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DerekPrior
Posted December 2, 2010
The First Dragoneer is a brief induction into the world M.R. Mathias has created for his epic novels. The reader is immediately dropped into the midst of a hunting trip - the last such to be enjoyed by childhood friends, Brendley and March. It's an easy task for the reader: the dialogue is so natural and genuine, the descriptions succinct and yet hitting the mark with exactly the right amount of imagery that it almost reads itself. I started to enjoy the tale from the outset because of this deceptively simple writing style and because so much information (back-story, mise en scene, motivation) was established contextually and without lengthy exposition. The narration blends seamlessly with the characters' thoughts and feelings, which are never obtrusive. Mathias makes good use of his writer's palette, taking from his toolbox just what he needs and no more. Generally Mathias writes fluid prose that the eye just skips over with ease. He has a knack for finding just the right word for the character and context and is never pretentious. He allows the reader's imagination to form the images with just the right stimulus ("fist-sized spiders scurried from the noisy brightness..."). Rarely does Mathias overcook his adjectives. He also understands the importance of vernacular and specificity. Mathias writes about what he knows: the hunting scenes are easy and lucid, full of appropriate and uncontrived spiel. He's also good at the small details the evoke all the senses - - the fiery brandy, the crisp air, the food. Little things, little details that convey real people, people we can identify with. Lots of outdoor craft - torch making, fire building, construction of a litter. Ordinary, believable people moving into uncharted waters. Chesterton would have loved this. There's also a nice use of mythology with the introduction of the white stag and the near "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" albatross moment. To his credit, Mathias doesn't waste this either. He introduces these elements with purpose: the decision over killing or sparing the stag is a critical moment determining the outcome of the story and the vector of the novels that follow. The action sequences in The First Dragoneer were a delight, full of human idiosyncrasies and those odd little accidents that real people are prone to under situations of duress. It's not just action and characterisation that Mathias is good at wither. There are some stunning descriptions of the landscape that pulled me right into his world.
23 out of 28 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 9, 2011
It was free and it was one of the first and well worth it. Mathias' style is wonderful and the story sucks you in immediately. Served it's purpose has added the sequel to my list of things to read. Thanks M.R. Mathias!
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 26, 2011
This is hardky even a novella. Very short, but well-written prequel to the Dragonner story. More of an etching of a couple of characters and a sketchy introduction to their world than a real story. But based on this, I am planning to read more of the Dragoneers abd their world. Quick read, so if you are settling in for an extended read, save this for another time.
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 29, 2011
Alright, i was reading some of the reviews, and there are some that are saying things like "this is an ad" or "where's the rest?"
I bothered to look at the info of the book, and it clearly says at the bottom that "this is a 43 page prequal to the full series"
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 17, 2011
Two short tales that are just teasers to get you to buy the whole books. Well written with interesting characters. Might be worth buying the whole book IF you are interested in dragon myth.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 18, 2011
Slow start but worth the first chapter or two for the story to develop.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 6, 2011
The story itself was way too short, it was practically the same length as the preview for the next book! This series doesn't pull in my interest, and I don't think I'm gonna get the rest of it.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 31, 2011
This prequel holds your attention. You will definitely want to find out more about the dragons and the lads of yore. Are their lands poised for a war that could drive the inhabitants to extinction?
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 12, 2011
This was an interesting, fast paced read for the young reader.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 18, 2012
I was drawn in by the story of March and Bren, but even more interested in the Royal Dragoneers sample. This is a terrific story with great character development and unobtrusive scene-setting, which is always a concern in the fantasy genre. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 12, 2011
A great read! I enjoyed it and if this is any indication of what may follow I will be waiting anxiously for the next in the series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 27, 2011
Very Compelling! What a great start to a wonderful series. The Dragoneers will capture your imagination and your sense of adventure. Cant wait to read more!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 24, 2011
This turned out to be just an ad for this book and the following book in the series. Wish had been known at the time of download.
Due to this practice I am debating whether to purchase the full books or not.
What little was read sounds like may be a good series.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 20, 2011
Would read this and any sequel written. Good read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 8, 2011
I have finished the free first of Dragoneer series and will finish that series before digging into the Wardstone trilogy with the hope that book three is ready for me. I have mixed feelings about trilogies and other similar that are not complete but often get hooked anyway as I did on J R. R. Martin fire and ice series. The Mathias Books look to be worth every penny and note that his are a lot more reasonable in ebook format than most other popular writers.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 6, 2011
NOT WORTH IT WASTE OF A DOWNLOAD SHOULD BE LONGER.!!!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 18, 2011
It is 179 pages, so pretty decent for a novella. I had a really hard time getting into the book, but it was free, and like I said not to terrible. I struggled to get through the first 10 pages and keep my attention focused on the book...and it didn't get much eaiser for me for the rest of it either.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 1, 2011
An excellent introduction to what I hope will be an excellent series (I haven't read any others yet). My only complaint is that it jumped back and forth between viewpoints of the two characters with little warning, however that was not disruptive enough to limit my enjoyment and I fully plan on getting the next book momentarily.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 14, 2011
I recommend this book to any one who loves adventure and dragons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 8, 2011
I found this story kept my interest from begining to end. So l went on to buy thr Royal Dragoneriers
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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LendMe™
Overview
When two young men go on a hunt that they know will be the last hunt of their youth, they decide they want it to be an unforgettable outing. When they cross a ridge leaving the protection of their kingdom behind, they find a cavern that looks like it needs to be explored. In the cavern they find exactly what they were looking for. In this stoney hole lives something they will never forget!