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Reviews
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Here’s what the reviewers are saying about book two:
Advance Praise for Paul Genesse’s
The Dragon Hunters:
“Genesse stresses the necessity of trust between races and cultures and the perils of bias and dissention, and he keeps the plot moving quickly . . .”
—Publishers Weekly
“Paul Genesse is a talented writer with two rare gifts: the ability to create wonderful worlds, and the skill to share them with his readers. Through his deft handling of magic and mythic creatures, Paul Genesse transports us into a realm of wild imagining. Taut suspense and fantastic imagery make The Dragon Hunters a tale no fantasy fan will want to miss.”
--Michael A. Stackpole, New York Times bestselling author of the Star Wars novel I, Jedi
“In The Dragon Hunters, Paul Genesse continues the epic saga that started in The Golden Cord. With vivid world-building, he sets his characters on paths that wind and twist through the world as they try to reach their almost impossible goal—the death of the Dragon-King. The characters are driven, each for their own reasons, united by their desire for honor, and vengeance for their kin. In the midst of a fantasy, Paul weaves in realistic themes of family and honor, prejudice and hate, love and redemption.”
--Elizabeth Vaughan, USA Today bestselling author of The Warlands trilogy and Dagger-Star
Praise for The Golden Cord
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series:
Three words here: BUY THIS BOOK. This is a story that’s worth your time. It’s almost like going back to that first fantasy novel that totally captivated you and you read it over and over again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
--Russell Davis, Author, Editor, and President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America on The Golden Cord
Book one of the Iron Dragon series is a rich and compelling fantasy full of adventure, danger, dragons, battles, revenge, magic, and more.
--Sara Cofer, Library Journal
The Golden Cord is indeed a hellishly good read.
--The Pedestal Magazine, JoSelle Vanderhooft
This debut novel promises to unlock a realm of magic and warfare in a unique world of cloud-bound lands and a mysterious Underworld.
--Library Journal, Jackie Cassada
Paul Genesse’s tale is elegantly written and filled with rich, believable heroes and villains. He transports you to a vibrant fantasy world that feels so real and complex you won’t want to leave. It is irresistible.”
--Author of The Finest Trilogy from Tor Books, Jean Rabe
Full reviews below:
THE GOLDEN CORD, BOOK ONE OF THE IRON DRAGON SERIES - Paul Genesse: (Full disclosure - I've known Paul Genesse since he was an aspiring author, though we've only met a couple of times.) Three words here: BUY THIS BOOK. Published by Five Star, this fantasy novel set in the world of Ae'leron, is very, very enjoyable. Telling the story of Drake Bloodstone as he travels with two Drobin warriors to the liar of the Dragon King, THE GOLDEN CORD is what I call "comfort fantasy". Genesse hasn't crafted something so complex that you have to work extra hard to understand or follow it; instead, he offers a tale that is at once familiar and unique. It's almost like going back to that first fantasy novel you read over and over again way back when that totally captivated you. This is a story that's worth your time, though due to it being a Five Star title, it may be somewhat difficult to get your hands on. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
--Russell Davis, Author, Editor, and President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
VOYA Magazine writes:
The Golden Cord: Dragons and Griffins are not the only dangers facing Clifton, a secret village in Ae’leron. The Dwarves enslave humans for their armies, forcing them into hiding. Drake Bloodstone, Clifton’s most vigilant guardian, would do anything to protect his people from Aevians and Dwarves. Ridiculed for choosing to guard instead of hunt, Drake realizes his destiny as a hunter when two Dwarves arrive in Clifton. The Dwarves seek a guide who will lead them on a quest to find their lost kin. Drake feels it is his sacred destiny to escort the Dwarves and volunteers to be their guide. After a few days, Drake discoveres the Dwarves are hiding their true purpose. They reveal that while they are in search of their lost kin, they are also Dragon Hunters and are tracking Draglune, the King of Dragons and the most Ancient Evil, who will bring a great war that will end the world. Drake knows he must do everything in his power to help stop Draglune and save his people. Book one of the Iron Dragon series is a rich and compelling fantasy full of adventure, danger, dragons, battles, revenge, magic, and more.
Readers will root for Drake, a strong character who struggles both physically and mentally with the sacred duty handed to him. Drake is becoming a man while learning to follow his heart and trust his enemies in order to save everything he loves. The plot is well constructed, the characters are wonderful, and the middle-ages setting creates an ominous feel. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for more of this great recommendation for fans of Lord of the Rings.
Sarah Cofer—VOYA Magazine
Library Journal writes:
The plateau world of Ae'leron lives in fear of the griffins and dragons that threaten them from the air and the dwarven Drobin Empire that rules the humans with an iron fist. When Drake Bloodstone, a young guardian of the hidden human enclave of Cliffton, is forced to lead a party of Drobin to the lair of the Dragon King, he knows that the fate of his loved ones hangs in the balance. This debut novel promises to unlock a realm of magic and warfare in a unique world of cloud-bound lands and a mysterious Underworld. A good choice for larger fantasy collections.
Jackie Cassada—Library Journal
From The Pedestal Magazine, February 2008
High fantasy often gets a bad reputation among critics as well as readers and writers of other—often more "literary"—sub-genres of fantasy literature. It is frequently derided for its over-reliance on mythologist Joseph Campbell for monomythic structure (think the hero’s journey) and on modern fantasy’s grandfather, J.R.R. Tolkien, for plot, character and setting (think dragons, elves, plenty of swordplay and a supreme evil that must be stopped from an attempt at world domination). The reputation is only deserved when a work of high fantasy is a washed-out clone of The Lord of the Rings (or any other seminal work of fantasy)—predictable, trite and worst of all, boring. And while the influence of Tolkien, Campbell and others is difficult to escape, many high fantasy writers manage to tell their own stories nonetheless. To dismiss these writers and their work is to miss out on stories that can be complex, captivating and profound. Not to mention hellishly good reads.
Newcomer Paul Genesse is one such writer of high fantasy who acknowledges his debts to past masters without becoming a slavish imitator. And his first book, The Golden Cord (forthcoming in April 2008 and the first novel in the five book Iron Dragon series) is indeed a hellishly good read.
The book’s basic plot line seems familiar, even tired, at first glance. Drake Bloodstone is a young man from a small village whom most consider to be a little backwards. While the rest of the men go out hunting, he prefers to remain at home, guarding the village from invading dwarves and wyverns. While most men marry in their teens, he is twenty years old and reluctant to propose to his sweetheart. He’s a little shy, green, unsure of himself and his skills. And one day, through circumstances beyond his control or his ability to predict, he is called on a quest—a call which he accepts with some reluctance (as it means leaving the comforts of family and his sweetheart behind). On his quest he must face several dangers that will test his intelligence, bravery and compassion. It is the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the bildungsroman of Frodo Baggins and Luke Skywalker.
But skillful storytellers also know that this structure has captivated humans for centuries—and one where detail and variation are essential to convey meaning and entertain As a skillful storyteller, Genesse knows this, and he builds his world of dragons, dwarves and youths on the threshold of adulthood accordingly. The Golden Cord centers on a world where life and death are not as clearly defined as in this one. Drake’s world, Ae’leron, is surrounded by a sea of mist and clouds known as the Void—a sea which covers the Underworld and from which monsters such as wyverns, griffins and dragons perennially rise to menace his people physically and in dreams. The Void becomes the subject of Drake’s quest when it spawns a powerful dragon intent upon destroying civilization and subjecting humans and dwarves to his rule.
But the Void is far from a mere location or plot point. It also factors heavily into the themes of love, friendship, fidelity and loss upon which The Golden Cord centers. The Void also entices people to it, including one of Drake’s closest childhood friends who commits suicide by throwing himself into its misty depths in the book’s prologue. Drake cannot forget this loss, and his friend remains bound to him in adulthood, both literally through a black cord of energy and figuratively in Drake’s burning need to protect his fellow villagers from harm. Most touchingly, Genesse also implies that witnessing his friend’s suicide is the sole factor in Drake’s alienation from and discomfort with his culture’s behavioral expectations. Indeed, through the device of the dark cord, Genesse even suggests that a part of Drake died with his friend (a feeling to which many suicide survivors can attest). It is rare to see the subject of suicide—and particularly the suicide of a child—addressed in any novel, let alone a work of high fantasy, and Genesse’s honest, unsentimental and unflinching treatment of the subject is commendable and moving.
Genesse’s treatment of his other characters is just as skillful. Early in the book Drake joins two dwarves, the War Priest Bellor and apprentice Thor (who in his more indignantly gruff moments bears a little resemblance to John Rhys-Davies’ portrayal of Gimli in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films), on a quest to find their missing dwarven kinfolk. As student and teacher, brothers in arms and best friends Bellor and Thor’s relationship is complex, touching and frequently the source of much needed—and never forced—comic relief. In an unusual twist, most humans in Ae’leron are the slaves of the dwarven empire, a situation which creates much interesting cultural, political and personal tension between Drake (who comes from a free tribe of humans) and his traveling companions. The changing nature of Bellor and Thor’s friendship—namely, how it evolves as Thor comes into his own as a warrior and priest and how it changes to include Drake as an ally, and then a brother—is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
Genesse also extends this understanding of character to some of The Golden Cord’s villains—monsters who are typically viewed as nothing more than forces of chaos. During the course of the book, the trio meets a female dragon with a dry sense of humor and what seems to be a sense of fair play. When she offers to spare their lives, Bellor tells her that he doesn’t trust dragons. She replies, "I don’t either, dwarf. We agree on that, at least." As all of the monsters Bellor, Thor and Drake have met until now have been more interested in killing them than in negotiating, the introduction of a dragon character who does otherwise makes the reader pause. Given how carefully Genesse has structured his novel the reader may wonder if this hint of humanity in a monstrous character will have implications in the following volumes.
Overall, Genesse is a master of pacing and plotting, especially when one remembers that this is his first novel. Although he is working with a familiar story structure, Genesse knows how to keep the reader’s interest. He never gives too much of the plot away too quickly and introduces details about his world (such as the dwarven empire and the rise of the dragon king) so gradually and naturally that the reader never feels force-fed or talked down to.
The Golden Cord is a strong start to what appears to be an entertaining and thought-provoking series, and a strong debut for a talented new writer. It is recommended not only to fans of high fantasy but to young readers, who will likely find Genesse’s emphasis on the importance of friendship, loyalty and love to be particularly relevant and urgent.
The Pedestal Magazine, JoSelle Vanderhooft
Paul Genesse’s tale is elegantly written and filled with rich, believable heroes and villains. He transports you to a vibrant fantasy world that feels so real and complex you won’t want to leave. It is irresistible.”
--Jean Rabe, author of The Finest Trilogy from Tor Books
Mr. Genesse has created a rich and interesting fantasy world, where man lives on top of giant plateaus surrounded by a demon filled void of mists. Terrible creatures own the sky, and everyone lives beneath cover in order to survive. Humans are slaves to the Drobin empire and wizards have been hunted almost to extinction by war priests.
I read the Golden Cord first and enjoyed it. The sequel, Dragon Hunters, is even better. The characters fight the traditional fantasy quest foes of dragons and evil cultists, but in addition, they have to grow as people, and also face their fears and prejudices. Overall the characters are believable and struggle with issues of faith and determination.
I'm eagerly looking forward to the rest of the series.
-Larry Correia - Author of Monster Hunter International
I didn’t get around to reading and posting a review for The Golden Cord--Book One in the Iron Dragon Series--until several months ago, but when I did, I gave it 5 Stars and said I would definitely be reading the sequel. Happily, I have now done so and can say that The Dragon Hunters--Book Two of the Iron Dragon Series--is even better than the first book. With the major aspects of his world and the main four characters of the saga firmly established, Paul Genesse sets in motion a rampaging cavalcade of events. The Dragon Hunters starts off quickly and never lets up. Moreover, the story is filled with twists and turns, surprising developments, alliances, betrayals, and more. Paul Genesse gives us a fantasy world and characters that are not black and white, a world where the enemy of my enemy may still not be my friend, and a world where misinformation, mistrust, mistakes, and tragedy can and do occur. While at times you may wish to scream at the characters to make different, better choices, the complexity and difficulty they face and their imperfections in doing so despite their noble motives make their quest even more heroic and more engaging than a simple battle against evil. The complexities of the inter-relationships of the individuals and their societies also provides valuable insights into the real world, but with war dogs, dwarves, and dragonfire masking the learning. Exciting and compelling. Now I'm even more invested in the world and the saga and am looking anxiously forward to the next book in the series.
One note, since the book starts off where The Golden Cord left off without much summary of what has gone before, those who have read the first book some time ago may want to skim the last few chapters to refresh their recollection. Fortunately, The Golden Cord remains available to buy or to read at libraries nationwide, so this shouldn't really be much of a problem.
Highly recommended for gamers, fantasy lovers, and adventurers of all ages.
Donald J. Bingle, Author of GREENSWORD
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