The Chronicles of Ragg: Volume One: The Sword of Gabriel

by Robert D. Flanagan

Ragg can't get the images out of his mind. He can still picture his village burning and his grandfather caught in the clutches of a dragon. It was then that Ragg-trying to escape the small, dark cave in which his grandfather had hidden him-vowed to exact revenge. He won't stop until all the dragons of the land are dead. In his mind, the only good dragon is a dead dragon. As he ventures with his new canine companion, Verlon, Ragg seeks to destroy every dragon he finds. But in the process, he discovers the truth about his grandfather's death, the dragons, and his own destiny as he journeys farther into the valley of death's shadow. Every step brings him closer to the truth and closer to danger. The more he learns, the more complicated things become. In the midst of his fight between good and evil, he makes friends and discovers enemies. Ragg's character is tested, and he must determine if he will become the warrior his people need or if he will remain a lost young man bent on soulless revenge.

Genres: Fantasy

282 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2013

About the author

The Rev. Dr. Bob Flanagan has struggled with mental illness and managed to thrive for over twenty years. He holds a doctorate of ministry degree in Christian Spirituality and is an adjunct faculty member at General Theological Seminary in New York City, teaching on Christian spirituality. He has served for over ten years as a state and federal advocate for and board member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. His previous book, Growing a Sustainable Soul, won a bronze medal in the Reader’s Favorite International Book Contest. Bob lives with his wife, Lanie, in Bridgewater, Connecticut. They have two grown children.

Reviews

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ragg can't get the images out of his mind. He can still picture his village burning and his grandfather caught in the clutches of a dragon. It was then that Ragg - trying to escape the small, dark cave in which his grandfather had hidden him - vowed to exact revenge. He won't stop until all the dragons of the land are dead. In his mind, the only good dragon is a dead dragon.

Ragg wants revenge on the dragons for what they did to his family and his people. But everything is not as it seems. Follow Ragg as he goes on the many twists and turns to find out the truth.

“The world is more complicated than you think, Ragg.”

At the first all Ragg could think about was revenge on the dragons but as the story progresses Ragg really changes and grows. Sure he has his flaws but don’t we all? Who knows if faced with danger will we run or will we fight? That is just one of the tough choices poor Ragg had to face. All the secondary characters were really great and well wrote out.

“Then, just as the wick of his soul was flickering, not knowing whether it would simply give out, something in him changed.”

“We all face moments in life when we must make a choice. These moments define us. They tell us who we are. This is one of your moments, Ragg. You have a choice to make. Do you choose courage or fear?”

What a wild ride! This book is defiantly for you if you like mystery, danger, friendship and edge of your seat action. The Chronicles of Ragg kept me guessing until the very end. I love a good book that has twists and turns you don’t see coming. Loved it!!

Highly recommend to any fantasy lovers.
Writing flows smoothly. First is a little slow but picks up quickly

[Anna del C. Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chronicles of Raggs by Bob Flanagan is a nice high fantasy tale about dragons and the tyrants who abuse them. You will find all you need to be satisfactorily entertained in this tale. It is a good read for a hot day by the pool or by a warm cozy fire in winter. The Chronicles of Raggs is a good read for those who like High fantasy, mixed with dragons and battles. Raggs is on an avenger 19s trip to kill all the dragons. He believes one killed his grandfather. He tracks, finds and kill them, wherever they are. We join him on his trip through forest with his new pet Verlon. They are a good team. Raggs sees a Village burned and men taken to a Lord Crier who the dragon seems to obey. This is strange, especially the look Raggs sees in the eyes of the dragon 14it is sadness, not fury.After he kills some dragon eggs, with hatching baby dragons, he feels horrible. Soon afterwards he is taken slave for Crier, a bad man who seems to command dragons. Here he has to fight for his life and then be sent to the mines. However, he soon finds himself with the Scian? 1D or shadow warriors. They are the only ones who oppose the Crier 19s madness and tyranny. This is a very interesting tale with a different fantasy plot. It is a good read for young adults and especially for those who love dragons and fantasy books. Bob Flanagan makes a nice first try in this tale of revenge, growing up, facing your demons and valor all wrapped into one story.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads free book giveaways.
I have to same, I'm only a few pages in, but I'm very excited about it. I'm already sucked in.

Update; the few pages I got in was all I could make it. There was little to no detail, I couldn't picture anything that was going on, it just sort of jumped from event to event.