Synopsis
Light has triumphed, the great war is won.
Yet shadows linger in the darkness, and in the hidden corners of men’s hearts.
Granted the ability to wield Zur’s Light, Gallion’s Eagles are a symbol of justice. People can look to the skies and know they are protected. But without a common enemy, resentment has begun to fester.
With civil war looming, Ward finds himself caught between warring factions. Unwilling to choose between love and duty, will Ward be able to stop things before they go too far? Or will his world come crashing down in a clash of tooth and talon?
Serving as a prequel to L. R. Schulz’s Bonds of Kin series, Eagles Fall serves as an introduction to Zapour. This standalone story portrays the events that lead to the structure of the world in A King’s Radiance, and can be read either before or after the main series, with some nice little easter eggs for returning readers.
Review
“And tonight, they shall pay for it. All I have to do is plant the seed, and the megalomania of those in power will do the rest.”
I loved this book. It starts with a dragon rider and a great eagle rider taking on a shadow beast. How can I not get hooked immediately? It has so much action, fantasy, magic, and keeps getting better as we go through it. I cannot believe it is free by signing up to the author’s newsletter
It integrates so many things so well: unique fantasy creatures, multiple systems of magic (with cost,) political machinations, a romantic subplot, the history of the world, factions in dissent falling eventually evolving into a civil war and more. It tells a self contained story while also setting up the world and lore beautifully. At no point does the reader feel drowned in info or characters or workings of the magic system. The whole plot framed across the backdrop of a star crossed lovers arc is excellent and Ward is an amazing main character to follow.
While we have the romance, the dragon rider bonding, and a civil war brewing, Schulz also gets deep into Ward’s character and it is very hard to not feel emotional through his journey. We have an inner turmoil to follow as well as the external conflicts around him, it was immediately endearing. Special mention to all the other characters too – I liked or hated them as intended. It was incredible timing for me because I read this after a string of reads with disappointing character work.
I also loved the intrigue of seeing how a seemingly unbeatable system (empaths who can control others actions and emotions by just looking at them) would be fought against. This is a prequel novella and I am reading it without having read book 1 first so I’m not sure if reading this first is the best choice but I am glad I read this. It is the perfect glimpse into Schulz’s writing, world, and magic, and I’m very excited to read about the mysterious third party who only makes an appearance towards the end of the book.
Oh did I mention a colossal dragon straight out of legend?
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