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It feels like an age since Dragon Eyre: Ashfall was released, which really isn’t a fair assumption to make. It was only around a month or so ago that it came out. And that Mitchell has released the 12th book in the Eternal Siege Saga (that’s the 22nd book in the entire Magelands Epic) in such a short period is completely mind-blowing.
I got into reading Mitchell’s books last summer, and my word, they sucked me in far more than I would have imagined. I immediately fell in love with life on the Star Continent, and then in The City and Lostwell. When he finally took us to Dragon Eyre, I was giddy with excitement. Well, I say ‘finally’ in a bit of a tongue-in-cheek way, because honestly, this man is a machine. The speed in which he has turned out this vast library of books is awe-inspiring. And, there’s more yet to come, as he’s promised a much anticipated return to the Star Continent and those damn Holdfasts.
But, as usual when I get to get wax lyrical about any of my favourite indie authors, I digress.
So, Dragon Eyre: Blackrose.
Sable Holdfast is grieving. She’s angry. And she’s ready to wreck her revenge on the Banner sailers and occupying Implactus gods. She wants blood and being a Holdfast, she’ll dam well get blood. Those who killed her beloved Badblood will pay.
Blackrose is hunting for Maddie, her human rider. She’s determined to find her after she was abducted by the Five Sisters – the pirate family who rule the waves of Dragon Eyre. Topaz, master of the Giddy Gull, has fallen hard for Maddie, causing her a quandary. Can she love someone as well as her beloved dragon queen?
Meanwhile, the dragons of Wyst have rebelled. Since Sable slaughtered the ancient god who governed Dragon Eyre, and since Queen Blackrose has been distractedly searching for her rider, the Wyst dragons have decided that humans are no longer welcome on their archipelago. Their rhetoric is expanding, and they’re taking over island after island – forcing thousands of human refugees to seek sanctuary in Ulna.
What I love about Mitchell’s writing is that he isn’t afraid to put a strong female lead front and centre. Strike that. He puts several front and centre. In Blackrose alone, we have the eponymous character – a fearsome dragon queen. We have Maddie Jackdaw – a woman with morals and unquestionable bravery. She’s not a stereotype though. She’s polite, she’s easy going and makes friends easily. She gives her heart fully to those who deserve it. Then there’s Sable Holdfast, half sister of Daphne, and one of the best female leads I’ve had the pleasure to read. She literally gives no effs. She’s focused, she’s ruthless and she’s incredibly powerful. During Blackrose we get to see a different side to her; she’s grieving and she’s beginning to wear her emotions on her sleeve – she’s allowing people (and dragons) to see the softer side of her that she’s previously hidden behind a hard façade. Mitchell also has a plethora of ‘lesser’ female characters who have just as much presence as the three leads. The Five Sisters are all colourful – with language to match – and who would not be out of place in a series of their own.
I’ve singled this out, because there’s honestly not many male authors who can write a female as well as Mitchell. He’s made them three dimensional and believable. Apart from, maybe Maddie, they’re all morally grey – have their own objectives and will ruthlessly deliver them. None of them are damsels in distress – not even Maddie, who will talk anyone to death if they attempt to hurt her – they’re all capable of saving themselves. And, I Mitchell for that.
So, anyway.
I’m not going to give away the ending, just trust me that if you’re a Christopher Mitchell fan, you’ll bloody love this final instalment to the Dragon Eyre saga.
S. A.
Dragon Eyre is available to buy on Amazon or to read for free on Kindle Unlimited.