Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

Excitement! Adventure! Power! A small David-like hero taking on Goliath... Er, well... except, this hero isn't a boy. The heroine of Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is not your gorgeous blond haired blue eyed simpering diva. Our hero, Eon/Eona has everything going against her in life... she's the wrong sex in a male dominated world; she's small in a world where size is used to intimidate; she's weak in a world where strength rules; and on top of all of that, she is partially crippled from an childhood accident. This novel proves that it is the power of the will that transforms the world and I am eager for the second half of this duology. Move over Harry Potter! Eon is here!

A failed teacher driven by the desperation of a last chance to do the unspeakable, a lowly slave and her son despised because of his deformity from birth, a transvestite living as a court lady facing intolerance moderns cannot imagine, a spy for rebels who willingly became a eunuch, a royal heir raised in isolation among the women, and at the center of it all a crippled girl pretending to be a boy in order to become an apprentice dragoneye, to which only males are allowed under pain of the most horrible of deaths.... You call THIS an army?... The bad guys don't stand a chance, but it is going to be "the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life"! Alison Goodman has done the impossible; she has imagined a fantasy world that is new and different in almost every respect! Based on Chinese and Japanese (but mostly Chinese from what I can see) history and culture and mythology, the Empire of the Celestial Dragons is quite a change from Medieval Europe or primitive barbarianism. The most dangerous thing in this universe is not the powerful magic but rather the treacherous court intrigue, which can kill you in so many more horrible ways. From the very beginning Eon/Eona is under horrendous pressure and threat of death as she carefully navigates her twisted path, surrounded by intrigue and treachery. What separates good from evil in this world is a bit hazier than most: honor, loyalty, and the Chinese version of the Golden Rule. Honesty? Not so much. Living a double life makes Eon/Eona inclined to carefully ration her truthfulness, a practice that quite often leaves her poised on the knife-edge of disaster. Goodman also keeps her main character under almost continuous stress, whipsawing her emotions from joy to despair in the midst of a single thought, but (fortunately?) this age is too harsh to allow for the possibility of nervous breakdown; she must soldier on regardless. As might be expected of the first book of a duology, there really isn't anything you could call an "ending"; rather, there is merely a pause in the action at a reasonably appropriate stopping place. Think of it as merely the halfway point in a single thousand-page novel,... but it is going to be a frustratingly long wait for the second half! Note: if my description of the good guys above triggers your PC alarm as it did mine, fear not; there is not a trace of PC idiocy anywhere in this novel. I think this might be because in this world where emperors have absolute control over life and death (so long as they do not lose the Mandate of Heaven) and class barriers are nearly unbreakable, there is no such thing as "rights", only "right" and the "might" which makes it. Here strong men rule over weak men, and men rule over women. Of course no one in his right mind would choose to live under such a system, but it does have the benefit of eliminating the whining and multiplying the gratitude.

This is a wonderful story with many interesting characters and places. The author brings it to life so well that you almost feel as if you are there in the beautiful oriental settings, the gardens, the opulent clothing, the palace ... all part of what can best be described as taking place during an Imperial Dynasty. The story is about a young woman disguising herself as a man in order to become a Dragoneye - something permitted only to males. She, unlike any of the other candidates, can see all of the dragons, not just the one to whom she is trying to become Dragoneye. The training is grueling - especially for Eona who was crippled when she was younger. You follow her through parts of her training, the Dragoneye ceremony, and all that comes afterward. She must learn palace court protocol, must adjust to her new position and the wealth which comes with it, must try to unravel intrigues (including murders) brought on by an internal power struggle for the Emperor's position (the old Emperors health is declining), and see how she struggles to maintain her secret while trying to find her inner dragon. It is a "good against evil" book with the usual twists and turns and many feel good parts. I recommend this book for teens and adults alike. This is a riveting tale which ends with ... the knowledge a sequel is coming. I do so hope it is soon!

For years, sixteen year old Eona has been living a secret life. Gifted with the ability to see the eleven invisible energy dragons that lend power to the Empire, she holds a very rare talent. But women who possess magic are scorned, which compels Eona to live her life under the guise of twelve-year-old Eon, a candidate for the position of apprentice to a Dragoneye, the human catalyst between the dragons and the Empire. But Eona will soon come to find that even harder than disguising her true identity will be navigating through the turbulent waters of court politics and choosing to do what is right...which includes being true to herself, no matter what the cost. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a strange and intensely compelling read. Based off of Chinese and Japanese myths and legends, it is an exhilarating blend of mystery, suspense, and foreign culture and habits that will engross and entertain readers to no end. Eona's character is very honest, and despite her insistence at being considered male, her true voice and nature rings out clearly, making her a highly appealing character whose motives and struggles are completely relatable. The story is slightly predictable in the first half of the book, but Goodman does an excellent job at drawing out the plot and artfully laying the foundation for the climax of the story. Eona's tale picks up a few surprising elements and the book goes out with a bang as political tensions reach their breaking point. The ending is heart stopping, and the complete cliff hanger will most certainly leave readers yearning for the conclusion of this smart and drama filled duet in the next book--whose title is too much a spoiler to reveal yet, but hopes to be just as riveting and breathtaking.