Editorial Content for The Summer Dragon: First Book of the Evertide
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
A master at bringing fantasy book covers to life for luminaries like R.A. Salvatore and C.J. Cherryh, artist Todd Lockwood has turned his pen over to another noble pursuit: writing. In his debut novel, THE SUMMER DRAGON --- the pages of which are peppered with the sketchmaster’s own drawings --- Lockwood shows that he has learned from the best in the genre. He manages to reinvent that ever-popular character, the European dragon, in a fresh and inventive way, creating a thoroughly entertaining adventure.
"[Lockwood] manages to reinvent that ever-popular character, the European dragon, in a fresh and inventive way, creating a thoroughly entertaining adventure."
Meet Maia, the only daughter of famed dragon breeder Magha. In her world, the majestic beasts are produced en masse for an imperial war machine, but the dragons are wonderfully animated animals, ones who form bonds with human lifemates. More than anything, Maia longs for a baby qit of her own, but circumstances beyond the control of her father or her aerie soon intervene. While she and her brother, Darian, are out on a routine sweep of the family grounds, they spy the legendary Summer Dragon, a semi-mythical beast whose presence heralds great change. What could his appearance portend for our heroine?
According to each authority in the land --- political, religious and draconic --- the Summer Dragon’s brief manifestation has a different meaning. But it’s clear The Powers That Be have no intention of fulfilling Maia’s dreams of bonding with and training her own dragon, though it appears the Summer Dragon has marked the young woman for an unknown destiny. Determined to evade being ensnared in the empire’s war machine or swept up in priests’ machinations, Maia ventures forth from the aerie. In the process, she encounters Horrors --- legitimately terrifying creatures that are zombie hodgepodges of dead animals and people --- and uncovers secrets galore while seeking her own place in the world.
While Lockwood can allow the story’s pace to lag, weighing the narrative down with the minutia of dragon life, he still crafts a story that will keep fantasy readers engaged. Taking influences from many fantasy series, ranging from Naomi Novik’s Temeraire to Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Lockwood creates a world that’s wholly his own and delivers a story sure to please all dragon fans.
Teaser
Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. But her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon --- one of the rare and mythical High Dragons --- makes an appearance in her quiet valley. The Summer Dragon is an omen of change, but no one knows for certain what kind of change he augurs. Political factions vie to control the implied message, each to further their own agendas. And so Maia is swept into an adventure that pits her against the deathless Horrors and a faceless creature drawn from her fears. In her fight to preserve everything she knows and loves, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world and of herself.
Promo
Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. But her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon --- one of the rare and mythical High Dragons --- makes an appearance in her quiet valley. The Summer Dragon is an omen of change, but no one knows for certain what kind of change he augurs. Political factions vie to control the implied message, each to further their own agendas. And so Maia is swept into an adventure that pits her against the deathless Horrors and a faceless creature drawn from her fears. In her fight to preserve everything she knows and loves, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world and of herself.
About the Book
The debut novel from the acclaimed illustrator --- a high fantasy adventure featuring dragons and deadly politics.
Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. As she comes of age, she hopes for a dragon of her own to add to the stable of breeding parents. But the war goes badly, and the needs of the Dragonry dash her hopes. Her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon --- one of the rare and mythical High Dragons --- makes an appearance in her quiet valley. The Summer Dragon is an omen of change, but no one knows for certain what kind of change he augurs. Political factions vie to control the implied message, each to further their own agendas.
And so Maia is swept into an adventure that pits her against the deathless Horrors --- thralls of the enemy --- and a faceless creature drawn from her fears. In her fight to preserve everything she knows and loves, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world and of herself.
