As I mentioned last week, I'd been avoiding Eon: Dragoneye Reborn because of the cover art, which to me screams Cheesy And Derivative Fantasy Novel With Much Questing And Very Little Else. If you've been doing the same thing, YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE. Do what you must to maintain your sanity -- remove the book jacket, make a new cover out of a grocery bag (you know you still remember how), spray paint the thing black (Josh's method of choice), whatever -- just don't let the cover scare you off. If you do, you'll miss out on a book that is original and well-written and exciting and fun and just flat-out GOOD.
The eleven men who serve as Dragoneyes wield enormous magical power and have great political influence, but acting as a conduit for an energy dragon has its drawbacks as well -- Dragoneyes age much more quickly than normal men. On New Year's Day, one of twelve hopefuls is chosen to become a Dragoneye apprentice. For twelve years, he serves as apprentice to the current Dragoneye, learning how to call and control his dragon. When the cycle begins again, the Dragoneye's term ends, the apprentice becomes the new Dragoneye, and a new apprentice will be chosen.
(You may have noticed that there is a twelve year cycle and only eleven Dragoneyes -- that's because the twelfth dragon hasn't been seen in 500 years. Alison Goodman explains this all much better -- and more succinctly -- in the book.)
For the last four years, Eon has been in training to prepare for the Dragoneye candidacy test. He is one of the very rare people who is able to see all of the energy dragons, rather than just one. Even with that stand-out talent, according to the bookies (and anyone else you'd care to ask) the odds are very much against Eon: as the duties of a Dragoneye are physically grueling as well as mentally, Eon's crippled leg outweighs his magical talent. But, when it comes down to it, the choice is the dragon's, and the dragon's alone -- so Eon still has a chance to become Dragoneye, however small.
But Eon has a secret. One that, if revealed, would result in his execution. Eon is not a twelve-year-old boy. Eon is actually Eona: a sixteen-year-old girl.
That's the set up. Which, in itself, doesn't sound all that original -- the girl masquerading as a boy in order to do something disallowed to the ladies thing has been done quite a lot in fantasy. But Eon is different that those other girls -- Eon doesn't just masquerade as a boy and think like a girl -- the penalties he faces if discovered are so frightening and severe that he has tried to eradicate Eona. Since he tries so hard to erase that part of his identity, it's easy sometimes to forget that he is physically female.
The world and culture that Alison Goodman has created felt so original, the connections between the characters felt so real, that I could not put this one down. There's a lot in it (obviously) about gender identity -- not just because of Eon's situation, but because of some of the side characters and the culture, and there are a few threads about unrequited love that'll spark great discussions. I know that this is the first in a duology, but it's such a cool new world that I'd be very happy to see more stories set in it once Eon's is concluded.
I do think that some people might feel that Eon takes too long in Figuring Things Out. I did, at first -- but the more I thought about it, and the more I took the culture into consideration, the more it made sense to me. So I have no complaints on that front.
Word of warning -- if you end up picking this one up, give yourself enough time to read the last third of it straight through. You will not want to be interrupted.
Yeah, the cover's pretty much what's been keeping me at bay.
Posted by: Brian F. | 20 February 2009 at 09:18 AM
Aquafortis reviewed it, but I have to admit that I didn't really even read it -- because of the cover -- until I read a sneak peek of the first chapter, and then I was like, "D'oh!"
I'm suggesting for their paperback series they move AWAY from ye olde eye.
Posted by: TadMack | 20 February 2009 at 09:39 AM
I'm glad to see that you found it original and exciting. I noticed several reviews on Goodreads in the "just another derivative dragon story" vein. Granted, there's lots of fantasy that I haven't read, but I really that Eon was fresh and different.
Posted by: LaurieA-B | 20 February 2009 at 10:05 AM
Yeah, the cover is a BIG turn-off, but now that I've read your review I'll have to pick up a copy. Thanks for sharing! I'm still new to the book-blogging world but I LOVE it. Your site's great! :-)
Posted by: Melissa | 20 February 2009 at 12:59 PM
Okay, okay, okay, I'll try to move past the Eye of Sauron knockoff and read the darn thing. I've been floundering in a sea of WWII novels, so it's a good time for a change.
Posted by: Brooke | 20 February 2009 at 07:47 PM
This book just came to me from processing, and I was debating on whether or not I should read it.
Now I will make sure to read it, or give it to one of my teens to review.
Posted by: EllenB | 22 February 2009 at 07:21 PM
I read this a little while ago and really enjoyed it, but I'm on the side of taking too long to figure things out. BTW the australian cover looks much better and it was published under the name of The Two Pearls of Wisdom http://alisongoodman.com.au/
Posted by: Karina | 23 February 2009 at 02:41 AM
I liked the cover, because students will pick it up. Was put off by the multiple mention of cramps at the beginning of a book that my boys will pick up because of the cover. I've read so many good reviews, though, that I may have to break down and buy it for my school library. My only other worry-- will there be 12 books in the series?
Posted by: Ms. Yingling | 23 February 2009 at 01:51 PM
yes great book....but how long do we have to wait before the next copy is out...gods i hate waiting years for a book to get done
Posted by: Mario | 26 October 2009 at 11:05 PM
Are you guys kidding?The cover is what drew me into the book,I think Its Awesome! Can't wait foe the second one...
Posted by: Brandi J. | 15 July 2010 at 06:40 PM