Dragonshadow

I don't understand why most of you didn't like this book. Maybe it's because I read it before Dragonsbane, but I was completely mesmorized by it. The story was powerful, the demons and their hold on the characters was terrifying, and the dragons were beautifully described. I could not put this book down. As for the gruesome details, yes, they were there, but they had a purpose - to fill the reader with horror and fascination, and build up the story for the ending. I'll admit I was a bit frustrated with the ending, but only because it never finished, but was left open-ended. I am buying the next book as soon as I see it. As for Dragonsbane, I finally read it, and found it lacking the twisted plot and incredible emotional impact of it's sequel.

I've always considered Barbara Hambley to be one of the undiscovered gems of the fantasy field. She can write better prose than 90% of them, and her plots take hackneyed devices (magic, wizards, dragons, demons) and make them into something unique. Dragonsbane, a standalone from relatively early in her career, is a perfect example of this - the Dragonsbane of the title, John Aversin, is not a noble knight, but a scholar, who slays dragons because he has to protect his people. His wife, Jenny, is a witch who loves him yet feels that their bond only hinders her efforts to become a master mage. Hambley did a wonderful job of exploring their characters, while delivering a thrill ride of a plot.Now, many years later, she's written a sequel which is very different in tone. John and Jenny discover that a mage has been using demons to enslave dragons and mage alike, and is allied with a rebel army that seeks to conquer the kingdom. The mage manages to capture their son, Ian, and soon he is possessed as well. John and Jenny team up with Morkeleb to stop the plot, but the price is much higher then they could have ever anticipated...What makes Dragonshadow so different from Dragonsbane is mostly the tone. Dragonbane, while putting its characters through the wringer, basically has a happy ending. Dragonshadows is far different. But the ending does not feel forced. In real life, people don't go through incredibly tramatic events unchanged; they pay a price, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Both John and Jenny literally go through Hell, and they are both intensely scarred by the experience. But while this is painful for the reader, who cares about the characters immensely, it also brings about a deeper and more realistic experience. And there is the promise of a sequel to this book, so even the downbeat ending is not totally without hope. This book is like a trial by fire; painful many times, but bringing a great sense of satisfaction. Lightyears ahead of most wish-fulfillment fantasy, and a great read as well (I finished it in two days!) I highly recommend it.

Typically, sequels are not as good as their predecessors, but there certainly are exceptions. This is one of them. Not only does it equal _Dragonsbane_ on every count, it surpasses it. This isn't your typical sequel, though. It is clear that when Hambly wrote _Dragonsbane_ 15 years ago that she wasn't planning on continuing the story of her protagonists. I, for one, am glad that she did.In this book, we find that a mage is enslaving dragons by means unknown, and capturing mages to control them. John Aversin and Jenny Waynest, trying to figure out what's going on and how to stop it, enlist the aid of Morkeleb, the greatest of the dragons, and discover that the evil mage is controling the other witches and dragons by infesting them with demons. John, Jenny, Morkeleb and their allies then predictable set out to stop this threat.What is unpredictable is how the author goes about doing this. More on that later.Let me note now that in the beginning of the book I was a little concerned with a couple discrepencies from the first book. The horse Battlehammer, belonging to Gareth in the first book, now belongs to John, but as this book takes place a couple of years later, this can be forgiven. There is also an evident change in John's character and speaking style.Moving on, I was pleased to find out that this book was written from both John and Jenny's POV's as opposed to solely Jenny's as in the first book. This allowed for much greater character development and depth. Also new features in this book are the antagonists, the demons. This book shows chillingly clearly what temptations can lead to letting a demon into your head, and the devastating results of such. The demons are original, not your run of the mill goat legged horned red monstrosity, but are nonetheless chillingly disturbing.This book starts out more slowly than its predecessor, but it sure makes up for that going into the book. There's a lot of action, from fortresses under siege to underwater battles to all kinds of things. There're also new contraptions, as John has constructed a hot-air balloon type thing and a mechanism called an Urchin, which is basically a dragon-slaying tank.This book is really wonderfully written, fast paced, with three-dimensional characters and creatures all the way around, revelations that ring disturbingly true, and tragic losses to all sides. Jeez...talk about ending on a down note. I think that with the ending Hambly was trying to create suicidal urges in her readers. Although this novel is complete, and it doesn't end with a cliffhanger, there is a sequel promised at the end, so keep your eyes open.My biggest gripe with this book had nothing to do with the book really, but the fact that in the last few years Del Rey has started using really cheap paper that won't last for a real long time; added to the fact that their books are a little more expensive than some of the opposition, I think they'd better get t

The book Contains the main caracters of the book Dragondsbane. The Story is well told with great attention to details. It is true that the book seems to be missing half the story. I think that this book is just setting the stage for the 3rd book. I can not wait for the 3rd book to be puplished. In any case if you liked the book Dragonsbane you will not be sorry for buying this book.

I really liked this book, but it is much darker than any of the other Hambly books I've read (which is pretty much anything she wrote). I can see why it wouldn't appeal to a lot of people, as there is something too close to reality in the way the heroes, both Jenny and John, interact with the demons - neither good nor bad are ever pure, or separated. The dragons are just beutiful, and I would have liked a few drawings, like the one from Dragonsbane. I hope the sequel comes soon, and that all ends well, never mind the reality and the analysis of the complex human nature.