Helpful Score: 14
This is Book 1 of the Dragon Prince Series written by Melanie Rawn. Her writing is in a similar style to Anne McCaffrey. This is a well-written book of good vs evil and including a prince, his bride, a little romance, magic, dragons, etc. All the usual elements in a good fantasy read. You will enjoy the book and want to read the next two in the series just to see what happens. The characters are well developed and interesting.
Helpful Score: 8
Good first book for the series. Was good enough that I'm searching for the rest of the books in the series.
Well written, and the flow keeps you reading. Captivating battles, moments of wit, and magical sensations with a few surprises thrown in.
Well written, and the flow keeps you reading. Captivating battles, moments of wit, and magical sensations with a few surprises thrown in.
Helpful Score: 8
An awesome series, I am not a fan of fantasy at ALL, and I found this fascinating and totally engrossing!
Helpful Score: 6
This was a great book, a new author I decided to try. I'm a big McCaffrey and Lackey fan, and this was right up there with them!
Helpful Score: 5
This is a fantastic fantasy series and I am surprised I hadn't found it sooner! The characters and plots are a blend between David Eddings and Anne McCaffrey, but still very unique in many ways.
This takes place in a world where there is no "magic" persay, but there are Sunrunners that can use sunlight and moonlight to view far away places, speak telepathically to eachother, and even create fire and illusions. They are used as messengers, advisors, and spiritual leaders and are held in high regard. There are also the Princes, who rule with the power of land and people, and are advised by the sunrunners. And there are dragons.
At the time of this book, there is a High Prince who is only concerned with his own ambitions, and a prince-heir Rohan whose Prince father is known for his bravery in battles, and for uniting his subjects. When Rohan becomes Prince in his father's stead, he vows to oust the evil High Prince and rule fairly, lawfully, and justly. Then there is a very talented and skilled Sunrunner, Sioned. She has seen Rohan in a firey vision as her husband and they will be rulers together.
This was a great first book, and the first trilogy (Dragon Prince, Star Scroll, and Sunrunner's Fire) are wonderful reads. The second trilogy, Dragon Token, takes place shortly after Sunrunner's Fire. They continue the story when the continent is under attack from foreign invaders.
I loved the idea of using sunlight to carry messages, and that the sunrunners are peaceful and exalted people. The laws that Rohan strives to make create interesting politics that are easy to follow.
The few down sides I have found is that there are so many names. In several of the books Ms. Rawn has a character glossery in the back, which helps. I was also a little disappointed by the time jumps - sometimes decades go by, and other times many chapters cover just a few days. Her dating system was confusing to me too, until I realized that some chapters took place earlier in time but later in the book to tell what was happening at the same time, different places.
Over all the first 2 books were my favorite, and I started disliking some of the main characters in the later 4 books.
I still recommend it highly however, and am eager to read other series by Melanie Rawn!
This takes place in a world where there is no "magic" persay, but there are Sunrunners that can use sunlight and moonlight to view far away places, speak telepathically to eachother, and even create fire and illusions. They are used as messengers, advisors, and spiritual leaders and are held in high regard. There are also the Princes, who rule with the power of land and people, and are advised by the sunrunners. And there are dragons.
At the time of this book, there is a High Prince who is only concerned with his own ambitions, and a prince-heir Rohan whose Prince father is known for his bravery in battles, and for uniting his subjects. When Rohan becomes Prince in his father's stead, he vows to oust the evil High Prince and rule fairly, lawfully, and justly. Then there is a very talented and skilled Sunrunner, Sioned. She has seen Rohan in a firey vision as her husband and they will be rulers together.
This was a great first book, and the first trilogy (Dragon Prince, Star Scroll, and Sunrunner's Fire) are wonderful reads. The second trilogy, Dragon Token, takes place shortly after Sunrunner's Fire. They continue the story when the continent is under attack from foreign invaders.
I loved the idea of using sunlight to carry messages, and that the sunrunners are peaceful and exalted people. The laws that Rohan strives to make create interesting politics that are easy to follow.
The few down sides I have found is that there are so many names. In several of the books Ms. Rawn has a character glossery in the back, which helps. I was also a little disappointed by the time jumps - sometimes decades go by, and other times many chapters cover just a few days. Her dating system was confusing to me too, until I realized that some chapters took place earlier in time but later in the book to tell what was happening at the same time, different places.
Over all the first 2 books were my favorite, and I started disliking some of the main characters in the later 4 books.
I still recommend it highly however, and am eager to read other series by Melanie Rawn!
Helpful Score: 3
From Library Journal
An arranged marriage between Prince Rohan of Stronghold and the "sunrunner" Sioned of Goddess Keep promises to bring a new kind of peace to a strife-torn land until the machinations of a self-serving High Prince plunge the world into war. Romance, intrigue, magic, and myth mingle freely in this first of a series that should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance. JC
Clear and beautifully written, March 12, 2003
Reviewer: C. A Baker (San Francisco, CA United States)
I've owned all these books since they were first published and they are a series I have reread numerous times. I am currently rereading them in fact.
The characters are excellently crafted with depth and feeling. The really good characters have good and bad sides, they make mistakes and they THINK!
There are some stereotyped characters but they still are fascinating and not so stereotyped that they are boring or irritating!
Melanie Rawn is a marvelous writer and before you read about how she hasn't crafted her world correctly let me point out it is HER world! It shouldn't matter to you if there are siege engines or other historical issues that relate to our EARTH's history. For the simple reason that this is not Earth but Rawn's own creation and she can do or not do whatever the heck she wants with it's history and technology.
If you are the type to get fussy over that or you do not like romance in you fantasy then these books are not for you. However, I would like to see you try the first book anyway just to see what you think!
Go for it, I think you'll like it! :-)
An arranged marriage between Prince Rohan of Stronghold and the "sunrunner" Sioned of Goddess Keep promises to bring a new kind of peace to a strife-torn land until the machinations of a self-serving High Prince plunge the world into war. Romance, intrigue, magic, and myth mingle freely in this first of a series that should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance. JC
Clear and beautifully written, March 12, 2003
Reviewer: C. A Baker (San Francisco, CA United States)
I've owned all these books since they were first published and they are a series I have reread numerous times. I am currently rereading them in fact.
The characters are excellently crafted with depth and feeling. The really good characters have good and bad sides, they make mistakes and they THINK!
There are some stereotyped characters but they still are fascinating and not so stereotyped that they are boring or irritating!
Melanie Rawn is a marvelous writer and before you read about how she hasn't crafted her world correctly let me point out it is HER world! It shouldn't matter to you if there are siege engines or other historical issues that relate to our EARTH's history. For the simple reason that this is not Earth but Rawn's own creation and she can do or not do whatever the heck she wants with it's history and technology.
If you are the type to get fussy over that or you do not like romance in you fantasy then these books are not for you. However, I would like to see you try the first book anyway just to see what you think!
Go for it, I think you'll like it! :-)
Helpful Score: 1
Plots within plots within plots.... all woven in a complex tapestry that draws one in and leads one to trace the pattern from point to point without ever once losing the thread. One of my favorite books of all time.
Helpful Score: 1
This was an ok book. I enjoyed reading the beginning a lot with the whole quirky romance about how they want to be together but they can't. And I also enjoyed the fact that the both the main characters were devious in their own way and, in a sense, prevailed through their mishaps.
The ending, on the other hand, was a big disappointment. I actually got bored and tired of reading the ongoing schemes of the antagonist of the story. The ending for me was a forced read with lots of speed reading and skimming involved.
The ending, on the other hand, was a big disappointment. I actually got bored and tired of reading the ongoing schemes of the antagonist of the story. The ending for me was a forced read with lots of speed reading and skimming involved.
I couldn't get into it. I wanted dragons, not love stories and the tale drug on forever. I quit about half way and am posting the other two books for others to read. I'm an Anne McCaffery dragon person, not this book named about dragons but nothing about dragons at half way.
The Dragon Lord Rohan, prince of the desert, ruler of the kingdom granted his family for as long as the Long Sands spew fire.Rohan, dragon slayer,seeking deadly revenge on the grandsire of all dragons, the creature which had claimed his own father's lifeblood. And Rohan, champion of dragons, fighting desperately to preserve the last remaining lords of the sky, and with them the secret which might be the salvation of his people.
And the Sunrunner Witch - Sioned - fated by fire to be Rohan's bride. She had mastered the powers of sunlight and moonglow, catching hints of a yet to be formed pattern which could irrevocably alter the destinies of Sunrunners and ordinary mortals alike.
And the Sunrunner Witch - Sioned - fated by fire to be Rohan's bride. She had mastered the powers of sunlight and moonglow, catching hints of a yet to be formed pattern which could irrevocably alter the destinies of Sunrunners and ordinary mortals alike.
this is a good read
Read the Ruins of Ambria books before finding this series. Another quality story from a good author. Can't wait until she is able to publish more of her work.
I dearly love this series but the intrigue is so well written that I get sucked into it! It is soooo easy to fall in love with these characters.
Okay. So I wanted to really like this book, but unfortunately if fell short for me. The mythology the author created is nothing really new for science fiction, but was interesting none the less. The main problem for me was the lack of any tension or chemistry between the characters. What was going to happen was pretty predictable; therefore, there was very little tension in the story line. In other words I got bored. Full disclosure I couldnt finish the book. Over half way through I started doing some heavy skimming. After that I just gave up and moved on to another book. If this story line interests you I would recommend Song of Arbonne by Gay Gavriel Kay. No dragons, but a great magical story with interesting character development.
i was so happy to see the first two books in this series at a yard sale. I even stuck with it through the 'boring' parts etc, and i wanted to like this book but it was lacking in sooo many places. The character development was not there, the way everyone in the book interacted together was not intriguing, it just was not my cup of tea! usually when a book is good im upset when it ends but i was happy when this one was done. I dont mind long books, those are sometimes the best kind but when its a book like this you dont!
I dont really recommend this book unless you want to torture yourself! so needless to say i didn't read the second one either. And the 1.00 i spent at the yardsale for these two books were way over priced.
Read with caution, you may feel irrated and insane afterward
I give this bk 1 star out of 5
I dont really recommend this book unless you want to torture yourself! so needless to say i didn't read the second one either. And the 1.00 i spent at the yardsale for these two books were way over priced.
Read with caution, you may feel irrated and insane afterward
I give this bk 1 star out of 5
I have read this book multiple times.
From Library Journal
An arranged marriage between Prince Rohan of Stronghold and the "sunrunner" Sioned of Goddess Keep promises to bring a new kind of peace to a strife-torn land until the machinations of a self-serving High Prince plunge the world into war. Romance, intrigue, magic, and myth mingle freely in this first of a series that should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance. JC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
An arranged marriage between Prince Rohan of Stronghold and the "sunrunner" Sioned of Goddess Keep promises to bring a new kind of peace to a strife-torn land until the machinations of a self-serving High Prince plunge the world into war. Romance, intrigue, magic, and myth mingle freely in this first of a series that should appeal to readers of fantasy and epic romance. JC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
