The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood

Last week I finally finished reading The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood. To clarify, this series is young adult fantasy.

Maia, the protagonist, and her brother Darian are both coming of age and hoping to get their own dragons. Every year their family's aerie provides the Empire's Dragonry or armies with the best they have to offer. Unfortunately for Maia and Darian, due to a conflict that has devastated the majority of the aeries, the Dragonry requisitions their entire clutch and a pair won't be available to them. Everything changes when the mythical Summer Dragon, a harbinger of change, appears to Maia and Darian. They believe it is a sign that good things will come and that maybe each will get a dragon after all. Unfortunately, religious and political entities interfere and their interpretation of the sighting becomes a catalyst in Maia's and her family's lives and livelihood.

Maia becomes the center of the controversy, attracting the attention of the highest religious, political, and military powers. They decide to take her to the imperial capital for interrogation in order to verify the sighting of the Summer Dragon. Instead, Maia makes a decision and sets off into the wild to find her own wilding dragon. The adventure really begins.

There are different angles to this story, beginning with multiple questions about historical facts and the religious beliefs of the people in Maia's community vs. Empire's religious beliefs and historical records. These differences are addressed throughout the book and become the main conflict in this novel. Another angle is the deep bond between a girl and her dragon. This part of the story has a deeply emotional, touching beginning that makes quite an impact, which leads the reader to become invested on the close relationship that develops between them later on. And of course there is a matter of war and the effects it has on Maia, her village, the neighboring communities, and Empire as a whole.

This is a wonderful coming of age story with a strong young female as the central character, and the added bonus of having dragons as more than sidekicks. These dragons bond with their riders, love their mates, and well… you would have to read the story to find out what else they can do. They have distinctive personalities and become characters on their own right. There are battles with fantastic action scenes where both dragons and humans are key to the outcome. Additionally, although Maia is our central figure, her own dragon becomes indispensable in her life. She is also surrounded by family, friends, a community, and a cast of secondary characters who contribute to her adventures, provide balance to this story, and a solid base for the rest of the trilogy.

Lockwood's descriptive style is particularly notable, as he makes it easy to visualize the setting, the dragons in all their glory, as well as those fantastic aerial battle scenes which took my breath away! Truly, some of them were absolutely stunning. Main and key secondary characters show character growth, with some two dimensional characterization found within the vast tertiary cast. Pacing was slow in some sections, although when the action scenes came along the pace became quick and exciting. And, of course there are a few conflicts left unresolved as the story is set up to continue.

Todd Lockwood is an illustrator and artist, and The Summer Dragon is his debut novel. I am happy to report that I found this first book of The Evertide trilogy to be a highly enjoyable book all around. Besides the characters, world-building and plot, I also thoroughly loved the magnificent illustrations that Mr. Lockwood included throughout the book.

Evertide Trilogy, Book 1
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Category: Young Fantasy
Grade: B+ (4.5 Stars)

'Nathan Burgoine⎪Bonus: Triad Blood, Connected Shorts

BONUS POST: Click on Title to read Review: Triad Blood by 'Nathan Burgoine

Triad Blood is based on characters and world-building created by Burgoine for four short works previously published in gay erotica anthologies. Please note that it is not necessary to read these short stories in order to make sense of the book. Additionally, although the short stories are erotic, Triad Blood's focus is on urban fantasy with minimal erotic content. However, the short stories are useful to readers interested in further character interaction and world-building information.

In order of publication: (click on titles for BSB website) 

(1) "Three" - Released as a single short story. Originally in Blood Sacraments: Gay Vampire Erotica ed. Todd Gregory

The events that take place in "Three" are narrated from Luc's perspective. This is where Burgoine first introduces his characters when they initially meet at a bar on the night of the full moon while the coteries, the packs, and the covens are busy renewing their bonds.

"We few who walk alone are safe these three nights. Safe enough to hunt on our own. I'd been caught by another vampire once before, and did not relish the thought of repeating it. Made and abandoned. I am a slave to the will of nearly all other vampires -- if they told me to step into the sun, if only for their own amusement, their will would force me to act. These three nights were all I had to call my own, and I was loath to give up even one of them." -- Luc

The triad is formed between Luc, Anders, and Curtis during a steamy sexual encounter, in a ceremony involving the exchange of blood, soul through sex, and magic. This is a fabulous short story showcasing one erotic moment between three lonely men. It not only fits the Blood Sacraments anthology to perfection, but it serves as an excellent introduction to this world and characters.

(2) "Intercession" - Wings: Subversive Gay Angel Erotica ed. Todd Gregory

"Intercession" is narrated by the incubus demon, Anders, who gives an insight into a change that comes over him after meeting an angel, as the triad battle demons attempting to destroy them.

(3) "Possession" - Erotica Exotica: Tales of Sex & Magic ed. Richard Labonté

In "Possession," the narrative comes from Curtis' perspective and highlights his confrontation with the Families who rule the wizard covens.

(4) "Necessary Evil" - Raising Hell: Demonic Gay Erotica ed. Todd Gregory

And, in "Necessary Evil," we again experience the story from Anders' point of view, as Burgoine introduces a couple of characters whose 'special circumstances' are addressed in Triad Blood.

Conclusion: There is a certain continuity to these short stories if read in order. As I mention above, it is not necessary to read them before reading Triad Blood, however, they do give the reader insight into the characters, as well as into certain events. The other side effect of reading these short stories is that you want to know more about the characters… about the world… so I'm glad the book was written. Note that my focus above was on "Three," and that is because it was the introductory story. However, all the short stories are excellent, particularly (and this is a personal bias) the ones with Anders as the narrator. Enjoy!

June 12th: Mourning Sunday

This is a heartbreaking Sunday. A day we mourn for the 50 who died, and pray for those injured, during the massacre that occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, as a result of a horrific hate crime committed against the LGBTQ community.

Review: Triad Blood by 'Nathan Burgoine

'Nathan Burgoine is a favorite writer. I read Triad Blood as soon as it released, and was not disappointed, but then, that was never an expectation.

The law of three is unbroken: three vampires form a coterie, three demons make a pack, and three wizards are a coven. That is how it has always been, and how it was always to be.

But Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—have cheated tradition. Their bond is not coterie, pack, or coven, but something else. Thrust into the supernatural politics ruling Ottawa from behind the shadows, they face Renard, a powerful vampire who harbors deadly secrets of his own and wishes to end their threat. The enemy they know conjures fire and death at every turn. The enemies they don’t know are worse.

Blood, soul, and magic gave them freedom. Now they need to survive it.

Characterization and world-building make this urban fantasy a success. The characters, however, are the first to ensnare the reader, as Burgoine first establishes the all-important emotional connection and continually deepens characterization throughout the story. Additionally, the personalities are different and provide a balance between the characters.

Luc is an old-world, suave, sensual vampire with a cynicism and ruthless toughness built through centuries of living as a lone vampire not allowed to feed except during the full moon. He brings power and the experience of dealing with vampire coteries and their politics to the triad. Rejected and continually beaten by the demon packs because he is gay, Anders is a brash, crass, in-your-face sexual, incubus demon. He is a complex, contradictory character whose tattooed muscled-bound body hides a sensitive side, and whose sarcastic humor overshadows a wicked intelligence and caring personality. Curtis is a young, cute, lovable, powerful wizard, and the center of the triad. He is beloved by Luc and Anders for his pure soul, kindness and naiveté, but rejected by wizard covens for having been born to 'non-magical' parents. For that reason, Curtis is considered an 'Orphan' and banned from using magic. He is the catalyst to this story, and the character whose good decisions and/or mistakes drive the plot forward.

Burgoine's sets his urban fantasy world in Ottawa, Canada where he resides. I love the setting and that he utilizes the fact that Ottawa is a 'government town' in the world-building and plot. First, we have the ancient, powerful, cold-hearted vampires and their coteries. They are expert manipulators and merciless killers when seeking power among themselves or fighting against others. Then, we have the wizard covens living by strict guidelines set by mob-like "Families" who don't hesitate to murder in cold blood when their rules are broken. And last, there are the obviously homophobic demon packs whose main purpose is to procreate by stealing souls to gain power. Note: although demons (incubus and other) as individuals are drawn in an excellent fashion, in this world, the demons as packs were not as clearly defined.

I finished Triad Blood in two sittings only because I couldn't stay up all night reading, the plot was that good. Burgoine did an excellent job of pulling everything together: the characters, world-building, and plot. Luc, Anders, and Curtis just want to live in peace but someone or a few someones cannot let such a powerful triad stick around, particularly such an unorthodox one. The attacks and murder attempts begin small, but soon they gain momentum and get more violent in nature. All three investigate, and with help from a few friends and frenemies, they slowly begin to make sense of what is happening. There are unforgettable secondary characters, including a couple of villains, but mostly characters that I would love to see again. The book ends with an action-packed climactic scene, a few unanswered questions, and what I think of as a great beginning.

Do you know what I loved about this book, besides the characters, world-building and plot? The theme(s): Outsiders: three people who don't belong where they should. Diversity: three people who are so different it should be impossible for them to be anything more than careful enemies. Family: Having been rejected by their own, they forge a strong friendship and become a loyal family. Additionally, despite the use of the word "triad" on the title, this urban fantasy does not focus on erotica or traditional romance. This is UF and although there is loving, sexual scenes appear only when necessary -- no gratuitous sex.

'Nathan Burgoine is a talented writer. He has the right touch whether he chooses to write his exquisite short works or full-length novels, speculative fiction, romance, fiction, erotica or urban fantasy. Burgoine's first novel, Light, and most of his short works appear all over my favorite books lists. I can safely say that Triad Blood is highly recommended. And, hopefully, this is the first of an urban fantasy series.

Category: Urban Fantasy - LGBT
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Release Date: May 17, 2016
Grade: B+
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Upcoming short, informative post: 'Nathan Burgoine⎪Bonus: Triad Blood Connected Shorts