Friday, October 15, 2010

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn - Alison Goodman

She has a powerful secret... with deadly consequences.

For years, Eon's life has been focused on magical study and sword-work, with one goal: that he be chosen as a Dragoneye, an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. 
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; the penalty is death.
When Eona's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a struggle for the Imperial throne. Eona must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic. . . and her life.

Title: Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: September 2, 2010
Source: Received from Publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 5/5

Eon is an enticing, exhilarating read. Eon has been training to be a Dragoneye apprentice for the last 4 years. He would give anything for his dream to come to fruition. However, there is one thing standing in his way. Eon is actually Eona, a girl masquerading as a boy. If anyone finds out her secret, it would mean her death. She needs to tread carefully because this is a tumultuous time in the kingdom, and any wrong move could spell disaster for her.
Eon, or rather, Eona, is a character that many can relate with to some degree. She has grown up in a man's world. Women are not allowed to hold positions of power, yet she wants to become a Dragoneye apprentice; one of the most influential positions in the kingdom. She has worked hard over the last four years to change her appearance and feminine mannerisms into the mannerisms of a boy. She has been quite successful so far, but she lives in fear of being caught one day. She is an engaging character. After having read the first one hundred pages of the book, I was hesitant to put it down. I didn't want to have to wait to see if she would be found out, or what would happen next if she did become the next Dragoneye apprentice. I quite enjoyed her character, though at certain points throughout the book I was wondering if she'd ever realize what was going on, as the reader seems to have more knowledge than she does of certain circumstances. 
The dragons also are a major part of the story, for without them, there would be no Dragoneyes. They, as well as the whole world that Goodman has built, are intricate in detail. The description and care given to the dragons is immense. I enjoyed reading about the dragon's and the different cycles, and the power given to the ascending dragon. They may not be your average dragon, but they still pack quite a punch when needed. The world building was rich in detail as well, and was exceptionally rendered throughout the novel. There is a lot of information that is supplied to the reader, however it is not an overabundant amount of information, as it helps showcase the plight of the characters. 
All in all, many will be clamoring for the second book to find out what happens next as this book ends quite abruptly with a cliffhanger. I know I am impatiently looking forward to reading the follow-up to Eon. An interesting and exciting premise, full of potential. I can't wait to read what happens next. I would definitely recommend this book to those who are fans of fantasy, or dragons.

1 comment:

Melissa said...

I can't wait to read this one. I enjoyed your review - and I saw Tamora Pierce blurbed it, and I love her so I NEED to check this out!