Kadomi reviewed Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Review of 'Eon' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I enjoyed this book, which was a strange mix of Dragonriders of Pern with myths from feudal China or Japan. Our protagonist is Eona, a crippled 16-year old girl with magical talents. She is able to see all the Celestial Dragons, who aid the Empire of the Celestial Dragons. Each year, a different dragon ascends and chooses a new apprentice Dragoneye, and the current apprentice is made Ascendant Lord, to rule the Dragoneye Council. The Rat Dragon is about to ascend, and Eona is in training for the ceremony. However, it is only boys that stand. Her master and Eona are hiding her gender, to have her stand anyhow, and she is known as Eon.
In the ceremony, Eon is almost chosen by the Rat Dragon, but then something extraordinary happens. The lost 12th dragon, the Mirror Dragon, missing for 500 years, chooses Eon, and suddenly 'he' is Lord Ascendant, …
I enjoyed this book, which was a strange mix of Dragonriders of Pern with myths from feudal China or Japan. Our protagonist is Eona, a crippled 16-year old girl with magical talents. She is able to see all the Celestial Dragons, who aid the Empire of the Celestial Dragons. Each year, a different dragon ascends and chooses a new apprentice Dragoneye, and the current apprentice is made Ascendant Lord, to rule the Dragoneye Council. The Rat Dragon is about to ascend, and Eona is in training for the ceremony. However, it is only boys that stand. Her master and Eona are hiding her gender, to have her stand anyhow, and she is known as Eon.
In the ceremony, Eon is almost chosen by the Rat Dragon, but then something extraordinary happens. The lost 12th dragon, the Mirror Dragon, missing for 500 years, chooses Eon, and suddenly 'he' is Lord Ascendant, together with the power-hungry and violent Lord Ido of the Rat Dragon. There is the danger of civil war, as Ido and the bastard brother of the emperor try to take over the Empire, and only Eon and the Mirror Dragon can stop them.
I really enjoyed Eon's story, and thought it was very interesting, full of political intrigues. Eon is a YA novel, but didn't show any of the usual tropes. My one complaint is that the story would not have suffered if there hadn't been the repeated threat of sexual violence against Eon. I hate it as a plot vehicle. Could have done without. Other than that, I enjoyed the mythology, and who doesn't love dragons? I sure do. Also, shoutout to the inclusion of a transgender character, Lady Dela, who is in love with a eunuch. I liked her a lot.