Sixteen-year-old Eon has a dream, and a mission. For years, he's been studying sword-work and magic, toward one end. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye-an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.
But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a twelve-year-old boy. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.
When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.
Goodreads rating: 3.99/5 stars
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
World
I absolutely love the world this book is set in. It's extremely detailed and believable, not to mention fascinating and very fresh. It's based on Chinese and Japanese culture, as opposed to the European style commonly seen in fantasy books, which was really interesting and, in my opinion, very well done. I don't pretend to be an expert on either of these cultures, so I can't really speak for the authenticity or accuracy of the portrayal, but I can say that Goodman has created an incredible world in this novel. The range of different cultures and the depth of the history surrounding the world is incredible, and really adds to the story and it's intrigue.
Characters
I really liked the characters in this novel. Many of them are very complex and it takes a long time to fully understand their real personalities and motivations, which is something I really enjoyed. Eon/Eona, the main character, is the primary example of this. Even beyond her double identity, her past is complicated. It's difficult to really discuss Eona without spoiling anything, but I will say that not everything (in fact almost nothing) is exactly as it seems for her, and the twists will shock you as much as they do the other characters.
Lord Ido, the antagonist of the book, is also very similar to Eona. He too is a very complex character, with complicated motivations. He is one of the few villains I've read, and one of the only in recent memory, that actually made me shudder. He is menacing and, for lack of a better word, creepy. I found him a fascinating villain, and extremely well-written.
There are more characters that I loved, of course. Rilla and Chart, Lady Dela, Ryko, and even more vibrant, complex characters populate the world Eona lives in, but I risk spoiling the story with every word I write, and I don't want to take the risk of doing that.
Plot
As I've said before, it's almost impossible to discuss the plot of this book without spoilers, and I don't want to ruin a wonderful story for anyone. I will say, however, that the twists in this plot make it quite the roller coaster ride, and this only intensifies in the second book, Eona.
Overall
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up randomly in the store and very quickly got sucked into the complexity of the world. It's a fresh, exciting take on dragon stories, and the complexity of the characters and plot mean the pace rarely falls flat.
I'd recommend this book for anyone above the age of thirteen. Some people may be alright with it at a younger or older age, but the book delves into some very complex, sometimes dark themes.
5/5 stars
