• book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: The Prince’s Dragon by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns

    Fire and Valor: The Prince’s Dragon – W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns

    The last place Lord Tristram Radcliffe ever expected to find himself was right hand to the Llangardian throne. His parentage should have seen him banished, but he managed to keep his draconic secret. Now, King Reynold is dead. Long live King Roland.

    The boy ascends to rule a kingdom in chaos, and Tristram must undo the damage of the last king’s reign to save his people from lean winter and wolves in the palace itself. Reynold’s former shadow, Bet Kyston, is determined to root out King Roland’s enemies, but his version of help may cause as much harm as good.

    There remains a traitor near to the throne, and when the king falls mysteriously ill, Tristram’s strongest ally is forced to leave court. As his enemies move closer, the strength of Tristram’s regency is more precarious than ever. Abandoned and friendless, Tristram must sacrifice everything to protect his homeland or risk not only Roland’s life, but his own.


    The Prince’s Dragon is the second book of Fire and Valor, an engrossing high fantasy series by writer duo W.M. Fawkes and Sam Burns. The books are not standalone since they end in cliffhangers.

    The story picks up immediately after the events of The King’s Dragon. The new king, Roland, was poisoned and now lies in his sick bed. The Regent, Lord Tristram Radcliff, with help from his lover, Bet Kyston, does his best to balance court duties and going toe to toe with traitorous Cavendish relatives hungry for power.

    Meanwhile dragons are attacking dragons and holding captives. Among those captured was the young dragon Hafgan. The summer clan suffered severe losses, and are moving south to somewhere near the court. (I have no idea how to spell the names of places since I’m audiobooking this so I will not attempt)

    The book is still in multiple POVs, with new ones introduced. Now that I am familiar with the Fire and Valor world, the shift in POVs didn’t hinder anymore. I was able to focus more on the narrative and enjoy the tale as it unfolds.

    This time, the different POVs worked better at giving us the bigger picture and a more detailed look at the world, especially outside the court, connecting different faraway characters.

    Lord Regent Tristam Radcliff – not interested in the throne, never will be now that he knows first hand what a headache it is to run a kingdom. But as the only person King Roland trusts to be his proxy, Tris takes his duties to heart and will defend king and Llandgard, and a certain half-elf, to death. His big scene in the ending was BAM!

    Bet Kyston – ninja elf, a.k.a. assassin, a.k.a. king’s shadow, became my favorite character here. I felt sorry for how he was abandoned by his mother. I loved how his character grew. Bet has no problems sticking a knife to whoever hurt the boy king, legalities be damned. That he loves sticking things in the lord regent, is an ongoing bet in knightly circles.

    Rhiannon – currently healing in the special pool in the monastery. The fierce dragon is surprisingly shy, or is it vain, to show herself to Sidone while she’s recuperating. Struck a bargain with Princess Gillian while there. I’d love to see Rhiannon in battle once more.

    Sir Sidone – this knight stuck with her lady through thick and thin. Not much going on with her in this installment, but I’d love to see her in action in the future astride her dragon because that would be so cool!

    Bowen – a grizzled old stone dragon forced to sell his fellow dragons to slavery. That his hoard is pretty delicate flowers might be a sign that his tough exterior hides a marshmallow heart.

    Hafgan – our sweet sunshine dragon who might just win the heart of an old warrior like Bowen.

    Lady Elinor – Tris’s beloved mom is in for a surprise reunion with a long lost love, who is a mild-mannered bookworm, or should I say, bookdragon.

    Princess Gillian – learned more magic and found romance outside the castle walls. I’m counting on her for spectacular displays of magic. It’s unfortunate that the plot is about lost magic so there’s barely any spells here. Gillian on the tower protecting the city is the most we got.

    Maddox – was pretty surly at first, but this summer dragon turned out to be a great love interest for the princess. His internal thoughts, a.k.a. grudges with Tristram, whom he has yet to meet, were amusing. Turns out they got along splendidly.

    Dragon – a cinnamon roll dragon in captivity. Rescue this sweet little soul now!

    This series gets better with each installment. The pace here is faster, the tension is tighter, and overall, more dynamic as new secrets are revealed and various groups are in motion, either as enemies, fugitives or rescuers.

    Woven through the already potent mix of court politics and dragon action are the romantic threads that give us more things to get hooked on. And there’s something for everyone. The main couple are Tristram and Bet, and their romance is giving me LIFE! Rhiannon and Sidone took theirs to another level. Gillian and Maddox are fantastic together after their initial antagonistic encounter.

    Overall, Fire and Valor hit its stride with The Prince’s Dragon. It had me in its grip from beginning to end. The intrigue, the romance, the adventure, this is more than just slow burn magic. This is a thrilling dragon ride!

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Hadaka no Yuusha
    Artist: Vaundy
    Album: Replica

    P.S.

    Fire and Valor should be read in order. Witness royals come and go, and dragons in and out of scales in The King’s Dragon.


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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Hadaka no Yuusha by Vaundy

    Soundtrack to Fire and Valor: The Prince’s Dragon by W.M. Fawkes & Sam Burns

    The Naked Hero by Vaundy for a book about a hunger for power, a search for healing, a will to protect, and a wish to reunite.

    Shake off the malice that resides deep within power​​​​ ​
    Sure you might not hear​ ​​​​​ ​
    But what the hero needs right now isn’t just power​ ​​​​​ ​
    Let yourself be​ ​​​​​ ​
    Watch these tiny hands now​ 
    ​​​​​​​​ ​

    All those things that I’ve fallen in love with​ ​​​​​
    And the curse that fell down upon me that day too​ ​​​​​ ​
    All those feelings of falling in love​ ​​​​​ ​
    Give me enough light to protect what I adore​ 
    ​​​​​​​​ ​

    ….

    It’s a pair of two, bonded with tears​ ​​​​​ ​
    Of sorrow accompanied by strength ​ ​​​​​ ​
    Love seems to be breaking something​ ​​​​​ ​
    It’s a pair of two, bonded with tears​ ​​​​​ ​
    Skepticism just keeps overflowing​ ​​​​​ ​
    The hand that carried all of this​ ​​​​​
     ​​​​

  • quote,  Uncategorized

    誰かが変な涙を

    呑み込んで 呑み込んでいる

    力が伴う悪意振り解いて

    耳は聞こえちゃいない だが勇者は今

    力は要らない 身に任せて

    小さなこの手は今

    愛してしまった全部全部

    降りかかった呪いも全部

    もう愛してしまった想いを全部

    守れる程の光を

    何処からか舞った悲しみが

    飛び交って 飛び交っている

    失って また失って

    膝をつき 息をしている

    それは涙と対になって

    悲しみと力となって

    愛しさが何かを壊していく

    そこは涙と対になって

    懐疑が溢れ返って

    この全てを背負った手を

    愛してしまった全部全部

    降りかかった呪いも全部

    もう愛してしまった想いを全部

    守れる程の光を

    誰もが求めた剣も

    錆だらけで使えなかった

    この誰かが残していったなまくらが

    闇を裂いてしまう前に

    愛してしまった全部全部

    降りかかった呪いも全部

    もう愛してしまった想いを全部

    守れる程の光を

    力が伴う悪意振り解いて

    耳は聞こえちゃいない だが勇者は今

    力は要らない 身に任せて

    影は迫る 「お前はなんだ」と

    There is someone crying weird tears ​
    ​​​​​Choking them back, trying to choke them back​
    ​​​​​​​​ ​

    Shake off the malice that resides deep within power​​​​ ​
    Sure you might not hear​ ​​​​​ ​
    But what the hero needs right now isn’t just power​ ​​​​​ ​
    Let yourself be​ ​​​​​ ​
    Watch these tiny hands now​
    ​​​​​​​​ ​

    All those things that I’ve fallen in love with​ ​​​​​
    And the curse that fell down upon me that day too​ ​​​​​ ​
    All those feelings of falling in love​ ​​​​​ ​
    Give me enough light to protect what I adore​
    ​​​​​​​​ ​

    The sorrow that flew from somеwhere​ ​​​​​ ​
    It’s flying, it’s flying​ ​​​​​ ​
    Completеly lost, completely lost again​ ​​​​​ ​
    I’m on my knees, breathing​​​​​​

    It’s a pair of two, bonded with tears​ ​​​​​ ​
    Of sorrow accompanied by strength ​ ​​​​​ ​
    Love seems to be breaking something​ ​​​​​ ​
    It’s a pair of two, bonded with tears​ ​​​​​ ​
    Skepticism just keeps overflowing​ ​​​​​ ​
    The hand that carried all of this​ ​​​​​
    ​​​​

    All those things that I’ve fallen in love with​ ​​​​​
    And the curse that fell down upon me that day too​ ​​​ ​
    All those feelings of falling in love​ ​​​​​ ​
    Give me enough light to protect what I adore​ ​​​​​​​​

    And that sword that everyone wanted​ ​​​​​ ​
    But was too rusty for anyone to use​ ​​​​​ ​
    This good for nothing that someone left behind​ ​​​​​ ​
    Before you tear the darkness apart​
    ​​​​​​​​

    All those things that I’ve fallen in love with​ ​​​​​
    And the curse that fell down upon me that day too​ ​​​​​ ​
    All those feelings of falling in love​ ​​​​​ ​
    Give me enough light to protect what I adore

    ​ ​​​
    Shake off the malice that resides deep within power​ ​​​​​ ​

    Sure you might not hear​ ​​​​​ ​
    But what the hero needs right now isn’t just power​ ​​​​​ ​​​
    Let yourself be​ ​​​​​ ​
    The shadows are closing in and asking “What are you?”​