Song of the Dragon

I don't read a lot of Sword and Sandal fantasy. When I do, I'm pretty careful and pretty picky. Hickman has been around the ol' realm a few times, and he came recommended from a good source, so I gave him a try. I am very happy I did.

Hickman's writing is good. At no point did I feel it necessary to skip any character's narratives, even the villain's, which I often skip because I already know they're the villain. Seriously, do you really need a couple hundred pages to tell me the bad guy is bad? So any way, I didn't skip anything. The were some bad guy POV chapters, but they were interesting so I read 'em.

I like the world he builds, and the role of humans in it. I like the way Hickman reveals the history of the world. We don't get any show more long drawn out history lessons. Enough is revealed to understand the whats and whys but still keep some mystery for the up coming books, which I will read as long as there aren't 12 of them.

So there you go. I liked it, and would tell anyone who wants some swords to go with their sandals to check this series out. show less

I don't know about you, but when I hear the following words I get goosebumps and a fluttery feeling in my stomach: dragons, elves, chimera, manticore, gnomes, dwarves and magic.

... Okay, so maybe I get that because I'm just a nerd.

But I can't help it! I mean, I grew up on Fantasy - from as early as I can remember I was fed The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I dreamed about furry-footed little beings and fantastical scenarios! So when I see what looks to be a good fantasy - I jump on it!

Lately I've been reading for my fantasy fixes some old authors, Tolkien being one of them, and some new-to-me-authors, Michael Sullivan and Brandon Sanderson. Now I'm adding Tracy Hickman to that mix and wondering how in the world I didn't start show more reading his books earlier!

In the interest of full disclosure though, I will tell you that it takes a while for this story to get started. I was a bit confused with all the strange names and concepts, but once everything clicked the story really moved and I was drawn in and devouring every little scene. This book had it all. Traitors? Check. Really mean bad guys? Check. Annihilation of entire races? Check. Slavery? Check. The little guy rising above it all? Double-check!

If you are in the mood for a good fantasy, this one will do it. However, it's the first in a series.. and the rest aren't out yet, so be warned! show less

So far I have been able to follow this story. Imagine yourself in a fantasy setting where your staff can teleport you between worlds at the cast of a spell or activation of the staves' orb. You then enter one world, leave, enter another, leave, and then what the hell. You are cast upon this lot of a story. The structure is put together well and the story continues on with interest, but it is as if I am looking into the orb on that staff, or a crystal ball- and what I see is a standard definition reception rather than something that is ultra high quality or breatheable. Fantasy junk food: yes. There is flavor and some substance, but it's going to take a lot to root and to deeply satisfy you. Thankfully, the book gets better as you read show more on- I do promise that. show less

In Song of the Dragon elves rule the world. The Rhonas Empire are a petty, shallow race who have defeated all of the other races and now kill off their enemies for the sake of getting trinkets and trophies. They enslave and subjugate others through the use of magical devotions, which make their slaves forget all of the horrific things that the elves do to them. Drakis, a human, is the hero of this story. He manages to break free from the elves along with a band that includes a chimera, manticores, a dwarf, and human females. This odd cast of characters are on the run, being hunted by elves. Meanwhile, those in his party and others in the world believe that Drakis is the human that according to legend is supposed to lead their uprising show more against the elf oppressors.



The novel got off to a slow start. About a third of the way through, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this novel, but as it progressed, I liked it more and more. It was a bit of a slow build, mostly because at the beginning, the narrator in the form of Drakis, who was mostly the viewpoint character, was unreliable because his character had his memories erased. It was only after regaining his memories did the momentum of the story build. I liked the progression of the novel. I also liked the elven character Soen, who was hunting down Drakis’s group. The ending of the novel was satisfying, and I look forward to reading the other books in this trilogy.

Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity show less

I first got involved in reading Wies and Hickman’s work when I first read the Death Gate Cycle. Then I read Margaret Weis’s Dragonvrald trilogy and, I was disappointed. The plot had more holes than Swiss cheese and characters that were ether bland and forgettable or just plan unlikeable.
So when I first picked up song of the dragon by Tracy Hickman, I was at first a little worried. However, when I read the book I was very satisfied. The story is about Drakis a warrior-slave. After killing the last dwarf king, Drakis finds Jugar a dwarf jester. Jugar frees him from his magical enslavement from his Elvin masters. He then informs Drakis that he is a legendary hero destined to overthrow the Elvin run Rhonas Empire. Drakis naturally show more doesn’t believe in the legend but, it’s the only thing he can go on while he and his companions travel to the north, while trying to evade recapture. All the while secretly followed by Soen, an An elf inquisitor for the Iblisi an order for keeping secrets from enemies as well as the empire itself.
The characters are well written which is Hickman’s strong point, although they are a little one the stock side. While the book’s races include: Dwarfs, elves (These elves are more Moorcock than Tolkien), and catfolk (he calls them manticores but lets call a spade a spade). He does make the chimera have four arms and have the ability to camouflage. The story moves at a good pace but there were s few chapters that I felt were unnecessary. This is Tracy Hickman’s first book he did solo and, is of to a great start. I am eager to read the next in the series. show less

Song of the Dragon by Tracy Hickman

I have to admit that I haven’t read anything with Hickmans name on it for a pretty long time. I really have always wondered why his books do so well since I have found the books fairly sub-par compared to some of the greats in the genre. Of course since I have that view everybody else should also, right?!

That being said I decided to give his newest book, Song of the Dragon a shot.

SotD has the standard players, Dwarfs/Humans/Elves/Gnomes with a few add-ons such as Manticores and Chimerians (shape changers) along with a hint of Dragons to come.

I actually found the book to be fairly enjoyable, Drakis the main character is a fairly standard human warrior whose destiny isn’t that of a slaves, and try as show more he might, Hickman didn’t make it so I really felt anything for Drakis. So far the main Elf character is one of the most interesting “people” in the book. The Elves are not the high and mighty good guys, they are in fact “Dark” Elves who control most of the magic in the world and have dominated the other races reducing everybody else to the status of Slave. I found the magic fairly interesting in the way the characters travel and in the way the Elves use it to control their subject races. Plus I’m a sucker for magic in general.

Drakis unintentionally starts a chain of events that frees himself and many other slaves from the power of the elves. He also just happens to have a Dwarf and a Manticore on hand who know the prophecy and that some human named Drakis will save everybody and crush the elves. This of course starts of a chain of events that result in Drakis and friends running to get away for the elves so that Drakis can be proved to be the savior, though he of course is in denial and isn’t buying that he is anything special.

A fairly standard book with a few nice touches. If you want some lighter reading and don’t mind some tried and true ideas then this is for you. If you have liked Hickmans other books, then this will be a book you will like also!

I do feel that this book (the 1st of a series) has some promise. If Hickman delves into the Elves a bit more and works on making Drakis a character that one can feel for, then this series will really gather steam. I did enjoy it and am giving it 6.5 out of 10. show less

Decent first book in a series that I am now mildly looking forward to reading. Drakis, a warrior-slave of the Elves, is purported to be the salvation of mankind. The Elves who rule the world are none too happy about this prophecy and look to see him killed. But Drakis is freed from slavery to the Elves along with Belag, a manticore warrior, Mala, Drakis' partner, Ethis, a chimerian, the Lyric, a crazy human, RuuKag, manticore and Jugar, the dwarf who is much more than he seems. They make up the party that is fleeing from the elves and seeking out the northern lands where Drakis is supposed to be able to call on the dragons for help. That is, if the prophecy is true.