Eona
ByAlison Goodman
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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
atullah turk
Oh my God !!!!!
If you like romance and action but not to bloody
You will love this book (opinion and spoiler ahead)
The best action scene is when Dillon is turned to dust
That's just what I think
If you like romance and action but not to bloody
You will love this book (opinion and spoiler ahead)
The best action scene is when Dillon is turned to dust
That's just what I think
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
vaidas
Review for Eon and Eona
These books bring a lot to the table that isn’t usually seen in Young Adult fantasy; it’s a fantasy world based on Asian culture and history (and is accurately and respectfully done), as opposed to the ridiculously abundant European influenced fantasy. It has strong feminist themes and encourages the acceptance and embracing of female strength. There is an absolutely fantastic transgender character as well as the main character and another minor character are physically disabled. And while I do have one issue with the handling of the disabilities, for the most part, it’s excellently done and even questions some important issues in the modern world. These books are really just a boatload of well-done representation for race, gender, and the disabled, not to mention this is all paired with an excellent plot that balances magic, dragons, and Eona’s path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Not to mention, these books have some of the greatest side characters I’ve seen: the transgender Lady Dela, the islander eunuch Ryko, Prince Kygo of the Celestial Empire, Lord Ido, one truly charming and completely ass of an antagonist. They’re all excellent characters that really balance Eona and help her growth. Eona herself goes through a powerful and painful transformation, from being a boy because she wanted respect, to being a woman that commands respect. Watching Eona’s development is terribly satisfying and very empowering, especially as she deals with morality and her desire for power.
The writing is very well done, doing an excellent portrayal of ancient Asian culture and society in this novel, creating amazing characters, and handling magic, mystery, romance, and self-discovery all deftly in this duology. I highly recommend these two books for anyone looking for something different than the usual Young Adult (or Adult) fantasy, and a truly remarkable story.
These books bring a lot to the table that isn’t usually seen in Young Adult fantasy; it’s a fantasy world based on Asian culture and history (and is accurately and respectfully done), as opposed to the ridiculously abundant European influenced fantasy. It has strong feminist themes and encourages the acceptance and embracing of female strength. There is an absolutely fantastic transgender character as well as the main character and another minor character are physically disabled. And while I do have one issue with the handling of the disabilities, for the most part, it’s excellently done and even questions some important issues in the modern world. These books are really just a boatload of well-done representation for race, gender, and the disabled, not to mention this is all paired with an excellent plot that balances magic, dragons, and Eona’s path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Not to mention, these books have some of the greatest side characters I’ve seen: the transgender Lady Dela, the islander eunuch Ryko, Prince Kygo of the Celestial Empire, Lord Ido, one truly charming and completely ass of an antagonist. They’re all excellent characters that really balance Eona and help her growth. Eona herself goes through a powerful and painful transformation, from being a boy because she wanted respect, to being a woman that commands respect. Watching Eona’s development is terribly satisfying and very empowering, especially as she deals with morality and her desire for power.
The writing is very well done, doing an excellent portrayal of ancient Asian culture and society in this novel, creating amazing characters, and handling magic, mystery, romance, and self-discovery all deftly in this duology. I highly recommend these two books for anyone looking for something different than the usual Young Adult (or Adult) fantasy, and a truly remarkable story.
The 40 Most Influential Christians . . . Who Shaped What We Believe Today :: A Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons In History :: Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey) :: The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden) :: An Adult Coloring Book with Magical Animals - and Fantasy Scenes for Relaxation
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jenny k
Your reaction to Eona will likely depend on how much you enjoy getting more of the same from Eon. The plot, it's true, is different - Eona has accepted her role as Mirror Dragonseye and as a woman and has set out to rescue Kygo, the Pearl Emperor, and restore him to the throne - but apparently none of the characters learned anything from the first book. Eona keeps secrets that you'd think she'd have learned would be better aired, Kygo clings to traditions he knows have already failed him, and Lord Ido...well, apparently Lord Ido is made completely of cardboard, which is a shame as his experiences at the end of Eon and the beginning of this novel offered the opportunity for Goodman to grow that character in a way that could have truly challenged her audience. What, after all, do you do with someone who's done awful things but changes?
Instead, finnegan begins again, with the addition of a somewhat squicky love (okay, sex) triangle between Eona, Kygo, and Ido - which, again, would have been more interesting had Ido not been so flatly evil. Issues of consent also arise as Eona, who's been magically forced in the past by Ido to do things against her will, repeatedly uses her power to force Ido and Ryko to obey her. I kept thinking Goodman would eventually address this, but the most that ever came of it was a passing comment from Ido along the lines of "I forced you, you forced me; we've both mentally raped each other at this point so we must be square, right?" which somehow did not work for me as a moral lesson about the abuse of power.
To be fair to Goodman, had the first volume not been so good dealing with power dynamics and diversity, I'd be less nit-picky here. There's plenty of action and adventure, sword and sorcery, to keep a reader entertained, and I certainly was. I just wish she'd challenged her characters - and us - a bit more, rather than having them retread the same paths.
Instead, finnegan begins again, with the addition of a somewhat squicky love (okay, sex) triangle between Eona, Kygo, and Ido - which, again, would have been more interesting had Ido not been so flatly evil. Issues of consent also arise as Eona, who's been magically forced in the past by Ido to do things against her will, repeatedly uses her power to force Ido and Ryko to obey her. I kept thinking Goodman would eventually address this, but the most that ever came of it was a passing comment from Ido along the lines of "I forced you, you forced me; we've both mentally raped each other at this point so we must be square, right?" which somehow did not work for me as a moral lesson about the abuse of power.
To be fair to Goodman, had the first volume not been so good dealing with power dynamics and diversity, I'd be less nit-picky here. There's plenty of action and adventure, sword and sorcery, to keep a reader entertained, and I certainly was. I just wish she'd challenged her characters - and us - a bit more, rather than having them retread the same paths.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
zaki
"Do not let all this power cloud your spirit, Eona."
Eona has fled Sethon's sword, but she is far from safe. She must find Prince Kygo, the true Emperor, and rescue Lord Ido, if she is to ever have any control on her power. Along with Ryko and Dela, Eona forges ahead and begins to struggle with the power growing within her.
NOTE: This review may contain some spoilers.
After finishing the excellent Eon, I jumped right into "Eona", excited to see how the book ended. I was kinda hoping that, despite the 600+ pages, this would fly by. As things often are with books, "Eona" wasn't exactly what I expected, in both a good and a bad way.
One of the things I loved was Eona and her struggle with power. The last book, a lot of the character arc was focused on Eona overcoming her handicap and coming to grips with her feminine side. With her handicap healed and Eona now walking as a woman, a lot of that conflict is gone. You might think that her character would be boring; instead, Goodman creates a new conflict for Eona: what to do with her developing power. I can't really detail a whole lot on this struggle, as it is rife with spoilers, but it was VERY interesting and pushed Eona's character into new arenas.
Dela, Ryko, Kygo, Ido, and a few others (namely, Tozay) all return and are as wonderful as ever. Dela continues to be a sounding board and guide to Eona, but I liked how she did occasionally think selfishly. Something HUGE happens to Ryko in this book, which is probably super-spoilery, so I won't divulge anything other than: Good move, Goodman! Brilliant move! The beginning focuses on finding Kygo. When Eona does, I am rather impressed with how Goodman paints Kygo: not as a perfect man, but as mourning, flawed, power-hungry at times. And Ido reappears and is CONSTANTLY making things difficult.
There were some new characters, but I didn't feel they particularly stood out. One character I thought would have more of an impact did not and that saddened me. Vida was also an interesting character, but I have no clue what happened to her at the end (along with many, many other characters!).
Now, one of the things that I didn't particularly care for was the Romantic Triangle. In the last book, there was no romance whatsoever and it was done brilliantly. So when not just one suitor, but TWO appeared, I wasn't so happy.
SPOILER
It felt to me that Kygo and Eona have barely any time to lead up to their "I love you" moment. He reappears and then, boom, they are an item. While I did like how their romance was challenged by differing rank--him being Emperor, her being Dragoneye--I wished more time had been spent on them going to the kissing stage. As for Ido, I was slightly skeeved out, because he had somewhat sexually assaulted her in the last book. But the heady passion Ido and Eona have to each other feels more like a sexual experience than an actual romance, and it did grow on me somewhat.
END OF SPOILER
I will admit, that the two suitors here both have flaws and actually seem to represent two VERY DIFFERENT paths that Eona could take for her life. So both those qualities definitely make this one of the few tolerable Romantic Triangles I've ever read.
As she did with "Eon", Goodman took the story to new places. You might think this is just a "storm the castle" book, but there is a LOT more that happens in it. In fact, that is probably WHY I didn't start to really like the book until the last 200 pages. There is so much going on--so much traveling, rescuing, training, contemplating, sparring, etc.--that it honestly bored me and made me want to read other things. I kept wondering, "Did I really need to read X in order to get to here?" However, Goodman had a solid climax and an inventive ending that redeemed this book.
SPOILER
Though there really is no "conclusion" to this book. It just stops. What happened to Vida, Rilla, Chart, and Eona's mom? Why bring up Eona's mom when so little of the book surrounds her? What about the other Dragoneye candidates--particularly the one that Ido had pulled aside in the last book? What happened to the other serving staff of Eona's master? Is Chart dead like Ryko when Eona freed herself from Sethon's blood power? How do the people take not having Dragoneyes or Dragons to ward off bad weather and earthquakes and the like?
END OF SPOILER
I am glad to have finished this book, not only to be done with it, but also because it ended up being a good book. Kudos to Goodman, for not relying on overused cliches, for inventing a new world based on something other than standard fantasy tropes, and for giving us TWO books (instead of the seemingly standard Trilogy or Never-Ending Series) with a solid female protagonist. If you like fantasy and strong females, definitely check this out.
Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*
Eona has fled Sethon's sword, but she is far from safe. She must find Prince Kygo, the true Emperor, and rescue Lord Ido, if she is to ever have any control on her power. Along with Ryko and Dela, Eona forges ahead and begins to struggle with the power growing within her.
NOTE: This review may contain some spoilers.
After finishing the excellent Eon, I jumped right into "Eona", excited to see how the book ended. I was kinda hoping that, despite the 600+ pages, this would fly by. As things often are with books, "Eona" wasn't exactly what I expected, in both a good and a bad way.
One of the things I loved was Eona and her struggle with power. The last book, a lot of the character arc was focused on Eona overcoming her handicap and coming to grips with her feminine side. With her handicap healed and Eona now walking as a woman, a lot of that conflict is gone. You might think that her character would be boring; instead, Goodman creates a new conflict for Eona: what to do with her developing power. I can't really detail a whole lot on this struggle, as it is rife with spoilers, but it was VERY interesting and pushed Eona's character into new arenas.
Dela, Ryko, Kygo, Ido, and a few others (namely, Tozay) all return and are as wonderful as ever. Dela continues to be a sounding board and guide to Eona, but I liked how she did occasionally think selfishly. Something HUGE happens to Ryko in this book, which is probably super-spoilery, so I won't divulge anything other than: Good move, Goodman! Brilliant move! The beginning focuses on finding Kygo. When Eona does, I am rather impressed with how Goodman paints Kygo: not as a perfect man, but as mourning, flawed, power-hungry at times. And Ido reappears and is CONSTANTLY making things difficult.
There were some new characters, but I didn't feel they particularly stood out. One character I thought would have more of an impact did not and that saddened me. Vida was also an interesting character, but I have no clue what happened to her at the end (along with many, many other characters!).
Now, one of the things that I didn't particularly care for was the Romantic Triangle. In the last book, there was no romance whatsoever and it was done brilliantly. So when not just one suitor, but TWO appeared, I wasn't so happy.
SPOILER
It felt to me that Kygo and Eona have barely any time to lead up to their "I love you" moment. He reappears and then, boom, they are an item. While I did like how their romance was challenged by differing rank--him being Emperor, her being Dragoneye--I wished more time had been spent on them going to the kissing stage. As for Ido, I was slightly skeeved out, because he had somewhat sexually assaulted her in the last book. But the heady passion Ido and Eona have to each other feels more like a sexual experience than an actual romance, and it did grow on me somewhat.
END OF SPOILER
I will admit, that the two suitors here both have flaws and actually seem to represent two VERY DIFFERENT paths that Eona could take for her life. So both those qualities definitely make this one of the few tolerable Romantic Triangles I've ever read.
As she did with "Eon", Goodman took the story to new places. You might think this is just a "storm the castle" book, but there is a LOT more that happens in it. In fact, that is probably WHY I didn't start to really like the book until the last 200 pages. There is so much going on--so much traveling, rescuing, training, contemplating, sparring, etc.--that it honestly bored me and made me want to read other things. I kept wondering, "Did I really need to read X in order to get to here?" However, Goodman had a solid climax and an inventive ending that redeemed this book.
SPOILER
Though there really is no "conclusion" to this book. It just stops. What happened to Vida, Rilla, Chart, and Eona's mom? Why bring up Eona's mom when so little of the book surrounds her? What about the other Dragoneye candidates--particularly the one that Ido had pulled aside in the last book? What happened to the other serving staff of Eona's master? Is Chart dead like Ryko when Eona freed herself from Sethon's blood power? How do the people take not having Dragoneyes or Dragons to ward off bad weather and earthquakes and the like?
END OF SPOILER
I am glad to have finished this book, not only to be done with it, but also because it ended up being a good book. Kudos to Goodman, for not relying on overused cliches, for inventing a new world based on something other than standard fantasy tropes, and for giving us TWO books (instead of the seemingly standard Trilogy or Never-Ending Series) with a solid female protagonist. If you like fantasy and strong females, definitely check this out.
Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
joanne nolan
Publishers Blurb: Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the self styled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power-and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .
Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create.
While it is always better to start with book one, when Eona arrived I wasn't sure it was for me, so I went ahead and started reading it, just to see if it was something I `d be interested in. By about page 3 I was engrossed. Young Adult fantasy has prevalently been in a medieval European type setting, so it was refreshing to read a fantasy set in Medieval Asia. I've heard that Goodman was going for a cross between Japan and China but it really felt like a Samurai kind of world, straight out of a Hiroshigi woodblock.
Goodman had me up caught up with the backstory in a chapter or two and I was off and running. Eona has now been outed as a girl, the first female able to call a Dragon in 500 years, the last her ancestress who is accused of being a traitor, so Eona keeps it under her hat.
The country is in the middle of a civil war and she and her allies are supporting the rightful Emperor Kygo. Her power can be pivotal in putting the emperor on the throne and he has chosen her to be his personal advisor, a massive honor and it is almost unheard of for a woman to have this role. The problem is, when she uses her Dragoneye power, she can't control it and this loss of control has had tragic consequences. Every time she tries to connect with her dragon, she becomes a conduit for the 10 dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered by the only other Dragoneye left living ,Lord Ido and they in their anguish attack her as well as do explosive damage around her.
The only person left who can possibly train her is Lord Ido, who not only murdered the other remaining Dragoneyes in attempt to have all the power, but who also killed Kygo's family. Kygo and Eona are on the run, fighting an attraction to eachother, and fighting a lack of trust for each other as they grow closer emotionally. The only way Kygo can safely use Eona's power is for them to break out of prison the man he hates most, Lord Ido to train her, and Ido is about as trustworthy as the devil.
At the end of Eon, Eona magically forced Lord Ido to feel all the pain he has put on others and it has changed him, to some extent. You truly believe he has feelings for Eona, but what are they? Lord Ido, in all his manipulative hotness, has his own agenda.
I really liked the side characters and the plays on gender which were very sensitively handled. Eona was a girl masquerading as a boy in the last book, and in this book her compatriot Lady Dela, a male transvestite who lives as a woman has to go back to being a man in order to hide their true identities while they are on the road. Lady Dela is a wonderful, nuanced character and her unrequited love for their other friend Ryko was heartbreaking.
There is action a plenty, beautifully described sequences with the Dragons and armies and a love triangle that captures your imagination. You know you shouldn't want her to have anything but complete disdain for evil Lord Ido, but Goodman has done such a great job of creating a complex character at times you have to stop yourself from rooting for the bad guy. I love that kind of ambiguity in my evil villains.
Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create.
While it is always better to start with book one, when Eona arrived I wasn't sure it was for me, so I went ahead and started reading it, just to see if it was something I `d be interested in. By about page 3 I was engrossed. Young Adult fantasy has prevalently been in a medieval European type setting, so it was refreshing to read a fantasy set in Medieval Asia. I've heard that Goodman was going for a cross between Japan and China but it really felt like a Samurai kind of world, straight out of a Hiroshigi woodblock.
Goodman had me up caught up with the backstory in a chapter or two and I was off and running. Eona has now been outed as a girl, the first female able to call a Dragon in 500 years, the last her ancestress who is accused of being a traitor, so Eona keeps it under her hat.
The country is in the middle of a civil war and she and her allies are supporting the rightful Emperor Kygo. Her power can be pivotal in putting the emperor on the throne and he has chosen her to be his personal advisor, a massive honor and it is almost unheard of for a woman to have this role. The problem is, when she uses her Dragoneye power, she can't control it and this loss of control has had tragic consequences. Every time she tries to connect with her dragon, she becomes a conduit for the 10 dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered by the only other Dragoneye left living ,Lord Ido and they in their anguish attack her as well as do explosive damage around her.
The only person left who can possibly train her is Lord Ido, who not only murdered the other remaining Dragoneyes in attempt to have all the power, but who also killed Kygo's family. Kygo and Eona are on the run, fighting an attraction to eachother, and fighting a lack of trust for each other as they grow closer emotionally. The only way Kygo can safely use Eona's power is for them to break out of prison the man he hates most, Lord Ido to train her, and Ido is about as trustworthy as the devil.
At the end of Eon, Eona magically forced Lord Ido to feel all the pain he has put on others and it has changed him, to some extent. You truly believe he has feelings for Eona, but what are they? Lord Ido, in all his manipulative hotness, has his own agenda.
I really liked the side characters and the plays on gender which were very sensitively handled. Eona was a girl masquerading as a boy in the last book, and in this book her compatriot Lady Dela, a male transvestite who lives as a woman has to go back to being a man in order to hide their true identities while they are on the road. Lady Dela is a wonderful, nuanced character and her unrequited love for their other friend Ryko was heartbreaking.
There is action a plenty, beautifully described sequences with the Dragons and armies and a love triangle that captures your imagination. You know you shouldn't want her to have anything but complete disdain for evil Lord Ido, but Goodman has done such a great job of creating a complex character at times you have to stop yourself from rooting for the bad guy. I love that kind of ambiguity in my evil villains.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
rachel sharpe
When I finished reading Eon, I was really excited that there would be a sequel so that we could find out what happens once Eona reveals her true identity and learns that her dragon is the queen of all the dragons. I figured it would mostly be about defeating High Lord Sethon and finding Emperor Kygo. If the book ended after about the first two chapters, I would have been right.
As it was though, Eona was so much more. I loved learning more about the dragons, and their relationship with the Dragoneyes. I thought that the way they were connected with the Earthly realm was so creative, and was not at all what I was expecting. The way Eona handles the information she receives is very commendable, and I was glad she didn't follow Lord Ido's advice regarding her power. I did find myself liking Lord Ido somewhere in the middle of the book, but I wasn't surprised by his actions at the end.
Eona really struggles with who she is and what her responsibilities are supposed to be throughout this novel, and I think Goodman deals with it very well. She has the power to communicate with and control the all-powerful dragons, and yet she still deals with the same issues that most teenage girls deal with. She starts to fall in love with someone who shouldn't love her back, she doesn't know how she should behave, she's lied to nearly everyone and needs them to trust her, and she still has no way to communicate with her dragon without being ambushed. But through all of that, she's still very courageous, quick-witted, and down to earth.
Like Eon, this book has very long chapters. I really think they could have been split up more, but I kind of got used to it by the end. The long chapters caused some of the pacing to be slow at times, and I think some parts were too detailed. Other parts though had the perfect amount of detail and I love how Goodman is able to build the world. The map in the beginning of the book definitely helped with the world building, and I love when maps are included.
For anyone who read Eon, this is a must read! For anyone who hasn't read Eon and enjoys YA fantasy novels, you should go read both Eon and then go read Eona! I think that fans of books like the Graceling series would really enjoy this series as well. I rated this book a 4.5/5.
As it was though, Eona was so much more. I loved learning more about the dragons, and their relationship with the Dragoneyes. I thought that the way they were connected with the Earthly realm was so creative, and was not at all what I was expecting. The way Eona handles the information she receives is very commendable, and I was glad she didn't follow Lord Ido's advice regarding her power. I did find myself liking Lord Ido somewhere in the middle of the book, but I wasn't surprised by his actions at the end.
Eona really struggles with who she is and what her responsibilities are supposed to be throughout this novel, and I think Goodman deals with it very well. She has the power to communicate with and control the all-powerful dragons, and yet she still deals with the same issues that most teenage girls deal with. She starts to fall in love with someone who shouldn't love her back, she doesn't know how she should behave, she's lied to nearly everyone and needs them to trust her, and she still has no way to communicate with her dragon without being ambushed. But through all of that, she's still very courageous, quick-witted, and down to earth.
Like Eon, this book has very long chapters. I really think they could have been split up more, but I kind of got used to it by the end. The long chapters caused some of the pacing to be slow at times, and I think some parts were too detailed. Other parts though had the perfect amount of detail and I love how Goodman is able to build the world. The map in the beginning of the book definitely helped with the world building, and I love when maps are included.
For anyone who read Eon, this is a must read! For anyone who hasn't read Eon and enjoys YA fantasy novels, you should go read both Eon and then go read Eona! I think that fans of books like the Graceling series would really enjoy this series as well. I rated this book a 4.5/5.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
joseph rajan
"Do not let all this power cloud your spirit, Eona."
Eona has fled Sethon's sword, but she is far from safe. She must find Prince Kygo, the true Emperor, and rescue Lord Ido, if she is to ever have any control on her power. Along with Ryko and Dela, Eona forges ahead and begins to struggle with the power growing within her.
NOTE: This review may contain some spoilers.
After finishing the excellent Eon, I jumped right into "Eona", excited to see how the book ended. I was kinda hoping that, despite the 600+ pages, this would fly by. As things often are with books, "Eona" wasn't exactly what I expected, in both a good and a bad way.
One of the things I loved was Eona and her struggle with power. The last book, a lot of the character arc was focused on Eona overcoming her handicap and coming to grips with her feminine side. With her handicap healed and Eona now walking as a woman, a lot of that conflict is gone. You might think that her character would be boring; instead, Goodman creates a new conflict for Eona: what to do with her developing power. I can't really detail a whole lot on this struggle, as it is rife with spoilers, but it was VERY interesting and pushed Eona's character into new arenas.
Dela, Ryko, Kygo, Ido, and a few others (namely, Tozay) all return and are as wonderful as ever. Dela continues to be a sounding board and guide to Eona, but I liked how she did occasionally think selfishly. Something HUGE happens to Ryko in this book, which is probably super-spoilery, so I won't divulge anything other than: Good move, Goodman! Brilliant move! The beginning focuses on finding Kygo. When Eona does, I am rather impressed with how Goodman paints Kygo: not as a perfect man, but as mourning, flawed, power-hungry at times. And Ido reappears and is CONSTANTLY making things difficult.
There were some new characters, but I didn't feel they particularly stood out. One character I thought would have more of an impact did not and that saddened me. Vida was also an interesting character, but I have no clue what happened to her at the end (along with many, many other characters!).
Now, one of the things that I didn't particularly care for was the Romantic Triangle. In the last book, there was no romance whatsoever and it was done brilliantly. So when not just one suitor, but TWO appeared, I wasn't so happy.
SPOILER
It felt to me that Kygo and Eona have barely any time to lead up to their "I love you" moment. He reappears and then, boom, they are an item. While I did like how their romance was challenged by differing rank--him being Emperor, her being Dragoneye--I wished more time had been spent on them going to the kissing stage. As for Ido, I was slightly skeeved out, because he had somewhat sexually assaulted her in the last book. But the heady passion Ido and Eona have to each other feels more like a sexual experience than an actual romance, and it did grow on me somewhat.
END OF SPOILER
I will admit, that the two suitors here both have flaws and actually seem to represent two VERY DIFFERENT paths that Eona could take for her life. So both those qualities definitely make this one of the few tolerable Romantic Triangles I've ever read.
As she did with "Eon", Goodman took the story to new places. You might think this is just a "storm the castle" book, but there is a LOT more that happens in it. In fact, that is probably WHY I didn't start to really like the book until the last 200 pages. There is so much going on--so much traveling, rescuing, training, contemplating, sparring, etc.--that it honestly bored me and made me want to read other things. I kept wondering, "Did I really need to read X in order to get to here?" However, Goodman had a solid climax and an inventive ending that redeemed this book.
SPOILER
Though there really is no "conclusion" to this book. It just stops. What happened to Vida, Rilla, Chart, and Eona's mom? Why bring up Eona's mom when so little of the book surrounds her? What about the other Dragoneye candidates--particularly the one that Ido had pulled aside in the last book? What happened to the other serving staff of Eona's master? Is Chart dead like Ryko when Eona freed herself from Sethon's blood power? How do the people take not having Dragoneyes or Dragons to ward off bad weather and earthquakes and the like?
END OF SPOILER
I am glad to have finished this book, not only to be done with it, but also because it ended up being a good book. Kudos to Goodman, for not relying on overused cliches, for inventing a new world based on something other than standard fantasy tropes, and for giving us TWO books (instead of the seemingly standard Trilogy or Never-Ending Series) with a solid female protagonist. If you like fantasy and strong females, definitely check this out.
Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*
Eona has fled Sethon's sword, but she is far from safe. She must find Prince Kygo, the true Emperor, and rescue Lord Ido, if she is to ever have any control on her power. Along with Ryko and Dela, Eona forges ahead and begins to struggle with the power growing within her.
NOTE: This review may contain some spoilers.
After finishing the excellent Eon, I jumped right into "Eona", excited to see how the book ended. I was kinda hoping that, despite the 600+ pages, this would fly by. As things often are with books, "Eona" wasn't exactly what I expected, in both a good and a bad way.
One of the things I loved was Eona and her struggle with power. The last book, a lot of the character arc was focused on Eona overcoming her handicap and coming to grips with her feminine side. With her handicap healed and Eona now walking as a woman, a lot of that conflict is gone. You might think that her character would be boring; instead, Goodman creates a new conflict for Eona: what to do with her developing power. I can't really detail a whole lot on this struggle, as it is rife with spoilers, but it was VERY interesting and pushed Eona's character into new arenas.
Dela, Ryko, Kygo, Ido, and a few others (namely, Tozay) all return and are as wonderful as ever. Dela continues to be a sounding board and guide to Eona, but I liked how she did occasionally think selfishly. Something HUGE happens to Ryko in this book, which is probably super-spoilery, so I won't divulge anything other than: Good move, Goodman! Brilliant move! The beginning focuses on finding Kygo. When Eona does, I am rather impressed with how Goodman paints Kygo: not as a perfect man, but as mourning, flawed, power-hungry at times. And Ido reappears and is CONSTANTLY making things difficult.
There were some new characters, but I didn't feel they particularly stood out. One character I thought would have more of an impact did not and that saddened me. Vida was also an interesting character, but I have no clue what happened to her at the end (along with many, many other characters!).
Now, one of the things that I didn't particularly care for was the Romantic Triangle. In the last book, there was no romance whatsoever and it was done brilliantly. So when not just one suitor, but TWO appeared, I wasn't so happy.
SPOILER
It felt to me that Kygo and Eona have barely any time to lead up to their "I love you" moment. He reappears and then, boom, they are an item. While I did like how their romance was challenged by differing rank--him being Emperor, her being Dragoneye--I wished more time had been spent on them going to the kissing stage. As for Ido, I was slightly skeeved out, because he had somewhat sexually assaulted her in the last book. But the heady passion Ido and Eona have to each other feels more like a sexual experience than an actual romance, and it did grow on me somewhat.
END OF SPOILER
I will admit, that the two suitors here both have flaws and actually seem to represent two VERY DIFFERENT paths that Eona could take for her life. So both those qualities definitely make this one of the few tolerable Romantic Triangles I've ever read.
As she did with "Eon", Goodman took the story to new places. You might think this is just a "storm the castle" book, but there is a LOT more that happens in it. In fact, that is probably WHY I didn't start to really like the book until the last 200 pages. There is so much going on--so much traveling, rescuing, training, contemplating, sparring, etc.--that it honestly bored me and made me want to read other things. I kept wondering, "Did I really need to read X in order to get to here?" However, Goodman had a solid climax and an inventive ending that redeemed this book.
SPOILER
Though there really is no "conclusion" to this book. It just stops. What happened to Vida, Rilla, Chart, and Eona's mom? Why bring up Eona's mom when so little of the book surrounds her? What about the other Dragoneye candidates--particularly the one that Ido had pulled aside in the last book? What happened to the other serving staff of Eona's master? Is Chart dead like Ryko when Eona freed herself from Sethon's blood power? How do the people take not having Dragoneyes or Dragons to ward off bad weather and earthquakes and the like?
END OF SPOILER
I am glad to have finished this book, not only to be done with it, but also because it ended up being a good book. Kudos to Goodman, for not relying on overused cliches, for inventing a new world based on something other than standard fantasy tropes, and for giving us TWO books (instead of the seemingly standard Trilogy or Never-Ending Series) with a solid female protagonist. If you like fantasy and strong females, definitely check this out.
Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tommckee123
I read EON last week, and I finished EONA Monday. It was much easier to read. The world had already been laid out within the first book, and the second was just action/reaction. I think it helped that there actually was a love story in this one.
While a romance was hinted at in the first one, it blossomed in the sequel, and… Let’s face it… I’m a romantic at heart. I think I needed the romance in order to get into the story. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know, but looking back at everything I’ve been able to read and everything I haven’t, that’s been the case.
Whoa… The things you discover about yourself when reading.
While a romance was hinted at in the first one, it blossomed in the sequel, and… Let’s face it… I’m a romantic at heart. I think I needed the romance in order to get into the story. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know, but looking back at everything I’ve been able to read and everything I haven’t, that’s been the case.
Whoa… The things you discover about yourself when reading.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
tanner muriett
Being the first female Dragoneye that the world has seen in centuries hasn't slowed Eona down too much. In fact, it has added to the hordes of angry rebels tracking her around the country when the readers first delve into this read. Between EON and EONA, many events have unfolded that could spell disaster or salvation to the traveling band of resistance against Sethon's rule.
Following the tragic and sudden death of the Emperor, Prince Kygo must now defeat Sethon in the attempt to gain control of the throne by the end of the claiming days. Eona has managed to find out how to connect with her Mirror Dragon. The only problem is that when she does, the other dragons in the spirit realm whose partners have been killed attack both her and Ido, creating an uncontrollable wave of power that has catastrophic results. A lot of significant characters have been killed or kidnapped by Sethon's forces, bringing Eona's group down to just a trusted few. When they meet up with Kygo and his army, they know that it is now to never to defeat Sethon and regain control of the empire to save not only themselves, but everyone around them, in both this world and the spirit ones.
There were many parts of this story that were easily likeable. The overall "band of rebels trying to defeat a bad guy and make everything right" vibe is right on the road of agreeable righteousness. Seeing Eona change from Eon, a timid, crippled, insignificant girl pretending to be a boy, to Eona, a confident, powerful woman who isn't afraid to conquer any issue in her path was monumental to both me as a reader, and to the overall plot and advancement of the story. Love triangles, rape, and a lot of confusing inner conflicting characters had me shutting the book for a while. It was the need to finish the story and see how it ended that kept me turning back to the page I have left off on and getting re-immersed into this powerful new world.
Though EONA answered many questions readers were left asking at the end of EON, this sequel also created a lot of new questions. Not to mention, straying far from it's YA genre with a few borderline R-rated love scenes. Seeing EON create a brand new world with stunning characters, history, and culture, then to see EONA come around and knock down that empire with its malevolence and violence was both shocking and disappointing.
Reviewed by Shroud's Nora Yelekli
Following the tragic and sudden death of the Emperor, Prince Kygo must now defeat Sethon in the attempt to gain control of the throne by the end of the claiming days. Eona has managed to find out how to connect with her Mirror Dragon. The only problem is that when she does, the other dragons in the spirit realm whose partners have been killed attack both her and Ido, creating an uncontrollable wave of power that has catastrophic results. A lot of significant characters have been killed or kidnapped by Sethon's forces, bringing Eona's group down to just a trusted few. When they meet up with Kygo and his army, they know that it is now to never to defeat Sethon and regain control of the empire to save not only themselves, but everyone around them, in both this world and the spirit ones.
There were many parts of this story that were easily likeable. The overall "band of rebels trying to defeat a bad guy and make everything right" vibe is right on the road of agreeable righteousness. Seeing Eona change from Eon, a timid, crippled, insignificant girl pretending to be a boy, to Eona, a confident, powerful woman who isn't afraid to conquer any issue in her path was monumental to both me as a reader, and to the overall plot and advancement of the story. Love triangles, rape, and a lot of confusing inner conflicting characters had me shutting the book for a while. It was the need to finish the story and see how it ended that kept me turning back to the page I have left off on and getting re-immersed into this powerful new world.
Though EONA answered many questions readers were left asking at the end of EON, this sequel also created a lot of new questions. Not to mention, straying far from it's YA genre with a few borderline R-rated love scenes. Seeing EON create a brand new world with stunning characters, history, and culture, then to see EONA come around and knock down that empire with its malevolence and violence was both shocking and disappointing.
Reviewed by Shroud's Nora Yelekli
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
ali maher
Eona by Alison Goodman
Viking, 2011
637 pages
YA; Fantasy
4/5 stars
Standalone sequel to Eon
Source: Library
My first comment is that this book is SO long. It was a little awkward to hold, especially compared to the sleekness of my nookcolor and I definitely think some parts could have been edited down. Instead of breathlessly anticipating the conclusion, I just wanted to know who lived and who survived and I kept calculating how many pages I had until I was finished. Perhaps Eona would die; except she wouldn't since the story is told in first-person, robbing it of some suspense.
In some ways though this book was sleeker as the reader presumably already knows a lot about dragons and the royal succession crisis because of the first book. No major new character is introduced (I think Yuso was in Eon) but new facets of the characters are explored especially gender dynamics as Lady Dela and Ryko in particular struggle. Eona adjusted quite easily to being female; I would have enjoyed seeing her struggle a lot more in this regard.
The new mystery revolves partly around Eona's ancestor Kinara, who sometimes tries to act through Eona to take the pearl from Kygo's throat, which would kill him. She must fight those instincts as well as learn to control her power as well as attempt to protect Kygo from the ruthlessness of his uncle. Although I knew that Sethon was a threat, there were many sections were his terrifying presence did not hang over the rebellion; it made it hard to remember why there were fighting. However, I mostly enjoyed those segments as well as the twist, which I think will be genuinely surprising to the majority of readers.
Kind of Spoiler:
In the first book, Eona seemed to be drawing closer to Kygo in what would be a tricky romantic relationship. However this is challenged by the reappearance of Lord Ido who turns out to only be 24, while I had been imagining him as Mulan's father (who is no villain so I don't know why that's the image in my head). His and Eona's power works through a powerful connection, physical, mental, and sexual. I wasn't thrilled with her feelings toward Ido after he almost raped her in the first book but...this part ends as it should.
Overall: Not as good as the first due to length and pacing but one you'll probably want to read if you enjoyed the first.
Viking, 2011
637 pages
YA; Fantasy
4/5 stars
Standalone sequel to Eon
Source: Library
My first comment is that this book is SO long. It was a little awkward to hold, especially compared to the sleekness of my nookcolor and I definitely think some parts could have been edited down. Instead of breathlessly anticipating the conclusion, I just wanted to know who lived and who survived and I kept calculating how many pages I had until I was finished. Perhaps Eona would die; except she wouldn't since the story is told in first-person, robbing it of some suspense.
In some ways though this book was sleeker as the reader presumably already knows a lot about dragons and the royal succession crisis because of the first book. No major new character is introduced (I think Yuso was in Eon) but new facets of the characters are explored especially gender dynamics as Lady Dela and Ryko in particular struggle. Eona adjusted quite easily to being female; I would have enjoyed seeing her struggle a lot more in this regard.
The new mystery revolves partly around Eona's ancestor Kinara, who sometimes tries to act through Eona to take the pearl from Kygo's throat, which would kill him. She must fight those instincts as well as learn to control her power as well as attempt to protect Kygo from the ruthlessness of his uncle. Although I knew that Sethon was a threat, there were many sections were his terrifying presence did not hang over the rebellion; it made it hard to remember why there were fighting. However, I mostly enjoyed those segments as well as the twist, which I think will be genuinely surprising to the majority of readers.
Kind of Spoiler:
In the first book, Eona seemed to be drawing closer to Kygo in what would be a tricky romantic relationship. However this is challenged by the reappearance of Lord Ido who turns out to only be 24, while I had been imagining him as Mulan's father (who is no villain so I don't know why that's the image in my head). His and Eona's power works through a powerful connection, physical, mental, and sexual. I wasn't thrilled with her feelings toward Ido after he almost raped her in the first book but...this part ends as it should.
Overall: Not as good as the first due to length and pacing but one you'll probably want to read if you enjoyed the first.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
amy smith
What the author does so well: engaging the reader. I read this book while doing laundry, and other multi-tasking. I simply couldn't put it down! The story was so elaborate, so passionate, and so fast paced, it was hard to break away from the book!
One of the central themes of this story is the love triangle between Kygo, Ido, and Eona. I have to say- this triangle irritated me. Ido was obviously using Eona and she blatantly chose to not care. Somehow even though she had feelings with Kygo, which were met by equal passion, Eona still chose to "connect" to Ido. I was incredibly frustrated with Eona. She simply was a very flawed hero. Her morality choices seemed to worsen as the book went on. And although the author tried to redeem her at the end- it felt lacking. It isn't a good thing when I disagree with the heroine so much I hope she loses. I think that was the major fault of the story- the ending lacked a great deal. I felt that Eona really hadn't learned from her mistakes and would keep on making horrible choices.
However, this was an incredibly imaginative series. The author has a very special way of writing- as the reader, I feel as though I really am a part of the story. I can't wait to read other books by her!
One of the central themes of this story is the love triangle between Kygo, Ido, and Eona. I have to say- this triangle irritated me. Ido was obviously using Eona and she blatantly chose to not care. Somehow even though she had feelings with Kygo, which were met by equal passion, Eona still chose to "connect" to Ido. I was incredibly frustrated with Eona. She simply was a very flawed hero. Her morality choices seemed to worsen as the book went on. And although the author tried to redeem her at the end- it felt lacking. It isn't a good thing when I disagree with the heroine so much I hope she loses. I think that was the major fault of the story- the ending lacked a great deal. I felt that Eona really hadn't learned from her mistakes and would keep on making horrible choices.
However, this was an incredibly imaginative series. The author has a very special way of writing- as the reader, I feel as though I really am a part of the story. I can't wait to read other books by her!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
pikiora
The interesting thing about Eona is that I heard about just a few months ago, even though I'd never before read (or even heard of) Eon. Eona looked so interesting that I decided to check out Eon (being the person that I am, I can't read a series out of order, it hurts my soul). I think I read Eon is about 2 days, even with work and everything else in life. I loved it. It was an excellent book with great action and a wonderful protagonist that you have to cheer for.
After reading Eon just a few weeks ago, I had to have Eona. I mean as in, I had to fight my desire to run out and get the book right then and there. Thankfully, my library had it in stock and the wait wasn't that long, so I got in line and forced myself to be patient. When I finally got Eona, I finished the entire book (and it's a big book) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.
Eona picks up right where Eon left off. Eona's secret is out, that she's a girl dressed as a boy, but also the first Mirror Dragon Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Eona and co. are now on the run from the false emperor High Lord Sethon's army, and must also find the black folio to learn more about the secrets behind the Mirror Dragon. As Eona comes into her Dragoneye powers, it's up to her and her friends to help find the true emperor and put him on the throne.
Eona is filled with pulse-pounding action, incredibly well-constructed fight scenes and a well-plotted world that is completely unforgettable. Not only does Goodman stay true to her vivid, Asian-inspired world, but Eona is as awesome and cheer-able as always. I was immediately caught up in her struggle from the beginning and wanted to see it through to the very end.
Eona delivers everything that readers can expect after reading Eon and so much more. One of the best, most action-packed books I've read all year!
After reading Eon just a few weeks ago, I had to have Eona. I mean as in, I had to fight my desire to run out and get the book right then and there. Thankfully, my library had it in stock and the wait wasn't that long, so I got in line and forced myself to be patient. When I finally got Eona, I finished the entire book (and it's a big book) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.
Eona picks up right where Eon left off. Eona's secret is out, that she's a girl dressed as a boy, but also the first Mirror Dragon Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Eona and co. are now on the run from the false emperor High Lord Sethon's army, and must also find the black folio to learn more about the secrets behind the Mirror Dragon. As Eona comes into her Dragoneye powers, it's up to her and her friends to help find the true emperor and put him on the throne.
Eona is filled with pulse-pounding action, incredibly well-constructed fight scenes and a well-plotted world that is completely unforgettable. Not only does Goodman stay true to her vivid, Asian-inspired world, but Eona is as awesome and cheer-able as always. I was immediately caught up in her struggle from the beginning and wanted to see it through to the very end.
Eona delivers everything that readers can expect after reading Eon and so much more. One of the best, most action-packed books I've read all year!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tanawut tantisopharak
Eona has finally shed her false identity - now she must look to setting the kingdom to rights after High Lord Sethon took control. Now all the Dragoneyes are dead with the exception of the traitorous Lord Ido.
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever Eona needs Lord Ido alive - so he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in his knowledge, she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
My Thoughts: The stunning conclusion to Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was an intense emotional read. I've been waiting to read this book for what seems like years. It was one of my favorite reads in 2009. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining. My one complaint was that waiting length between the two books
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever Eona needs Lord Ido alive - so he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in his knowledge, she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
My Thoughts: The stunning conclusion to Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was an intense emotional read. I've been waiting to read this book for what seems like years. It was one of my favorite reads in 2009. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining. My one complaint was that waiting length between the two books
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
milia
"Eon", the first book of this series, did a fantastic job of givingthe reader glimpses of something deeper to the story, then taunting usby keeping it a foot out of reach. Does the sequel live up to the first volume?
For the most part, yes. "Eona" is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough.
This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. "Eona" dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to.
Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.
For the most part, yes. "Eona" is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough.
This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. "Eona" dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to.
Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
trina
What the author does so well: engaging the reader. I read this book while doing laundry, and other multi-tasking. I simply couldn't put it down! The story was so elaborate, so passionate, and so fast paced, it was hard to break away from the book!
One of the central themes of this story is the love triangle between Kygo, Ido, and Eona. I have to say- this triangle irritated me. Ido was obviously using Eona and she blatantly chose to not care. Somehow even though she had feelings with Kygo, which were met by equal passion, Eona still chose to "connect" to Ido. I was incredibly frustrated with Eona. She simply was a very flawed hero. Her morality choices seemed to worsen as the book went on. And although the author tried to redeem her at the end- it felt lacking. It isn't a good thing when I disagree with the heroine so much I hope she loses. I think that was the major fault of the story- the ending lacked a great deal. I felt that Eona really hadn't learned from her mistakes and would keep on making horrible choices.
However, this was an incredibly imaginative series. The author has a very special way of writing- as the reader, I feel as though I really am a part of the story. I can't wait to read other books by her!
One of the central themes of this story is the love triangle between Kygo, Ido, and Eona. I have to say- this triangle irritated me. Ido was obviously using Eona and she blatantly chose to not care. Somehow even though she had feelings with Kygo, which were met by equal passion, Eona still chose to "connect" to Ido. I was incredibly frustrated with Eona. She simply was a very flawed hero. Her morality choices seemed to worsen as the book went on. And although the author tried to redeem her at the end- it felt lacking. It isn't a good thing when I disagree with the heroine so much I hope she loses. I think that was the major fault of the story- the ending lacked a great deal. I felt that Eona really hadn't learned from her mistakes and would keep on making horrible choices.
However, this was an incredibly imaginative series. The author has a very special way of writing- as the reader, I feel as though I really am a part of the story. I can't wait to read other books by her!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
steve peace
The interesting thing about Eona is that I heard about just a few months ago, even though I'd never before read (or even heard of) Eon. Eona looked so interesting that I decided to check out Eon (being the person that I am, I can't read a series out of order, it hurts my soul). I think I read Eon is about 2 days, even with work and everything else in life. I loved it. It was an excellent book with great action and a wonderful protagonist that you have to cheer for.
After reading Eon just a few weeks ago, I had to have Eona. I mean as in, I had to fight my desire to run out and get the book right then and there. Thankfully, my library had it in stock and the wait wasn't that long, so I got in line and forced myself to be patient. When I finally got Eona, I finished the entire book (and it's a big book) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.
Eona picks up right where Eon left off. Eona's secret is out, that she's a girl dressed as a boy, but also the first Mirror Dragon Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Eona and co. are now on the run from the false emperor High Lord Sethon's army, and must also find the black folio to learn more about the secrets behind the Mirror Dragon. As Eona comes into her Dragoneye powers, it's up to her and her friends to help find the true emperor and put him on the throne.
Eona is filled with pulse-pounding action, incredibly well-constructed fight scenes and a well-plotted world that is completely unforgettable. Not only does Goodman stay true to her vivid, Asian-inspired world, but Eona is as awesome and cheer-able as always. I was immediately caught up in her struggle from the beginning and wanted to see it through to the very end.
Eona delivers everything that readers can expect after reading Eon and so much more. One of the best, most action-packed books I've read all year!
After reading Eon just a few weeks ago, I had to have Eona. I mean as in, I had to fight my desire to run out and get the book right then and there. Thankfully, my library had it in stock and the wait wasn't that long, so I got in line and forced myself to be patient. When I finally got Eona, I finished the entire book (and it's a big book) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.
Eona picks up right where Eon left off. Eona's secret is out, that she's a girl dressed as a boy, but also the first Mirror Dragon Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Eona and co. are now on the run from the false emperor High Lord Sethon's army, and must also find the black folio to learn more about the secrets behind the Mirror Dragon. As Eona comes into her Dragoneye powers, it's up to her and her friends to help find the true emperor and put him on the throne.
Eona is filled with pulse-pounding action, incredibly well-constructed fight scenes and a well-plotted world that is completely unforgettable. Not only does Goodman stay true to her vivid, Asian-inspired world, but Eona is as awesome and cheer-able as always. I was immediately caught up in her struggle from the beginning and wanted to see it through to the very end.
Eona delivers everything that readers can expect after reading Eon and so much more. One of the best, most action-packed books I've read all year!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
dwight
Eona has finally shed her false identity - now she must look to setting the kingdom to rights after High Lord Sethon took control. Now all the Dragoneyes are dead with the exception of the traitorous Lord Ido.
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever Eona needs Lord Ido alive - so he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in his knowledge, she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
My Thoughts: The stunning conclusion to Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was an intense emotional read. I've been waiting to read this book for what seems like years. It was one of my favorite reads in 2009. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining. My one complaint was that waiting length between the two books
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever Eona needs Lord Ido alive - so he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in his knowledge, she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
My Thoughts: The stunning conclusion to Eon: Dragoneye Reborn was an intense emotional read. I've been waiting to read this book for what seems like years. It was one of my favorite reads in 2009. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining. My one complaint was that waiting length between the two books
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kaaren matthewson
"Eon", the first book of this series, did a fantastic job of givingthe reader glimpses of something deeper to the story, then taunting usby keeping it a foot out of reach. Does the sequel live up to the first volume?
For the most part, yes. "Eona" is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough.
This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. "Eona" dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to.
Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.
For the most part, yes. "Eona" is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough.
This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. "Eona" dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to.
Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michele henry
A satisfying sequel to Eon, in which the boy apprentice was revealed as the girl, Eona. Although a Dragoneye, she has yet to learn how to find and work with the power of her dragon. This comes into play many times as Eona fights the evil Lord Sethon. There are many instances of good-versus-evil, and the age-old quandry of which man to give one's heart (and body) to. I was a bit put off by the romance which appeared to be taking place between Eona and Lord Ido, a man who had previously tried to rape her; I wondered what the author was trying to bring to the story with this plot line. Was it the dragon magic that caused her to (possibly) care for Ido or her inexperience in matters of the heart? At the same time, she and Lord Kygo have a flirtation going, but does he really care or is he only after Eona's powers?
The fight scenes between Lord Sethon's army and the resistance fighters made the horrors of war apparent. I was surprised at the death of one of the major characters but it fit in well with the story line. Every time the world "earthshake" was used, I wondered why other weather-related subjects stayed the same as what we use today, such as tsunami. This is not a critique but an observation, because I liked hearing the word "earthshake."
My teen readers have been eagerly awaiting this sequel and they won't be disappointed.
The fight scenes between Lord Sethon's army and the resistance fighters made the horrors of war apparent. I was surprised at the death of one of the major characters but it fit in well with the story line. Every time the world "earthshake" was used, I wondered why other weather-related subjects stayed the same as what we use today, such as tsunami. This is not a critique but an observation, because I liked hearing the word "earthshake."
My teen readers have been eagerly awaiting this sequel and they won't be disappointed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
professorbs
Eona is thrilled to finally be recognized as the Mirror Dragoneye but there's a problem. She can't control her power without the 10 bereft dragons coming after her and causing destruction. Without the training that time spent with other Dragoneye's would have provided her, she has no idea what to do. With only the red folio in her possession, not to mention in an unknown script, she is struggling to learn her purpose as the Mirror Dragoneye. The more she learns, the more confused she is as to what to believe. Her heart gets torn every which way and she must make decisions without being sure what the consequences will be.
The author has written a gripping tale full of love, suspense, and broken allegiances.
The author has written a gripping tale full of love, suspense, and broken allegiances.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
momo
After discovering that the Mirror Dragon was actually a female, and revealing that she herself is also female, Eona is now on the run with the resistance. High Lord Sethon has taken over the empire, and has the only remaining Dragoneye - evil Lord Ido - in captivity. Now Eona, Ryko and Dela must overcome insurmountable odds and find the true heir to the throne so that they can take back the empire from Sethon. But can an untrained Dragoneye and a small number of resistance fighters really accomplish such a grand feat without any assistance?
In Eona: The Last Dragoneye, Alison Goodman continues to build on the rich and layered universe that she created in Eon, the first book in the Dragoneye series. This time Eona is away from the palace and her journey takes us through a variety of settings in the Empire. The story starts out with plenty of action right off the bat, and as Eona and her friends travel across the countryside there are many battles along the way. Despite all the battles and action scenes, I did find the middle of the story a bit long and slow to get through. There is a nice twist that I wasn't expecting at the end, and I was happy with where the story left off.
The characters in Eona are darker and possibly less likable than they were in EON, but with the Empire having fallen, times are harder, and as they are hunted by rebels at every turn, it makes sense that they would have to develop their darker sides in order to survive the hardships that seem to be following them.
Many interesting gender issues are touched upon, as Eona who spent the first novel desperately trying to pass herself off as male has to learn to play the role of a woman, and Dela who spent the first novel as a man presenting himself as a woman is now playing the role of a man. The struggle between ultimate power and right and wrong is also explored in detail, which always makes for fascinating reading.
While not quite as captivating as Eon, Eona is an enjoyable read, and closes Eona's story satisfactorily.
In Eona: The Last Dragoneye, Alison Goodman continues to build on the rich and layered universe that she created in Eon, the first book in the Dragoneye series. This time Eona is away from the palace and her journey takes us through a variety of settings in the Empire. The story starts out with plenty of action right off the bat, and as Eona and her friends travel across the countryside there are many battles along the way. Despite all the battles and action scenes, I did find the middle of the story a bit long and slow to get through. There is a nice twist that I wasn't expecting at the end, and I was happy with where the story left off.
The characters in Eona are darker and possibly less likable than they were in EON, but with the Empire having fallen, times are harder, and as they are hunted by rebels at every turn, it makes sense that they would have to develop their darker sides in order to survive the hardships that seem to be following them.
Many interesting gender issues are touched upon, as Eona who spent the first novel desperately trying to pass herself off as male has to learn to play the role of a woman, and Dela who spent the first novel as a man presenting himself as a woman is now playing the role of a man. The struggle between ultimate power and right and wrong is also explored in detail, which always makes for fascinating reading.
While not quite as captivating as Eon, Eona is an enjoyable read, and closes Eona's story satisfactorily.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
palash sharma
"Eona" is an action-packed young adult fantasy novel. It's the second and final novel in the series. If you read "Eona" first, it will spoil many of the events in "Eon." It contained enough information that you can probably still follow everything that's going on without having read "Eon," but I'd still recommend reading "Eon" first.
"Eona" was much more original than "Eon" and much less predictable. While males would probably enjoy "Eona" more than "Eon," I still think these novels will appeal most to girls and women.
Again, the world-building of an Asian-based culture was excellent. The characters were complex and varied. Practically every character had their own goals and Eona was stuck in the middle of conflicting desires for using her and her power. Even previous allies have a love-hate relationship with her after her power shows some unexpected aspects. While very realistic, it was a bit emotionally tiring to have Eona pressured by her friends and allies into morally murky areas where she didn't want to go only to be despised by them when she did.
There was one explicit modern bad word and a very minor amount of insulting language that isn't commonly used but may or may not count as a modern bad word. There was some intense kissing, but no sex scenes (or, at least, no explicit ones). There was some torture, but it wasn't highly graphic or gory.
There was a main character who had "a man's body and a woman's spirit" (referred to as "she") and a eunuch who loved each other though their relationship was not an easy one. The magic was "fantasy magic" with a somewhat unique twist: the characters bond with their energy dragon and use the dragon's power to manipulate the physical world.
Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable fantasy novel, though I wouldn't read it when in a depressed mood.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the publisher.
"Eona" was much more original than "Eon" and much less predictable. While males would probably enjoy "Eona" more than "Eon," I still think these novels will appeal most to girls and women.
Again, the world-building of an Asian-based culture was excellent. The characters were complex and varied. Practically every character had their own goals and Eona was stuck in the middle of conflicting desires for using her and her power. Even previous allies have a love-hate relationship with her after her power shows some unexpected aspects. While very realistic, it was a bit emotionally tiring to have Eona pressured by her friends and allies into morally murky areas where she didn't want to go only to be despised by them when she did.
There was one explicit modern bad word and a very minor amount of insulting language that isn't commonly used but may or may not count as a modern bad word. There was some intense kissing, but no sex scenes (or, at least, no explicit ones). There was some torture, but it wasn't highly graphic or gory.
There was a main character who had "a man's body and a woman's spirit" (referred to as "she") and a eunuch who loved each other though their relationship was not an easy one. The magic was "fantasy magic" with a somewhat unique twist: the characters bond with their energy dragon and use the dragon's power to manipulate the physical world.
Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable fantasy novel, though I wouldn't read it when in a depressed mood.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the publisher.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
okko hartikainen
Eona has finally shed her false identity. Now, she must look to setting the kingdom to rights after High Lord Sethon took control. All the Dragoneyes are dead, with the exception of the traitorous Lord Ido.
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever, Eona needs Lord Ido alive, so that he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in Ido sharing his knowledge; she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
The stunning conclusion to EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN was an intense, emotional read. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I just loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
Eona, Ryko, and Lady Dela attempt to find their Emperor - the young son with ties to the throne. Indeed, Kygo is the true Pearl Emperor. When they find him, they must attempt to take the throne back from his uncle.
Regaining control of the land won't be easy. Death and destruction will come. Without their Dragoneyes, dragons are disappearing from the world. Now more than ever, Eona needs Lord Ido alive, so that he can share his knowledge. In the past, Lord Ido only wanted power. Could he have changed? Eona isn't putting all her hopes in Ido sharing his knowledge; she's also working on translating a folio left by her ancestors.
The knowledge and power she gains from the folio scare her beyond belief. Could her destiny already be chosen for her?
The stunning conclusion to EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN was an intense, emotional read. I loved reading about the union between the Mirror Dragon and Eona. I loved the twists and turns of this read. I loved the relationship between Eona and Kygo. Honesty, I just loved the book. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, horror-filled, sweet, satisfying, romantic, and vastly entertaining.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sari tomson
Eona is now outed. No longer is she disguised as a boy. No longer does she have to hide her true essence and her true form. She is able to fully become a woman. But it is still not going to be easy. Now she is part of the resistance. They have to keep on the move. Find the crown prince. Rescue another Dragoneye, and other things that populate a long list.
Eona is not only now a girl, but she is also realizing that she has feelings for people around her. She is torn. Add that up to an ancestor's secrets that she grows to uncover, and powers that are coming in and strong. Will she let the power corrupt her? Will she chose a love? What will her ultimate choice be when she has to save the world?
Better than the first!
Eona had such beautiful fluidity to it that I didn't even notice that it was over 600 pages long. But each and every page was beautifully written and thrown in with every twist and turn that you will never see coming. Eona has the one element that the first book lacked. Love interests. She is caught up in a brutal love triangle that makes the page turning novel even more interesting to those that are fans of the beautiful series.
This book was so filled with the most beautiful scenery. Ripe with fight scenes, and there were a lot of loose ends were tied up. Goodman finished the novel brilliantly with an ending that pleases the reader and yet leaves a few things to the imagination. But there was just something that set well with this novel. It was such a great followup to an already great book.
A MUST read.
Eona is not only now a girl, but she is also realizing that she has feelings for people around her. She is torn. Add that up to an ancestor's secrets that she grows to uncover, and powers that are coming in and strong. Will she let the power corrupt her? Will she chose a love? What will her ultimate choice be when she has to save the world?
Better than the first!
Eona had such beautiful fluidity to it that I didn't even notice that it was over 600 pages long. But each and every page was beautifully written and thrown in with every twist and turn that you will never see coming. Eona has the one element that the first book lacked. Love interests. She is caught up in a brutal love triangle that makes the page turning novel even more interesting to those that are fans of the beautiful series.
This book was so filled with the most beautiful scenery. Ripe with fight scenes, and there were a lot of loose ends were tied up. Goodman finished the novel brilliantly with an ending that pleases the reader and yet leaves a few things to the imagination. But there was just something that set well with this novel. It was such a great followup to an already great book.
A MUST read.
Please RateEona
Eona never learned anything until the last second. She constantly lies faces the fire and brimstone but then turns around and lies again
Ido drove me mad. I had a strong urge to slap him and Eona. He tried to RAPE her. Who in the world would even get within 50 feet of the jerk, let alone harbor feelings for.
On the bright side Eona "comes clean" and saves the day and ends up the right guy.
The book had my attention until 2 in the morning trying to finish it.