Tomes of Spellcasting

Welcome to the land of mystery, where the impossible is possible, and the improbable the reality. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with magic and meet the souls that wield this wondrous powers.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Dragonsbane
Author: Barbara Hambly
Publisher: Del Rey/Ballantine Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1985

The ability to wield magic comes with a price, and the ability to use great magic comes with a great price. Jenny Waynest knew this, any properly trained mage knew this, and the gnomes of the Deep of Ylferdun knew this. So, when a sorceress arises whose power dwarfs that of all others and she pays no apparent debt, Jenny knows something is wrong. In the meantime, however, she has another problem to deal with: the great black dragon that has conquered and now inhabits the Deep. Can she cope with the power hungry sorceress and the gift the dragon holds out to her: the strength she always yearned to possess?

I found Dragonsbane to be tremendously oppressive at times. Ignoring the obvious--the not-so-powerful witch against the seemingly all-powerful sorceress--there are still the apparently one-sided conflicts going on throughout the book. You can't really expect a scholar to defeat a dragon single-handedly, now can you? Yet that is what Jenny's lover, John Aversin, must do. Overhanging this conflict is a dark premonition of John's death that Jenny had before they left on their quest. Then there's Jenny's own conflict with the dragon: a greater-than-an-all-powerful-sorceress dragon versus a witch is not a well-balanced battle.

No matter what I say, though, I enjoyed the book. I like the way John addresses Gareth--the noble who convinces him to ride against the dragon--as "my hero." At first glance it seems to be in mockery of everything Gareth thought John should be, but there later seems to be a measure of affection in it. It becomes Gareth's nickname, and it sort of ties the three of them--Jenny, John, and Gareth--together, especially when they are the only ones willing to do something about the dragon. I also like the transformations the characters must undergo: Gareth's out in the Winterlands and in the royal court, John's in the court, and Jenny's during her conflicts with the dragon and the sorceress.

If you read Stranger at the Wedding and expect something similar here, think again. The tone of voice in the two books are vastly different, and you'll sense it immediately. I described Stranger at the Wedding as having "a grim plot that makes the reader want to laugh." Dragonsbane has a romantic plot with romantic characters wholly deserving your attention and company on their adventures.

Rating: Thumbs up! Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the most beautiful women don't get the men: this book proves it!

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