Eon, The last Dragoneye

Another remarkable story review is here!
In the summer, there's really nothing much to do but lounge, read, review, watch Korean dramas and eat. Oh, there's also worrying about the impending a-level results day, crying about my future and shoving all things too messy to be dealt with at the back of my mind. Lovely.
I will read almost anything I can get my hands on. The fantasy world is obviously no exception to this. You name it, I've probably read about it. Wizards, fairies, demigods, shadowhunters, sparkly vampires, angsty teenage girls who wield formidable powers, djinnis, werewolves, angels, magical assassins and A LOT more. However, there's one thing that I've mainly avoided. It seemed too much like a low production failed CBBC cartoon series that only aired till episode 7.
Dragons.
With my fantasy track record, however, I purchased a used and abused copy of Eon from amazon after hearing a raving review from The Readables  (from the booktube community)
The lure of a strong female lead who has a unique connection with the most powerful dragon in existence was too hard to resist.
Now for some background. Eon is set in an East Asia setting. There are strict traditional values reverently followed under the Emperors rule. The land is controlled by twelve dragons and their Dragoneyes (human warriors with a connection to the dragon). Dragoneyes control their dragons power for the benefit of the land. Each dragon is based off the Chinese years. For example there's a rat dragon, an ox dragon etc. The only variance is in their colours and powers. During every year, the specific dragon and dragon eye must step up to control the weather and fertility of the land. This ensures a secure, risk-free life for the people of the country. Eon is actually Eona, a 16 year old cripple who is taught fighting, dragon eye style by her ruthless master. This fighting consists of epic sword work accompanied with the ability to connect with the energy world. Each power stance has a connection with one of the dragons. I know it sounds weird but TRUST MEH, just read it.
 She is a servant in this masters home, and knows she must pose as a boy in order to participate in the dragon eye competition. Females were forbidden to practice Dragon magic and could face death (FEMINISTS WHERE YOU AT?)
 This competition consists of potential dragon eyes fighting against each other in a show of strength and agility. It concludes with the dragons choosing their destined Dragoneyes to become apprentices to the current Dragoneye. Eon is chosen by the mirror dragon, a dragon which has not appeared in centuries. The mirror dragon is twice the size of a regular dragon and has quadruple the power. Eon must face the doubt and disbelief presented by the people before her. She must stay in the palace under the Emperor and forms a quick friendship with the Prince, Prince Kygo (imagine Ji Chang Wook - holyshitballs *drooldrooldrool*) of course masquerading as a boy the whole time.
The connection between Eon and her dragon is breathtaking. From feeling her dragons power ebb through her to nearly losing all connection with her, Goodman keeps you at the edge of your seat, desperate to find out what happens next.
Eon forms  allies like Ryko, a soldier and Dela, a woman in a mans body. The beauty of their budding relationships are palpable as Eon tentatively approaches them with wariness. Through their continued interactions, loyalty and kinship develops between them, to the point where any is willing to die for the survival of the other.
Eon herself, is not easy to like. She doesn't have the easy courage of a Katniss, or the admirable and stoic, heroism of a Harry Potter. Her actions and emotions are almost too real. There is no quick rise to power or seemingly destined battles in which Eon kills all the baddies with an ounce of her dragons power. As the unprepared victim of political intrigue and power games, she is unwilling to accept the responsibility that has been thrust upon her. Expecting to be an apprentice, one of twelve and schooled by a Dragoneye, she is instead thrust into the position of Co-Ascendant, expected to govern the Council and prevent the usurpation of the Emperor's throne, even though this breaks the covenant. The council consists of evil and self-serving people of power who have try their hardest to gain what they want. The play of politics is perfectly executed by Goodman and keeps the book glued in the readers hands.
The book itself is absolutely stunning. There's a lot of world building to process, but it all contributes to the mythical aspect of the book. The descriptions of the rooms of the palace, the lush landscape and the interactions with all the dragons allows the reader to have no trouble picturing the events. The fact that all I had to do was take a backseat and gasp occasionally at the unexpected turns in the plot pleased the crap out of me. I had no insta love or cringe love triangles to be wary of. (actually the sequel has one but OMG ITS SO GOOD THAT ITS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE ANY KIND SHAPE IN THAT BOOK)
The only down side would be that Eon took eons (haha) to work out the contents of Kinras tablets. Eon has no previous dragoneye to train her to master the mirror dragon, and so must use her ancestors folio and tablets to work out any valuable information. The only problem is that the tablets are encoded and the folios are near impossible to get (stupid stupid Ido).
Eon and her allies face grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon needs to rise up to the role of being a mirror dragoneye  by finding the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her power, and life.
Overall, I'd give 4.5 stars to this book. You need not love a character in order for them to have a profound affect on you. For me, although Eons character hit a little too close to home, she was an incredible character to read about. She's driven by a plethora of loyalties, sacrifices and a strong desire to rise up in a world that's against her. She's a heroine whom you want to watch succeed and so it matters what happens to her and where the story takes her.
Read on guys, read on.

A Court Of Mist And Fury

The following review will contain squealing, squawking, swearing and occasional sighs. You have been warned.
We all know I love a good fairy-tale retelling, and if you didn't know, welcome to The Comfy Booknook, take a seat and drink this hot chocolate. This may take a while.

As if I haven't raved about Sarah J Maas' brilliant writing enough, THERES ANOTHER SERIES THAT IS EQUALLY FANTABULOUS AS A THRONE OF GLASS SERIES OMG AND ITS BASED ON BEAUTY AND THE BEAST UKOSDGFJKDGHVUY

I am writing after having finished the second book in this series ( A Court Of Mist And Fury) and holy crow guys. HOLYCROWLETSJUSTDOTHIS
Feyre is a girl who has always kept to herself. She is practical, fearless and fiercely protective. Although she has two sisters and a father, she has never been close to them, and we're lucky if they exchange more than a few words at a time. Since her farther had lost all his money when his ships sank, Feyre took the burden of providing for her family and ventures daily into the woods nearby to hunt for food. One day, she finds a wolf in the woods. Thinking of only the money its fur would bring and the food for her family, she fires her arrows Katniss style. Unbeknownst to her however, her actions have set off a series of events which leads to her being brought to a castle on the 'Other' side. The Fae side. The humans have an aged hatred for the Fae and vice versa (we hate the unknown).
For those uninformed, the Fae are mystical creatures which wield a great elemental power. The Fae court is divided into the four seasons. Each with their own court, ruled by the King and the High Fae of that court. Unfortunately, all the powers of the court have been taken by the bitch queen Amarantha. She's a powerful, inhumane creature who has long since forgotten the meaning of compassion.she had conquered all the courts within a matter of days. Her past time consists of torturing humans and fae alike. She keeps the king of winter her personal whore. She has an unbidden hatred for humans ever since her younger sister fell in love with a human who ended up killing her. She spent weeks torturing him. She currently keeps his eye on her ring. She rules the Fae lands with an iron clad fist and squashes any sign of rebellion.
 Feyre has been taken in the Spring Court by King Tamlin, who has been pursued relentlessly by Amarantha. Feyre is forced to stay in Tamlins castle as a means of repayment for killing the wolf, who was in actual fact Tamlins close shape shifter friend. Feyre finds something odd about the whole situation, as if the permanent masks on everyone's face wasn't enough of a give away. Over here Feyre learns more of the Fae world, their customs and traditions. A seemingly inconsolable Tamlin and an indignant Feyre blunder down a path which leads to a tentative love blossoming between them. ( I can't believe I just used 'blossoming' fml) He learns of her passion for painting and purchases luxurious sets for her. He shows her the beauty of his kingdom, and in turn, is entranced by her beauty. She, at first completely cantankerous, returns his feelings.

A noteworthy character here is the winter king called Rhysand. She considers Rhysand to be the most beautiful man she has ever seen. (he has the whole black hair blue eyes thing going on)
He is introduced as a conniving, plotting high Fey who's only purpose is to serve Amaranth. His first meeting with Feyre is on Calanamai night (a lit party for all fae where Tamlin becomes possessed and mates with a woman to ensure fertility for the rest of the year- messy, we know) where Feyre is wondering around, unsure of why she is vehemently told to stay locked behind doors. Rhysand, uncertain of her character, saves her from being mauled by three low Fae who feel an urgent need to mate. (euphemisms are my speciality)
Her second encounter is when he appears in Tamlins castle where she, Tamlin and Lucien (a close confidant of Tamlin) are dining. Rhysand is surprised to find the human from Calanamai with Tamlin. He proceeds to invade her mind, demean Tamlin and leaves with enough information to inform Amaranth of the budding relationship between Tamlin and Feyre. A notable point here is that Feyre lied about her name to Rhysand. She used the name of her neighbour and from back home 'Clare Beddor'.
I feel as if now is the right time to explain exactly why Feyre was kidnapped, looked after and treated so well by Tamlin. Just like beauty and the beast, the curse i.e the only way everyone's rightful power could be regained and the masks would fall off, would be when a girl with hate in her heart for faeries must kill one of Tamlins closest friend (the wolf) and fall in love with him. The chances were obviously supposed to be next to impossible.
This curse was set by none other than the delightful Amaranth. Of course, Tamlin refuses to tell Feyre of this curse and sends her back home before she has the chance to tell him she loves him to protect her from Amaranthas wrath.
When he sent her back, there were only three days remaining until it was impossible to break the curse.
The following days at her home are filled with emptiness and desolation. She returns to the castle after some time to find it a complete wreckage. She finds out that Amarantha had come and taken Tamlin and his people to her court Under the Mountain. (capitals to emphasise the horror of this place)
Feyre decides to travel Under the Mountain, to save Tamlin and break his curse.
With help, Feyre reaches Amaranthas court and is brought before Amarantha.
At this moment, its imperative to emphasise the malicious nature of Amaranth.
When Feyre is brought to Amarantha, she finds the dead body of Clare Beddor displayed like a trophy on the wall.

There, nailed on the wall of the enormous cavern,

was the mangled corpse of a young woman.

Her skin was burned in places, her fingers were

bent in odd angles, and garish red lines crisscrossed

 her naked body.

 

I had to sit for a moment and get over this garish image. Maas is a true master of  torture.

Amarantha makes a deal with Feyre to complete three challenges in exchange for Tamlins freedom.

Once she agrees, she's punched to oblivion and thrown in a cell which even a rat would run away from. I hope you can sense my anger at Amarantha. I HATE THAT WOMAN.

The challenges are near impossible to do, and so when Feyre completes the first one, there is shock and hope amongst the Fae. This was one of favourite parts of the entire book, simply because Amaranthas entire court, apart from Rhysand, had bet she would've lost. Her challenge had been to destroy an absolute disgusting creature. Think of a garden worm, now make him as big as a train. Now insert rows of razor sharp teeth. Oh, its also got the speed of a train too. She proves everyone wrong and uses her instinctive survival techniques to use the bones of his past meals to set up a trap and survive. She ends up killing the beast and javelin throws a sharp bone on the ground where Amarantha stands. At this point I had to put down the book and just run around the room a couple of times. The bad-assery is real with this one. (I'm a sucker for strong girls, you should see me drool over Black Widow)

After revealing most of the plot, I'll leave it up to you to discover how she handles the other two challenges and if she manages to break the curse or not.

Overall, a thrilling 4.6 stars, only because the second part COMPLETELY managed to outshine the first part and is undoubtedly a solid 5 stars.

Readers, keep reading.