A kingdom divided cannot stand. For those caught in the middle, it means death. For centuries humans and dragons existed side by side in Alveria, bonded by their care of one another. But no longer. After decades with no viable eggs, humans far outnumber dragons, and the survival of the species appears bleak. The outlook for everyday humans is little better as rogue dragons raid and torment … torment villages. Yet it’s far worse for the tamers, beaten and killed simply for serving the noble dragons.
But eking by at the bottom of Alverian society isn’t any easier for seventeen-year-old Kaelan Younger. Harder still when her loyalty to the dragon crown is no secret. But when her dying mother reveals a horrifying truth about her identity, Kaelan is thrust into a world for which she is ill prepared.
Faced with a new life at the proving grounds for humans and dragons alike, Kaelan must reconcile not just her past but embrace the future laid out before her. When her responsibilities as an Akademy tamer collide with her feelings for a powerful dragon shifter, it will take everything she has to prepare for the danger threatening them both. The fate of the dragons she has sworn to serve rests in her hands.
Now Kaelan is no longer an outsider.
She’s the enemy.
This novel contains violence.
more
I have to say I absolutely adored Kaelan—she was everything you could hope for in a strong YA protagonist. She never backed down and stood her ground even when all hope seemed to be lost. I especially loved her relationship with the Prince after they were bonded.
While Kaelan did have some unlikeable moments, I thought she was a well-rounded character throughout. She never forgot the purpose of her struggles, and even doubted herself when the truth came out about her father. That made her seem very real.
If you’re a fan of epic fantasy, this book has a very amazing world filled with dragons, dragon tamers, and dragon shifters. Deep characterization and excellent descriptions really bring the reading to life. Not to mention the narration.
This is one of my favorite reads of 2019, and I am super excited that this is a series because it means that I don’t have to say goodbye to Kaelan’s awesome world just yet.
I very much enjoyed this first book in the series. There was romance, but not too much. Action, but not too much. Intrigue. Really good read. You will want more.
The nine book series has been on sale on Amazon. I got the boxed set and finally finished it yesterday. Wow. Each set of three is an adventure in itself. The characters are interesting. The setting takes a lot from Norse mythology. The intrigues and challenges are unusual and certainly action-packed. My only complaint (especially in the second boxed set) is there is too much fighting. I am less interested in descriptions of who hit whom with what weapon.
The Dragon Tamer: Alveria Dragon Akademy is the first book in a YA fantasy trilogy by Ava Richardson, author of The First Dragon Rider trilogy, The Sea Dragons trilogy, Upon Dragon’s Breath trilogy and Return of the Darkening Trilogy.
The Dragon Tamer is the first book that I have read by author Ava Richardson but it is definitely not going to be the last. The Dragon Sickness, book 2 in the Alveria Dragon Academy trilogy releases 26 December 2018 with the third book in the trilogy, The Dragon Throne, releasing soon after on 27 February 2019.
During the wait between the second and third books release, I have every intention of reading all of Ava Richardson’s past fantasy works.
Truth be told, I absolutely love it when I discover a new to me author who has plenty of books already out – because, not only does it allow me to become more familiar with the authors work and the worlds that they create, but it provides me with endless hours of reading pleasure.
The Dragon Tamer is an easily read book that captures the imagination. I read this book in the span of a day and at no point did I want to put it down or stop reading. I’m enthralled and captivated by this dragon world that Ava Richardson has created and can’t wait to read the next books in the trilogy.
This book would appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall Universe works, Mercedes Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar and Dragon Jousters series, and perhaps fans of P.C. Cast’s YA fantasy works as well.
Highly Recommended.
Meet Kaelan, a sixteen-year-old apprentice healer who finds out she can roar like a dragon. Yes, that is the introduction Kaelan has to her powers, and the only thing that makes her dying mother reveal that she had an affair with a dragon all those years ago. And not just any, dragon, but the most reprehensible dragon in their country’s history: Mordon. Since only people with dragon blood can be accepted into Alveria Akademy, the best school for dragons and their dragon-blooded tamers, Kaelan decides to enroll in the hopes of finding a cure for her mother’s disease.
On her way to dragon-school, Kaelan meets a mysterious stranger on the road and the prince of Alveria. Lasaro (read, the prince) rescues Kaelan from danger by shifting into his undiscovered dragon form. Lasaro immediately decides he wants Kaelan to be his tamer (his partner, basically). Since he saved her life, Kaelan immediately swears the most contrived oath ever written to the prince. Now, the oath is well thought-out for a 16-year-old peasant. Kealan puts in some reasonable restrictions. But still, the entire thing felt so stilted that I didn’t believe any of it. Even the friendship that forms between Kaelan and Laraso feels forced and the dialogue is abysmal. Lasaro is too obsessed with his princely expectations to hold a real conversation and Kaelan fluctuates between carefree and grimly depressed.
The writing isn’t bad overall, but the story has some serious flaws. I am not attached to any of the characters because we usually met them in a single scene that went something like “Hey, we should friends.” I have no plans to read the next book.
The Dragon Tamer is the first book by Ava Richardson I’ve read and so happy I did. I will be looking for more books by this author. She has created a world where dragons roam free with a strong female character (Kaelin) who is fierce, courageous, determined and who loves dragons. I was drawn into the story from page one and needed to continue turning pages until the end. I found it very difficult to put down but life has a way of interfering. I love anything involving dragons. Am anxiously looking forward to the next book in the Alveria Dragon Akademy series. If you are into dragon stories, I highly recommend this book. Received a copy from Hidden Gems and this is my voluntary and honest review.
Awesome, I had trouble putting it down. The plot and execution is extremely good. I loved the people in the story. There is so much unrest in the Kingdom and the Dragons add to it. I can’t wait until the next story comes out. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
Kaelyn is an outsider. They have moved so many times and the people look down on her. It makes selling her meager items for coin difficult. Her mother, a kind healer, is ill and dying after saving the town from the dying sickness. After roaring in town, she now finds out more about her father and is sent to the Akademy to train and become a dragon trainer. Her peasant status shouldn’t matter but they send her to the kitchens to work instead of learning…
Prince Lasaro is the youngest of the Royal family. He believes he is the only suited child to become the next King. He makes a deal with his mother to be named heir. He finds that it may not be as easy as he had hoped.
I loved reading this story and I hope I don’t have to wait long for the next one!!!
I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.