At the beginning, we learn that Jenny is pulled between her calling, her career as it were, and her family. The protagonist is a woman, Jenny Wannest, who is a mage woman with a lover, John Aversin, and two children. It is the tale of the quest to slay a dragon, and then it is so much more. I bought this on Kindle, saw the cover, and know that I also bought it in paperback but never read it. Recommended only for those who want to read about a down to earth kind of adventure. But at the same time, two stars for making it rather grey and dull. this book was just so practical and almost boring. I loved Jenny's interaction with the dragon, and oh my gosh, that description of music and gold - that was just beautiful.īut. I absolutely loved the ending and the idea that there is a spirit animal in every person. Gareth was both annoying and entertaining.

I did appreciate a lot of aspects of the book. Just pragmatic Jenny with her little magic and down-to-earth John with his good intentions to help out his king and his lands. But there's no spark of humor or entertainment in this book at all. It's the type of book that literally says hey, your Dragonbane is a hick and adventuring actually is cold and wet and icky. It's satirical in a toss-cold-water-on-you sort of way. I'm all for practicality, but for some reason this book just reeks of it. Most of it is tromping through the wilderness to get to a place with a rather pragmatic and dismal tone. The characters read very world-weary and that translates into the book as well. And as a witch and his lover, Jenny can't help but be dragged into this adventure. Especially when she learns that he's there to convince Lord Aversin to slay a dragon for the kingdom. When a courtier comes riding into Jenny's path, flourishing his words and falling off his horse gallantly, she can't help but shake her head.

Dragonsbane by barbara hambly