Review: Fantastic Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 5, 2012
Fast-paced action. Thrilling fight scenes. Romance, dashing knights, pretty princesses, whispers of a dragon. This book has everything you'd expect from a fantasy tale, with none of the cliches. Alvarez matter-of-factly presents his world, painting a picture so clear it's impossible not to envision the neat fields near the farms, the looming menace of the castle, the cold dread inspired by the flashing steel of a sword. In one book he shows the reader the blush of first love, the harshness of a world where everyone is defined by their rank and gender, and the ugly way power can corrupt the soul. Healthy doses of mysticism are thrown in, blending perfectly with the rest of the tale. The characters are compelling and real, inspiring everything from pride to fury to grief.In short, Dragon Fire is a beautifully-written, completely captivating novel. The strong characters and exciting plot would make it a fantastic book anywhere, not just within the fantasy genre. I'd recommend it to anyone!