Published: September 2017
Pages: 535
Summary
The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable fight for almost two hundred years. Their society has been built around war and only war. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.
Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Young, gift-less Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He’s going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land.
Only, he doesn’t get the chance.
Those closest to him are brutally murdered, and his grief swiftly turns to anger. Fixated on revenge, Tau dedicates himself to an unthinkable path. He’ll become the greatest swordsman to ever live, a man willing to die a hundred thousand times for the chance to kill the three who betrayed him.
My thoughts
The Rage of Dragons is a fantasy epic that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world inspired by African mythology and history. Evan Winter’s debut novel is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure filled with dragons, magic, and political intrigue.
The story follows Tau, a young man from a marginalised group, who transforms from an innocent boy longing for a life of simple pleasure. To a young boy on a mission of revenge, a boy that has to grow up overnight and push his old self aside to avenge those he loves.
He was not the strongest, the quickest, or the most talented, not by any measure. He knew this and knew he could not control this. However, he could control his effort, the work he put in, and there he would not be beaten.
His journey takes him on a path of self-discovery and transformation as he learns to harness his unique abilities and fight for justice. Along the way, he encounters a cast of complex and compelling characters, each with their own motivations and secrets.
Winter’s excels at world building, he has created a highly imagined and descriptive world, with diverse cultures, languages, and magical traditions. Winter’s writing style is vivid and engaging, bringing the world to life with vivid descriptions and exciting action sequences. The novel also explores themes of power, oppression, and the consequences of war, adding depth and complexity to the story.
I am a sucker for a story of an underdog, fighting for his place, rising through the barriers others have set for him. Tau is strong in his self, strong in his willpower and determination. There is no piece of magic that makes him great, Tau fights to make himself great. He pushes himself to the brink, often at the consequence of friendship and his health. Through the book we see Tau develop and grow as a person, he begins to open himself up, however he battles his drive for revenge, with the desire to have more than his solitude.
“That’s the price. Life is nothing more than moments in time. To achieve greatness, you have to give up those moments. You have to give your life to your goal.”
While some might find the pacing to be relentless, with constant battles and training sequences, I really appreciated these scenes. They build character, pushes Tau further and through these battles we not only see the outputs of Tau’s hard dedication, but we begin to see a fracture in the societal oppression.
Tau is low class, he has been seen as nothing more than a tool, he’s been told that he’s worthless and holds no value. But times are changing, and the people begin to see a person of low class surpass their expectations.
Expectations that have been told to them by those with higher power. They begin to think for themselves, hold onto hope of a different world, to see themselves as more than what they’ve been told to believe.
It’s really beautiful to read and see this come to life.
“I’m no hero.”
“You are to the Lessers. You are to the people who still fight for us.”
“I am no hero.”
Tsiora made her voice hard. “Then be a weapon.”
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its characters. Tau is a flawed but incredibly compelling. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, with each character bringing their own unique perspective and motivations to the story, and its brilliant to watch this small group of people lean into each other. They help bring out the best of each other and almost act as a found family.
I was hooked throughout this whole book, that I finished it at 2am and ran to the bookshop in the morning for book 2 (Waterstones, why don’t you carry this author?).
The rage I felt whilst reading this book reminded me very similarly of how I felt reading Sword of Kaigen.
The magic system is also incredibly unique and compelling, I don’t recall ever seeing a system like this before which caught me by surprise. I read a lot of fantasy and it’s refreshing to come across something new. And probably most importantly.. there are dragons.
And these dragons will wreck your heart.
Would I recommend?
Overall, The Rage of Dragons is a thrilling and ambitious debut that offers a fresh perspective on the fantasy genre. It is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and those who enjoy stories of revenge, power, and the human spirit.
It plunged me into a world of brutal warfare and relentless vengeance, and I loved every page of it. I absolutely recommend and I’m kicking myself that I missed the Kickstarter exclusive edition. If you have it.. I’m very jealous!