The Dragon’s Blade Trilogy by Michael R Miller

I received a free audio copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This isn’t a single book review, but a trilogy review, so it may look a little different to the normal one. Darnuir, Prince of Dragons, is reborn twenty years after his arrogance causes a split among the races of his land. The Dragons (not the big scaly ones, although it does suggest they were once like that), are super soldiers, protectors of the land from the Shadow (Rectar), who doesn’t require an introduction. The story, in its essence, tells of Darnuir’s efforts to reunite the land against its frightening foe, one who can turn people to his side with ease. Can the reborn Dragon (sorry for WOT reference) learn from his earlier mistakes and…well, you get the gist. Just for the record, it’s not all plain sailing. Here are my thoughts on the book(s):

• The Reborn King – the first book in the series was actually the weakest, and this is actually a shame, because the trilogy as a whole is an enjoyable read. The problem with TRK is it doesn’t really have a whole lot going on except for Darnuir discovering who he is and what his powers are. It’s not awful, but there’s certainly a lot of talk. But, trust me, it’s worth sticking with
• Veiled Intentions – here’s something you don’t hear every day. Book two, at least in my amateur opinion, is actually the best of the bunch. Rectar’s plan to rule the land begins to escalate, and he leads his army on a rampage with only the Splintering Isles, a small island with few warriors, standing in his way. If Rectar can win here, Darnuir will not have time to rally the other races to his cause. There are also signs of fracture among Darnuir’s people, and the hopes of alliance are slim
• The Last Guardian – a good finish to the series. Darnuir has sent out emissaries to raise extra allies, but they are constantly beset by Rectar and his minions. But wait. Not only are there problems in Darnuir’s camp, but there seems to be dissent in Rectar’s too, which suggests the Shadow’s control is not what he believes. The alliance still struggles to get humans on board as the king of Brevia continues to thumb his nose at Darnuir. Can his daughter Cassandra sway his mind, or will the alliance of races fall before it has its day in the sun?
• Good story. It’s not overly original, but it is fun, with some races that appear a little different to the norm. The conflict throughout, right up to the end, keeps you guessing as to whether Darnuir and Co will succeed. The various conflicts, on both sides, is nicely done and believable, and the characters are generally likeable, or eeevvviiillll. The plot is the best part of the book though, ticking over throughout and always keeping us on our toes and causing us to question if we believe we know what will happen
• Finally, the narrator. He did a great job mostly, adding the right tone when required, and mixing humour with gravitas. If I had one complaint, and it may not have been his decision, the use of traditional accents (Scottish and so forth) to identify the various different races has been done to death and never really been a great idea. Perhaps mixing accents or trying new ones might have been a better idea. Then again, this could be applied to a hundred different books. 

Verdict

After a rocky start, things heat up in a hurry as the trilogy progresses.