Dragonforge

by James Maxey

Book Overview

"War " he said. "Plague Famine Death These things you fear are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Kill me if you wish; you cannot halt their ride "

Following the events of the novel Bitterwood, a new and untested dragon-king now rules the land. The firebrand prophet Ragnar has raised an army of men to overthrow the dragons, and their first target is the town of Dragon Forge, home to the foundries that supply weapons and armor...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1503021505
• ISBN13: 9781503021501
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 298 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Even better than the first one

In Dragonforge, Maxey does an excellent job at giving us more of what made Bitterwood great, while adding depth, complexity and nuance to the characters and situations. We learn more about the world and how it got to be the way it is, but at the same time, the action is faster-paced and more gripping. Very satisfying sequel. I can't wait for the third book, Dragonseed!

DRAGONFORGE ROCKS!!!

Just like Bitterwood this was a fantastic book, i didnt want to put it down, it had a great story line, great characters new and old, and just like in Bitterwood, twists and turns that made you want to keep reading!!If you read any of these reviews before Bitterwoods reviews and want to buy Bitterwood i highly suggest buying this along with it because when Bitterwood ends your going to want to keep on reading!!! The sad part is that once you finish Dragonforge you REALLY want to keep reading but you cant because #3 isnt out yet, or at least i did!!! So thats what you can look forward to come summer of 2009. Ive said it before and ill say it again, James Maxey is a great writer and has got me hooked on fantasy novels now, and i havent found anyone that i like better than James Maxey and at the rate these novels are going and if they keep going he will continue to be #1 for me!!! Basically, BUY THIS BOOK ITS GREAT!!!! Make sure you read Bitterwood first though!

As good as Bitterwood!

Maxey has followed up his innovative Bitterwood with a sequel every bit as good as the original. In addition, he has pulled off the impressive feat of writing a follow-up book which picks up right where its predecessor left off, but which doesn't require reading Bitterwood first in order to be enjoyed. (Which is not to say you should skip Bitterwood. If it's available to you, by all means read it first. But don't sweat over it if you can't get it right now.) It's also a book for which a follow-up novel is clearly in store (hurrah!), yet it resolves all the important plot threads satisfactorily. In other words, it leaves you panting for the next installment because you know it's going to be good, not because this one leaves you dangling. So you don't need to wait for the next one before reading this. In Dragonforge, Maxey reveals more of the history of how dragons came to dominate humans, and more of the scientific sources for Jandra and Vendevorex's powers, but without ever causing the book to lose the feel of a rousing fantasy tale. The main plotlines of Bitterwood and Zeeky, Jandra and Hex (a new character--a libertarian sun-dragon), Blasphet the Murder God, and Pet, weave and intertwine with the stories of several new characters and situations to culminate in a rousing adventure yarn. By the way: for those of you who haven't yet read anything by this promising author, and want an easy way to check him out (as well as those who have read and simply want MORE) his story "Tornado of Sparks" can be downloaded free from Solaris at http://www.solarisbooks.com/pdf/tornado-sparks.pdf . It's a precursor to Bitterwood, and details the origins of Jandra.

Fantasy Meets Genetic Engineering

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fun action sequences, unexpected plot twists, philosopher-villains and a complex multi-species society. Maxey even manages to mix in steampunk technology and a subtle reference to one of his early stories. If someone had asked me three years ago whether, in the wake of McCaffrey's famous Pern books, anyone could do something truly original with dragons, I would have said 'No'. I would also have been wrong. Maxey's dragon culture is unique, wondrous, and occassionally appalling, and I am pleased that we got more insight into it this time around than in the first book. I have only one complaint about DragonForge, and it has more to do with author/reader compatibility than with the book itself. You see, I'm an escapist reader at heart. I like happy books. DragonForge was, at times, too gritty for me. Too many tragic encounters where well-meaning people, by working at cross-purposes, thwart the desires of both. Too many characters facing challenges to their world-views without becoming better people in the process. Too much realism, and too few random acts of kindness. (Oh yeah, and Maxey killed my favorite character. *pout*) None of which necessarily bodes ill for Maxey's career. After all, I complain about George R. R. Martin's stuff for the same reasons.

Sequel to the Fantastic Bitterwood Novel

With Shandrazel now dead, his son has become king and is determined to bring about the end of kings and establish a commonwealth. But not all of the dragons and humans agree with his method of peace. Hatred and vengeance runs deep. And when the villainous Blasphet escapes from prison, he contributes to the dissention and chaos in the land. I thought I loved Bitterwood, but Dragonforge is even more fantastic. The character development is exceptional, bringing back most of the characters but concentrating on the most important. Maxey has improved the story flow in the midst of jumping from character to character, making for easier reading and less confusion. I can't think of another book that contains so many outstanding and complex characters: Jandra is a human, apprenticed by a dragon, and now controls more technology than she understands. Her family was killed by the very dragon that raised her. And she relates more to the dragons than to her fellow humans. Bitterwood became a legendary dragon slayer when his family and home were wiped out, and his whole goal in life became revenge fueled by hatred. Graxen is a sky dragon who is now a messenger for the new king. When he meets a kind female of his race, Graxen begins to form forbidden feelings which leads to danger and deceit. Hex is the brother of the new king, who has returned from his ended exile. From his years of isolation, he has formulated his own ideas about peace and freedom. Hex has become a philosopher with high ideals. He begins to form a strong friendship with Jandra on their quest to find Bitterwood and his young charge. The story of Dragonforge involves battles, freedom, intrigue, religious zealots, and a forgotten age of history. But to me, the true story lies in the lives and experiences of the main characters. The main themes just add to the heightened excitement and heartbreak for each of the characters and their different point of views. Dragonforge is an epic fantasy adventure with roots in science fiction. Maxey's sequel has exceeded my expectations, leaving me eagerly awaiting the next installment.