Synopsis
Tiberius is going about his daily life until the Lord of Doom’s creatures search for him. He is rescued by a mage and a journey begins with his friends at his side in search of the mighty dragon, Almandraaz. The Lord of Doom is rising and the dragon is necessary to combat him. Tiberius learns that he is the Prince of Flame.
Quick Thoughts
Dragonrider fantasy has had something of a resurgence in popularity recently. From Ryan Cahill’s Of Blood and Fire to the Songs of Chaos series by Michael R Miller, it seems like Dragonriders are everywhere nowadays. It’s not hard to understand why; dragons are cool. But more importantly, the subgenre taps into many of the fundamental elements that makes fantasy so captivating and fulfilling. Author Timothy Robare’s Flame of Almandraaz understands this and uses it to his full advantage. Like many so many books, Flame of Almandraaz works from well established tropes and builds upon them in interesting ways.
If you’ve enjoyed stories about about chosen ones from humble beginnings, mysterious prophecies that warn of world changing events, gathering of a party of diverse companions, or dragons that are as full of personality as their human counterparts, you’ll find plenty of familiar ground here. But rather than fall into expected patterns, Robare eschews the heavily detailed worldbuilding and overly dense dialogue that often weighs down this sort of novel. Rather, he utilizes a tight, efficient style of prose, a focus on witty dialogue, and fast paced action along with plenty of twists that makes the story feel more thoroughly modern and engaging. You’re left with a book that reads like an action movie yet still delivers plenty of fantasy goodness!
Full Review
How many Fantasy fans today do you think can trace at least some of their literary lineage to Christopher Paolini’s Eragon? I know I count myself among that number, and I would imagine I am not alone in that regard. Dragonrider fantasy has become a hugely popular subgenre today and I would be willing to bet that quite a bit of that is due to certain YA series, such as the aforementioned Eragon, being huge in the 1990’s and 2000’s. In many ways, this isn’t surprising. The Dragonrider subgenre has a wide appeal and connects deeply to what many fantasy readers love so much about genre. The elements of mystery and discovery, the allure of a bond with an ancient magic creature, the thrill of having extraordinary power suddenly thrust upon you, often coupled with a foretold, grand destiny. The subgenre exemplifies so many of the elements that most fans of the genre fell in love with.
Like many of its fondly remembered predecessors before it, Timothy Robare’s Flame of Almandraaz taps into those fundamental elements to create an adventurous and fun book that feels familiar, yet still has enough unique elements to set it apart. We begin with the classic, unassuming protagonist from a village far removed from the heart of civilization and are quickly hurled into a world ending plot that draws in a whole host of colorful and strange characters. The book moves at a breakneck pace through many of the typical elements of a hero’s coming of age tale, trusting the reader to pick up on details and information rather than spending precious pages reiterating the same info. However, the pacing isn’t just a style choice.
It becomes clear as the story progresses that this isn’t going to be just another retelling of the same Dragonrider story we’ve all come to know, and not just because of the writing style. Twists and turns throughout the story paint a picture that is far more complex than expected from similar offerings, pushing the narrative into the waters of gray morality and unsure footing. Conflicts and story lines that might have been dragged out for several books develop far more quickly than one might anticipate. Ultimately, this leads to a conclusion that is unexpected and leaves the reader wondering where the protagonists and the author is planning to go from there.
It is often challenging to find novels that do anything unique with the format. Many authors choose to play it safe, sticking to well-worn trends and conventions. Based on this book, Robare is not that sort of author. He chooses to change up the formula and experiment, giving readers something new to sink their teeth into. I imagine for readers who aren’t looking for that, the ones who want their Dragonrider fantasy to stay exactly as they recall it from their younger days, this book is going to fuel some mixed reactions. But for those interested in something a bit different, a book that asks more questions than it answers, Flame of Almandraaz offers something far more compelling. I know I for one am dying to know where Robare takes this new series!
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