Summary
Ten clans live on the island nation of Dorohin, with the power to shapeshift into reptilian titans. The Dragon clan rules all, but the jealous Ryu clan seeks after the emperor’s throne which was once rightfully theirs.
Caught in between them is Iris, an ordinary girl of a lesser clan. The Plague stole her mother from her, leaving her orphaned and homeless. However, in a moment of crisis, she discovers she is a half-Dragon shapeshifter known as a Wyvern. She is soon scooped up to become the heir of the childless Wyvern Lord Senbi, who defends the Dragon clan’s border.
Lord Senbi is under imminent threat from the zealous General Kenzo of the Ryu clan, and Iris is hardly welcome as an illegitimate child whose mother hails from lesser blood. To Iris, though, anything is better than a life on the streets. She will not only learn to master her Wyvern form, but she may turn out to be the missing piece needed to hold back the tide of war.
A coming of age fantasy story that will delight and thrill readers who enjoy dragons, but would like to see them in a whole new world.
Thoughts
While I do love minimalist covers like this with not a lot going on, having read the story, I don’t think the cover does the story justice. The story is so much more, with each dragon kind having a place in the dragon hierarchy, and our main character who grew up at the bottom of the hierarchy, being essentially adopted into the top of the hierarchy by the ruling house of that clan.
The summary says this is a coming of age story, but I would also say this is found family. Our main character Iris is a Cockatrice. They are at the bottom of the clans. However, she learns she is at least half Wyvern. The Lord of the Wyvern adopts her, and they pretend she is his illegitimate daughter. Only a few in the house know this, but the Lord having lost his wife, having no other children, has his heart opened by this orphan girl. Iris wants nothing more than to actually be acknowledged by him and spend time with him as her Father.
I feel this could also be a good book to read if you are experiencing a reading slump and enjoy fantasy books with dragons. This starts somewhat cool and calm, like some Mint tea, but then gets exciting towards the end as the family element comes together.
Overall, this was an interesting story to read. I enjoyed this and would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.