The Shadow of Black Wings (The Year of the Dragon, #1)

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The Shadow of Black Wings (The Year of the Dragon #1)

by James Calbraith (Goodreads Author)

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 87 ratings · 34 reviews

The divination clock is broken. The Year of the Dragon is coming.

In the midst of 19th century the world trembles before the might of the Dragon Throne’s ironclad navy and the dreaded Dragon Corps. A young dragon raider Bran joins a regiment of the Royal Marines, led by his estranged father, on a journey to the war-torn Orient.

In the lands of Yamato, sealed behind the Divin...more

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Published July 1st 2012 by Flying Squid

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Nov 08, 2012 Brian Wilkerson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Trickster Eric Novels review

I was asked by James Calbraith to read and review his debut novel "Shadows of Black Wings". It's the first book in the "Year of the Dragon Series". In terms of plot I can't tell you much (more on that later) but the gist of it comes in two parts: 1.) Bran is a boy fresh out of college and isn't sure what to do with his life. 2.) Conspiracies both mundane and supernatural brew in Yamato while the world outside it seeks entrance.

The book's strongest point is world bu...more

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May 16, 2013 Josiah Schilling rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book! It something new and different from all the other magic books I'v read. I like how it's a mix of steampunk and fantasy. This is one of those books that is a great read that you can't put down.

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Apr 21, 2013 Cherie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Combine fantasy with alternate history, throw in a dash of steampunk and you have The Shadow of Black Wings. This was a really fun read. Elements of fantasy like magic and dragons combine with steampowered ships and clockwork gadgets all set in an alternate version of our world where the Roman Empire still exists. Completely original and unexpected.

The world-building here is phenomenal. The magic systems are interesting but not so complex that you don't understand what's happening. There are la...more Combine fantasy with alternate history, throw in a dash of steampunk and you have The Shadow of Black Wings. This was a really fun read. Elements of fantasy like magic and dragons combine with steampowered ships and clockwork gadgets all set in an alternate version of our world where the Roman Empire still exists. Completely original and unexpected.

The world-building here is phenomenal. The magic systems are interesting but not so complex that you don't understand what's happening. There are languages here that sound just familiar enough that you know where they are "supposed"to be from. The settings are familiar but distinct. There are versions of England, Rome, China, Japan and others. They are familiar enough to make the reader comfortable in the geography but original enough to keep you interested in learning more about them.

There were a couple of things that I did not like so much. First, the point of view never technically changes but the character focus changes throughout the book without warning. I'd be reading pages of Bran and then all of the sudden Dylan was the main focus. I found it jarring and even confusing in a couple of parts. I had to go back an re-read paragraphs on more than one occasion. I don't mind changing focus but I prefer it if there is a clear delineation - either a chapter change or a "split" in the chapter (a **** between sections)

I also found the plot a little bit weak. I enjoyed reading about each of the characters and about Bran's journey but I never really knew where the book was going. I didn't know if the book was about Bran's journey, about the political climate, about the magic and dragons, or about something else entirely. I didn't feel like it was building to any real climax. Don't get me wrong, there were exciting parts! I just don't think there was one big storyline linking everything together.I suspect that this book is really the backdrop for bigger things to happen in Book 2 and beyond.

I definitely plan on reading the next book in the series, The Warrior's Soul. There was no huge cliffhanger in this book but there are a lot of unanswered questions. I am eager to learn what happens to Bran, Sato and Nagomi. Do they find Bran's dragon? Who is this man in the crimson robe? What's the story with Bran's grandfather? What happened to Dylan? I'm guessing that the second book will be action packed now that the scene is set and the cast of characters has been introduced. I can't wait to read more.

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Apr 01, 2013 Geoffrey Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an interesting tale of a young lad just fresh out of college and setting out in the world.

Its an alternate Victorian history story with magic and dragons and steampunk technology.

Let's start with the not so good:

- There are some occasions where the wrong words used. To be fair to the author, this book is written in English and he's from Poland and there are only a few (probably no more than half a dozen). It's a minor niggle really but it is one of the things that stopped this being a 5...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Gaele rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fmb-tour, review-reads, owned

I will admit – the steampunk potential of this story combined with some paranormal/fantasy had me intrigued. I was not disappointed in the least. The lush recreation of the Victorian Empire is presented with some familiar elements, yet imaginative details and additions, magic and dragons and a taste of elements similar to The Art of War by Sun Tzu, enrich and provide elements that demand notice. With a map provided to help readers follow and organize the story in their own mind, the multiple cha...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Joshua Spotts rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Shadow of Black Wings, the debut novel of James Calbraith, concerns the opening of Yamato (Japan) to the western world and is set in that time period. The novel is geographically based in our world; but nationally it is very different. There are three major Empires, the Vasconians which is the surviving Roman Empire, the Baatavian Empire which is based on the Dutch merchant power of the time, and the Dracaland Empire which is based on the British Empire.
The book’s main character named Bran...more The Shadow of Black Wings, the debut novel of James Calbraith, concerns the opening of Yamato (Japan) to the western world and is set in that time period. The novel is geographically based in our world; but nationally it is very different. There are three major Empires, the Vasconians which is the surviving Roman Empire, the Baatavian Empire which is based on the Dutch merchant power of the time, and the Dracaland Empire which is based on the British Empire.
The book’s main character named Bran is a native of the Dracaland Empire. His father is a high ranking officer and diplomat. Bran hardly sees him. Bran’s grandfather was a sailor and all Bran knew of him came from a few yellowed pages of a journal and a strange box and pendant with a picture of a woman in it.
In the book’s beginning, Bran is attending a school that teaches dragon-riding and some magic. After he graduates, things begin to get complicated for him. He becomes more and more interested in his grandfather and is attacked by a skeletal dragon. His father is distant from him, but eventually lets him come along on a journey to Qin (China). The relationship between the two is interesting, the father wanting what is best for his son, and the son being attached to his dragon and his carefree past.
While out at sea, aboard a massive ship, there is an attack. Bran is on board while his father is away fighting. This is against Bran’s wishes, but his father bound him there by magic. Bran witnesses a saboteur sneaking across the deck, moments later the ship begins to explode. Bran and his dragon barely escape. Bran’s own life is saved by a magical seal placed on him by the school he graduated from.
When he awakens he finds himself in a strange land. It is Yamato. There he is cared for and hidden by two girls, Sato and Nagomi. If the authorities find him they will kill him. There are no unlicensed foreigners allowed in Yamato. Toward the end of the book, Sato’s father is killed by a fierce demonic creature who is looking for Bran and then, in the prologue, an ancient warrior is awoken, leaving many brand new questions unanswered.
The novel is a mixture of concepts between Harry Potter and The Inheritance Cycle with some new spices thrown in like mechanical ships and an altered earth setting. The writing is decent, though I cannot say excellent. It is fast-paced and a quick read. The primary characters are memorable. Overall, the story is enjoyable.
There were, unfortunately, many problems I had with the book. These problems are primarily with the grammar and lack of editing. There were many places where words became present tense when they should have been past tense. The book was also plagued with wordiness. There were many times where the author used a descriptive noun and used a pronoun to describe that noun. Another problem was that there were almost too many characters to keep straight and they popped in and out of the story.
To end on a good note, the story really was enjoyable and the end was a brilliant lead in for the next book in the series. Because of the basic story and the ending and the well-developed character of Bran, I give The Shadow of Black Wings four out of five stars.
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Mar 17, 2013 Maki Kotone rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first half of The Shadow of Black Wings was a bit hard to read. It's not that it was boring, or anything. I just had to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how all of the names were pronounced - I'm terrible with Celtic names. Things got much easier in the second half of the book, which took place in future/not-quite-past Japan. I find it a bit sad that I had better luck figuring out the Japanese names than I did the Celtic and Norse ones.

The story itself is part fantasy, part alternate...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: indie

Upfront disclaimer: I know the author slightly through interacting with him on Google+, which is why I bought the book. I paid full price and he hasn't given me any incentives to do a review or say nice things. I'm going to be critical in any case, not because I didn't like the book (I did), but because I think he can take it.

I'll start by saying that it's well-written, well-edited and (as far as I could tell, not being an expert on 19th-century Japan or Wales) well-researched. This already puts...more Upfront disclaimer: I know the author slightly through interacting with him on Google+, which is why I bought the book. I paid full price and he hasn't given me any incentives to do a review or say nice things. I'm going to be critical in any case, not because I didn't like the book (I did), but because I think he can take it.

I'll start by saying that it's well-written, well-edited and (as far as I could tell, not being an expert on 19th-century Japan or Wales) well-researched. This already puts it ahead of 98% of indie-published books, and many traditionally-published ones.

The author is not a native English speaker, and it occasionally shows in an odd turn of phrase like "neared it to his eye". Mostly, though, the English is above average, better than most native speakers write.

This is the first book in a series, and it's not complete in itself. I don't love that, but it's a long-established fantasy-fiction tradition, and it's not as if the book just stops abruptly (I have read others that do). Given that, some of the criticisms I was going to make about setups with no punchline should probably be held back until I finish the series, which I intend to do. I'll note them here anyway so that I don't forget.

When I read the sample before buying the ebook, my first thought was that the worldbuilding was maybe a bit over-exhuberant. They're dragonriders? OK, fine, nothing new there, but it's cool. They can channel the magic of their dragons? Even cooler, and original as far as I know. Wait, they can also shapeshift into dragonlike beings? That may be just a little too cool. And in fact it never comes up again in the rest of this first volume - the first setup with no punchline (so far).

Then there are a couple of things that I would have done differently if it had been me, but there may be a reason that I haven't seen yet. There are a couple of linked reasons why I would have done these things differently: credibility and importance to the plot.

What I mean is, the history of this version of the world is very, very different. No Christianity, no fall of the Roman Empire, and quite a few other consequential changes (plus all the magic, of course). So it's highly unlikely that the same individuals, with the same names, would be born in the equivalent of the 19th century, given that very different history. (Victoria is on the throne, and Brunel is a prominent wizard.) It also, at least in this book, makes no difference to the plot, since these people, and several historical characters like Henry VII, are mentioned but don't appear on stage. Another setup with no punchline.

On the other hand, I would find it a lot more credible for many countries to retain similar names to the ones that they had in reality, and it would also have made it easier to figure out which countries were actually being talked about. I have a pretty good grasp of history and geography, so I could mostly follow the differences (and there's a map), but I did struggle, and I think a lot of people would have no idea. Even a few familiar names would have helped a lot.

About halfway through, the viewpoint character drops completely out of sight for several chapters and we meet several new people we haven't seen before. One has red hair, which is variously described as "amber" (which sounds dark blonde), "copper", "auburn" and "strawberry blonde". Those are very different hair colours, so I was left without a clear idea of what she actually looked like.

This shift in viewpoint, I think, contributed to the fact that I put the book down for a while and read other things. A clearer through-line focussed on telling just one story about just one person or group of people would have held my attention better.

Having said all that, this is a rich setting, the characters are appealing if so far not all that heroic, the writing is excellent and I will definitely be getting the next in the series, because I want to know what happens next (and also have been enjoying the ride).(less)

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Mar 20, 2013 Rebecca Graf rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A young boy struggles with taking the steps toward his future. Not yet a man, yet not a child anymore he goes on an adventure that will change his life. The Shadow of Black Wings is a riveting tale of adventure, growth, and discovering the truth.

The story is not fast paced but not too slow, either. It keeps the reader engaged even when the slower, descriptive sections of the book are read. The action is captivating as is the storyline. As the story progresses, other storylines merge into the mai...more

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May 06, 2013 Aaron Engler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You might like this book if:

You like alternate history
You are a fan of well crafted, immersive worlds
You like dragons in your steampunk

Worldbuilding:

Shadow of the Black Wings is an alternate history set in Victorian times, where magic and dragons are commonplace.

The burden of any writer daring to write alternate history is that the reader might ask why are things the way they are. As a reader, I try to think of what makes a fantasy world the way it is. If this is supposed to be Earth, an...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Brooke Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this book, so much in fact, that I ordered the next book before I finished the first. I love the fantasy elements and the exploratory nature of the first half of the story. The world is based on our own, but it has enough differences that it feels brand new, but with the depth of our own history, making it a rich, complex story world. The varying magics are interesting and apparently well thought out, and each of the characters has some degree of control over one of the...more I really enjoyed reading this book, so much in fact, that I ordered the next book before I finished the first. I love the fantasy elements and the exploratory nature of the first half of the story. The world is based on our own, but it has enough differences that it feels brand new, but with the depth of our own history, making it a rich, complex story world. The varying magics are interesting and apparently well thought out, and each of the characters has some degree of control over one of the magicks, so you get to see a lot of it in action. The characters are engaging and sympathetic. I'm invested in their stories, and I want to see where the story takes them in the rest of the stories.

This story has dragons--both Western and Eastern style--and though they aren't a huge factor in the story (since they're mostly domesticated), I liked their presence. I hope there will be more of them in the future. The political nature of the book is fascinating to me, and I can't wait to see what happens as a result of Bran's trek across the world into unknown and forbidden territories.

I will admit, reading the book as a whole, the first chapters seem a little tacked on, because the story doesn't really get going until the third chapter or so. There are some elements of the first chapters that never show up again in the first book, mostly magical elements that I thought were really interesting, but I wonder if maybe they'll come up again in the rest of the series. Also, the first chapters are somewhat awkwardly written. I can't really place my finger on it, but that stood out to me. Anyway once Bran finally leaves home, the story really picks up, and I was totally engrossed in everything that was going on. The writing goes from somewhat awkward to absolutely phenomenal.

There are a few formatting issues in the first chapters and last few chapters. Mostly typographical errors--quotes in the wrong place, inconsistent punctuation, and a few non-standard or incorrect uses of dialogue punctuation. That said, it only tripped me up a few times, and the story was so interesting, that I didn't really care about the errors.

I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy and Far Eastern history and culture.

The only reason it gets four stars instead of five is because of the awkwardness of the first chapters and the seemingly forgotten threads that are presented there. I think had those first chapters been stronger and the story had really kicked off right away, I would have given this five stars.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Candace Knoebel rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Shadow of Black Wings is a thoroughly captivating read and I was extrememly surprised by how quickly I fell into it. I don't typically read historical fantasy, but James captured the eastern civilization with such ease, it was hard not to feel like I had been there myself.

It starts off following young Bran around as he graduates. He is a dragon rider who has skimmed by in all his classes and won't give up on his dragon Emrys who has yet to stray from him. His rebellion leads to the discovery...more The Shadow of Black Wings is a thoroughly captivating read and I was extrememly surprised by how quickly I fell into it. I don't typically read historical fantasy, but James captured the eastern civilization with such ease, it was hard not to feel like I had been there myself.

It starts off following young Bran around as he graduates. He is a dragon rider who has skimmed by in all his classes and won't give up on his dragon Emrys who has yet to stray from him. His rebellion leads to the discovery of a family secret. He learns that his grandfather had once traveled to a far away, hidden land where he met a beautiful woman who was not his grandmother. This sparked Bran's interest.

His father, Dylan, who is a sort of a secret agent, decides to take him on a journey to Qin where the story's action begins. Bran is thrilled for the chance to not only learn who his father is, but more about what happened to his grandfather. When Bran is faced with the choice to use his seal in order to save himself, he is then sent to Yamato, a sacred and hidden land that has a prophecy in the works. The same land that his grandfather had once visited.

This is when James switches POV's and turns to Sato (a wizardess and Samurai) and Nagomi (an apprentice), who are the two girls who find Bran and offer him portection even though it is against the law. There are already underlying issues with Yamato's well-being going on as a struggle for power begins, so they are taking a chance on him. Nagomi has seen the prophecy and instantly knows when she gazes into Bran's green eyes that he is to be kept alive and safe. But Bran struggles to communicate with his caretakers and doesn't know if he can trust them or not.

I love how James has woven magic in with ancient history. There's a love story underlying with his grandfather that I feel will come out in the next book. I also think there may be a thing between Bran and Nagomi. Bran has only just begun his journey now that he is in Yamato, so time will tell. The story ends with a demonic evil searvhing for Bran and taking the life of one of the girl's fathers (I wont give it away).

This is where I feel the book ended a bit short. Maybe a little more could've been added. I only say this because I feel there was more that could've happened with Bran in the end. I was a bit upset only because I easily fell in love with his characters and wanted to know more. I wanted to see more happen to them. But this could very well be a clever tactic by James to keep us reading the next (which I definitely will be).

All in all, the book was a wonderful escape from the mundane. James is a very talented author with a knack for description. Every place he takes you, his words jump off of the page and create the world right before your eyes. He doesn't leave you guessing or wondering what he's talking about. This is something I feel is important for historical fantasy, especially if you aren't famaliar with the history (like me.)
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Jul 30, 2012 Matthew Farmer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has that feel of something epic about to happen. It is a superb first act with heroes and villains, intrigue and subterfuge.

As a writer I can feel that James has done a lot of good, solid world-building. The layer of magic and fantasy which he drapes over 'real world' fits seamlessly. It is at the same time familiar and wonderfully new.

It is paced perfectly, not rushed, letting you absorb each part of the story before being introduced to something new.

There were a few formatting issues...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Andrew Lawston rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Shadow of Black Wings is a brilliant debut novel by James Calbraith, which blends fantasy with alternate history to conjure a Victorian world full of dragons and magic and derring-do. With the vast majority of placenames altered dramatically, it can take a few moments to realise the places being described, but by keeping his story grounded in our (albeit altered) world, Calbraith is able to exploit the mythologies of several cultures for a much more layered and subtle fantasy environment tha...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Victoria Gaile rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

2.5 stars. The first part of the book, that featured Bran at school and fighting with his father, was more annoying than enjoyable. When we moved to Yamato and focused on the two girls, one of whom is primarily functioning as her father's son and heir, the story engaged me. Unfortunately there's a cliff-hanger ending, and it looks like there's going to be a lot of political intrigue before we get back to the level of the story I find enjoyable. So I'm not sure whether I'll pursue the sequel.

Also...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Jefferson Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fantasy

In a parallel history, where magic vies with science for supremacy over the affairs of men, young dragon rider Bran ap Dylan brings all these forces into focus. Offered a life of academic leisure, Bran chooses instead to follow his father's adventures into the exotic East, where three things complicate his life there: he has been trained in Western magics, he doesn't speak the language, and he has been condemned to die as a foreign spy.

The story moves a little slowly for my tastes, and too often...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Vered rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Imagine a really well written historical fiction, taking place in the mid 1800’s, focusing on the adventures and intrigues occurring in and around imperial Japan. Now add an element of alternative history: the Roman Empire was never vanquished and is vying with other European powers for access to the Orient. And then top that off with a rich layer of dragons, magic and other fantasy elements. That’s what you have with The Shadow of Black Wings. James Calbraith does a wonderful job at weaving fac...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was really great. It got my attention because of the cover, but it captivated me quickly after having read only a few pages.
There are elements of Steampunk and Magic, but unlike so many other books of late, where Steampunk seems to be crammed into the book just because it's 'in', here the elements seem just right, as if there was no other way how it could be for the story.
It's a book about great adventure, mysteries, intrigue and the change from adolescence to adulthood.
I'm really exci...more

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May 05, 2013 Maghon Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal, review-4-author, young-adult

Well, dragon riders are just awesome! This is a fascinating world that is created with some lovely characters.

Bran is pretty cool as main for he is a DRAGON RIDER! He seems like he is a slacker in other things except this. And due to that slacking, or rebellion, whatever you wanna shoot for, he finds out a seriously big whammy of a secret! You know where those people in your family happen to “be” with other people who are not part of your family. LOL So, he’s decided he is going to indulge in h...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Krystle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2.5 stars.

Doesn’t this book remind you of Stormdancer just the tiniest bit? Well I thought it did. At least I can say with this story is that the author did a lot more research for this. There are no strange names, suffixes are used correctly (-sama!), and there is no weeabo Japanese running rampant in the text or dialogue! Freaking hallelujah! That automatically gives it +100 points! So I’m not going to pick apart smaller things because I’m already too happy with these things to care now.

The wo...more 2.5 stars.

Doesn’t this book remind you of Stormdancer just the tiniest bit? Well I thought it did. At least I can say with this story is that the author did a lot more research for this. There are no strange names, suffixes are used correctly (-sama!), and there is no weeabo Japanese running rampant in the text or dialogue! Freaking hallelujah! That automatically gives it +100 points! So I’m not going to pick apart smaller things because I’m already too happy with these things to care now.

The world building for this book was actually pretty interesting when it managed to capture my interest but there’s a difference between having it being an immersive experience for your reader or over burdening the reader and I’m sorry to say it fell into the latter. There is so much attention being paid to the finer details of the world in this story that it’s detrimental to the pacing and plot. There is a long lengthy section in the middle of the book where the characters are doing nothing except sitting around on a boat. In it we get conversations about the political set up of the countries they’re visiting, the food, the clothing, the culture, and everything and anything! In fact there was a conversation where two characters just sat down and talked about this for paragraphs and paragraphs! Exciting? Definitely not!

Another problem which I harped on Stormdancer and Legacy for was that the prose tended to become overly detailed. Meaning that the author paid far too much attention to little things like describing clothing, buildings, people, and what not in his sentences that it becomes a chore to read. If these facts aren’t going to be needed for further use later than I don’t want to read about it! If it has no direct bearing on the plot than please don’t put it in! Otherwise it just becomes added noise that distracts me from the story.

This story also lacked a cohesive and structured plot. I constantly wondered where the story was going or what the point of certain scenes were as it seems to go in all different directions without a prominent focal point. This watered things down and made the events that were big and/or important weak. This in turn dragged down the pacing and I seriously contemplated putting down the book in the middle because I was struggling through that long middle sections. The long chapters weren’t that helpful, they made things even slower.

On the other hand, the first three chapters which set up the story were excellent! There was a great hook, tightly written, and had a good sense of pacing. I thought things were going to go very well after that. Of course it didn’t go the way I imagined it but there are other good points.

Things got much better when Bran finally reached Japan, which is the last quarter of the book thereabouts. A bit tighter writing and the new characters were fresh and lively, amping up the much needed tension for pacing. I loved the scenes Bran had with his dragon, I think they were the shining element of the story. It was very exciting and you could really sense the bond the two had with each other. You can’t really go wrong with dragons, you know?

Good research, good grammar, and a nice cover plus overall nice formatting (some of the Japanese words didn’t transfer well into the text though) make this a strong effort. I’m sure that if you like detailed prose this won’t bother you as it has a lot of elements that are exciting. This will find its niche of readers.(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 L.T. Getty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: alternative-history-fantasy, dragons, steampunk

I'm not an expert on Victorian Wales and my knowledge of Japan is based on less than three years of kendo. That being said, I thought this was a great debut novel about coming of age and clashing cultures - with steampunk, dragons and attention to historical detail. My critiques are mostly nitpicky - I thought it could get a little wordy at times, but the world felt foreign enough for me that I did need explanation to understand the context. The ending makes it feel like it's part of a series an...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

James pens "The Shadow of Black Wings" the first in 'The Year of the Dragon' series in a well written, captivating, magickal fantasy filled plot. His characters are well developed, relate-able and interesting...such as dragons. The only problem I found is that it started out to slow, but eventually did pick up and kept me turning the pages. A must read for all fantasy lovers.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.

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Sep 21, 2012 Thomas rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is a nice book. Really easy to read, maybe a bit confusing in the end. But after you start reading it you want to know more, and then the book has ended.

The story takes place on an alternate earth. In the first half we learn about Bran, a Dracalish ( British) boy from Gwynedd (Wales). He is a young dragonrider who wants to see the world. On his first journey that should also help in the relationship with his father, the travel to Qin (China), where the Dracalish have some Trading posts. And a...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Matt Kelland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, alt-history, steampunk

A fantastic melange of alternate history, fantasy, and steampunk, with a great mixture of Victoriana, Celtic mythology and samurai. Calbraith has created a wonderful world that hooked me right from the opening: Celtic dragon riders in the service of Empress Victoria on a mission to Japan. It's magnificently genre-busting, and well recommended for those who like Naomi Novik and such.

My only gripe is that I wanted the story to focus more on the Celtic characters and less on the Japanese, and I wan...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Miriam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not bad. I'm really temped to go on with the series. But I don't like to reward this kind of cliffhangers when the book is simply dropped in the middle and left there, so you're forced to buy the next book.

The story is vaguely like shogun (clavell) only in a steampunk magic world with dragons.

At least that's what i think, but honestly, this is only the introduction of the story.

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Jan 21, 2013 Patrycja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An engaging and original story of a young boy growing up in the shadow of his father, told in oriental-steampunk style; a tale of friendship, love, fate and intrigue. Full of surprises, fantastic creatures and magic, the book has a movie-like quality, transporting the reader into a marvelously detailed world. Overall, a very entertaining escape from the mundane.

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Oct 22, 2012 David Teachout rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, kindle

While the usage of medieval Japan during the Tokugawa empire would normally keep my interest, the characters failed to make an impression beyond existing within a mediocre tale. Not bad writing, but not stunning. Worth the time for escapism if it isn't minded that the dialogue at times is obnoxiously trite in a world that is decently well imagined.

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Mar 25, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: listened

Not bad. Actually a little better than that. I'm looking forward to getting the second book from podiobooks.com when it is available. it felt like a really strange mash-up to me. It was part Rowling's Harry Potter, part Paolini's Eragon, and part Clavelle's Shogun. I'm not sure how the next part will go, but I'll figure that out when I read it.

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Jan 07, 2013 Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: proofed

Very complicated book to read. Translating a book to an alternative history as well as to the orient must have been quite a chore for the author although he pulls it off quite well. I enjoyed it overall. It was marred with a few errors, 14 by my count which the author may have by contacting me at amacd55 (at) gmail (dot) com.

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Jul 10, 2012 James Calbraith added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: fantasy, japan, dragons

"Fast paced and full of energy"
Adrian Tchaikovsky

"This manuscript is full of highly crafted detail that will make readers shiver at times with fear and delight ... a familiar yet highly original fantasy that is a worthwhile read."
— Publisher's Weekly.

"I project a hit ...the writing itself is great."
— ABNA Expert Reviewers.

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SciFi and Fantasy...: Fantasy recommended by A. Tchaikovsky - Giveaway	7	44	Apr 30, 2013 04:30am
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*Exclusively YA B...: Giveaway: The Shadow of Black Wings - steam, dragons and Japan.	4	25	Apr 29, 2013 08:22am
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Fantasy

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Science Fiction > Steampunk

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Fantasy > Dragons

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Young Adult

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Cultural > Japan

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Science Fiction > Alternate History

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Science Fiction

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Fantasy > Paranormal

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About James Calbraith

James Calbraith is a Poland-born British writer, foodie and traveller.

Growing up in communist Poland on a diet of powdered milk, Lord of the Rings and soviet science-fiction, he had his first story published at the ripe age of eight. After years of bouncing around Polish universities, he moved to London in 2007 and started writing in English. His debut historical fantasy novel, "The Shadow of Blac...more

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Books by James Calbraith

The Warrior's Soul (The Year of the Dragon, #2)

The Islands in the Mist (The Year of the Dragon #3)

The Rising Tide (The Year of the Dragon, #4)

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The Shadow of Black Wings (The Year of the Dragon #1)

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