Review

Summary: Kyrin and Kaden Altair, worshipers of the true God, Elom, are living in the stronghold of a pagan empire. Jace believes that Elom is real, but how could He care for a half-monster?

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Notes: Awesome. This book is similar to Dragonspell, but more intense and tragic. Jace, half ryrik and half human, is unsure of whether he isn't a soulless monster. His mentor and friend assures him that he does, but Jace is still plagued with doubt. The believers in Elom are starting to be persecuted - tortured and killed - for their faith by the empire. By the way, ryriks are like the barbarians from the Roman Empire...just as violent, just as strong, and just as feared. Oh, there are dragons in the second book!

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Age of main character: Seventeen in the first book, older as the series goes on.

 

Violence: Yes. Torture, execution, death, abortion discussed briefly (the main characters know that it is wrong), the ryrik men often assault women and kill them (briefly mentioned, not discussed in detail, doesn't happen to the girl main character), colosseum events, gladiators, beatings, lots of blood. More descriptive than Dragonspell, but not too bad, considering the amount of violence.

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Romance: Yes, in the later books.

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Scary themes: Persecution, the colosseum. SPOILER!!! One lady (very creepy one) tells a soon-to-be mother that she will let her give birth to her child, then she will take the child. Also, that lady has a child out of wedlock.

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Genre: High Fantasy with no magic/Alternant Reality