cover image Embers at Galdrilene

Embers at Galdrilene

A.D. Trosper. Silver Spirit, $19.95 trade paper (452p) ISBN 978-0-615-73095-0

In this ambitious yet muddled start to the Dragon’s Call series, Trosper attempts to put a new spin on the dragon-rider trope. Five centuries after the War of Fire all but eradicated the dragons and those who bonded with them, magic has been outlawed, and those who can wield it are killed before they go insane. Emallya, one of the last survivors of the War of Fire, collects six young men and women who are destined to bond with the few remaining dragon eggs in an attempt to rebuild the ranks of the Guardians of Galdrilene. However, their opponents, the malevolent Shadow Riders, are likewise seeing a resurgence, and it’s only a matter of time before the two factions once again clash. Trosper aims for an epic scope, and there’s some significant worldbuilding in this first installment, but an overly large cast provides too many shifting perspectives, while flat dialogue and uneven pacing further disrupt the story’s momentum. The telepathic, teleporting, intelligent dragons feel derivative rather than innovative. There’s a lot of potential here, but the execution falls short. (BookLife)