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Winterlands #1
Dragonsbane
Book has been read but is very clean. Edges of pages are slightly tanned from storage or it would be a very good copy. No markings in the book or on the cover.
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
451 people are currently reading
13.8k people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hambly
216 books1,519 followersaka Barbara Hamilton
Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.
"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly
Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.
"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 719 reviews
November 27, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Dragonsbane is a novel I read upon release back in 1985. Obviously, the world was a different place back then, I was a different person (young teenager) and fantasy was of a different flavor. Even at the time though, I knew that Barbara Hambly had gifted her readers with a refreshingly mature fantasy which would stand the test of time.
In the northlands, Jenny Waynest is a not-so-young-anymore sorceress, half-trained, who splits her time between learning her craft and raising her children. The father of Jenny’s brood is Sir John Aversin, and he isn’t your typical backwoods noble. Rather, he is a man of learning, who prefers studying old scientific tomes on engineering and pig farming than fighting. Be that as it may, he and Jenny have been forced on occasion to slay some vicious monsters – including a dragon! And now John is widely known as “John the Dragonslayer” though it hasn’t changed his and Jenny’s life very much.
Then young Gareth shows up.
Gareth is a southerner from the Empire. (The Empire which abandoned the northlands once the mines dried up, leaving their old subjects to the mercies of the northern savages.) Now, though, a huge black dragon has taken the Deep of Ylferdun, killing or enslaving all its inhabitants. Gareth having been sent on a quest to bring the only known dragonslayer back to the Empire to save his people. Only, Sir John isn’t quite what Gareth expected in his shining hero, and he certainly never expected him to be involved with a plain looking, plain spoken witch.
Desperation finally leads Gareth to accept John and Jenny for who they are; the three braving a dangerous journey back to the Empire to confront the dragon. But once there they find that Sir John and Jenny are viewed as a huge joke by the royal court, the king might be under the sway of a beautiful witch, and the dragon could be much more than a savage beast.
“Traditional fantasy,” I hear some of you saying to yourself.
So why do I recommend Dragonsbane so highly?
When I was a teenager, I loved the book for its escapism and adventure. Simple enough, right? Because Ms. Hambly takes the traditional fantasy tropes, twists them about a bit, adds some complex characters like the dragon (He was a favorite of mine at the time!) and turns this familiar dragon slaying quest story into a new and exciting adventure. Pure sugar-coated fantasy fun!
As I’ve matured (i.e. become middle aged), what brings me back is the depiction of John and Jenny. These guys are so familiar to my own real life: two middle aged people in a committed relationship with kids. Yes, they still love one another – even though they drive one another crazy – but they are both struggling with regrets, specifically the realization that due to circumstances they are never going to achieve their lifelong dreams. Yes, that causes Dragonsbane to be sad at times (though John and Jenny’s plight went over my head when I was thirteen), depressing even, but Ms. Hambly handles it all so deftly, so delicately that there is more joy and hope than doom and gloom, as this couple lives their life together.
I’m pretty tough on books. Hard to impress. Difficult to sway once my mind is made up. Perhaps my lifelong love of Dragonsbane is so deeply ingrained in my psyche that I can’t see its faults, but in my eyes, this is as close to perfect as a traditional fantasy adventure can get, and I’d encourage everyone to give it a try.
Dragonsbane is a novel I read upon release back in 1985. Obviously, the world was a different place back then, I was a different person (young teenager) and fantasy was of a different flavor. Even at the time though, I knew that Barbara Hambly had gifted her readers with a refreshingly mature fantasy which would stand the test of time.
In the northlands, Jenny Waynest is a not-so-young-anymore sorceress, half-trained, who splits her time between learning her craft and raising her children. The father of Jenny’s brood is Sir John Aversin, and he isn’t your typical backwoods noble. Rather, he is a man of learning, who prefers studying old scientific tomes on engineering and pig farming than fighting. Be that as it may, he and Jenny have been forced on occasion to slay some vicious monsters – including a dragon! And now John is widely known as “John the Dragonslayer” though it hasn’t changed his and Jenny’s life very much.
Then young Gareth shows up.
Gareth is a southerner from the Empire. (The Empire which abandoned the northlands once the mines dried up, leaving their old subjects to the mercies of the northern savages.) Now, though, a huge black dragon has taken the Deep of Ylferdun, killing or enslaving all its inhabitants. Gareth having been sent on a quest to bring the only known dragonslayer back to the Empire to save his people. Only, Sir John isn’t quite what Gareth expected in his shining hero, and he certainly never expected him to be involved with a plain looking, plain spoken witch.
Desperation finally leads Gareth to accept John and Jenny for who they are; the three braving a dangerous journey back to the Empire to confront the dragon. But once there they find that Sir John and Jenny are viewed as a huge joke by the royal court, the king might be under the sway of a beautiful witch, and the dragon could be much more than a savage beast.
“Traditional fantasy,” I hear some of you saying to yourself.
So why do I recommend Dragonsbane so highly?
When I was a teenager, I loved the book for its escapism and adventure. Simple enough, right? Because Ms. Hambly takes the traditional fantasy tropes, twists them about a bit, adds some complex characters like the dragon (He was a favorite of mine at the time!) and turns this familiar dragon slaying quest story into a new and exciting adventure. Pure sugar-coated fantasy fun!
As I’ve matured (i.e. become middle aged), what brings me back is the depiction of John and Jenny. These guys are so familiar to my own real life: two middle aged people in a committed relationship with kids. Yes, they still love one another – even though they drive one another crazy – but they are both struggling with regrets, specifically the realization that due to circumstances they are never going to achieve their lifelong dreams. Yes, that causes Dragonsbane to be sad at times (though John and Jenny’s plight went over my head when I was thirteen), depressing even, but Ms. Hambly handles it all so deftly, so delicately that there is more joy and hope than doom and gloom, as this couple lives their life together.
I’m pretty tough on books. Hard to impress. Difficult to sway once my mind is made up. Perhaps my lifelong love of Dragonsbane is so deeply ingrained in my psyche that I can’t see its faults, but in my eyes, this is as close to perfect as a traditional fantasy adventure can get, and I’d encourage everyone to give it a try.
August 13, 2018
Dragonsbane is a fantasy book written by the underrated Barbara Hambly. It covers about 3 to 4 days for most of the book, and the magic in them comes from witches. But the real magician here is the author. She spins her yarn patiently, letting us wait until the things that are simmering come to a boil.
The influence of Tolkien is obvious, although younger readers might find it subtle. But is this book for younger readers? The main characters are grownups with grownup problems. I found Jenny charming. The entire story is viewed from her POV.
Jenny is a lazy witch. She didn't study hard to complete her magical SAT. Now she doesn't know whether she's ruing it or not. But we as readers, know the fact that she is ruing it.
There is a road trip involved, a journey to the capital city of the kingdom. I'm happy to say that this part of the book merited 5 stars. It was truly a hardcore experience, to accompany these people. You could feel each ache and sympathise with each complaint. Most of which came from Gareth, some nobody whom the King sent to persuade Jenny and John especially to kill the dragon in their realm.
I'm being a tad unfair when I gave the book 3 stars. Most of you readers, and you women, will like the book a lot. But I decided to give the book 3 stars because it's not rereading material. This is my first book of the author, so, naturally I'm curious about her other works. But she blew the climax big time. There's too much mind battles going on for me to like and try to reread it. So now you know!
The influence of Tolkien is obvious, although younger readers might find it subtle. But is this book for younger readers? The main characters are grownups with grownup problems. I found Jenny charming. The entire story is viewed from her POV.
Jenny is a lazy witch. She didn't study hard to complete her magical SAT. Now she doesn't know whether she's ruing it or not. But we as readers, know the fact that she is ruing it.
There is a road trip involved, a journey to the capital city of the kingdom. I'm happy to say that this part of the book merited 5 stars. It was truly a hardcore experience, to accompany these people. You could feel each ache and sympathise with each complaint. Most of which came from Gareth, some nobody whom the King sent to persuade Jenny and John especially to kill the dragon in their realm.
I'm being a tad unfair when I gave the book 3 stars. Most of you readers, and you women, will like the book a lot. But I decided to give the book 3 stars because it's not rereading material. This is my first book of the author, so, naturally I'm curious about her other works. But she blew the climax big time. There's too much mind battles going on for me to like and try to reread it. So now you know!
August 5, 2023
Un libro de fantasía muy clásica, para los que aman El señor de los anillos pero quieren protagonistas femeninas.
Para mi leer este libro fue como volver a casa porque tiene exactamente todos esos elementos típicos de las historias tradiciones de fantasía, la ambientación, el viaje, los personajes... pero rompe con el gran cliché al tener como protagonista a una mujer adulta, madre y hechicera, cuya pareja es el que en cualquier otra novela sería el protagonista.
Esa es la parte que me pareció más interesante, aunque desde luego para mi lo mejor es el dragón (qué voy a hacer si los dragones siempre son más interesantes que las personas), la historia me entretuvo, creo que tuvo partes maravillosas pero también una trama irregular que en ciertos aspectos me pareció demasiado reiterativa.
Eso sí, muy disfrutable y teniendo en cuenta el año en que se publicó, sigue en muy buena forma.
Para mi leer este libro fue como volver a casa porque tiene exactamente todos esos elementos típicos de las historias tradiciones de fantasía, la ambientación, el viaje, los personajes... pero rompe con el gran cliché al tener como protagonista a una mujer adulta, madre y hechicera, cuya pareja es el que en cualquier otra novela sería el protagonista.
Esa es la parte que me pareció más interesante, aunque desde luego para mi lo mejor es el dragón (qué voy a hacer si los dragones siempre son más interesantes que las personas), la historia me entretuvo, creo que tuvo partes maravillosas pero también una trama irregular que en ciertos aspectos me pareció demasiado reiterativa.
Eso sí, muy disfrutable y teniendo en cuenta el año en que se publicó, sigue en muy buena forma.
January 26, 2011
Hambly writes adults, a rarity in the fantasy genre; in particular, Dragonsbane is a depiction of middle-aged regret, of people who because of historical circumstances and personal situations will never achieve what they dream of, and somehow Hambly writes it in a way that's not depressing and that appealed to me even as an adolescent unsympathetic to the failure to achieve. Also, the dragons are cool.
Under no conditions read the sequels. In fact, let us agree that the publishing records lie and no sequels exist. We will all be happier that way.
Under no conditions read the sequels. In fact, let us agree that the publishing records lie and no sequels exist. We will all be happier that way.
February 26, 2018
I had never heard of Hambly but I am impressed. In the world of sword and sorcery, most authors find it convenient to go the "hack and slash" route with the beautiful maiden thrown in to make the hero "extra-heroic". Few are willing to invest what Tolkien did in creating a whole world that has humans and other intelligent creatures.
Hambly is more than able in this regard, giving us both a deep study of relationships and a threat to the order of the world. Her view of magic is complex and nuanced. Her other creatures are multi-dimensional; each with a unique weltanschauung. She has created a layered plot and gives it time to develop and this makes for satisfying interactions of the characters.
We also receive a very complete view of the choices some women must make and the consequences of those choices. Even good and evil are presented in a way that encourages thought rather than taking sides. Magic, too, is not the looked at as a result, but as a process.
Here is a typical bit of her writing: "Never has she felt so conscious of the traces and turnings of the wind, and of the insignificant activities of the animals in the surrounding woods. She found herself prey to strange contemplation and odd knowledge of things before unsuspected---how clouds grow, and why the wind walked the way it did, how birds knew their way south, and why, in certain places of the world at certain times, voices could be heard speaking indistinctly in empty air. She would have liked to think these changes frightened her because she did not understand them, but in truth the reason she feared them was because she did."
A pleasure to read.
Hambly is more than able in this regard, giving us both a deep study of relationships and a threat to the order of the world. Her view of magic is complex and nuanced. Her other creatures are multi-dimensional; each with a unique weltanschauung. She has created a layered plot and gives it time to develop and this makes for satisfying interactions of the characters.
We also receive a very complete view of the choices some women must make and the consequences of those choices. Even good and evil are presented in a way that encourages thought rather than taking sides. Magic, too, is not the looked at as a result, but as a process.
Here is a typical bit of her writing: "Never has she felt so conscious of the traces and turnings of the wind, and of the insignificant activities of the animals in the surrounding woods. She found herself prey to strange contemplation and odd knowledge of things before unsuspected---how clouds grow, and why the wind walked the way it did, how birds knew their way south, and why, in certain places of the world at certain times, voices could be heard speaking indistinctly in empty air. She would have liked to think these changes frightened her because she did not understand them, but in truth the reason she feared them was because she did."
A pleasure to read.
March 5, 2017
Te vas a leer este libro fácil y aunque leas sobre lo de siempre (dragones, magos, caballeros con espada, gnomos, ambiente medieval) la sorpresa es que los personajes te van a sorprender.
Alejados de los clichés de la Fantasía, nos encontramos con personajes “sólidos”, con motivaciones humanas (o no humanas pero factibles en el contexto).
Le pongo 5 estrellas porque supera las cuatro. Por poco, pero las supera. (Si le hubiese dejado en 4 tampoco pasaba nada, pero tras los últimos fracasos y por comparación, se las merece)
En contra tiene que la ambientación es, como ya he dicho, del montón. Y el ritmo aunque no es muy vivo es …adecuado, digamos.
Alejados de los clichés de la Fantasía, nos encontramos con personajes “sólidos”, con motivaciones humanas (o no humanas pero factibles en el contexto).
Le pongo 5 estrellas porque supera las cuatro. Por poco, pero las supera. (Si le hubiese dejado en 4 tampoco pasaba nada, pero tras los últimos fracasos y por comparación, se las merece)
En contra tiene que la ambientación es, como ya he dicho, del montón. Y el ritmo aunque no es muy vivo es …adecuado, digamos.
September 11, 2017
3.5 stars, though not sure if I should round up for the subversive narrative and character-driven writing style because I feel like I should judge this book by the standards of the time period in which it was written--the 80s--and not judge it by what I normally like/prefer in high fantasy--books written much later in the 90s and beyond.
Even though it's called Dragonsbane and the Dragonsbane is a knight named John Aversin, the whole story is told from the perspective of his mageborn partner, Jenny. It's through her that we see and come to understand this Medieval Scotland inspired world, the magic within it, and the dragons. And it's through her that we see the hardship of the mageborn and we see who holds the true power, in this story and in this world.
As for John, he's not only a knight, but a country knight and a pig farmer too, which comes much to the surprise of Gareth the crown prince when he comes seeking the Dragonsbane to slay the dragon. John is not at all what he expected, and all the hopes and dreams he had of the Dragonsbane as a noble knight in shiny armor are shattered upon their first meeting. It's quite funny. I laughed all the way through that first scene of them together, and afterward every time John speaks, there's cause for snickering.
John and Jenny have been together for awhile; they have two sons and have slain a dragon together. All in all, they've been through a lot together, and there's a sense of ease, strength, and security in their relationship, the kind that can withhold all kinds of storm together. You don't often see this kind of lasting bond in genre fiction, and it's yet another thing that sets it apart from other of its kind.
Although neither John nor Jenny is what we expect of a knight and mage, Gareth the crown prince is exactly what we expect of a sheltered, inexperienced, starry-eyed young prince. At least in the beginning of the story, he's like that. After meeting John and Jenny, he comes face to face with the reality of his dragon problem and grows up quickly. And then he accompanies them on their quest to slay the dragon and grows up some more, so that by the end of the quest there isn't that much of that starry-eyed young prince left in him, for which I was grateful because that guy was annoying, especially when looked at from Jenny's perspective.
The only weak link in this story that I could find is theman-eater antagonist Zyerne. She's a bit too muahahahaha for my taste. I prefer villains to be subtle and to withhold information instead of flaunting it. Unfortunately, Zyerne is definitely in the flaunt-it camp. There's not much depth or complexity to her, and I wished there had been more, more layers or more sides or more personality. Something to give her more purpose than just being the force of darkness out to get our heroes.
I liked this book a lot more upon first finishing it than I do now. But now? Now that I've some time to process the story as a whole, my interest and enjoyment of it is waning. I think it's the combination of the slow pace--it took over half the book for me to get into the story and characters--and Zyerne's shallow characterization that kept me from being fully engaged. But since this is the first book of the series, I understand the necessity of the slow pace and gradual world building effort Barbara Hambly had put in to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series.
One of my favorite scene is Gareth meeting John for the first time and realizing he's the Dragonsbane:
* * * * *
Buddy read with Beth. Full review to be posted at the end of the month, when our buddy read ends. I finished early because I'm bad at buddy reads.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
Even though it's called Dragonsbane and the Dragonsbane is a knight named John Aversin, the whole story is told from the perspective of his mageborn partner, Jenny. It's through her that we see and come to understand this Medieval Scotland inspired world, the magic within it, and the dragons. And it's through her that we see the hardship of the mageborn and we see who holds the true power, in this story and in this world.
As for John, he's not only a knight, but a country knight and a pig farmer too, which comes much to the surprise of Gareth the crown prince when he comes seeking the Dragonsbane to slay the dragon. John is not at all what he expected, and all the hopes and dreams he had of the Dragonsbane as a noble knight in shiny armor are shattered upon their first meeting. It's quite funny. I laughed all the way through that first scene of them together, and afterward every time John speaks, there's cause for snickering.
John and Jenny have been together for awhile; they have two sons and have slain a dragon together. All in all, they've been through a lot together, and there's a sense of ease, strength, and security in their relationship, the kind that can withhold all kinds of storm together. You don't often see this kind of lasting bond in genre fiction, and it's yet another thing that sets it apart from other of its kind.
Although neither John nor Jenny is what we expect of a knight and mage, Gareth the crown prince is exactly what we expect of a sheltered, inexperienced, starry-eyed young prince. At least in the beginning of the story, he's like that. After meeting John and Jenny, he comes face to face with the reality of his dragon problem and grows up quickly. And then he accompanies them on their quest to slay the dragon and grows up some more, so that by the end of the quest there isn't that much of that starry-eyed young prince left in him, for which I was grateful because that guy was annoying, especially when looked at from Jenny's perspective.
The only weak link in this story that I could find is the
I liked this book a lot more upon first finishing it than I do now. But now? Now that I've some time to process the story as a whole, my interest and enjoyment of it is waning. I think it's the combination of the slow pace--it took over half the book for me to get into the story and characters--and Zyerne's shallow characterization that kept me from being fully engaged. But since this is the first book of the series, I understand the necessity of the slow pace and gradual world building effort Barbara Hambly had put in to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series.
One of my favorite scene is Gareth meeting John for the first time and realizing he's the Dragonsbane:
Still Gareth had not spoken. Aversin, interpreting his silence and the look on his face with his usual fiendish accuracy, said, "I'd show you my dragon-slaying scars to prove it, but they're placed where I can't exhibit 'em in public."
It said worlds for Gareth's courtly breeding--and, Jenny supposed, the peculiar stoicism of courtiers--that, even laboring under the shock of his life and the pain of a wounded arm, he swept into a very creditable salaam of greeting. When he straightened up again, he adjusted the set of his cloak with a kind of sorry hauteur, pushed his bent spectacles a little more firmly up onto the bridge of his nose, and said in a voice that was shake but oddly determined, "My lord Dragonsbane, I have ridden here on errantry from the south, with a message for you from the King, Uriens of Belmarie." He seemed to gather strength from these words, settling into the heraldic sonority of his ballad-snatch of golden swords and bright plumes in spite of the smell of the pigsty and the thin, cold rain that had begun to patter down.
"My lord Aversin, I have been sent to bring you south. A dragon has come and laid waste the city of the gnomes in the Deep of Ylferdun; it lairs there now, fifteen miles from the King's city of Bel. The Kind begs that you come to slay it ere the whole countryside is destroyed."
The boy drew himself up, having delivered himself of his quest, a look of noble martyred serenity on his face, very like, Jenny thought, someone out a ballad himself. Then, like all good messengers in ballads, he collapsed and slid to the soupy mud and cowpies in a dead faint.
* * * * *
Buddy read with Beth. Full review to be posted at the end of the month, when our buddy read ends. I finished early because I'm bad at buddy reads.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
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June 12, 2015Occasionally, in discussions of SFF, you'll see readers bemoaning the lack of books that feature (1) older women (2) non-pretty women (3) mothers who get to do things. Dragonsbane has all of these things, in interesting ways and, while it begins by seeming to be a deconstruction of romantic stories of noble knights slaying evil dragons, it is primarily a story of (the limits of) female ambition.
So, an enjoyable book, though I have some thoughts about how reading about an established romance rather than the first steps of romance is a little like reading book two of a series.
And more thoughts about the framing of this world, where women can be mages, but even when planning to become an ultimate power, that gaining of power can only be framed as bedding a king, and bearing a son as a puppet - and everything female seems to be called a whore several times over.
And, as ever, there is a vexed question of beauty for women, from the contrast between Jenny and Zyerne to the only time Jenny is called beautiful in the story. Although far from the intention of the story, I did end this reading thinking that it told me that women do best in a family setting, and I wished, as I always do, for more worlds that find it entirely unremarkable to put a woman on the throne, or make it possible to be ambitious and female and happy.
So, an enjoyable book, though I have some thoughts about how reading about an established romance rather than the first steps of romance is a little like reading book two of a series.
And more thoughts about the framing of this world, where women can be mages, but even when planning to become an ultimate power, that gaining of power can only be framed as bedding a king, and bearing a son as a puppet - and everything female seems to be called a whore several times over.
And, as ever, there is a vexed question of beauty for women, from the contrast between Jenny and Zyerne to the only time Jenny is called beautiful in the story. Although far from the intention of the story, I did end this reading thinking that it told me that women do best in a family setting, and I wished, as I always do, for more worlds that find it entirely unremarkable to put a woman on the throne, or make it possible to be ambitious and female and happy.
July 27, 2011
My first Barbara Hambly book, and it is an entertaining discovery. An epic fantasy without huge armies clashing , without an end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it threat , without bloated descriptions of dresses or foodstuff. It has instead a couple of mature and reluctant heroes, with a convincing loving relationship, it has a focus of personal introspection and painful life choices, it has a well done dragon - alien in body and mentality.
the book works well as a standalone, and deserves to be considered a classic.
the book works well as a standalone, and deserves to be considered a classic.
February 7, 2008
When a huge black dragon descends upon the Deep of Ylferdun, young Gareth sets out to find the Dragonsbane, the only man alive who has ever defeated a dragon. But Sir John Aversin is not what Gareth had hoped for—he’s a scruffy academic who is less concerned about honor than he is the health of his villagers’ pigs. And Aversin’s lady love is not what Gareth had expected either: a plain, middle-aged witch, who has borne Aversin two sons out of wedlock and is utterly unapologetic. Swallowing his misgivings, Gareth convinces Aversin and his witch, Jenny Waynest, to travel to the King’s Court and battle the dragon. But once there, will anyone listen to two hicks, past their prime and without wealth or connections?
I loved this book. It’s a wholly grown-up fantasy novel.
I loved this book. It’s a wholly grown-up fantasy novel.
July 10, 2023
Esta autora ha sido todo un descubrimiento. Al estilo narrativo de Tolkien, crea un mundo histórico de reinos y caballeros, héroes matadragones, magos y hechiceros. Es denso en partes pero es el encanto de esta construcción de mundos al estilo fantasía clásica. Con dicotomías existenciales y la pureza de los sentimientos más intrínsecos del ser humano, esos que nos definen y nos dan forma. Un dragón que me ha conquistado y unos protagonistas que ponen en evidencia la debilidad mental de la humanidad frente al poder y la ambición pero que se superan en cada adversidad.
March 31, 2023
Me ha gustado mucho. Es una historia muy sencilla con todos los elementos de una aventura de fantasía clásica: magas, dragones, magia, reino medieval, enanos, leyendas, reyes, príncipes herederos…
Un libro corto que se lee rápido con personajes divertidos e interesantes. Lo recomiendo
Un libro corto que se lee rápido con personajes divertidos e interesantes. Lo recomiendo
February 25, 2019
I was advised to read this in terms of: Never mind the blurb, the key hooks are the loving adult relationship of the protags and the 'subversive' take on S&S. I agree with the recommender.
New word: cicisbeo. Lots of unfamiliar words, too.
"her anger had no hate in it, offering him no hold upon her"
"the blood-red and buttercup hues of the palace guards"
I love the horses' names: Battlehammer, Osprey, Moon Horse, Stupid Roan, Stupider Roan, and Cow.
I love that wounds take time to heal and leave scars.
I love that the dragon is, in many ways, cat-like, especially in its movements.
Beautiful, intelligent, and recommended to anyone interested in magic, fantasy, fairy tales, or dreams.
Compare to "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld."
New word: cicisbeo. Lots of unfamiliar words, too.
"her anger had no hate in it, offering him no hold upon her"
"the blood-red and buttercup hues of the palace guards"
I love the horses' names: Battlehammer, Osprey, Moon Horse, Stupid Roan, Stupider Roan, and Cow.
I love that wounds take time to heal and leave scars.
I love that the dragon is, in many ways, cat-like, especially in its movements.
Beautiful, intelligent, and recommended to anyone interested in magic, fantasy, fairy tales, or dreams.
Compare to "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld."
August 24, 2010
A very nice traditional fantasy story that deliberately throws over a handful of clichés - for instance, our heroes are middle-aged lovers, prosaically named John and Jenny, and the dragon slayer is wry and academic rather than imposing and martial.
More typical is Gareth, the indignant court messenger who comes seeking a hero out of a ballad and finds a man as much involved with pig farming as lording. Also, the beautiful yet evil witch who has enthralled the king is a predictable villain. But I liked the characters very much - especially Jenny, who is torn between her magic and her humanity. There is terrific chemistry between her and John.
More typical is Gareth, the indignant court messenger who comes seeking a hero out of a ballad and finds a man as much involved with pig farming as lording. Also, the beautiful yet evil witch who has enthralled the king is a predictable villain. But I liked the characters very much - especially Jenny, who is torn between her magic and her humanity. There is terrific chemistry between her and John.
December 26, 2018
Tenemos mucho esa idea de que la fantasía de los 70s y 80s se creó igual y que todas las obras siguen el mismo molde. Una idea que he intentado desmentir con diferentes grados de fuerza. En esa época surgieron las obras de Ende y Wynne-Jones, que no se parecen en nada a la idea que uno suele tener de la fantasía de la época. Surgió el New Wave de Zelazny. Surgió Donaldson. Surgió Wolfe con su Libro del Nuevo Sol. Y surgieron las primeras manifestaciones de proto-grimdark con Cook. Así que no todo en esta vida fueron Brooks y Feist y Salvatore y Eddings (aunque incluso dentro de éstos hay matices).
Esto nos lleva a la casi olvidada Barbara Hambly. Con Vencer al Dragón, lo que puedo decir es que Hambly creó varios personajes de profundidad notable, presentando unas ideas y un subtexto que no recuerdo haber visto en fantasía. Una fantasía que contrasta a la gente cansada y resignada con la gente que comienza a experimentar la desilusión de perder los anhelos de la juventud. Una idea que se aproxima ligeramente a un, digamos, Abercrombie pero que carece del nihilismo cínico de éste.
Así, tenemos a una protagonista que está en la edad en la que la gente se hace a la idea de que lo que tiene y lo que ha hecho y lo que ha logrado ‘es lo que hay’ y es hora de establecerse. Se llegó a donde se llegó y sólo queda preparar a la siguiente generación y a ser testigo del propio deterioro. Es el paso de la juventud a la mediana edad. También es una novela que juega, a través de Jenny, también, con la idea de abrazar nuestra propia mediocridad y hacer lo mejor de ella; no obstante los remordimientos.
Pero ante todo, el debate central del libro es uno actual y fresco: la cruz de la mujer de tener que escoger entre la propia carrera y la familia. Este conflicto es el que permea a toda la novela mientras Jenny se enfrenta ella sola (digamos que su marido es muy secundario) a la misión de ‘Vencer al Dragón’. La conclusión de este debate no es, me temo, ni muy revolucionaria ni tampoco rompedora. Pero es la perspectiva de la autora sobre este tema.
Durante buena parte de la lectura me la pasé dudando si esta profundidad y este debate tendrían más mérito que todas las limitaciones que la época y el estilo imponen a la novela. Hay algunos comprensibles (casi todo lo que tiene que ver con Worldbuilding) y hay otros más difícil de excusar (esencialmente un antagonista de motivaciones muy superficialmente dibujadas). Y estuvo a punto de irse por las tres estrellas de no ser por la conclusión ejecutada con brío.
La cacareada inspiración de Sanderson con el libro sólo se nota en el manejo de la famosa ‘avalancha’, hecha muy bien por Hambly. Ésta redondea la novela y la pone en el escalafón de esas novelas de fantasía ochentera que no son ni roleras ni torpemente campbellianas. Son aquellas que hay que rescatar
Esto nos lleva a la casi olvidada Barbara Hambly. Con Vencer al Dragón, lo que puedo decir es que Hambly creó varios personajes de profundidad notable, presentando unas ideas y un subtexto que no recuerdo haber visto en fantasía. Una fantasía que contrasta a la gente cansada y resignada con la gente que comienza a experimentar la desilusión de perder los anhelos de la juventud. Una idea que se aproxima ligeramente a un, digamos, Abercrombie pero que carece del nihilismo cínico de éste.
Así, tenemos a una protagonista que está en la edad en la que la gente se hace a la idea de que lo que tiene y lo que ha hecho y lo que ha logrado ‘es lo que hay’ y es hora de establecerse. Se llegó a donde se llegó y sólo queda preparar a la siguiente generación y a ser testigo del propio deterioro. Es el paso de la juventud a la mediana edad. También es una novela que juega, a través de Jenny, también, con la idea de abrazar nuestra propia mediocridad y hacer lo mejor de ella; no obstante los remordimientos.
Pero ante todo, el debate central del libro es uno actual y fresco: la cruz de la mujer de tener que escoger entre la propia carrera y la familia. Este conflicto es el que permea a toda la novela mientras Jenny se enfrenta ella sola (digamos que su marido es muy secundario) a la misión de ‘Vencer al Dragón’. La conclusión de este debate no es, me temo, ni muy revolucionaria ni tampoco rompedora. Pero es la perspectiva de la autora sobre este tema.
Durante buena parte de la lectura me la pasé dudando si esta profundidad y este debate tendrían más mérito que todas las limitaciones que la época y el estilo imponen a la novela. Hay algunos comprensibles (casi todo lo que tiene que ver con Worldbuilding) y hay otros más difícil de excusar (esencialmente un antagonista de motivaciones muy superficialmente dibujadas). Y estuvo a punto de irse por las tres estrellas de no ser por la conclusión ejecutada con brío.
La cacareada inspiración de Sanderson con el libro sólo se nota en el manejo de la famosa ‘avalancha’, hecha muy bien por Hambly. Ésta redondea la novela y la pone en el escalafón de esas novelas de fantasía ochentera que no son ni roleras ni torpemente campbellianas. Son aquellas que hay que rescatar
January 11, 2015
Hey, this is really good! It doesn’t beat out The Ladies of Mandrigyn as my favorite Hambly, but that’s because Mandrigyn is awesome; this is a strong second. Please ignore the cover and blurb, though, as they appear designed to fool you into thinking this is a different sort of book from what it actually is. You’d never guess that Jenny is the main character, for instance. I’m not sure why the deception, as this will be immediately obvious to anyone who opens the book.
Jenny and John are not your typical fantasy couple. She’s 37, he’s a couple years younger, and they have two young sons. John is a minor lord and renowned dragon slayer, but we first meet him knee-deep in pig muck and the dragon slaying wasn’t romantic either. Jenny is a witch, and lives apart from her family to better practice magic, but the time she’s devoted to family and community has still hindered her development of her talents. Yep, it’s family vs. career, but unusually, Jenny is far more bothered by the magical potential she’s sacrificed for love and family than the other way round.
The plot is fairly straightforward: a starry-eyed young messenger, Gareth, begs John to come kill a dragon, and the trio sets out to do so, though the ugly political situation will turn out more dangerous than the dragon itself. It is a fun plot, satisfyingly wrapped up at the end of the novel (there are sequels, but they were written many years later and apparently aren’t up to snuff). There is a bit of journeying, but it doesn’t go on too long, and if the action scenes sometimes seemed a bit drawn-out to me, I say that as someone who isn’t looking for action-based fantasy anymore.
What I do look for in fantasy are great characters, and this book has them. It is a very small cast, with only a few secondary characters in addition to Jenny, John and Gareth, but the principals are interesting, textured, and well-developed, such that it’s easy to believe these are real people. Often in fantasy novels heroics inspire no more than a shrug from me; the standard fantasy hero is courageous in such a knee-jerk, pre-programmed way that it’s hard to be moved once you’re over age 16 or so. But such is not the case in Dragonsbane: this is a mature fantasy novel (in the best sense of the word, not the “full of gore and sex” sense), with mature heroes who are heroic in a real and believable way.
Speaking of heroics, this is one of those fantasy novels that takes pains to distinguish the myth from the reality; Gareth, a lover of dragon-slaying ballads, is perhaps intended as a stand-in for the typical fantasy reader, whose illusions are shattered as the story progresses. Today, with the market swamped with “gritty” fantasy, this is nothing new, and Hambly’s use of realism for shock value may seem a bit dated. Presumably when it was published in 1985, the practicality and realism actually was subversive. But it doesn’t go over-the-top in grittiness either; the reality is more prosaic and more complex than Gareth expects, but heroism still exists. And some of the subtle commentary on fictionalization is just as relevant today. For instance, in the ballad, John rescued “maidens” from the dragon. In reality, it was a boy and a girl (though really just a boy, because the girl was already dead). This is exactly what we do in real life! I remember being shocked – shocked! – to learn that 2/3 of murder victims in the U.S. are male; in fiction it’s skewed at least as heavily the other way, because Victims Are Female.
As for the writing, in general it’s better than most fantasy, though Hambly’s sentences still sometimes trip me up. It is nicely visual, with good imagery. The point-of-view is a bit odd, though. We spend the book in Jenny’s head, but in the first couple of chapters, many of the observations are Gareth’s: the village is squalid, John is a yokel, the boys are urchins. This weirdness fades after the beginning, but there’s still the occasional description requiring familiarity with a place that Jenny doesn’t know. This too may be a result of changes in the genre; authors today stick tightly to their POV character’s head, making deviations jarring.
Overall, I really liked this book – fantasy that can be enjoyed by thinking adults, with strong, believable characters and an intriguing take on dragons. Definitely recommended.
Jenny and John are not your typical fantasy couple. She’s 37, he’s a couple years younger, and they have two young sons. John is a minor lord and renowned dragon slayer, but we first meet him knee-deep in pig muck and the dragon slaying wasn’t romantic either. Jenny is a witch, and lives apart from her family to better practice magic, but the time she’s devoted to family and community has still hindered her development of her talents. Yep, it’s family vs. career, but unusually, Jenny is far more bothered by the magical potential she’s sacrificed for love and family than the other way round.
The plot is fairly straightforward: a starry-eyed young messenger, Gareth, begs John to come kill a dragon, and the trio sets out to do so, though the ugly political situation will turn out more dangerous than the dragon itself. It is a fun plot, satisfyingly wrapped up at the end of the novel (there are sequels, but they were written many years later and apparently aren’t up to snuff). There is a bit of journeying, but it doesn’t go on too long, and if the action scenes sometimes seemed a bit drawn-out to me, I say that as someone who isn’t looking for action-based fantasy anymore.
What I do look for in fantasy are great characters, and this book has them. It is a very small cast, with only a few secondary characters in addition to Jenny, John and Gareth, but the principals are interesting, textured, and well-developed, such that it’s easy to believe these are real people. Often in fantasy novels heroics inspire no more than a shrug from me; the standard fantasy hero is courageous in such a knee-jerk, pre-programmed way that it’s hard to be moved once you’re over age 16 or so. But such is not the case in Dragonsbane: this is a mature fantasy novel (in the best sense of the word, not the “full of gore and sex” sense), with mature heroes who are heroic in a real and believable way.
Speaking of heroics, this is one of those fantasy novels that takes pains to distinguish the myth from the reality; Gareth, a lover of dragon-slaying ballads, is perhaps intended as a stand-in for the typical fantasy reader, whose illusions are shattered as the story progresses. Today, with the market swamped with “gritty” fantasy, this is nothing new, and Hambly’s use of realism for shock value may seem a bit dated. Presumably when it was published in 1985, the practicality and realism actually was subversive. But it doesn’t go over-the-top in grittiness either; the reality is more prosaic and more complex than Gareth expects, but heroism still exists. And some of the subtle commentary on fictionalization is just as relevant today. For instance, in the ballad, John rescued “maidens” from the dragon. In reality, it was a boy and a girl (though really just a boy, because the girl was already dead). This is exactly what we do in real life! I remember being shocked – shocked! – to learn that 2/3 of murder victims in the U.S. are male; in fiction it’s skewed at least as heavily the other way, because Victims Are Female.
As for the writing, in general it’s better than most fantasy, though Hambly’s sentences still sometimes trip me up. It is nicely visual, with good imagery. The point-of-view is a bit odd, though. We spend the book in Jenny’s head, but in the first couple of chapters, many of the observations are Gareth’s: the village is squalid, John is a yokel, the boys are urchins. This weirdness fades after the beginning, but there’s still the occasional description requiring familiarity with a place that Jenny doesn’t know. This too may be a result of changes in the genre; authors today stick tightly to their POV character’s head, making deviations jarring.
Overall, I really liked this book – fantasy that can be enjoyed by thinking adults, with strong, believable characters and an intriguing take on dragons. Definitely recommended.
February 16, 2018
Dudaba entre ponerle 5 estrellas o cuatro, pero se va a quedar con un 4’50. ¿Qué me ha fallado? El final tal vez, aunque en general la novela me ha parecido una pasada. Muy recomendable, y además esta edición es fantástica.
June 20, 2018
"Do not be a fool, Jenny Waynest. All the knowledge of the dragons, all their power, is yours, and all the years of time. You will forget the loves of the earth soon and be healed. The diamond cannot love the flower, for the flower lives only a day, then fades and dies. You are a diamond now.”
“The flower dies,” Jenny said softly, “having lived. The diamond will never do either.”
It’s hard for me to describe this book because I felt like much of the story was meant to be allegorical. Like one big metaphor for the cost of love, wisdom and power. It’s not your typical high fantasy adventure story.
Gareth is a young man from the King’s court who grew up on ballads and songs, expecting heroes to come sweeping in with shining armor. When a dragon comes to wreak havoc, he goes in search of John Aversin who is called “Dragonsbane” because he has killed a dragon. John is nothing like he expected, being now middle aged, quirky and of average build. He also does not expect this hero of legend to be in love with Jenny Waynest, a moderate mage and mother of John’s 2 children. But John and Jenny are much more than meets the eye, and they agree to help Gareth defeat the dragon in exchange for goods and protection for the people of John’s hold.
However, the dragon is not the enemy they originally thought.
I might have appreciated this story even more if I was married with children like our 2 protagonists.
Reasons why I love this book:
- Detailed and diverse characters.
- The painful portrayal of disillusionment and maturity.
- Two powerful sorceresses.
- A wise and complex dragon.
June 1, 2018
"¿Quién fue el que dijo que los celos son el único vicio que no da ningún placer? Ella es de ella misma y lo que me da, me lo da porque quiere dármelo y por lo tanto es más precioso. A veces, una mariposa viene a sentarse en tu mano abierta, pero si la cierras, de una forma o de otra, la mariposa y su decisión de estar ahí, se van."
"Vencer al dragón" es una novela de fantasía clásica que en todo momento me ha dado la sensación de querer contarme más de aquello que parece en un principio.
Jenny es nuestra protagonista, una maga de casi 40 años que se debate constantemente entre ser más poderosa como hechicera y el amor hacia su familia, que le quita tiempo para conseguir lo primero. Ya partimos de buena base, porque yo personalmente nunca me había encontrado una protagonista así en un libro de fantasía, y es ese conflicto constante que tiene lo que le da un punto de interés importante a la novela, y una de las razones por las que me ha sorprendido. La segunda razón, es que me parece que está muy bien escrito. El estilo es pausado y descriptivo, en algunos puntos llega a ser un poco lento (sobre todo en la primera mitad), pero en general me ha parecido adecuado. A partir de la segunda mitad no podía soltar el libro, la trama se hace mucho más interesante y el conflicto de la protagonista más intenso que nunca.
Por ponerle una pega, el worldbuilding y el sistema de magia no están muy explorados, cosa que yo aprecio mucho en fantasía, pero creo que la historia está más centrada en otros aspectos, y consigue su objetivo a pesar de esa ambientación un poquito menos profunda que en otras novelas del género.
En general, me ha sorprendido. De primeras, quería leer el libro porque lo recomendaba Brandon Sanderson, después tuve miedo de que fuese "propaganda" y me fuese a decepcionar mucho, y al final me he quedado con un muy buen sabor de boca. Una trama entretenida, una historia de amor con pequeños toques feministas (o eso me ha transmitido a mi) ambientada en un mundo fantástico y en definitiva, una novela que merece mucho la pena.
"Vencer al dragón" es una novela de fantasía clásica que en todo momento me ha dado la sensación de querer contarme más de aquello que parece en un principio.
Jenny es nuestra protagonista, una maga de casi 40 años que se debate constantemente entre ser más poderosa como hechicera y el amor hacia su familia, que le quita tiempo para conseguir lo primero. Ya partimos de buena base, porque yo personalmente nunca me había encontrado una protagonista así en un libro de fantasía, y es ese conflicto constante que tiene lo que le da un punto de interés importante a la novela, y una de las razones por las que me ha sorprendido. La segunda razón, es que me parece que está muy bien escrito. El estilo es pausado y descriptivo, en algunos puntos llega a ser un poco lento (sobre todo en la primera mitad), pero en general me ha parecido adecuado. A partir de la segunda mitad no podía soltar el libro, la trama se hace mucho más interesante y el conflicto de la protagonista más intenso que nunca.
Por ponerle una pega, el worldbuilding y el sistema de magia no están muy explorados, cosa que yo aprecio mucho en fantasía, pero creo que la historia está más centrada en otros aspectos, y consigue su objetivo a pesar de esa ambientación un poquito menos profunda que en otras novelas del género.
En general, me ha sorprendido. De primeras, quería leer el libro porque lo recomendaba Brandon Sanderson, después tuve miedo de que fuese "propaganda" y me fuese a decepcionar mucho, y al final me he quedado con un muy buen sabor de boca. Una trama entretenida, una historia de amor con pequeños toques feministas (o eso me ha transmitido a mi) ambientada en un mundo fantástico y en definitiva, una novela que merece mucho la pena.
September 24, 2017
-Valiente y distintiva en su tiempo, pero válida todavía hoy.-
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Vencer al dragón (publicación original: Dragonsbane, 1985), un joven llamado Gareth busca a lord Aversin, el legendario Vencedor de dragones, y encuentra primero a una amiga suya muy cercana, Jenny, una maga que lleva a Gareth hasta John Aversin, un hombre algo diferente a lo que muestran las canciones en honor a su proeza y que recuerda la lucha con el dragón de una forma distinta a la que inmortalizaron las baladas. Cuando Gareth explica que un dragón amenaza el mismo corazón del reino, John y Jenny tomarán la decisión de ayudar al monarca; pero Gareth no ha sido sincero con ellos por completo. Primer libro de la saga Tierras de invierno.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Vencer al dragón (publicación original: Dragonsbane, 1985), un joven llamado Gareth busca a lord Aversin, el legendario Vencedor de dragones, y encuentra primero a una amiga suya muy cercana, Jenny, una maga que lleva a Gareth hasta John Aversin, un hombre algo diferente a lo que muestran las canciones en honor a su proeza y que recuerda la lucha con el dragón de una forma distinta a la que inmortalizaron las baladas. Cuando Gareth explica que un dragón amenaza el mismo corazón del reino, John y Jenny tomarán la decisión de ayudar al monarca; pero Gareth no ha sido sincero con ellos por completo. Primer libro de la saga Tierras de invierno.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
April 23, 2024
Barbara Hambly brings a simplicity to Fantasy that many authors lack. She tells a straight forward adventure story with enough worldbuilding to make it seem like a realized world, but it never felt bogged down in worldbuilding or magicsystem. Its an adventure tale with a very different protagonist and "party".
Jenny Waynest doesn't fit the bill of a traditional hero, or even a traditional heroine. She is a 37 year old mother of 2 who is also a mage and she lives with the Dragonsbane: John Aversin. They are contacted by the young man Gareth, who asks them in helping to kill a Dragon down in the south.
Jenny being an older than usual protagonist for Fantasy (most Fantasy protagonists are teens or 20s), she brings a very different perspective to the story that lends it uniqueness. I think that Hambly excellently weighed the value of family and traditional living vs the more modern working woman role. Even though I don't agree with everything in the book, I still appreciated the way that Hambly wrote Jenny here and I really enjoyed the ending with Jenny's journey and where it appears to go. I assume many readers will not appreciate this, however.
I think this book simplifies the adventure story that we see originate in the Hobbit well. Hambly does for that "slay the dragon/go on an adventure" story the way that Elizabeth Haydon tackles the complexity of a story like the Wheel of Time in her Symphony of Ages books. Both Hambly and Haydon tell these excellent stories with unique perspectives that provide a counterpoint to the way that Women are often portrayed in culture and literature today.
This book takes a bit of a twist about halfway through, in that the true villian is not exactly all that it appears. I think that Hambly handled this well, and the crux of the story is still true to the pitch of the story.
Being a really short book of 340 pages, Hambly doesn't have any fluff to it. The story moves along fairly quickly.
I have one critique with the way that I don't think that Hambly spend enough time with the location or the characters of the Citadel, and could have had 20ish more pages of understanding why that subplot was important.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a breeze to read and I really had fun and am optimistic about reading book 2. I'll give this one a 9 out of 10.
Jenny Waynest doesn't fit the bill of a traditional hero, or even a traditional heroine. She is a 37 year old mother of 2 who is also a mage and she lives with the Dragonsbane: John Aversin. They are contacted by the young man Gareth, who asks them in helping to kill a Dragon down in the south.
Jenny being an older than usual protagonist for Fantasy (most Fantasy protagonists are teens or 20s), she brings a very different perspective to the story that lends it uniqueness. I think that Hambly excellently weighed the value of family and traditional living vs the more modern working woman role. Even though I don't agree with everything in the book, I still appreciated the way that Hambly wrote Jenny here and I really enjoyed the ending with Jenny's journey and where it appears to go. I assume many readers will not appreciate this, however.
I think this book simplifies the adventure story that we see originate in the Hobbit well. Hambly does for that "slay the dragon/go on an adventure" story the way that Elizabeth Haydon tackles the complexity of a story like the Wheel of Time in her Symphony of Ages books. Both Hambly and Haydon tell these excellent stories with unique perspectives that provide a counterpoint to the way that Women are often portrayed in culture and literature today.
This book takes a bit of a twist about halfway through, in that the true villian is not exactly all that it appears. I think that Hambly handled this well, and the crux of the story is still true to the pitch of the story.
Being a really short book of 340 pages, Hambly doesn't have any fluff to it. The story moves along fairly quickly.
I have one critique with the way that I don't think that Hambly spend enough time with the location or the characters of the Citadel, and could have had 20ish more pages of understanding why that subplot was important.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a breeze to read and I really had fun and am optimistic about reading book 2. I'll give this one a 9 out of 10.
October 3, 2007
Probably cheesy to some but an escapist gem. Maybe I love it because I first read it when I needed escape. Very easy to lose myself in Hambly's beautiful writing. Also, you know that musical phrase, that sunset on an empty beach, that gesture that can bring tears to your eyes? This book had many of those for me. Poignancy? Beauty? Romance in the sense of the movement, not the checkout counter paperbacks?
Plenty of action, psychological metaphors, humor. Still love this tale.
Plenty of action, psychological metaphors, humor. Still love this tale.
June 15, 2012
re-reading some of these old fantasy books i bought as a teenager. this one is particularly good. i consider Hambly to be the female David Gemmell. and that is a good thing.
February 7, 2020
If you only read the back cover of Dragonsbane, or even the teaser excerpt before the title page in the paperback version of the novel, you might think it was all about John Aversin, the Dragonsbane, and his quest to kill the dragon, Morkeleb. Man vs. monster, a tale as old as tales are. But it won't be long before you realize that Jenny Waynest, a witch frustrated in her search for magic power (and also lovers with John, and the mother of their two children), is the sole point of view.
Jenny deals with a conflict that many women face: family, or furthering her career, which in this case is the pursuit of magic. She values her solitude while she practices magic, and often wonders whether her love for her family is holding her back from a greater power. When she meets Zyerne, a much more powerful sorceress--and young, attractive, and seductive to boot--she grows envious. This whole inner conflict between love and ambition feels very modern to me, not something someone from a fantasy land would be likely to need to deal with. In the 21st century, one possible resolution would be "Lean In! You can do both!" In her dealings with Morkeleb, Jenny makes a different decision, both conscious and conscientious, that opens her up to a new future.
Jenny and John are both in their 30s, rapidly approaching middle age. They're a settled couple who have a habitual and loving relationship that has lasted ten years. Their relationship has its tensions, to be sure, and that, too, makes it convincing and easy for me to empathize with. John is hugely funny, especially while he's dealing with Zyerne, whose wiles have absolutely no effect on him. His levity is a good foil for Jenny's self-reproaching and deadly-serious approach to nearly everything. John's humor made me regret his virtual absence through a good chunk of the second half of the book, though I completely understand why Hambly took him not only out of the spotlight, but out of commission, for a while.
Prince Gareth is the third major character, the one who initiates the whole thing by enlisting John's aid in dealing with Morkeleb. Over the course of the story, he goes from a silly naif to someone who realizes that legends aren't all they're cracked up to be--they're both less, and more--and who is better equipped to handle life as an adult.
And then, of course, there's Morkeleb. At first he's presented as all but a giant animal, a predator who must be dispatched. Later we see that he's the sentient style of dragon, capable of direct communication with humans, though possessing an alien consciousness. In the end he represents, to Jenny, all that she could be, if only she'd leave that frail, mortal family of hers behind.
Even for a book of less than 350 pages, at times Dragonsbane moves slowly. The descriptions are quite cool, the combats and court intrigue are exciting and dramatic, but then there are times while things chug along at a snail's pace as a few pages of "world-building through dialogue" is dealt with, or the next action-y set piece is set up. I'm absolutely not someone who either wants or expects constant battle sequences--stories that never let up on the acceleration pedal are, perhaps paradoxically, boring. This one, however, sometimes sits in "park" for noticeably too long. There's also lots of repetition in the descriptions of Jenny and John. Jenny has rough, long, black hair. John wears spectacles whose lenses reflect light. Yep, got it. And the conflict with Zyerne is 100% predictable, down to its conclusion.
As many quibbles as there are in the previous paragraph, on the whole I liked this book. The characterization, the descriptions, the main couple's relationship, and the conflicts both personal and interpersonal, were well done. The last couple of chapters could have gone either of two ways, and I confess I got a little misty-eyed when I saw what Jenny decided, both for what she gained and for what she lost. A good ending will nudge up the star rating, sometimes. ;)
While Dragonsbane is self-contained, the series continues for three more volumes. It does so well as a single story that I wonder where Hambly might take the characters from here. I wouldn't mind catching up with them later.
Thanks for the buddy read, Mimi. I'd be happy to do another one!
Jenny deals with a conflict that many women face: family, or furthering her career, which in this case is the pursuit of magic. She values her solitude while she practices magic, and often wonders whether her love for her family is holding her back from a greater power. When she meets Zyerne, a much more powerful sorceress--and young, attractive, and seductive to boot--she grows envious. This whole inner conflict between love and ambition feels very modern to me, not something someone from a fantasy land would be likely to need to deal with. In the 21st century, one possible resolution would be "Lean In! You can do both!" In her dealings with Morkeleb, Jenny makes a different decision, both conscious and conscientious, that opens her up to a new future.
Jenny and John are both in their 30s, rapidly approaching middle age. They're a settled couple who have a habitual and loving relationship that has lasted ten years. Their relationship has its tensions, to be sure, and that, too, makes it convincing and easy for me to empathize with. John is hugely funny, especially while he's dealing with Zyerne, whose wiles have absolutely no effect on him. His levity is a good foil for Jenny's self-reproaching and deadly-serious approach to nearly everything. John's humor made me regret his virtual absence through a good chunk of the second half of the book, though I completely understand why Hambly took him not only out of the spotlight, but out of commission, for a while.
Prince Gareth is the third major character, the one who initiates the whole thing by enlisting John's aid in dealing with Morkeleb. Over the course of the story, he goes from a silly naif to someone who realizes that legends aren't all they're cracked up to be--they're both less, and more--and who is better equipped to handle life as an adult.
And then, of course, there's Morkeleb. At first he's presented as all but a giant animal, a predator who must be dispatched. Later we see that he's the sentient style of dragon, capable of direct communication with humans, though possessing an alien consciousness. In the end he represents, to Jenny, all that she could be, if only she'd leave that frail, mortal family of hers behind.
Even for a book of less than 350 pages, at times Dragonsbane moves slowly. The descriptions are quite cool, the combats and court intrigue are exciting and dramatic, but then there are times while things chug along at a snail's pace as a few pages of "world-building through dialogue" is dealt with, or the next action-y set piece is set up. I'm absolutely not someone who either wants or expects constant battle sequences--stories that never let up on the acceleration pedal are, perhaps paradoxically, boring. This one, however, sometimes sits in "park" for noticeably too long. There's also lots of repetition in the descriptions of Jenny and John. Jenny has rough, long, black hair. John wears spectacles whose lenses reflect light. Yep, got it. And the conflict with Zyerne is 100% predictable, down to its conclusion.
As many quibbles as there are in the previous paragraph, on the whole I liked this book. The characterization, the descriptions, the main couple's relationship, and the conflicts both personal and interpersonal, were well done. The last couple of chapters could have gone either of two ways, and I confess I got a little misty-eyed when I saw what Jenny decided, both for what she gained and for what she lost. A good ending will nudge up the star rating, sometimes. ;)
While Dragonsbane is self-contained, the series continues for three more volumes. It does so well as a single story that I wonder where Hambly might take the characters from here. I wouldn't mind catching up with them later.
Thanks for the buddy read, Mimi. I'd be happy to do another one!
February 2, 2019
Resulta difícil innovar dentro del campo de la fantasía épica, y más durante la década de los 80, cuando fue publicado este libro. La sombra de Tolkien es alargada y en esta época las dragonadas estaban a la orden del día, obras insulsas y planas la mayoría de las veces. El escenario básico era idéntico: joven que debe realizar un viaje iniciático, en busca de sí mismo y de un objeto y/o persona valiosos, tratándose por tanto de un personaje predestinado; secundarios de lujo que deben ayudarle a cumplir su destino (no puede faltar un enano y/o un elfo); un viaje hacia la meta lleno de peligros y aventuras, que llega a hacerse un tanto monótono; un dragón que cuida de su oro; y un final donde destaca la lucha entre el bien y el mal, venciendo el bien, por supuesto.
‘Vencer al dragón’ de Barbara Hambly destaca entre tanta mediocridad publicada a lo largo de la citada década. Afronta el género desde una visión adulta y realista, dotando a sus personajes de cierta personalidad y evolución a lo largo de la historia, con motivaciones humanas, una historia donde abunda más la magia que la espada. La prosa de Hambly, sin ser excesivamente descriptiva, es elegante y precisa. Lo que más destaco de la novela es ese noto crepuscular del principio. Para mi gusto, la obra pierde fuelle en su parte central y toma un rumbo que no me esperaba, pero la parte final es correcta y deja satisfecho. En resumen, un buena novela de fantasía épica.
‘Vencer al dragón’ de Barbara Hambly destaca entre tanta mediocridad publicada a lo largo de la citada década. Afronta el género desde una visión adulta y realista, dotando a sus personajes de cierta personalidad y evolución a lo largo de la historia, con motivaciones humanas, una historia donde abunda más la magia que la espada. La prosa de Hambly, sin ser excesivamente descriptiva, es elegante y precisa. Lo que más destaco de la novela es ese noto crepuscular del principio. Para mi gusto, la obra pierde fuelle en su parte central y toma un rumbo que no me esperaba, pero la parte final es correcta y deja satisfecho. En resumen, un buena novela de fantasía épica.
June 6, 2023
La obra que INSPIRÓ a Brandon Sanderson a escribir fantasía
Aunque pueda empezar a leerse como la típica historia de fantasía clásica: Un Dragón ha invadido una gruta y el vencedor de dragones tiene que darle caza. Pero nada más lejos de la realidad, ya que nos encontramos un vencedor de dragones ya adulto y cansado del mundo. John solo quiere ver a sus hijos crecer y su esposa Jenny, la bruja que le ayudó a matar al anterior dragón, solo quiere poder dedicar tiempo a la magia.
Al ver el sistema de magia entiendes a la perfección por qué Sanderson se fijó en esta obra para escribir fantasía: TODA MAGIA TIENE UN PRECIO. Es una premisa simple pero que corta un poco las alas de un sistema de magia blando, donde todo el mundo puede hacer milagros sin consecuencias.
Tiene varios giros interesantes en cuanto a trama y al final del libro amas a cada uno de los personajes protagonistas.
Es una saga de cuatro libros y, por el momento solo se ha licenciado el primero. Esperemos que la editorial vea el potencial que tiene reeditar estas novelas y podamos disfrutar de la historia completa.
4 estrellas bien merecidas, una obra que si te gusta Brandon Sanderson DEBES lees.
Aunque pueda empezar a leerse como la típica historia de fantasía clásica: Un Dragón ha invadido una gruta y el vencedor de dragones tiene que darle caza. Pero nada más lejos de la realidad, ya que nos encontramos un vencedor de dragones ya adulto y cansado del mundo. John solo quiere ver a sus hijos crecer y su esposa Jenny, la bruja que le ayudó a matar al anterior dragón, solo quiere poder dedicar tiempo a la magia.
Al ver el sistema de magia entiendes a la perfección por qué Sanderson se fijó en esta obra para escribir fantasía: TODA MAGIA TIENE UN PRECIO. Es una premisa simple pero que corta un poco las alas de un sistema de magia blando, donde todo el mundo puede hacer milagros sin consecuencias.
Tiene varios giros interesantes en cuanto a trama y al final del libro amas a cada uno de los personajes protagonistas.
Es una saga de cuatro libros y, por el momento solo se ha licenciado el primero. Esperemos que la editorial vea el potencial que tiene reeditar estas novelas y podamos disfrutar de la historia completa.
4 estrellas bien merecidas, una obra que si te gusta Brandon Sanderson DEBES lees.
June 1, 2017
Vencer al dragón, como ocurría con Las señoras de Mandrigyn, de la misma autora, es un libro de fantasía épica que merece mucha más atención de la que cosecharon el 90% de libros de la Dragonlance y Reinos Olvidados juntos. La reedición de este año es una excusa perfecta para leer dragones y mazmorras más allá de Tolkien y, sobre todo, plagiadores de Tolkien.
Jenny es una mujer muy cerca de los cuarenta, con un par de churumbeles, pareja del Vencedor de Dragones, instruida en las artes de la hechicería. Resulta que no es muy buena encantadora porque no ha podido dedicarle todo el tiempo necesario: ha estado bastante ocupada criando a sus hijos. Por supuesto, la persona reconocida y alabada por todos los demás no es ella, sino... su pareja, el Vencedor de Dragones.
¡No solo la ciencia ficción habla de nuestro mundo a través de otros mundos!
¿Desea saber más? http://fantaciencia.com/vencer-al-dra...
Jenny es una mujer muy cerca de los cuarenta, con un par de churumbeles, pareja del Vencedor de Dragones, instruida en las artes de la hechicería. Resulta que no es muy buena encantadora porque no ha podido dedicarle todo el tiempo necesario: ha estado bastante ocupada criando a sus hijos. Por supuesto, la persona reconocida y alabada por todos los demás no es ella, sino... su pareja, el Vencedor de Dragones.
¡No solo la ciencia ficción habla de nuestro mundo a través de otros mundos!
¿Desea saber más? http://fantaciencia.com/vencer-al-dra...
January 25, 2018
Le doy 4 estrellas porque me ha gustado bastante, sobre todo valorando en la época en la que fue escrita. Esta claro que a día de hoy los personajes protagonistas serían buenos o de notable sin más, pero en su momento fueron rompedores e innovadores.
Resumo rápido que tengo prisa. Me han gustado los personajes, muy alejados de los clichés de su época, muy humanos y realistas y bien trabajados. También me ha gustado el tono adulto que desprende la novela. Y el final, sin ser el más original, encaja a la perfección con la historia.
Su gran pero para mi gusto, es quizás que peca de una trama algo simple y sobre todo que el ritmo narrativo a partir del primer tercio se hunde y nunca llega a remontar.
Como siempre os dejo el enlace a mi blog por si queréis darle un vistazo a la reseña que dejé allí:
https://fantasiascifiymuchomas.blogsp...
Resumo rápido que tengo prisa. Me han gustado los personajes, muy alejados de los clichés de su época, muy humanos y realistas y bien trabajados. También me ha gustado el tono adulto que desprende la novela. Y el final, sin ser el más original, encaja a la perfección con la historia.
Su gran pero para mi gusto, es quizás que peca de una trama algo simple y sobre todo que el ritmo narrativo a partir del primer tercio se hunde y nunca llega a remontar.
Como siempre os dejo el enlace a mi blog por si queréis darle un vistazo a la reseña que dejé allí:
https://fantasiascifiymuchomas.blogsp...
January 2, 2022
Lo mejor, sin duda alguna, todo el conflicto de Jenny con la magia, el amor, lo que se demanda para lo uno y para lo otro, en lo que nos convertimos cuando queremos a los demás, si eso nos cambia y de qué forma. Me ha tocado un montón, no voy a engañar. Quizá porque Jenny también es una mujer con hijos, lo que me parece hasta raro de encontrar en historias de fantasía de corte épico y supongo que he flipado bastante a ratos.
Por supuesto toda la ambientación referente a la magia me ha gustado muchísimo (los límites, lo que hay que dar), pero eso es menos sorpresa.
Me ha gustado mucho leerlo por fin y no descarto volverlo a leer.
Por supuesto toda la ambientación referente a la magia me ha gustado muchísimo (los límites, lo que hay que dar), pero eso es menos sorpresa.
Me ha gustado mucho leerlo por fin y no descarto volverlo a leer.
January 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
A pesar de que cuesta entrar y, a veces, se pierde en las descripciones; es un libro que siempre recomiendo y recomendare.
Protagonistas grises, una explicación muy buena de lo que es una relación sana y respetar a tu pareja y ademas dragones
A pesar de que cuesta entrar y, a veces, se pierde en las descripciones; es un libro que siempre recomiendo y recomendare.
Protagonistas grises, una explicación muy buena de lo que es una relación sana y respetar a tu pareja y ademas dragones
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