Duel of Dragons

Dragonsword #2

by Gael Baudino

Wings of Doom were spreading destruction across the kingdom of Gryylth. Twentieth-century weapons were raining down upon an unsuspecting land where sharpened blades and pointed spears had always been the only true warrior's tools. And for Suzanne Helling, UCLA teacher of medieval studies, the call of the dragon Silbakor has suddenly come again, transforming her into Alouzon Dragonmaster, Guardian of the land. But even as Silbakor prepares to return Suzanne to Gryylth, they are attacked by another dragon with enough power to rival Silbakor himself. This creature of evil was ready to pursue them all the way from Los Angeles to the very heart of Gryylth. And once returned to this land originally conjured by the imagination of a now dead professor, can Suzanne find and defeat this nameless, faceless enemy?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Dragons, Science Fiction Fantasy, Lesbian, Queer

383 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1989

About the author

Gael Baudino (born 1955) is a contemporary American fantasy author who also writes under the pseudonyms of Gael A. Kathryns, K.M. Tonso, and G.A. Kathryns.

Reviews

[Kate Tremaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most philosophically deep of the series, and also the book which goes into the transgender characters of the series most deeply. Marrget and Wykla, transformed from men into women by magic in the previous book, each discover for herself what womanhood means, what love means for her, and how to heal the scars of the decade-long war between Gryylth and Corrin. Answers do not come easily, and harsh words exchanged near the beginning become horrors by the end.

At the center of the book and story, of course, lie Alouzon Dragonmaster, the transformed Suzanne Helling, Guardian and nascent Goddess of the fragmentary world containing Gryylth, Corrin and Vaylle. Simultaneously powerful warrior and shell-shocked former Flower Child and survivor of the Kent State shootings, Alouzon must come to terms with her incipient divinity, while counseling, guarding and guiding her friends.

Book 2 is considerably deeper than book 1, going into the deep psyches of far more characters (Book 1 focused almost entirely on Alouzon).

[Selina Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Baudino's "Dragonsword" trilogy certainly does not disappoint the reader in any way! Chock full of action and adventure, with a good mix of soul-searching and sorrows, of course, for balance, this book is a fitting follow-up to the first phenomenal book in this series!

Enjoy!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not prepared for this - an exciting feminist fantasy novel, really captivating and saidly almost 35 years after its first publication still highly relevant!
I found the book in a second hand store deep in the Sri Lankan jungle in Ella - lucky hit! Didn't first realize that it's a sequel, thus had to read the summary of book one on wikipedia first 😅

[Celeste C]

This is one I will be reading next week for a book group I am in. I will let you know what I think.

[Kelly Linzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

was destroyed in the flood. (pb)

[Rayvern · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much better than the last one. So much more could have been done with this idea, but instead we get something very easily forgettable (at least I hope it is...)

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very 80's post feminist Scifi

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even more of a slog than the previous.