The Dragon's Egg: Dragonfall, Book 1

I wanted to love this book. I thought I would love this book. I did not love this book.Let's start with the positives:- The story is wonderfully fresh. It takes a unique twist on magic and dragons from those I have read lately and it was exciting to see the story play out (in the trilogy).- Good array of characters with different attitudes, intentions and beliefs.Now on to the bad:- The fleshing out of characters is zero. I reread several parts of the book to try and find out what each character looked like, the age or even some hint of a visual in my mind's eye. Nothing. In fact, the age/physical characteristics were so forgotten that when I got to the 3rd book, I was shocked to learn one character wasn't as young as I thought he was. No character depth at all. All characters felt very flat and one dimensional.-How much do we all hate Frank? Very very much. Enough said.- Not very many things are answered in the trilogy. It feels as though the story was told with few details.I really liked the story but the whole series felt like a synopsis by the time I finished it. Too bad. It could have been great.

The Dragon's Egg is a post-apocalyptic book centered in a future world that has been decimated by dragons. The dragons came to the earth in meteorites and used cunning, deceit, and magic to eliminate the majority of humanity. A single dragon remains and rules the world as a tyrant. The book begins after these events have occurred and follows a young man who is trying to live a normal life- until it is upset by the tyrannical reign as the dragon trys to take command of the remaining 'free' cities.The book is interesting and pretty unique, but it has a number of elements that make it less enjoyable to read, and overall a fairly weak book. Im torn between giving this 2 or 3 stars. I think it is a solid 2.5. I would read the next book in the series because i like the writing style and the plot, however if the negatives are continued, i would probably stop reading.Positives:+ Surprisingly unique, i was worried about this being an Eragon copy.+ The plot was good and the writing kept me reading. If the author can fix the issues below this could be a really strong series.+ The main character is not indestructible as is the case in to many books.... (just infallible, as explained below).Negatives:- The biggest issue with this book is Frank. Weak characters are useful in stories when used correctly, this is not the case here. Generally weak characters have certain positive traits, or at minimum a strong plot role. Frank starts out interesting enough, showing a level of cunning that could of been built upon to make a strong character. Instead, after the first few chapters, Frank becomes a complete bumbling idiot/coward/screw-up whose only purpose in the book is to show how 'great' a person the main character is. I mean that his presence is literally story breaking. The book would of been better served by having each of the other characters have a specific weakness instead of piling the entire load onto Frank.- The book suffers from vagueness. The 'apocalypse' is not really addressed until late in the story. I felt that a stronger background early on would of firmed up the world and help me understand better what was actually going on.- The books characters make references to secrets that they don't know about every other page for about half the book. OK, i understand that there is key information that hasn't been revealed, now enough about it. Either tell me the information, or understand that i am smart enough to remember that there is information i don't know for more then two pages.- Similar to Terry Goodkind's later books, the author uses certain sections to 'preach' on certain life lessons or agendas. This is ok. Just don't interrupt an action scene to do it. "The enemy just appeared on the road behind us. We have 30 seconds to form a plan before we all die, what do we do!?! Let's take 1/2 a page for a character monologue!!!"- I feel that while the magic system is unique, there are some existing issues. Healing needs to be addressed. It seemed that John was healed by manifestation magic... but Ben couldn't be (the wound was taken on by another)? Bounds need to be better defined on what each form of magic can do. Similarly, the priests and the wizard himself felt really weak... i would of thought that both of these groups would of been stronger.

Dragons, demons, angels, horror, action, gore, sword & sorcery, magic, high technology, ninja skills, cussing, and family. Some might think this goes all over the place and some may love the chaotic world. Through it all, one character shows us his inner struggle of emotion and information while maintaining a meditative control over it all. Another character waxes philosophy for us, with some good messages on over-reaching authority and those who instill fear in the People in order to come and offer them an authoritarian "protection" from the "badness".Cyril appears to be the seasoned vet with many unseen facets to his past. Ben is the inexperienced youth trained up well by Cyril's words of wisdom and physical defense training. This is one of those stories that play out like a coming-of-age for the youth while someone from the older generation teaches them. These types of tales do well when the youth listens, watches, and learns instead of solely engaging and having a world view that they know how to handle everything. Like Frank. Frank is annoying but it's how he was written. He is Ben's peer but they're both two different examples of the same experience. They're choices and desires make them who they are even though they've hade similar choices through life. Like two sides of the same coin, or two coins of the same make and year. My only complaint against using the character is giving us more background into why he thinks and acts/reacts the way he does. He ultimately is just an annoying self-centered person but he is family.So far, it's worth moving on to the next book in the series but I am leery of the powerful characters falling so easily.

At first I thought I would love the trilogy due to character development. Right away you loved one and hated another, and felt outrage for a third. I've always been drawn to character driven fantasy. But I'm also a sucker for fast paced given and take with magic and monsters. I think the dog was ultimately my favorite character. But the fast paced nail biting action made this book, series, and author great. My advice: stick with the fast pace escalation of power and peril. But work on slipping in a little more interpersonal drama. Book two and three were begging for some hot loving, & a few romance scenes, despite the world ending, biology and the heart always have a role, which did get touched on, but could have had a few more pages. Great work! I cried at the end of book three, I wont say why as it'd be a big spoiler. Each of these books left me feeling good. I read the whole trilogy in 4 days. Write faster! Keep up the fast pace.

I enjoyed this book with dragons and magic. Twins Ben and Frank live with their grandfather in a land ruled by a dragon. A family crisis causes them to go on the run from the authorities. A fantastic story that promises to continue in the next two books, and I can't wait to read them.

Haven,t had a chance to finish reading this book ,but what i have read has been David Wells usual ionteresting style of storytelling ,worth anybodies time to sit down ,read and enjoy

Love the premise, love the pacing and love the people that David A. Wells introduces in this novel. It adds a few twists to the swords and sorcery storyline to create something fresh and fierce. I normally read books on my commute to work, but this one had me switching off the TV to read it instead. Looking forward to part 2.

Good fast paced plot. World and situation established quickly and clearly. Some nice mysteries. Good characters but I would have liked a bit more character development.

I love the way this author writes, he keeps the reading fully engaged at all times and leaves you at the end wanting more, many thanks.