Monday, March 28, 2011

Eon Review

Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye

Summary
Eon is a potential Dragoneye, able to manipulate wind and water to nurture and protect the land. But Eon also has a dark secret. He is really Eona, found by a power-hungry master of the Dragon Magic in a search for the new Dragoneye. Because females are forbidden to practise the Art, Eona endures years of study concealed as a boy. Eona becomes Eon, and a dangerous gamble is put into play. Eon's unprecedented display of skill at the Dragoneye ceremony places him in the centre of a power struggle between the Emperor and his High Lord brother. The Emperor immediately summons Eon to court to protect his son and heir. Quickly learning to navigate the treacherous court politics, Eon makes some unexpected alliances, and a deadly enemy in a Dragoneye turned traitor. Based on the ancient lores of Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, The Two Pearls of Wisdom and its sequel The Necklace of the Gods are compelling novels set in a world filled with identities, dangerous politics and sexual intrigue.

What I Like About the Book
Character
Eon: I like this character very much, it is a Mulan story but with more risk and even greater peril. (Let's just refer to the character as he, since that is what is he is trying to be) Eon is really Eona, but Eona has been shoved down hidden from himself. In this book he is trying to disguise his female body from being discovered and killed. On top of that he has been crippled with a lame leg, so he is continually facing ridicule and evil signs. I like him because throughout the whole book he has hard choices to make, he has to prove his worth, muscle through his physical pains and at the same time not let anyone discover what he is. A strong young character. He does make some bad choices in the book, but he does his best to fix the issues. It is so awesome that he well she is the only person that can see the dragons without long meditations like all the other candidates and Dragoneyes (go girl power).
Lady Dela: I love this character, she is Eon's guide through palace etiquette. But she is really a he, a man with both sun (male energy) and moon (female energy) in one body. She is a very entertaining character and I really enjoy their interactions together. 
Action
Throughout the whole book something is always going on and something is always about to happen. There is very few slow moments with lots of gripping moments of anticipation and excitement. Many moments of anxiety and stress of what will happen to Eon, will he be chosen by the dragon and will anyone figure out he is really a she?

A Little Confusion and Frustration
Setting
The world is created from Imperial China and I don't know much about it so I did find somethings difficult. I did have some issues trying to figure out how the dragon system works. I got confused on how the 12 dragon leaderships work each year and names, there are so many different names I did get confused on remembering who was who. I also don't like the whole male supremacy thing, I know it is the time period, but I still don't like it.

Would I Recommend  This Book to Buy
Yes: But is isn't for everyone. If you are looking for a romantic story, you won't find it here. It is a good adventure action story. In my opinion a good break from romance.

Information
Book 1: Eon depending on what country it will also be titled Rise of the Dragoneye, The Two Pearls of Wisdom or Dragoneye Reborn
Book 2: Eona same thing Necklace of the Gods or Return of the Dragoneye

This would be a good reference before or after reading the book, it will explain a few things (just explore her website in general to get more information about the world she has created, I went in blind)
http://www.alisongoodman.com.au/research.html
She does have a few other published works

I will be reading Eona next, I got a copy for review from Literary Thing, YAY

Do you like books WITHOUT romance?


<3Books




3 comments:

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

I've wanted to get this book for a while now. I love my dragon reads, and fantasy adventures. :) This one sounds right up my alley. Thanks!

Kristina said...

IT is very good. I had a hard time writing the review because I didn't want to spoil anything and there are some awesome things that get revealed throughout the course of the book :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you sooooo much! I am doing a book report on this book