Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis:
These islands are dangerous, even for a dragon…
‘I regret to inform you that despite apprehending the dragon-riding criminal…the dragon itself evaded capture and attacked the fort in which the prisoner was being held. She escaped her bonds and reunited with the dragon. Their current whereabouts are unknown.’
‘Warding Song’ is a fantasy adventure novel, set in a fictional archipelago inspired by the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy. It follows both Eleyna, a teenage girl on the run, and Trill, a young dragon trying to prove herself. When they cross paths, the two unlikely heroines team up to find a mysterious hoard of treasure, one that few have seen, and many have died trying to take. Yet everyone from dragon hunters to Imperial soldiers are after them, including one man on a quest for vengeance who will stop at nothing…
My Review:
Warding Song by C.R. Richings and Anastasios K. Iosiphidis is an adventurous fantasy novel that follows the story of a girl and a dragon. Both are running away from their pasts while seeking a path to discover who they truly are.
Eleyna, the protagonist, is a wanted criminal, but I love how the story doesn’t begin with that. Instead, it takes us back to her infancy, allowing us to see her early life. There were glimpses of her childhood for a quarter of the book, which helped me understand what kind of life Eleyna was living. That doesn’t bore me because, at the same time, the story of an infant dragon was also narrated.
I liked how the author allowed us to get to know the characters better before diving into the plot. The two POVs, one from Eleyna, and another from Trill (the dragon), made the story more thrilling and interesting. I loved exactly how both of their stories intertwined. The development of the relationship between Trill and Eleyna was so gradual and slow-paced that it made more sense. The traveling trope plays a very good role in the plot, which is to find the mysterious treasure.
The theme of bullying, even among dragons, made me connect more with the dragon’s story. The hardship Trill went through just because she appeared smaller than other dragons was so well described. This portrayal of struggle adds an important layer to the narrative and highlights the challenges of feeling different.
There are many characters in the novel, but I particularly loved the side characters George and Patrick. They have so few scenes in the novel, yet I find their characters fascinating.
What I felt could have been improved is that Eleyna’s age is never mentioned at the beginning, which made it challenging for me to picture her. Similarly, I think the appearance of the dragons could have been described in more detail. Despite these points, I found the plot kept me thrilled until the end.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Warding Song for its thrilling adventure and unique perspective from both humans and dragons. The balance of mystery and action kept me hooked throughout. If you’re a fan of adventure and fantasy, this book is worth a read!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
*Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. I was compensated for the time and effort required to read and review the book, but my opinions remain honest and unaffected.*
Deepireads 