“Successfully mixes swords, sorcery, and skullduggery with complex characters. Dumas fans will especially appreciate the faux-French setting. This is pure adventure fun with plenty for epic fantasy readers to enjoy.”–Publishers Weekly With the dragons believed dead, the kingdom had no more need for dragonslayers. Drunk, disgraced, and all but forgotten, Guillot has long since left his days of … long since left his days of heroism behind him.
As forgotten places are disturbed in the quest for power, and things long dormant awaken, the kingdom finds itself in need of a dragonslayer once again, and Guillot is the only one left…
“Charming [and] entertaining. Recommended for fans of dragons and medieval settings.”–Library Journal
The Dragonslayer Trilogy:
1. Dragonslayer
2. Knight of the Silver Circle
3. Servant of the Crown
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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A fun spin on some frequent fantasy story lines… very original with great characters. I can’t wait to see where this one ends up!!
I read a sample of the book, on bookish first and I really enjoyed it. I won the book in their raffle and was excited. Once I got deeper into the book I liked it but not as much as I thought I would,
For a while I felt like something is missing, the world building , there is none really. we are just thrown in and we are there but that is just about it and sometimes even half way through I just felt lost.
Another thing that bothered me a bit was switching the POV randomly, just anywhere in a chapter without a warning the next paragraph was a different POV. This could, have been because it was a review copy but for this copy is was a bit confusing.
Other than that I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the story, (for the most part.)
What I really enjoyed was that we get a voice of the dragon, and I really enjoyed that and we don’t too often get that.
I liked that the book also deals with some real life issues, like alcoholism.
Overall, it was okay book and the while the writing was good it could have been better with the world building but other than that I liked it.
I give it 3
I liked this fast paced adventure. In their efforts to return great magic they’ve mistakenly woken a dragon. I like this dragon. He talks in his head and doesn’t speak out loud and isn’t romanticized. He is a beautiful powerful beast and he is able to annihilate humanity. An old alcoholic knight from the long ago dragon killing days is their best chance at defeating the dragon. His company is joined by a young woman who is being burned on the pyre for being a witch. She is my favorite character of the two. She adds everything that is missing from the story. These two will stand up to the dragon while politics and magic societies conspire to use the reappearance of dragons to their advantage. To rule. The only negative thing I have to say about it is in regards to the audiobook edition. The volume is so low that it was very difficult to hear what the wonderful narrator Simon Vance was saying. Listen to it with earbuds. Altogether Dragonslayer is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre and dragon stories.
Rating is actually: 3 1/2 stars
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Being a first time reader of Duncan M. Hamilton’s book(s), I wasn’t sure what to expect. Based on the synopsis, this fantasy is inspired by the history of the Dark Ages/Medieval Ages/Middle Ages (whatever anyone wants to call that time of history). Anyways, I for one have been fascinated by that time period. Oh, there’s that dragon(s) part, too, that helped grab my interest… Ha!
Dragonslayer, from beginning to end, has a steady pace as the story, characters, and setting is being laid out; however, there were parts that I felt the pace slowed. Among the character POVs that is an integral part of the story is the dragon’s point of view. Yes! I got to “see” through the dragon’s eyes. I got to “feel” what the dragon was feeling. Despite all the world building and character development, I still felt like the book started in the middle of an aftermath of some major event that affected all these characters. Hence, all that wondering brought up questions of “whys.” I don’t know… Maybe this first book in the series is just setting up for the next books to follow.
Don’t get me wrong. I did enjoy this read. I want to know if these questions, or “whys,” will be revealed in the following book(s). I just felt that this first book, like most first book in a new series, is pretty much used to introduce readers to the various characters and the setting of the story. I already know that this read is not for everyone. I only say this, because, despite Dragonslayer being an enjoyable read, I really didn’t connect or “feel” this read. But, don’t let that deter you from reading epic fantasies set in the Medieval Ages.
Reviewer: Jasmine
Interesting plot, but the writing was pedestrian. I killed a few hours reading it, and I will probably read the sequel if it comes to my attention.
First I love the cover. Second I have never read anything by this author before and they definitely covered a lot of boxes to check. Example dragon whose lost so much and out for revenge, a man whose lost his family and now passes the days drinking who use to be part of the elite for the kingdom, a woman who is magical but is scared since it is against the law to practice magic are some of the boxes being checked. What i wished for was for more while the story showed many different view points I wanted more action. I know this book is book one of a trilogy so it wouldn’t have all the answers and one big happy ending so now I just have to wait for book two to release to see if what I was wanting happens.
BOOK REVIEW
Dragonslayer
The Dragonslayer: Book 1
By Duncan M. Hamilton
Guillot dal Villerauvais was once the best swordsman at the Academy, winner of the Competition, a Banneret, and a member of the King’s personal guard. Now, as Lord Villerauvais, the last surviving Chevalier of the Silver Circle, and the town drunk, Gill is asked to do something that hasn’t been done in generations: find and kill a dragon.
Solène is a simple woman who simply wants to own and run her own bakery. When her not-so-simple magical powers are discovered, her dreams are put on hold as she learns about and hones her craft.
Alpheratz is a dragon with a desire for vengeance. Need I say more?
Dragonslayer, the first novel of the trilogy, follows Guillot on his quest to kill Alpheratz. Along the way he gets some help from some friends, but will it be enough?
Dragonslayer was an quite the adventure, and I enjoyed being along for the ride. Like any adventure, there were some slow moments, but the action more than made up for them. Many of the characters kept me on my toes, surprising me with their loyalties, their backstabbing, and their internal strengths.
Experiencing some of the the action from Alpheratz’s viewpoint was gnarly: the flying, the fire, the destruction! It also made him seem more “human,” with his pain and sadness, his love, and his desire for revenge.
If you enjoy fantasy novels, dragons, magic, and adventure, go read Dragonslayer in July 2nd!
I received an ARC of Dragonslayer in exchange for an honest review.