Everran's Bane

by Sylvia Kelso

Book Overview

What does the dragon know? The kingdom of Everran is dying, razed by a dragon that came out of nowhere to burn its oil groves and devastate its vineyards and kill its folk. Everran was safe,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594143536
• ISBN13: 9781594143533
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Five Star (ME)
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

high recommend for a new author

I picked this up a few weeks ago at the local library, and read it in a day. Had seen a blurb or some kind of mention by Lois McMaster Bujold, and since anything she touches is golden (in my opinion) I thought I'd give it a try. Very well done. Told from the perspecitve of the king's harper (since it's been a few weeks, I've already forgotton names.) He has worked his way to the pinnacle of a harper's ambition, and as such, is privvy to all aspects of the public and private lives of the king and queen. The king is beloved by all, cordial to the harper, but distant from him (who wouldn't be with your biographer watching your every move.) The harpist is fascinated by the king, in love with the beautiful queen, and likely to continue in this lifestyle unchanged - until the dragon comes. At that point, the harper goes beyond what is expected and accompanies the king and his troops to battle the dragon. They are unsuccessful, but in their quest to find a way to defeat the dragon, the harpist and the king become close companions, and (as much as the king is able) friends. Very well written - great characterization. The two protagonists are both admirable and likeable. One reservation was the authors use of "native" words (especially for plants, trees and weapons). I had no clue what they were (kind of like reading an English book about Siberia with the occasional Russian word thrown in.) Usually I can figure it out by context, but it just wasn't clicking for me in this book - maybe because in most cases it didn't really matter what kind of plant or tree it was. It didn't stop me from plowing onward. The only other thing that bothered me was the rather shallow character development of the queen - I couldn't figure out what it was about her that made both of these rather spectacular men love her. Sure, she had beauty and a lovely voice - but that's all we were shown. Later in the book there is a great female character who helps the king develop new and interesting skills - she was interesting! All in all, very well done. I look forward to more from Ms. Kelso.

poignant and moving fantasy

The Kingdom of Everran was a happy place where anyone who wanted to work could find a job and no family was homeless. The vineyards bring in enough money to keep the treasury full and the handsome king is beloved by his subjects, his military, and especially by his adoring wife. Everran's peace ended when the skybane ( a dragon) came. No army can defeat it; no champion can kill it.To stop the ruin of his kingdom, King Beryx sends hearthbard Harran to the dragon's lair to ask what it will take to bring about a truce. Terms are agreed upon but the dragon gives more to the king when he says the "weapon has not been forged" that could kill it implying something not yet invented could. When a jewel disappears from the dragon's cave, it goes on a rampage destroying the capital and the surrounding areas. Banished from his own lands the king and his advisors seek the weapon that would end the life of Hawge the dragon not knowing the answer will cause the king a high cost he must pay in order to save his kingdom. Not every adult fairy tale has a happily ever after ending, EVERRAN'S BANE is a poignant and moving fantasy in which the real hero must choose between giving up much he holds dear or losing everything to the dragon.. There are clues sprinkled throughout the tense plot that hint at what must happen to defeat the dragon, but the king and readers will never guess what they reveal until the climax. That shocker will leave the audience stunned with the revelation that Sylvia Kelso is the real thing. Harriet Klausner