Vengeance of Dragons

Vengeance of Dragons The Secret Texts Book 2 (1999) Holly Lisle

Again, with the cliffhanger ending; the lack of conclusion of a story arc is my biggest problem with this book (or series actually). You have been warned. Don’t read this book without the third close at hand. Luckily, they’ve been out for awhile, so getting all three books should not be a problem.

When we last saw Kait, although they have recovered the Mirror of Souls, she and a handful of companions had been stranded on a long lost island when the crew mutinied and stole the ship. The only hope of rescue was from a member of the Family Sabir–the sworn enemy of the Galweighs.

The pace of this story is almost brutal. Again, any slow travelling bits are compressed into a few paragraphs, so we can get to the next scene when our heroes are in danger. Which is the second issue I have with this book: monumental events are happening, the lives of the main characters are being changed for ever as they lose their homes and families, yet no one seems to spend much time thinking about these changes, and what these changes are going to mean. Kait especially seems to make snap decisions, with little or no thought about the consequences of her actions. And when there are consequences, she quickly accepts them and moves on. Maybe she’s managing to keep busy, to herself from thinking about things, but really. She is really due for a serious nervous breakdown. Her family is brutally murdered, she’s driven from her home, she’s betrayed by the remaining family members she has found, and then she’s sent on a quest to the other side of the ocean. You’d think things like that would make someone at least a little bit introspective.

However, despite those flaws, the story is well done and engaging. Even if I’m not quite sure about Kait’s sanity, I still want to know what happens to her. And more importantly, the story when in a totally unexpected direction. As I was reading, I kept telling myself, okay, “somethings going to happen here, that this thing really didn’t happen.” But it did, and the characters had to pick up the pieces, and although I still wasn’t happy with Kait’s reaction, everyone else seemed to have perfectly normal and reasonable reactions.

I also like how free will is interjected into the story. Although it is most definitely not written or discussed in those terms, it is certainly the end result of events, and I far prefer it. However, I wasn’t pleased with how Kait made her choice as to who she chose as her lover. Essentially, she didn’t as much make a choice as she succumbed to events. Of course this follows the pattern of everything she has done so far in the book–she reacts to events. She doesn’t seem to plan, and she doesn’t much act with a great deal of forethought.

And I realize that there are instances where she does plan, however, her plans seem to be at the instigation of others, and she is just going along. It’s not a big deal, and it certainly doesn’t effect the story, but I do find myself getting a little annoyed with her for failing to think.

This is a strong follow-up to Diplomacy of Wolves, and I have already started on the sequel, Courage of Falcons.
Rating: 7/10

• Browse the archives:
  
• Courage of Falcons » »
• « « Diplomacy of Wolves