Shapeshifter Dragons, #1, #2, & #3 by Marc Secchia
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Coming of Age, Fantasy, Epic
Chained to a rock and tossed off a cliff by her boyfriend, Aranya is executed for high treason against the Sylakian Empire. Falling a league into the deadly Cloudlands is not a fate she ever envisaged. But what if she did not die? What if she could spread her wings and fly? Long ago, Dragons ruled the Island-World above the Cloudlands. But their Human slaves cast off the chains of Dragonish tyranny. Humans spread across the Islands in their flying Dragonships, colonising, building and warring. Now, the all-conquering Sylakians have defeated the last bastion of freedom–the Island-Kingdom of Immadia. Evil has a new enemy. Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Dragon Shapeshifter.
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
Aranya is the first book in the Shapeshifter Dragons series. In it, we meet the lead character Aranya as she prepares to become a hostage due to her island's surrender to the Sylakians. Aranya is tall, athletic, and strong-willed. Although she succumbs to a small pity party, she is soon pulled out of it by her servant, Beri. She makes the best of the situation she can, and actually saves the live of her captor. Once she makes it to the tower, her life changes completely. After a very rocky start, Aranya becomes friends with Zip, who is physically the opposite of Aranya. However, things take a turn for the worse and Aranya's life may soon be over at sixteen.
Of course, this is an epic fantasy, and I've really only detailed the first few chapters, so trust me when I say that her life isn't over, and there is still so much more to read! Aranya and Zip make a wonderful partnership, their verbal swordplay a delight to read. With the addition of Oyda and Nak from The Pygmy Dragon, they help Aranya come to terms with her new life. It was wonderful to read about them again, although heartbreaking to hear about Emblazon and Shimmerith. Once again, Marc Secchia has given us a host of magnificent characters - whether you like or loathe them. Aranya's relationship with Yolathion was topsy-turvy to say the least! And I loved it!!
Excellently written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, this is quite simply an amazing read. This is an epic fantasy of the highest calibre, and definitely recommended by me.
* Verified Purchase - October 2016 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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Coming of Age, Epic, Fantasy
Chameleon Shapeshifters, uncontrollable storm powers, and the rise of Sylakia’s Dragon-elite. The battle against evil scales new heights, but the price of victory grows ever dearer. Once, a Shadow Dragon ravaged the Island-World. Insatiable. Unstoppable. A Dragon-killer. Now the Shadow Dragon has reappeared, on a collision course with Aranya and King Beran’s campaign to liberate the Islands from the scourge of Sylakian tyranny. He is dark, beautiful and deadly, a predator of untold power. Meantime, Thoralian weaves his web of guile and betrayal right in the hearts of Aranya’s friends and allies. He will bring them to an encounter only he can win. Incredible aerial battles. An Ancient Dragon bent on enslaving Aranya. The treacherous secrets of Dragon magic. This is the fight for which destiny has shaped a heroine of rare courage–Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Criminal. Shapeshifter Dragon. A woman who will confront evil at any cost. Spite her at your peril.
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
Shadow Dragon is the second book in the Shapeshifter Dragon series, and the adventures continue. We start off the story with a man who wakes up with amnesia, at the mercy of warrior women. When he doesn't react the way they expect him to, they keep him around as a 'slave', but things are about to change. As for Aranya, she is still helping out her father, King Beran, in the war against the Sylakians. Zip and her "moons-mad monk" are with her too. None of this helps with the growing uncertainty with Aranya and Yolathion though.
I love these books! There is simply so much going on that every page is a delight because you are never sure what is going to happen next. I won't tell you how many times my heart ached for Aranya, and how often I desperately wished for her and Ardan to be less honourable! With so much going on, I won't focus on one thing, but I will say that this book is completely breathtaking! With plenty of action, love, betrayal, and treachery going on, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.
Excellently written as always, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow, this book was a gripping adventure from start to finish. Absolutely amazing, and I've just one-clicked the third book in the series too. With so many amazing characters and a "Fabbrilwonderzing" storyline (that's fabulous, brilliant, wonderful and amazing all at once, just in case you were wondering), this is a fantasy of epic proportions, and highly recommended by me.
* Verified Purchase - October 2016 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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Epic, Coming of Age, Fantasy
The Storm is coming! The hegemony of Sylakia has been broken and freedom won, but at a shattering cost. Laid low by the vile Shapeshifter pox and Thoralian’s wiles, can Aranya rise again? For war sweeps Herimor at the touch of the Marshal’s evil claws, and he will stop at nothing to possess the ultimate power. Now, the race is on to find the First Egg of the Ancient Dragons. Accompanied by her friends Zuziana and Ardan, and the magnificent Land Dragon Leandrial, the Star Dragoness must dive deep in her new quest. Cross the uncrossable Rift-Storm to Herimor. Stop Thoralian. Crush his ambitions. Only then will she be able to save her beloved Dragons. Yet profound Dragon lore enshrouds her purposes. History beckons. What are the secrets of the powerful Dragonfriend and the tiny, lost Pygmy Dragoness? Why did the Dragons disappear? What became of the powerful Dragons of yore? Arise, o Storm Dragoness! She is legend. She is the whisper of starlight upon Dragon scales. She is Aranya, and this is her song. The Song of the Storm Dragon.
5 out of 5 (exceptional)
Song of the Storm Dragon continues Aranya's story as, together, with Zip and Ardan, she tries to stop Thoralian from taking over her world. They enter a whole new world in this book as they travel with Leandrial, seeing new creatures, fighting new foes, and learning new things. The relationship between Aranya and Ardan continues to break my heart as I desperately try to read with my fingers crossed!
A wonderful story, with a rich and complex history wrapped up with action, romance, humour, and sadness. Every character is thoroughly rounded, with their own foibles. I love how Aranya continues to grow, as her powers develop and emerge.
Once again, Marc Secchia has written an outstanding Epic Fantasy, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt the reading flow. This continues to be a magnificent series, and I can't wait to read more. Highly recommended!
* Verified Purchase - December 2016 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Marc is the bestselling author of 17 fantasy novels, including 7 rip-roaring dragon fantasy adventures. He's also the author of a bestselling African historical fantasy series set in ancient Ethiopia. All of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited, so come along and try them out. Look out for The Horse Dreamer, my latest release! An equine-themed fantasy with wild adventure, crystal dragons and a unique world of equinoctial storms. Current projects: Dragonsoul, Book 3 in the Dragonfriend series, and forthcoming Chinese and Italian translations of several of my books. Shioni of Sheba is being produced as an audiobook, as is Shadow Dragon. Marc was born Cape Town but now lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night there are also hyenas prowling along the back fence. When he’s not writing about Africa or dreaming about dragons flying across the moon, Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon.
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