Jackie Gamber

Jackie Gamber brings her Leland Dragon Series to an exciting and satisfying conclusion in Reclamation. Things are coming to a head in this world of dragons. Mysteries half-heard in previous books take convincing form, and characters with all their different inter-relationships are all that lies between renewal and destruction. But these aren’t cardboard cutout humans or dragons (or more) going through the motions to match the tale. One muses “how large and exciting seemed just a little too risky” and doesn’t want to lose her recently regained home. Another determines “Fighting is never giving up,” though there’s a response, “Unless violence is giving up.”

Backstory, woven almost seamlessly into the storyline, deepens this tale. Readers would do best to read all three novels in order (why miss out?). But forgetful readers, like me, can quickly catch up and move on, returning to a beautifully imagined world, brought to life through evocative and unobtrusive description, and filled with fascinating, complex characters. Reclamation is a tale of thrilling action and suspense, plus mystery and sage advice, with some well-drawn myths and pleasingly complex social structures. It’s enthralling and thought-provoking both at once, and it’s highly recommended.

Disclosure: I loved the previous two and jumped at the chance of a free copy of book three during the author’s book tour. This is my honest review.… (more)

--Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--

Riza Diantus is an open-minded young woman compared to her fellow humans of her village of Cresvell. In these times dragons are becoming few and people are ignorant enough to hunt them for sport or plain fear. Riza has lived in the village of Cresvell all her life knowing how narrow-minded many of the villagers are that she's grown restless for something bigger or new to fill her life from what she obviouly suspects her life in Cresvell will be- ignorant. A life marrying a young man who wouldn't be capable of accepting her with the many questions she asks as a woman. The men expeting her to be quiet and subservient where she knows that life isn't something she wants at all. Riza decides to run away instead of staying where she will undoubtedly be put to marry a man by pressure if she stays in Cresvell. Just when Riza is out on her own she's viciously asssaulted by a group of men while traveling. In her darkest moments she knows there's no one to help her and she may in fact have made a horrible mistake leaving the comfort of the life she knew. To her relieve on this day Kallon Redheart a Red dragon who has run away from his responsibility comes by and saves her feeling the need to show though he's a dragon humans can paint a bad picture of them but they arent evil creatures. Kallon turns out to be a rather moody dragon than anyone would expect. Some of his issues could come from feeling he has such a legacy to live up to: his father having beeng a magnificent dragon ruler. Kallon though doesn't want it especially holding guilt and shame over his parents being mudered by a human dragon slayer. The same dragon slayer who seems taken with Riza as well when she leaves off into the human way of living. Jastin Armitage a dragon hater, hunter, slayer, and all-around destroyer of more often than not innocent dragons. Jastin holds a lot of hate for dragonkind since his family was murdered by a particular mysterious Gold dragon a long way back. He can be hard but also honorable which as a character is impressive to see. He often gets assisted b a rather crazy wizard named Layce who often teases him fo his serious and dark attitudes. Jastin seems both annoyed and amused by her most of the time. There is a deep sense in humor pieces during this time in the book that's good to read. Kallon really worries about Riza over her and Jastin yet his father's wizard , Orman Tistleby, warns him on many days that he needs to confront his destiny as the leader of The Dragon Council of The Leland Mountain Dragons. To him its something he really feels he can't afford to think about. So, while he hesitates a darkly viscous dragon by the name of Fordon Blackclaw grows stronger who's assisted by an even unsavory dragon named Fane Whitetail. With allies in Riza, Vaya Brownwing, Hale Brownwing, and Orman, Kallon may have a chance at thrimph. If he'd just allowed his friendships to guide him to the bigger picture of taking his place as a leader.

In Redheart for a reader that really loves fantasy or dragons this novel series that begins with this book should be a delicious treat in an otherwise same -old- same-old - palette. The narration is omniscient allowing for the readers to really see into all the darkest corners of the story as well as characters. This is a book that seeps into your mind and the stortelling is just wonderful very picturesque.

Riza and Kallon formed a bond that really surpasses species boundaries through mutual understanding that besides the fascinating fantasy curving movement of the story held quite the lovely message. A fantasy not to discount.
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Fantasy, Dragons, Young Adult… (more)

--Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--

In Redheart, Kallon and Riza's deep inner wishes are granted and they can finally be together as dragons.
So as Sela begins as a reader its a real wonder to find that Sela is the daughter of Kallon Redheart and Riza not Diantus but now Redheart! She's an artistic girl and very much like her mother wanting to look for her place in life. As the dragon-born daughter of Kallon and Riza she had an idea of what her life would be like: Eventually becoming a ruler of her father's dragon kingdom of The Leland Mountains until one day she transforms into a human not able to change back to her dragon form. Sela takes it extremely hard feeling that Kallon is ashamed of her now that she's human. Kallon sends her out to stay in human occupied land of . To adjust to life with humans now that she is one. Its not something easy for Sela considering she finds many people have poor respect toward dragons. When the province of Leland takes up a census on all the Leland maidens Orman Tistleby who's now Sela's uncle senses something fishy. Rather than risk Sela being discovered he figures they should return to the dragon dwelled , Mountain Gore, in Leland province. With her return Sela now more than ever feels her place is no longer just with the dragons and she must pursue her place in the world the same way her parents did in their time. When she leaves to pursue her destiny she discovers that the census was a total deception and a soldier named Bannon she recalls wants her to leave with him to attend Leland's province choosing of a maiden who shall marry Venur Vorham Ridess of Esra. Sela once there makes a new human friend named Gladdis in who at first seems indifferent to the endangerement of dragons but slowly sees that dragons are much like humans. While she believed at first with her upkeep she'd never attract the attention of the Venur her way of seeing things proves wrong and she's ambushed with a marriage she doesn't want. As Sela is stuck with no way out of Ridess Castle without attracting suspicion she starts to unravel there is a deep wave of secrets and planning going on behind everything.

Meanwhile Kallon believes that it was his own fault that Sela was left at risk as a human. Not knowing how his distance is affecting not only Sela but Riza his wife. He figures that the only real way to remove the danger his family will be in is to once and for all find Fordon Blackclaw and end his existence especially now when there are rumours of sightings of Blackclaw in dragon lands. In Redheart, Blackclaw escaped eventual capture and it plagues Kallon and his family with him possibly plotting which he very much is in Sela. For the majority of Sela, Kallon along with Riza journey on a mission to discover Blackclaw's whereabouts.

Since this is a Leland Dragon series novel we get multiple perspectives from some of the main characters in every given novel. In this one we get quite a few differing point of views that Jackie blended in Sela perfectly to keep a compelling story: Sela's which was a new character outlook , Kallon's , Riza's, Jastin's , Orman's , Drell's who we get to read into as being the son of Vaya Brownwing and Fordon Blackclaw who you would really get to see farther into in this book, Bannon's who is a young man that for some reason Sela seems to run into a lot , even Vorham's and Lacy Phelcher's point of view who actually featured in the first book, Redheart. She and Jastin seem to be up to their old , well , bickering and picking at each other which if you read is hilarious. For Jastin though in this novel its a real turning point since he finally comes face-to-face with all that anger he has had toward dragons for many years. Becomes something emotional and for readers who loved Redheart its something you wont want to miss in reading. All the new characters were interesting to get to know and again in this book we get this olden feel to the storytelling. The olden feel which you do want since its so Fantasy. In Sela, its an end of an era and a beginning of a new one for humans as well as dragons.

For a fan of this series Sela is not just an amazing novel its a continuation of a a fascinating young adult fantasy series that can also be for adults. Very recommended if for whatever reason you haven't reached it.
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult… (more)

There have been an increase in "dragon" books in YA recently, such as Firelight and Flying Blind, two books I really enjoyed. So the idea of another dragon book seemed appealing. Unfortunately, Redheart and I just did not mix well. Or at all really.

Redheart is not like the "dragon" books I was referring too. That's okay, being different is fine - sometimes great. In this novel, the dragons are actually dragons, not shape shifters. That seemed kind of cool to me, but the logistics just seemed too unrealistic, even for a fantasy book. I mean, the dragons were writing and carrying objects, living in palaces, etc. and I just didn't see how any of that could be possible - even if dragons did exist.

This might have been okay if it didn't take me so long to get into the book. It wasn't until I was more than halfway through that the pace started to pick up and I wanted to know how the book ended. I wasn't really excited with the romance of this book, but I was happy to see where it went (took a bit of a Shrek turn - you'll get it if you've read it).

I'm not going to tear this book apart - we just did not match up. If you are a fan of dragon books, like real dragon books, and medieval type magic, you'll probably be a better fit for this novel than I was.… (more)