Peter Last's Reviews > DragonQuest

"Dragonquest" makes good use of the world, characters, and momentum of "Dragonspell," improving upon many things and running with the storyline. New and creative enemies, locations, and allies expand the already impressive world, giving it depth and making it feel alive. Conversely, individual characters suffer many of the same problems as before. Most fit neatly into fantasy race and gender stereotypes with only the main characters breaking the mold. Paladin, one of the most important yet rarely seen characters, is fleshed out nicely, but this introduces inconsistencies in the book’s allegory. Is he a god-man (similar to Jesus in our world) or simply a man? I’m not sure the book knows the answer to this question. The writing style and mechanics of the novel are once again nearly flawless. The plot is much tighter and focused than the first which improves pacing and quality of the story as a whole. Largely consistent and logical across its length, there is one glaring contradiction. Kale faces a dilemma which I found to be incredibly obvious, even before all the information had been presented (this is super cryptic to avoid spoilers). The solution is played as a major twist, but because it is so obvious, the reveal falls flat. Critiques aside, one thing Ms. Paul did very well was the relationship between Kale and Bardon. It is obvious from the first page they share that they will be love interests, but though the conclusion is all but guaranteed, the situation which brought them together and their gradual transition from irritation and dislike to respect and friendship is one of the best I’ve seen in writing in quite some time. In conclusion, "Dragonquest" is an interesting tale with a creative world, exciting plot, and interesting character arcs and is worth reading for children and adults alike.