Book Review: Dragon Rising by Tom Fallwell

Although Dragon Rising is nothing new to fans of high, epic fantasy, the book delivers. If author Tom Fallwell meant to tell a story in the purest spirit of Tolkien and other masters of fantasy, he certainly accomplished what he set out to do.

The book is filled with great heroes and an imposing villain, wonderful, magical creatures and mystical places. The main plot is solid, uncomplicated and to the point. The action is superb and the characters are well developed.

The story is focused on Delina, a young huntress who happens to be the last Dragonblood in Almar, a land that has been subdued by the evil Dark Lord and sorcerer, Kargoth. Joining Delina on her quest to overthrow the sinister Kargoth we meet Morlock, a huge feline that is Delina’s hunting partner, and Merric, a brave human hero who forges a deep and meaningful relationship with our young heroine.

What I liked about this book:

If you’re a longtime fan of fantasy, like yours truly, you’ll know where this story is headed right from the start. But the journey to the finish line is extremely entertaining, action-packed, imaginative and well developed.

Furthermore, author Tom Fallwell has created interesting characters and a world that offers plenty of potential for a sequel or two. In my humble opinion, this is what a good book should do: leave the reader wanting more.

A prime example is the way Fallwell developed his dragons in this story; not an easy feat any way you wish to look at it. Aside from George R.R. Martin, for instance, I have rarely read a story where dragons actually feel like they could be real, living, breathing creatures. I certainly would love to read more about dragons in the world of Almar, be it in a prequel or a sequel.

What I didn’t like about this book:

I wish Dragon Rising had been a bit more original, borrowing less from similar works. This lack of originality could be considered a tribute to previous works in the genre, more than anything else, but it does hurt the book a little, in my opinion.

Conclusion:

Dragon Rising is a great read for lovers of high, epic fantasy. In fact, you couldn’t go wrong recommending this book as an introduction to the genre for new readers.