read this book, and I am so happy to have finally made it through! I don't know if I just wasn't in the right mood for this story or if the beginning didn't connect with me, but the first time around, I made it maybe 10% before abandoning it. Now that I've given it another shot, I can see the reason for the hype.

The magic system of this book is one of the most unique I have ever encountered. And while it can be a bit confusing (with all of the new terminology and such), it was well worth the headache.

The characters felt real, and all faced development through the trials they faced. Even our main character, who I didn't like in the beginning, became my favorite by the end. And that ending?! Needless to say, I am overwhelmingly excited for the sequel to be released this November.

 
Loved It
1 year

This books demands some patience from the reader but I liked it because:

1. I like Berserk manga/anime

2. I like dragons

 
 
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