Get Ebooks Dragonvein: Book Four
The Eternal Emperor Shinzan continues to gather his strength. And the power he will unleash is beyond the imaginings of the spirits themselves. No army can stand against him. There is only one who can give Lumnia the freedom she has craved for so long. Only one who can save the world from being consumed by the Emperor's evil. But will it be Ethan who faces him? Or will it be Martok?
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 12 hours and 20 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Studios
Audible.com Release Date: September 13, 2016
Whispersync for Voice: Ready
Language: English
ASIN: B01KIRN3YE
Best Sellers Rank: #12 in Books > Audible Audiobooks > Fiction & Literature > Action & Adventure #13 in Books > Audible Audiobooks > Fantasy > Epic #32 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic
Sorry, but this series jumped the shark with the third installment. I will start with the positive aspects of this book, but unfortunately they are few: The writing is more than passable. Mr. Anderson has come a long way since his Godling Chronicles, and he continues to make improvements here. Characterization is also very well done for the secondary characters. Primary characters receive development, but in bizarre and unrealistic ways simply to serve the plot that Brian has concocted. The story can be interesting with some few twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.Now the bad: The author has fallen into the same trap that many others do - trying to make a bad character a "good" character by given them a sympathetic past. This book is (primarily) the story of Martok. Literally HALF of it is a flashback in an attempt to humanize this monster. When will authors learn that this just doesn't work? This needs to be done in an extremely nuanced way. Go read the Blackjack series if you want to read about a "bad guy" you can sympathize with. There's none of that nuance here. We just have a thoroughly evil guy given some back story who falls in love with a good character. Really though, what does he even know about "love"?None of the author's attempt to make the reader sympathize with Martok came across as authentic or believable. It was just...written the way he wanted it to be. I think I laughed out loud when Kat told Martok that she genuinely loved him. And she *knew* he had stolen Ethan's body and was lying about it! So...this is the same girl he tried to rape, right? This is the same guy that kills, steals, and philanders with complete impunity? But yeah, give him a sob story background and all the sudden he's pitiable.My second gripe is once again the uselessness of every...single...male...character. Apparently only females do anything in the world of Lumnia. That is, unless we're talking about evil characters. Then it's okay for males to do things too, as long as you count raping and pillaging. Ethan/Martok continues to get saved by all of the strong females around him. He's completely unable to solve his own problems, and this hasn't changed since book 1. What power he gains in the book is gained for him by others, never himself. Sue me, but I tend to like my main characters with a bit more agency.Sadly, this book reads more as a ".5" series installment than a primary novel. Most of what we learn is backstory for Martok, and (for obvious reasons) that becomes moot pretty quickly. Other details exposed in this book could very easily be skipped and paraphrased in a prologue in the next installment. It really reads more as a novel that's intended to flesh out secondary characters that certain readers might find interesting, but nothing particularly advances the overall plot.Sorry, but I have to exit the ride here. Mr. Anderson clearly has writing talent. He has written some very interesting characters and he tells a very gripping tale, but there are too many faults here for me to continue with this.Edit: another thing I should mention is that the writer is apparently pandering to his extremely vocal feminist critics that decried his use of rape and other nasty literary tools to build villians in the third book. This book takes a HUGE step back from the "mature" themes of all of the previous installments. The backpedaling is so noticeable that it could have only been the product of pandering to critics. I actually enjoyed those aspects of the Dragonvein novels (and when I say enjoyed, I mean the mature themes in general, not specifically reading about rape - sometimes reading about horrible things adds the correct titillation to improve a story), and felt they gave it a far more realistic feel than his Godling Chronicles on account. Apparently he thought continuing in this vein would hurt his sales, however, and has basically backpedaled his way into a YA series again with book 4. Readers beware.
Well, Author, David D. Anderson really knows how to throw me into supreme fit of confusion. Now I am unsure exactly who is bad and who is good. Shinzan is still a colossal s*** and I really think he should go away....but, could he go to earth? I can't imagine the damage he would do here in our world with all his hateful magic.If you haven't started the "Dragonvein" series, start today and if you are waiting to start book four, get it today! Anderson sure knows how to write a book. There are so many mini-plots within the main good versus evil plot that it keeps you on your toes. I can never put this series down. Each book captures me and doesn't let go until I finally reach the ever frustrating cliffhanger ending. It is like waking up to find out that someone has left dirtied dishes in the sink, realizing that I have, once again, been up all night engulfed in a book and now need a 10 or 12 hour nap. I have done nothing all weekend and the house is a disaster so I have to take my nap and clean my kitchen before I can start another book.I am happy to recommend this 4th book of the "Dragonvein" to all readers as there is something for everyone in this story. Anderson does a wonderful job of balancing magic, adventure, danger, mystery, romance, suspense and, of course, the everlasting cliffhanger ending. I will now have to impatiently wait for book 5, which, Mr. Anderson, you had best be working on right now!KUDOS Mr. Anderson on a tale well told.
I chose to just read this book myself instead of using the audio option, even though I do love the narrator in the first 3 books.Brian Anderson has the ability to create visual thoughts as one reads. He creates anticipation, exhilaration and supreme sadness. There is so little time to win..can the dragons be strong enough? Will the evil Shinsan defeat the inhabitants of Lumina?I was asked if there was any type of sexual content. The only type of sexual content is what your mind can conjure up.Mr. Anderson does not give a blow by blow of anyone's encounters. He leaves that up to your own imagination. The only problem with this book -- I have to wait for the final one to be published.
The saga continues, deepens, climaxes and yet continues... Ethan and his band of family, friends and allies, do battle with the forces of evil without, and the forces of love within. Their travels lead them expectantly to the confrontation with evil they all fear but all desire desperately. Come ride the time tested train of tragedy as the world of Luminaria is facing their fears, making unparalleled alliances and uniting to battle an unsurpassed cruel and perfectly evil army bent on their utter annihilation.
Was alright thought martock would of put up more of a fight and kinda knew shinzin wasn't gonna go down that easy Brian A. NeedS to flesh out his characters a Lilbit better would like to know where the hell shinzin came from maybe do a couple prequel books?
The author needs to write an epilogue of what will happen .....perhaps waiting for the next book. I found the abrupt ending in book 4 annoying. It made me feel that I wasted my time in reading all 4 books.
In every aspect. Very well-written, interesting, engaging, and enhanced by well-developed characters and settings. It's easy to become quite attached to the protagonists and equally easy to hate the antagonist and everything he is and represents. The multiracial alliance against a common enemy, an equal threat to all and even the planet, is quite realistically well done. One can easily imagine much of Earth uniting against an extraterrestrial enemy such as Shinzan represents, at least one hopes we could be so sensible. My only complaint is having to wait for the next book!! Please don't make me wait long! Highly recommend, but you might want to wait until the series is complete as the wait for the next book is difficult!
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