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The Dragon Within
Deep within the mortal world of Eiddoril, war rages and the blood of innocents flows freely. Once ruled by the four elements—Earth, Fire, Water and Air—Eiddoril was a peaceful, beautiful land. Now, after three hundred years of being ravaged by an evil lord and abandoned by their true gods, the people and land of Eiddoril are dying.
In the kingdom of Gareth, an orphan girl is raised as one of the royal family. But when she begins to have vivid nightmares of a past that is not hers, she cannot help but wonder if she is somehow a part of that past. But how? Her questions lead her to Fitch, an old magic user, who helps her discover a shocking truth. Karah is not human, but instead part of a long-forgotten race charged with the responsibility of saving her realm. Armed with a desire to seek the truth, Karah sets out on a dangerous quest to defeat a deadly enemy.
In this fantasy tale, Karah must somehow find the strength to fulfill a destiny that has the potential to forever silence the dragon within. She cannot fail. The future of the world depends on her.
In the kingdom of Gareth, an orphan girl is raised as one of the royal family. But when she begins to have vivid nightmares of a past that is not hers, she cannot help but wonder if she is somehow a part of that past. But how? Her questions lead her to Fitch, an old magic user, who helps her discover a shocking truth. Karah is not human, but instead part of a long-forgotten race charged with the responsibility of saving her realm. Armed with a desire to seek the truth, Karah sets out on a dangerous quest to defeat a deadly enemy.
In this fantasy tale, Karah must somehow find the strength to fulfill a destiny that has the potential to forever silence the dragon within. She cannot fail. The future of the world depends on her.
380 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Lyle
2 books47 followersI don't like talking about myself, but I suppose I could do it, just this once. I grew up in a small town called Uxbridge which is located in Ontario, Canada. I have been around horses my whole life, and I love the outdoors ( as long as there is no snow, I hate winter!). I now live in Ajax with my husband Joe and our two children, Hannah and Josh. I love to read and when I find the time, write. I love fantasy and have a pretty intence collection of dragons, weapons and anything else my husband considers strange! I hope to one day publish the full series of Karahs adventures and who knows maybe one day I'll be someones favorite author.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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November 13, 2012I have been avoiding writing this because I'm not quite sure how to rate my own book. Of course I think it is 5 star material, but I also know that it has some issues. My goal was to publish the story that I had close to my heart and to share it with someone other than my mom, and I think I did a really good job doing that. I couldn't be happier that people have read The Dragon Within and liked it even though my first attempt at a polished work fell a little short.
I'm amazed at how close I have become to my characters, almost as if I've met them, and to me that is so important in a good story. I've found a new fantasy home that I can retreat to when I just don't feel like dealing with the real world. The only diference is that I get to control whats going to happen and that is a power I hope I can handle.
So, I guess to sum things up;Do I think this is a great book? Yes!
Do I recomend this book? Yes! I'm confident in saying that The Dragon Within is a fantasy read worth your time and I hope more readers will follow my journey through Eiddoril.
Cheers!
I'm amazed at how close I have become to my characters, almost as if I've met them, and to me that is so important in a good story. I've found a new fantasy home that I can retreat to when I just don't feel like dealing with the real world. The only diference is that I get to control whats going to happen and that is a power I hope I can handle.
So, I guess to sum things up;Do I think this is a great book? Yes!
Do I recomend this book? Yes! I'm confident in saying that The Dragon Within is a fantasy read worth your time and I hope more readers will follow my journey through Eiddoril.
Cheers!
May 3, 2013
In the lands of Eiddoril have been attacked these last three centuries by the Dark Lord named Nubossa in search for Ililsaya. Ililsaya has been going from one human host for three centuries fighting the destiny before her. Ililsaya host is named Karah living with the royal family in Gareth. Karah has grown up with Prince Elric. Prince Elric has always known that Karah is special he just didn't realize how special. Queen Anora suggests that Karah speak with Fitch after Karah's nightmare or dream depending on who you talked too. Prince Elric and Karah go to speak with Fitch but learn some surprising news that changes everything for both of them. Karah needs to go to the Temple of Ashia to discover where Karah's true form is hidden. The Dark Lord has been trying to kill Ililsaya for last three centuries despite orders from Mareth. Mareth is the God of Death has many plans which include the destruction of Eiddoral. Will Karah accept her role as Ililsaya? What is Fitch hiding? Will King Edwin come to terms with all of these changes? Your answers await you in The Dragon Within.
The Dragon Within is a great story of how dragons came to be on Eiddoral. The dragon lore in this book is what made it. The character were rich and filled with angst, frustration, ambition, hope, and love. I especially loved Karah because she has face considerable odds and yet remains true to herself inspite of everything she's gone thru. I disliked Fitch so much that it's nearly hate in some instances. The author left it open for another book. I look forward to the next one by this author.
The Dragon Within is a great story of how dragons came to be on Eiddoral. The dragon lore in this book is what made it. The character were rich and filled with angst, frustration, ambition, hope, and love. I especially loved Karah because she has face considerable odds and yet remains true to herself inspite of everything she's gone thru. I disliked Fitch so much that it's nearly hate in some instances. The author left it open for another book. I look forward to the next one by this author.
October 15, 2012
This is a fantastic book! The worldbuilding and character creation are excellent, with both the world and characters being detailed and believeable. Also, the story itself is well written, with details being revealed as the plot unfolds, and so many twists and turns in the plot that reading it is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded; you have no way of knowing what will come next, but it's a thrill when it comes, and somehow surprising and expected at the same time. I would recommend this book to lovers of the fantasy genre.
June 6, 2013
The Dragon Within by Cindy Lyle is a very enjoyable fantasy book with great characters, good pacing, and some nice twists to the plot. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed The Curse of Chalion or Dilvish, the Damned.
I was not immediately interested in the book based on the cover which seemed slapped together and overly busy. I read because it was selected as the Goodreads Indie Book Club's fantasy read for April 2013.
The book is written from a series of first person POVs where the name at the top of the chapter or section is the character who's head you are inside. This is a difficult style to get right and Cindy Lyle did this well.
The characters grow throughout the book leading to the dramatic cliffhanger ending. Cindy did a fine job of foreshadowing much of the plot twists. There were some pleasurably predictable elements as well as a few items where new information came out just as the plot did a fun flip.
I like how many of the "bad" characters really are not "bad" but just have different goals, or were tricked into their actions. Some of them redeem themselves, others don't. All of it believable.
The down side to the book is that although well written it does need a little more attention. The fights were well done, but needed a little more description of actions and their choreography thought through a little more. There are a number of typos, none that slammed me out of the story. I'm pretty harsh on English myself, so I easily read through such items and rarely notice them. A couple of good editorial passes should clear it up.
The characters, magic style, and story have stuck with me.
I was not immediately interested in the book based on the cover which seemed slapped together and overly busy. I read because it was selected as the Goodreads Indie Book Club's fantasy read for April 2013.
The book is written from a series of first person POVs where the name at the top of the chapter or section is the character who's head you are inside. This is a difficult style to get right and Cindy Lyle did this well.
The characters grow throughout the book leading to the dramatic cliffhanger ending. Cindy did a fine job of foreshadowing much of the plot twists. There were some pleasurably predictable elements as well as a few items where new information came out just as the plot did a fun flip.
I like how many of the "bad" characters really are not "bad" but just have different goals, or were tricked into their actions. Some of them redeem themselves, others don't. All of it believable.
The down side to the book is that although well written it does need a little more attention. The fights were well done, but needed a little more description of actions and their choreography thought through a little more. There are a number of typos, none that slammed me out of the story. I'm pretty harsh on English myself, so I easily read through such items and rarely notice them. A couple of good editorial passes should clear it up.
The characters, magic style, and story have stuck with me.
December 11, 2012
I received this book as a free pdf from the author in response to her request on Goodreads for honest reviews. And, I'm extremely glad I took her up on her offer!
True, there were some editorial issues with the book--typos, misspellings, words used in the wrong context, e.g. aide instead of aid. But, apparently, the author is aware of these and is working to correct them.
Aside from this, the story itself was very engaging and pulled me into the world of Karah and the dragons right to the very end. Ms. Lyle succeeded nicely in creating a setting that contained many of the trademark elements of fantasy along with fresh, innovative ideas as well. There were loads of dragons, gods, elemental magic, secrets, betrayals, romance, epic battles, etc. The one thing that did jar me a bit was the mixing in of modern-day vernacular and slang with the more archaeic and lyrical language of the fantasy genre. It just seemed a little out-of-place but not enough to disengage me from the story.
I liked all of the characters, especially Karah, Elric, Deneoes and Fang. Karah was my favourite type of heroine--strong, determined, smart and also willing to shoulder some of the burden of guilt for what was happening to the world of Eiddoril and its people. Elric was sweet and loyal and loving, even after discovering that Karah was not human but a dragon. Fitch/Enthor was an enigma and I'm not sure I liked him all that much. He kept far too many secrets and his attitude was a little too aloof and prickly for my taste.
All in all, I thought this was an excellent debut novel from this author, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
True, there were some editorial issues with the book--typos, misspellings, words used in the wrong context, e.g. aide instead of aid. But, apparently, the author is aware of these and is working to correct them.
Aside from this, the story itself was very engaging and pulled me into the world of Karah and the dragons right to the very end. Ms. Lyle succeeded nicely in creating a setting that contained many of the trademark elements of fantasy along with fresh, innovative ideas as well. There were loads of dragons, gods, elemental magic, secrets, betrayals, romance, epic battles, etc. The one thing that did jar me a bit was the mixing in of modern-day vernacular and slang with the more archaeic and lyrical language of the fantasy genre. It just seemed a little out-of-place but not enough to disengage me from the story.
I liked all of the characters, especially Karah, Elric, Deneoes and Fang. Karah was my favourite type of heroine--strong, determined, smart and also willing to shoulder some of the burden of guilt for what was happening to the world of Eiddoril and its people. Elric was sweet and loyal and loving, even after discovering that Karah was not human but a dragon. Fitch/Enthor was an enigma and I'm not sure I liked him all that much. He kept far too many secrets and his attitude was a little too aloof and prickly for my taste.
All in all, I thought this was an excellent debut novel from this author, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
February 3, 2014
3.75 rating.
Indie Book club Fantasy read for April 2013
Firstly I would like to say I really enjoyed the story. The pace was quite fast and the world interesting and intriguing. The characters were a lot of fun, all had their own agenda and there were a number of twists I did not expect, especially with the character Reaper. The MFC was interesting; at once young, naive and at the same time, powerful, ancient and misunderstood. There were the requisite hateable characters and those who were simply trying to survive. Although there were quite distinct good guys and bad guys even then the lines were blurred and mistakes and petty differences were often close to the surface, especially towards the end. The relationship between the characters was entertaining, funny, sad, complex and angry sometimes all at once.
The history of the dragons, their relationships to the other races and the lore of the world were interesting and well handled. The character of Enthor was very intriguing, leaving more questions unanswered about his past and his motives.
The magic was handled well, with good descriptions of the spells and effects and the fear the use of magic had on the characters, including those wielding it was interesting.
So why not 5 stars?
I did find the shifting points of view slightly confusing in places, although mostly it was done well I do find it hard to manage and the jumping around sometimes made it hard to keep track.
There were also a number of editing issues, but that said I believe the author will be rectifying those in a re-release.
Overall – good story and good read, will be looking out for the follow up.
Indie Book club Fantasy read for April 2013
Firstly I would like to say I really enjoyed the story. The pace was quite fast and the world interesting and intriguing. The characters were a lot of fun, all had their own agenda and there were a number of twists I did not expect, especially with the character Reaper. The MFC was interesting; at once young, naive and at the same time, powerful, ancient and misunderstood. There were the requisite hateable characters and those who were simply trying to survive. Although there were quite distinct good guys and bad guys even then the lines were blurred and mistakes and petty differences were often close to the surface, especially towards the end. The relationship between the characters was entertaining, funny, sad, complex and angry sometimes all at once.
The history of the dragons, their relationships to the other races and the lore of the world were interesting and well handled. The character of Enthor was very intriguing, leaving more questions unanswered about his past and his motives.
The magic was handled well, with good descriptions of the spells and effects and the fear the use of magic had on the characters, including those wielding it was interesting.
So why not 5 stars?
I did find the shifting points of view slightly confusing in places, although mostly it was done well I do find it hard to manage and the jumping around sometimes made it hard to keep track.
There were also a number of editing issues, but that said I believe the author will be rectifying those in a re-release.
Overall – good story and good read, will be looking out for the follow up.
August 30, 2012
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely love the world created by Cindy Lyle in The Dragon Within. You can almost feel the Tolkein influences on this work but at the same time its entirely her own.
We follow the life of Karrah, who is a strong female character, as she begins the fight against the evil that plagues Eiddoril and her quest for who she really is. This story is told not only from her point of view but we also see the story from the opposing view of the Dark Lord and also from those around her. The characters surrounding her, even though they aren't main characters, they are so vital and so full of spirit that they are a very important part of this story. The character of Deneoes, the Ywari that befriends Karrah, is by far my favorite character as he adds so much humor to this story.
This story is told in a wonderful manner as Karrah's memories return to her we also learn the history of Eiddoril. This is a story that has it all dragons and giants, magic and gods, what more could you as for? I loved it and can hardly wait to see how this story continues. I would recommend this to all fans of fantasy especially if you like dragons. And those of us who enjoy Tolkein will like this one as well.
I absolutely love the world created by Cindy Lyle in The Dragon Within. You can almost feel the Tolkein influences on this work but at the same time its entirely her own.
We follow the life of Karrah, who is a strong female character, as she begins the fight against the evil that plagues Eiddoril and her quest for who she really is. This story is told not only from her point of view but we also see the story from the opposing view of the Dark Lord and also from those around her. The characters surrounding her, even though they aren't main characters, they are so vital and so full of spirit that they are a very important part of this story. The character of Deneoes, the Ywari that befriends Karrah, is by far my favorite character as he adds so much humor to this story.
This story is told in a wonderful manner as Karrah's memories return to her we also learn the history of Eiddoril. This is a story that has it all dragons and giants, magic and gods, what more could you as for? I loved it and can hardly wait to see how this story continues. I would recommend this to all fans of fantasy especially if you like dragons. And those of us who enjoy Tolkein will like this one as well.
January 14, 2016
I received this for review directly from the author (PDF copy), after replying to her request on Goodreads.
The author impressed me with her ability to make the world of Eiddoril come alive in my mind, as if I was watching an HD movie. Also, evolution of the main characters was seamless.
The story moves right along, building up the images in my mind. The first few chapters lay out the history, and the conflicts to come. As things progress the relationships and conflicts become clear.
While I will say that this portrays the saving of the human race, with a major conflict with mortals and immortals, I do not want to spoil the read by going into more detail.
I hope that there will be a sequel soon.
This is a great read in the fantasy genre, and anyone who enjoys reading about dragons and magic, will surely appreciate it.
Note:
There are some editing issues in the edition I received, but the story was so good that I almost didn't notice them for the most part. The author is aware of the issues, and hopes to publish a revised edition soon.
If it was not for the editing issues, I would have rated this with 5 stars.
The author impressed me with her ability to make the world of Eiddoril come alive in my mind, as if I was watching an HD movie. Also, evolution of the main characters was seamless.
The story moves right along, building up the images in my mind. The first few chapters lay out the history, and the conflicts to come. As things progress the relationships and conflicts become clear.
While I will say that this portrays the saving of the human race, with a major conflict with mortals and immortals, I do not want to spoil the read by going into more detail.
I hope that there will be a sequel soon.
This is a great read in the fantasy genre, and anyone who enjoys reading about dragons and magic, will surely appreciate it.
Note:
There are some editing issues in the edition I received, but the story was so good that I almost didn't notice them for the most part. The author is aware of the issues, and hopes to publish a revised edition soon.
If it was not for the editing issues, I would have rated this with 5 stars.
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August 21, 2013So after a year, the new and improved Dragon Within will soon be available! I did a lot of work on it so hopefully it is now what you all deserve to find in a fantasy adventure. I changed the cover and added a title for the series. The Creation Chronicles will follow Karah on her quest to find herself, but it will also focus on the four elements, the creators of Eiddoril. The characters are all the same and I didn't change the plot, so those of you who have read it don't worry. I just cleaned it up and I'm very proud of my accomplishment. I'm just sorry it took so long!
I hope you will enjoy my story and the future volumes to come. I have loved bringing these characters to life and I can't wait to share their next adventures. If you love fantasy and dragons as much as I do I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
I hope you will enjoy my story and the future volumes to come. I have loved bringing these characters to life and I can't wait to share their next adventures. If you love fantasy and dragons as much as I do I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
March 1, 2014
This book was spell binding. It completely captured my imagination. It has a less than perfect heroine that tries to live up to everyone's expectations, but finds it overwhelming. She is relate-able because she has very human flaws. I enjoyed the authors style of storytelling and it moved along quickly, giving you hints along the way to what was to come. It begs for a sequel and I will definitely be reading it if there is one. I love dragon tales and for anyone else that does, this is a must read.
January 12, 2015
A big thanks to Cindy for sending me a copy for review!
There is a great interview with the author and my full review up on my blog!
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com
This is quite a debut fantasy novel for independent author, Cindy Lyle! I absolutely loved it! It is beautifully crafted and bursting with imagination. This author knows how to write and she has created a captivating fantasy for readers of any age. Her writing style is fluid and fast paced. The story begins right away and the reader is transported into Karah's journey. I love a good fantasy read, and Dragon Within really has it all. It is full of action, magic and of course an exciting quest. This book contains that magical element so many readers are searching for--the ability to take you on an incredible journey that you will be lost in.
The authors characters are relatable, charming and courageous. Karah made a great main character. She is strong, determined and FEMALE! It is nice to have girl who can face off against a kingdom of darkness and kick some serious butt! Karah's character isn't without her faults and I liked that about her too. This aspect made her real and relatable, despite her true identity and immortal soul. She can be stubborn and her selfishness almost costs her everything. But in the end her character grows and finds the strength she has always had. She is able to acknowledge her selfishness and face her fear. The world literally rests on her shoulders and that can be quite a burden to bear.
I enjoy the 'destined' love between Karah and Elric. They make a great team and offer each other the support and hope they need to keep going. It's hard for me not to sneak in some spoilers at this point, so I am going to stop talking about them.
I loved getting to learn the history of Eiddoril and the three hundred year old war against evil that plagues the land. It is detailed and complex--an exciting basis for the plot of this book. And did I mention... there are dragons?!
The Dragon Within is a superb epic fantasy and I highly recommend getting your own copy! This book could in a sense stand on it's own but I am so glad the author left it open for another grand adventure. I can't wait to read the sequel! Cindy Lyle is definitely an author worth reading!
There is a great interview with the author and my full review up on my blog!
http://littlehyuts.blogspot.com
This is quite a debut fantasy novel for independent author, Cindy Lyle! I absolutely loved it! It is beautifully crafted and bursting with imagination. This author knows how to write and she has created a captivating fantasy for readers of any age. Her writing style is fluid and fast paced. The story begins right away and the reader is transported into Karah's journey. I love a good fantasy read, and Dragon Within really has it all. It is full of action, magic and of course an exciting quest. This book contains that magical element so many readers are searching for--the ability to take you on an incredible journey that you will be lost in.
The authors characters are relatable, charming and courageous. Karah made a great main character. She is strong, determined and FEMALE! It is nice to have girl who can face off against a kingdom of darkness and kick some serious butt! Karah's character isn't without her faults and I liked that about her too. This aspect made her real and relatable, despite her true identity and immortal soul. She can be stubborn and her selfishness almost costs her everything. But in the end her character grows and finds the strength she has always had. She is able to acknowledge her selfishness and face her fear. The world literally rests on her shoulders and that can be quite a burden to bear.
I enjoy the 'destined' love between Karah and Elric. They make a great team and offer each other the support and hope they need to keep going. It's hard for me not to sneak in some spoilers at this point, so I am going to stop talking about them.
I loved getting to learn the history of Eiddoril and the three hundred year old war against evil that plagues the land. It is detailed and complex--an exciting basis for the plot of this book. And did I mention... there are dragons?!
The Dragon Within is a superb epic fantasy and I highly recommend getting your own copy! This book could in a sense stand on it's own but I am so glad the author left it open for another grand adventure. I can't wait to read the sequel! Cindy Lyle is definitely an author worth reading!
April 12, 2013
Well as a long time friend of Cindy's and not a huge fantasy lover. I have to say her book was very intriguing. After the first few chapters,learning the characters and their stories the book really takes off to the point as I couldn't put it down. The story has non stop adventure from the beginning to the end. The characters are very interesting and unique. Cindy's spin on dragon's was very different and cool. I can't wait for the sequel to this book. Congrats Cindy on your first novel and look forward to many more.
December 11, 2021
It was a amazing book. I could never put it down. My aunt charline gave it to me to read. You may remember her.
I was wondering if you made a second one.
Best wishes
Sienna
I was wondering if you made a second one.
Best wishes
Sienna
September 26, 2013
If the term "guilty pleasure" did not exist, it would have to be invented for my reaction to this book. I've loved dragons since I was quite young, and it especially gladdens my heart to see a female dragon in a heroic role, considering how often they're depicted as villains in contrast to some heroic male (e.g. Lien in Novik's "Temeraire" series; Myre in Norton/Lackey's "Elvenbane" series; Savarasse in Lackey/Mallory's "Enduring Flame" trilogy). Here it's the female who gets to save the world from malign forces, who gets to take down male opponents (Nubossa and Mareth). It's almost as if this thing were written with my wishes in mind.
There's plenty to like here. The action sequences, particularly the battles, are wonderfully described. The dragons themselves are magnificent creatures, and it's a treat to see Ililsaya, our heroine, claim that form in the last third. Ililsaya herself was an intriguing creature and I was always eager to see what she would do next. Even when she shifted into damsel-in-distress mode, I knew it wouldn't last very long.
Now, the negatives:
1. Almost none of the dialogue felt natural to me. So much of the time, the characters talked to each other in paragraphs. At other times, their speech would vary from sophisticated-to-the-point-of-elevated, to modern-day colloquial (e.g. "great" and "okay"). This is probably the worst flaw. If the entire book had been told with action and no dialogue, I might have given it four stars.
2. I kept noticing spelling mistakes that would have been caught with careful proofreading. The word "aid," in particular, was always spelled "aide," regardless of whether it was used as a verb or a noun.
3. Why did Lyle insist on killing off or sidelining all of Ililsaya's female allies? I can't exactly accuse this book of Highlander Syndrome; Ililsaya is not the only impressive female we encounter. Yet it seemed that to be female and not be named "Ililsaya" or -- forgetting Edwin's queen's name -- was tantamount to a death sentence. Miara? Killed. (This one particularly bothered me, because heroic giantesses are even rarer than heroic female dragons in today's fantasy.) Ashia? Killed. The female dragon Enthor encounters in the cave with the eggs? Killed. Miara's mother? Dead all along. Yet all the guys get to live, even Miara's murderer! In the climactic battle, the only females on Ililsaya's side (or anywhere, for that matter) are the Element of Water and the super-cougar Fang. This isn't so much a flaw in the book as it is a personal disappointment; I always like seeing a female friendship, and this book didn't give me one -- Miara being killed off too quickly for any friendship between her and Ililsaya/Karah to solidify.
Oh, well. I shouldn't ask for the moon when I have the stars (apologies to Bette Davis). But please, Ms. Lyle, when Ililsaya resurfaces, give her a female friend! And give us a heroic Kanarah woman who does NOT get killed!
There's plenty to like here. The action sequences, particularly the battles, are wonderfully described. The dragons themselves are magnificent creatures, and it's a treat to see Ililsaya, our heroine, claim that form in the last third. Ililsaya herself was an intriguing creature and I was always eager to see what she would do next. Even when she shifted into damsel-in-distress mode, I knew it wouldn't last very long.
Now, the negatives:
1. Almost none of the dialogue felt natural to me. So much of the time, the characters talked to each other in paragraphs. At other times, their speech would vary from sophisticated-to-the-point-of-elevated, to modern-day colloquial (e.g. "great" and "okay"). This is probably the worst flaw. If the entire book had been told with action and no dialogue, I might have given it four stars.
2. I kept noticing spelling mistakes that would have been caught with careful proofreading. The word "aid," in particular, was always spelled "aide," regardless of whether it was used as a verb or a noun.
3. Why did Lyle insist on killing off or sidelining all of Ililsaya's female allies? I can't exactly accuse this book of Highlander Syndrome; Ililsaya is not the only impressive female we encounter. Yet it seemed that to be female and not be named "Ililsaya" or -- forgetting Edwin's queen's name -- was tantamount to a death sentence. Miara? Killed. (This one particularly bothered me, because heroic giantesses are even rarer than heroic female dragons in today's fantasy.) Ashia? Killed. The female dragon Enthor encounters in the cave with the eggs? Killed. Miara's mother? Dead all along. Yet all the guys get to live, even Miara's murderer! In the climactic battle, the only females on Ililsaya's side (or anywhere, for that matter) are the Element of Water and the super-cougar Fang. This isn't so much a flaw in the book as it is a personal disappointment; I always like seeing a female friendship, and this book didn't give me one -- Miara being killed off too quickly for any friendship between her and Ililsaya/Karah to solidify.
Oh, well. I shouldn't ask for the moon when I have the stars (apologies to Bette Davis). But please, Ms. Lyle, when Ililsaya resurfaces, give her a female friend! And give us a heroic Kanarah woman who does NOT get killed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2013
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
The Dragon Within was a pleasant surprise. It was the first book I read by this talented author, Cindy Lyle, but it definitely won’t be the last.
For an indie published book, the interior formatting was amazing. The cover was all right, but I wasn’t too fond of the black borders on the top and bottom – if the cover got rid of those, the book would look more professional, if you ask me. Either way, the saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover”, so on to the content.
Our main character, Karah, has been raised by the royal family of Gareth. She was an orphan they took in, and raised as a member of their own family. Karah has no idea where she came from, but she keeps having terrible nightmares about the Dark Lord. The only one she can turn to is Fitch, one of the last remaining users of magic. With her parents being silent about the matter and even arguing about her, her Dad convinced she’s a threat to Elric -the heir to the kingdom, and her brother – it’s up to Karah herself to find out the truth, with Fitch’s help.
What she finds out, twists her entire world to its core. She’s not even human, but she’s a member of a long-forgotten race, an immortal, humanity’s last hope against the Dark Lord. She has powers, magic, even though it’s said magic had disappeared centuries ago.
The story reminded me of Harry Potter, mostly because of the use of the “Dark Lord” title. It also has the same sense of adventure and heroism as the Harry Potter series, and Karah is some sort of chosen one. However, apart from that, it couldn’t be further away from those books, so you don’t have to worry about that at all when starting the book.
The setting is high fantasy, set in a mystical kingdom with kings, queens, sword fights, magic, dragons and more. There’s a lot of background story thrown in, especially at the start, which slows down the pace and didn’t always feel necessary. Action picks up at around chapter four though.
I liked Karah. She was a little passive at first, but managed to quickly adapt to changing situations, and she turned from passive to active over the course of the book. She was very brave and kind as well. The other characters were all right too. Elric was a little too stuck on the beliefs he was raised with, and he came across as quite arrogant at the start.
All in all, an excellent fantasy read. Dragons haven’t had entirely enough time in the picture, as one of the most ignored fantasy races, and any book about dragons, deserves a shot. This one adds great storytelling, an enjoyable plat, and likeable characters into the mix, so it’s definitely worth your time.
The Dragon Within was a pleasant surprise. It was the first book I read by this talented author, Cindy Lyle, but it definitely won’t be the last.
For an indie published book, the interior formatting was amazing. The cover was all right, but I wasn’t too fond of the black borders on the top and bottom – if the cover got rid of those, the book would look more professional, if you ask me. Either way, the saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover”, so on to the content.
Our main character, Karah, has been raised by the royal family of Gareth. She was an orphan they took in, and raised as a member of their own family. Karah has no idea where she came from, but she keeps having terrible nightmares about the Dark Lord. The only one she can turn to is Fitch, one of the last remaining users of magic. With her parents being silent about the matter and even arguing about her, her Dad convinced she’s a threat to Elric -the heir to the kingdom, and her brother – it’s up to Karah herself to find out the truth, with Fitch’s help.
What she finds out, twists her entire world to its core. She’s not even human, but she’s a member of a long-forgotten race, an immortal, humanity’s last hope against the Dark Lord. She has powers, magic, even though it’s said magic had disappeared centuries ago.
The story reminded me of Harry Potter, mostly because of the use of the “Dark Lord” title. It also has the same sense of adventure and heroism as the Harry Potter series, and Karah is some sort of chosen one. However, apart from that, it couldn’t be further away from those books, so you don’t have to worry about that at all when starting the book.
The setting is high fantasy, set in a mystical kingdom with kings, queens, sword fights, magic, dragons and more. There’s a lot of background story thrown in, especially at the start, which slows down the pace and didn’t always feel necessary. Action picks up at around chapter four though.
I liked Karah. She was a little passive at first, but managed to quickly adapt to changing situations, and she turned from passive to active over the course of the book. She was very brave and kind as well. The other characters were all right too. Elric was a little too stuck on the beliefs he was raised with, and he came across as quite arrogant at the start.
All in all, an excellent fantasy read. Dragons haven’t had entirely enough time in the picture, as one of the most ignored fantasy races, and any book about dragons, deserves a shot. This one adds great storytelling, an enjoyable plat, and likeable characters into the mix, so it’s definitely worth your time.
October 8, 2012
I recieved a free copy of this book to read and review. My review is unaffected by anything but my own opinion of the book, and it's going to be brutally honest.
First, I'll say this: I liked this book. I liked it a lot.
The premise was just shy of being unoriginal, in a good way. The characters were blunt but clear, the writing style was simple but easy to follow. The book employed very modern-tinted dialogue between the characters, which is not as much to my taste, but it was well done for what it was.
The Dragon Within used the dragons as a core element to the story, rather than add-ons, which was refreshing. Lyle's self-invented races were mostly unique and wonderfully blended into the history of her world. The world building was simply superb, deep and rich, full of pain and joy and the thousands of facets of life that must shape any land. The characters themselves were realistic enough to catch the eye, though they didn't quite pop off the page. They entertained me. The book's climax was tense and very well executed, and the ending leaves me wanting more.
So, why the four stars?
As I said, I was given a free copy of this book, and something might have happened to the file during transfer. The formatting of the book was almost perfect; a few times a paragraph would cut off in the middle and continue lower on the page, but other than that it looked fine on my e-reader. I'm going to blame a few of the problems mentioned below on transferring issues, although I didn't notice any myself.
A warning to anyone reading this book: it is absolutely brimming with typos, misspellings, and words that were used slightly out of context. Tenses (was, is, will be) change frequently and with no warning or explanation, occasionally more than once a sentence, making some scenes a bit jarring. However, there were very few punctuation errors that I noticed.
Typos are not an author's fault. They are accidents that everyone who touches a keyboard is bound to encounter. I don't blame Cindy Lyle for having mistakes in her book. It did, however, cause me a fair amount of annoyance that unfortunately reflects on my rating of this wonderful book.
Do I recommend The Dragon Within? Yes, I do. It's a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed, despite its troubles. I think Lyle has a fine career as a writer ahead of her.
First, I'll say this: I liked this book. I liked it a lot.
The premise was just shy of being unoriginal, in a good way. The characters were blunt but clear, the writing style was simple but easy to follow. The book employed very modern-tinted dialogue between the characters, which is not as much to my taste, but it was well done for what it was.
The Dragon Within used the dragons as a core element to the story, rather than add-ons, which was refreshing. Lyle's self-invented races were mostly unique and wonderfully blended into the history of her world. The world building was simply superb, deep and rich, full of pain and joy and the thousands of facets of life that must shape any land. The characters themselves were realistic enough to catch the eye, though they didn't quite pop off the page. They entertained me. The book's climax was tense and very well executed, and the ending leaves me wanting more.
So, why the four stars?
As I said, I was given a free copy of this book, and something might have happened to the file during transfer. The formatting of the book was almost perfect; a few times a paragraph would cut off in the middle and continue lower on the page, but other than that it looked fine on my e-reader. I'm going to blame a few of the problems mentioned below on transferring issues, although I didn't notice any myself.
A warning to anyone reading this book: it is absolutely brimming with typos, misspellings, and words that were used slightly out of context. Tenses (was, is, will be) change frequently and with no warning or explanation, occasionally more than once a sentence, making some scenes a bit jarring. However, there were very few punctuation errors that I noticed.
Typos are not an author's fault. They are accidents that everyone who touches a keyboard is bound to encounter. I don't blame Cindy Lyle for having mistakes in her book. It did, however, cause me a fair amount of annoyance that unfortunately reflects on my rating of this wonderful book.
Do I recommend The Dragon Within? Yes, I do. It's a good book that I thoroughly enjoyed, despite its troubles. I think Lyle has a fine career as a writer ahead of her.
September 3, 2012
Karah’s entire life has been an extravagant plot. This plot has kept her safe until right before her 19th birthday. You see, her magic has begun to leak through and she’s starting to remember her past lives. Karah’s been kept in hiding for over 300 years. Now that her powers have leaked things have been set in motion…the Dark One has found her and she is the key to the destruction or the saving of her world.
The Dragon Within is a splendid fantasy read. With all great fantasy, you must be pulled into this fabulous world that the author has created. Cindy Lyle has exceeded pulling you and then wrapping you up so you don’t want to put this story down. We’ve got dragons, giants, “mini” warriors, great evil and true love what more can you ask for...well, there was non-stop action too! OH, Did I mention gods and elemental magic, too... The Dragon Within is a fantastic, fresh, fantasy and an extremely entertaining read.
This copy of The Dragon Within was given to me by Goodreads Making Connections Group and Cindy Lyle in exchange for an honest review.
The Dragon Within is a splendid fantasy read. With all great fantasy, you must be pulled into this fabulous world that the author has created. Cindy Lyle has exceeded pulling you and then wrapping you up so you don’t want to put this story down. We’ve got dragons, giants, “mini” warriors, great evil and true love what more can you ask for...well, there was non-stop action too! OH, Did I mention gods and elemental magic, too... The Dragon Within is a fantastic, fresh, fantasy and an extremely entertaining read.
This copy of The Dragon Within was given to me by Goodreads Making Connections Group and Cindy Lyle in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2013
This story is a fascinating mix of dragon mythology, nature/element magic and ancient culture. I found the contrast of different elements in the story compelling. The author creates a multi-layered, complex world where good and evil fight for dominance. And, in a move that frustrated and fascinated me, we are left with one resolution that brings up many more questions.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 clouds. I eagerly await the next book to find out what happens to Elric and Karah/Ililsaya, Enthor, and Reaper/Ranjir. You’ll have to read the book to find out why some of the characters seem to have split personalities.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 clouds. I eagerly await the next book to find out what happens to Elric and Karah/Ililsaya, Enthor, and Reaper/Ranjir. You’ll have to read the book to find out why some of the characters seem to have split personalities.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews
December 27, 2012
I liked Cindy Lyle's writing style-good descriptions of her fantasy world (although a map would be nice) and the story mainly flows nicely. I admit to some confusion later on as to who is doing what, a problem with shape-shifers in the mix. I was intrigued with the races of characters, and wanted to know more of the history of the different cultures. Karah was an effective heroine and there was sufficient tension as she learned her heritage and grew into her role. Overall, The Dragon Within is an excellent first book. There definitely is room for a sequel, and I hope Ms. Lyle supplies one. I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.
August 22, 2012
I enjoyed this book immensely. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next one to come out.
October 27, 2015
I was given an updated version of this title by the author in exchange for an updated review.
Review to come
Second Read: 1/16, 2014
First Read: 10/15-10/17, 2012
Review to come
Second Read: 1/16, 2014
First Read: 10/15-10/17, 2012
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews