Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

DNF

Don't remember how much I read, but it just felt unpleasant to me with the whole: you're a girl so you're not good enough (and her own feelings of not being good enough because she's a girl - I dealt with that enough with Alanna, thank you very much) and the: you're disabled so you're not good enough.

(Mostly a note for myself so I don't decide to try reading it again, forgetting that I already did once. Besides, it cropped up on my recommendations and I'm left going yeah, I did try that.)

I can't write a proper review of this book because I cannot finish it. I am a third of the way in and it is tedious - to the point where I don't want to pick up my kindle because I know it's there, waiting for me. I just can't do it. I don't know if it gets better if you trudge through it a little longer but I like my female YA protagonists to actually be able to do more than look to the men in her life for guidance. If I wanted to read about men saving the day and guiding the girl I'd just read adult fantasy. I have been trudging for days now and it's not looking any better.

(Ages 16+) The story idea and main charecter (Eona) are very intresting. There are many complex situations and story building.
A couple things I did not really care for is the very unnessary annount of pages in this book. I feel myself reading every 3rd page to make the story go quicker. There are also adult comments that are not not horrible, but just something to be mindful of.
There is also a man that feels he was born with female energy and lives his life as a women.

So good! I'm bewitched by the Asian mythology and mesmerizing world.

Incredibly well done, immersive and enjoyable.

Wow. I'd give it 5 stars but I'm very picky. Perhaps it was just the timing in my life, but my mind drifted during certain parts.
But yes! Holy yes! A female protagonist that embraces the power of being a female! And the themes of the book are certainly timely and relevant.

3.5 stars

I really liked it! it was something new. I liked the writing and the world.

I loved the concept and characters in this book. The story was easier to follow and for such a large book it was a quick read, but that could be due to the fact that I couldn't put it down! :) I do however think that the world building could have been a bit more in depth. The plot could have been a little bit more complex, some parts I guessed ahead of the character certain events. These are the reasons this book received a four star. It has a lot of potential and I am eager to read the next.

It would have been a much more pleasant book if Eona rose a bit more above her fear. I've to say Eona's fear is relatable if we really put ourselves in her shoes and circumstance. But for such a book, I really want a heroine that I can fall behind and root for her. Eona makes it just a liiiiitle more difficult with her terror-induced confusion and mistakes. however, it is a really interesting premise for a series, like how the Mirror Dragon's name comes about. This is why I'm going to continue to the next book. Oh, and I hope it isn't just me who finds the description of Lord Ido's scent as disturbing...I think the book is worth a read though, for its freshness of plot. Whether you like it or not, evidently from the mixed reviews, is really subjective.

I think this is the first YA book that didn't start out as a girl meeting some strange mysterious boy and the adventure surrounding their angst filled relationship - and I loved that about it. It was refreshingly different in both it's use of an oriental-like backdrop to a main character who has a disability. I was swept away in this story in a way i haven't for some time with a YA book and when it came to an end I was so glad I could pick up the next volume right way. I recommend this for anyone tired of the Twilight knockoffs and want a story that doesn't shy away from difficult themes about honor, trust and friendship. Very, very good read!

When I first attempted to read Eon, I was all for it; as in, I loved the Chinese Zodiac animals and how they were incorporated into the book was genius. However, when I actually started to read the book, this is how my mind spoke to me: “Nice visuals I'm getting with all the descriptive detail...whoa, the dragons are so majestic...gah, more descriptive detail? Where's the action?....I can't take it anymore, must know how it ends...” In fact, I only ended up reading the first quarter of the book and then skimming the rest. That, I knew later, made for a very bad understanding of the series of events that occurred in the book. So that is why I decided to give Eon another chance.

Take Two:

Eona was in a serious dilemma when she was approached by her new master while she was working the salt farms. She had seen so many of her “colleagues” and friends die from a coughing sickness induced by just being there. If she wanted to survive and have a chance to come into riches herself, she would have to follow her new masters orders and become a boy forevermore. Eon was then known as one of the twelve candidates vying for the position of Rat Dragoneye Apprentice. Being cripple and one of the smallest boys in the bunch, the odds were not in his favor. (Actually, since the ceremony of the choosing would be somewhere the whole town could watch, they were placing bets and Eon's was 1:1000. Yikes.)

Characters: Eon was going through what manga readers know as a “gender-bender” situation, meaning he was so undercover that he couldn't be a girl if he tried. Pros of his character would be his ambition (ironically, enough), his...Well, there wasn't much else. Cons of his character is a different story; his constant fears and worries of what others would do to him if they knew the truth got annoying real fast. His cowardice to face the problems and deal with them made me want to punch him numerous and say, “Grow a pair.” His indecisiveness was frustrating and the constant doubt made me want to skip pages again. Through all of this, I still didn't think badly of him because I knew the full extent of the circumstances he was in. All of the pressure that was on him to succeed was overwhelming to say the least. In one interaction that Eon had with another very important character made me question, “Has anyone ever told Eon that they love him?”

The other characters and people who are introduced became far more prudent to plot line than side characters would normally be. In fact, while I enjoyed every interaction that Eon had with all the other characters, Eon would barely speak twice in their whole conversation. Rilla and Chart were most dear to my heart because their loyalty to Eon's master's house was unquestionable, and Chart's “deformity” just pulled at my heartstrings. Speaking of Eon's master, Heuris Brannon was indeed a terrifying man but it was clear the underlying emotion he felt toward his trainee. Lady Dela and Ryko were two of my favorite characters because they made a great team and their opinion of him mattered very much to Eon. Now, I must mention the dragons because their role in this book meant everything to the other characters in the story. Like I said before, these beasts were definitely majestic, but they were also calculating, cunning and cooperative in times of worldly distress. Their faculty was to help when the land was in crisis, whether it be to a monsoon, an earthshake, or anything else that could affect the land and its harvest from prospering.

Plot: Eon was one of those books that follows the constant of taking the hero/heroine to their lowest point before even thinking of capitalizing on their strength and courage to help others. I was dreading the time when all his secrets would come light and the possible punishment it would mean for all who helped get to where he is. And this is where the twists and surprises in the plot came in, because I remember when I first skimmed the book, I spoiled one of the best secrets for myself, so when I went back to read it the second time, I knew the best thing that could happen and didn't have anything to look forward too. But boy was it a good secret...and it made Eon look like an absolute fool which I liked because I knew that he could only grow as a character from that point on. His desperate decisions and his deception were all seen to by the end of this book

Another consistency that I read through more thoroughly the second time around was the descriptive detail, and yes it drove me crazy to read through it all but I was able to fully appreciate the pain-staking process the author went through to provide such vivid imaginings and in my mind's eye it was beautiful.

Originality: Its obvious how much thought and love went into creating Eon because after reading all about all its characters and the world-building, there's no doubt in my mind that this book is one of a kind. Where else will you find a society that depends on the magical power of a multitude of twelve dragons and their handlers to keep you and your property safe from natural disaster? However, while the mythical aspect of this book is unique, the protagonist and his struggles were interesting but more of the same: rookie mistakes, slow learning curve, and final revealing revelation.

Overall: I have to recommend this to readers who have been in a reading slump but only to those who want to slowly get back in the game. Mostly due to the fact that while there are battle and fight scenes, the book isn't as fast-paced as an action-packed book would be.

C+

Pros: engaging, combines new age beliefs with fantasy world magic, protagonist stays in character

Cons: major plot twist is very obvious

Eon's ability to see all 11 energy dragons is awarding her the chance to become the apprentice of the Rat Dragon, ascendant this year. But women aren't allowed to be Dragoneyes, so she must hide her gender. When the choosing ceremony goes awry and the long lost Mirror Dragon returns, she is plunged into mess of political intrigue she is ill equipped to handle.

Eon is an engaging read that's hard to put down. The girl goes from crisis to crisis as she's thrust into the heart of palace politics while trying to keep several important secrets.

The magic of this fantasy world is based heavily on new age beliefs. The chakras are used to focus chi, while the dragon mythology is the Chinese zodiac. Goodman manages to take these familiar concepts and makes them unique by molding them to the energy dragons, through whom natural phenomenon can be controlled.

Modern readers will quickly figure out the plot twist regarding the truth of the Mirror Dragon. While it is in character for Eon to misunderstand what is happening, it is frustrating as a reader to see how she's missing something that to us is so obvious. However, I was impressed that the author resisted the urge to give Eon a modern mindset. She is very much a product of her world, which is as it should be.

I found Eon a fascinating character, even while I didn't always like her decisions. She's caught in a difficult position where if it's learned she's a woman, her life and that of her master and servant, are forfeit. As more and more people put their faith in her power her position becomes even more desperate. In response, she pressures a friend to act in a way that puts his life in danger, with no consciousness that she's done so. She also takes pains to avoid becoming a pawn.

While I was able to guess many of the plot twists early in the book, the last third, after the truth of the Mirror Dragon is revealed, was so unexpected, and somewhat disturbing, that I enjoyed every moment of the adventure.

The book ends at a satisfying place while leaving many things unfinished. I'll definitely be picking up Eona when it comes out next spring.

Wow, I loved this book. I was so nervous for the main character terrified of what misfortune would come her way, It was hard to put away when I needed to do other things. I recommend it to people who like adventure books with heroines.

Good read! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the arc so I can review this for YAFantasyGuide.com. As with all “epic fantasy” novels, it isn't whether we can read what the author telegraphs us in advance (no spoilers, but if you read this and don't see some things coming, bah!) - but its the anticipation and reveal that makes it worth it. Certainly a worthy read.

This has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time! The story is phenomenal, fast paced and full of twists and turns, a wild ride, and the characters rich and well written! One of the other things I loved about it was that the “fantasy” takes a back seat to the story, it is there, but the driving force of the novel is the human story wrapped in the fantasy, if that makes sense.LOL

I really think this is a book that the fantasy lover in your life would love, but would also appeal to those who may not be the biggest fantasy fans. I am giving this two very big thumbs up and I am going to try and wait patiently for the sequel!

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is a refreshingly non-western culture fantasy with plenty of action and intrigue. The main character and narrator, Eon, provides an accessible voice for readers while still being fully a part of the Empire of the Celestial Dragons.[return]
[return]I did find myself wanting to shake Eon for stupidity on a couple of occasions, mostly when I had managed to piece something together before Eon did.