Dragon Dawn

Dinosaurian Time Travel #1

by Deborah O'Neill Cordes

Time snakes between alternate universes. Ever watchful, an alien intelligence survives on Mars, waiting to be found by spacefarers from Earth. The alien’s ultimate goal is to send human astronauts back in time, where they will alter the past and thwart the extinction of the dinosaurs. A race of intelligent dinosaurs, resembling the alien’s extinct species, subsequently evolves to rule the world. But a human female astronaut, through a strange twist of fate, survives the change in the space-time continuum. After finding herself in a dinosaurian body, she must race against time – and the formidable alien – to restore the universe to its rightful course. Book One of the Dinosaurian Time Travel Series.

Dragon Dawn takes the intriguing plot device of time travel and uses cutting edge science to produce a new spin on the evolution of intelligence. The subject matter blends fields of study the author, Deborah O’Neill Cordes, loves in equal measure; she holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree in history. She offers her readers a window into exotic worlds: lushly beautiful, often terrifying – and wholly compelling.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dinosaurs, Space, Aliens, Dragons

314 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2014

About the author

Deborah O'Neill Cordes is a screenwriter and novelist of historical and speculative fiction. Her fiction blends fields of study she loves in equal measure; she holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree in history. Deborah is the author of the sci-fi time travel novel, Dragon Dawn, Book One of the Dinosaurian Time Travel Series, and Alienne Mine, A Prequel to Dragon Dawn. She is also the co-author of the Morgan O’Neill time travel novels, which she writes with Cary Morgan. Three of Deborah’s works have been optioned by Hollywood, while many others are award winners, garnering finalist placements in the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Conference Literary Contest, semi-finalist wins in the William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, and the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Finalist award in the Seattle International Film Festival’s Perfect Pitch Forum. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two West Highland White Terriers, who, alas, are precocious terriers and therefore never white.

Reviews

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable read that was!

Yep, there’s a complex plot, but no deep hidden meanings that only the most cerebral of us mortals can glean. This is, to me, an adventure story. I like cooking so here’s what you get: Take about a pound of Star Trek, and an equal amount of Dr Who, then mix in a cupful of Land of the Lost and a handful of Deep Impact. Sprinkle this liberally with Raiders of the Lost Ark and a soupcon of Gone With the Wind. Shove that in the oven and out comes a nicely digestible version of Dragon Dawn.

From page one, it’s obvious the author has researched her topic, as anyone with the smarts of Deborah O’Neill would. This makes for an eminently readable story spiced up with believable science. I liked her writing style and at times I found myself laughing out loud:

With a delicate technique, like the kind her terriers used on a particularly interesting turd, the dinosaur sniffed her hair and face, then her armpit.

At other times, I found myself running for Google to read the latest theories on feathered dinosaurs, or when exactly, the big ol’ space rock wiped out the dinos, or what we’d look like if we descended from Troodons (a clever little dino). Hmm - would I look like a big chicken trying to type with just six fingers in total?

If you like adventurous, dystopian, time travel, space travel, alien invasion, pre-post apocalyptic novels, then this is your dream. Put it on your to read list. Great Job Deb!

[Cheryl Landmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about time travel can sometimes make my head spin with its complexities and paradoxes. But, not so with this excellently written tale of space exploration, time travel, alternate universes and prehistoric times. The author has obviously done an incredible amount of research into her subject and has woven it all into a fascinating, rich, lush tapestry that held me enthralled from start to finish.

The world building was amazing, whether it was the futuristic realm of spaceships and distant planets, or the equally intriguing world of prehistoric dinosaurs. Ms. O'Neill Cordes effortlessly catapulted me from one world to the other on a thrilling, breathtaking ride.

Science fiction can sometimes be a bit too technical and complex for my liking, but this was a wonderful blend of hard science and mystical fantasy. And, I loved it! I have no hesitation at all in giving this vastly entertaining book 5 amazing stars.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very compelling and well written sci-fi adventure. Including dinosaurs, space exploration and time travel, what's not to love?! The hard science mixed with action, mystery and just enough romance combine to ensure you keep turning the page. Can't wait for the next installment!!

[Benny Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a time travelling soul possessing reincarnating alien dinosaur from another dimension. What's not to love? :)

[Lillie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesomeness!! Waiting for Book 2!!

Dawann Dracon is the royal consort, it was what she was born for, and all she's ever thought she'd be. Until she starts dreaming of another. Dreams of another universe different from her own, within another's body, Dawn. She comes to realize that her life isn't her own. She and Dawn, a human, are intrinsically entwined. Not only that, but she feels the need to save Dawn and her love, Gus.

The Keeper expects all to bow down to him, but most of all, he expects his royal consort to be everything he desires. After all, he came to this planet to save himself and dominate it, claim it as his own. He will have it. All of it.

Dragon Dawn is a time-traveling, universe-swapping, sci-fi-fantasy suspense-filled amazingly told story. There were moments of breath holding, sure the The Keeper was going to discover Dawann's betrayal, discover her connection to the human, Dawn. The world building is unique, unlike anything I'd read before (which is a lot to say considering the amount of books I read), fully capable of making you believe you are really there. On Mars with Dawann and Dawn. On Earth, as if humans weren't the favored species. I am in suspense waiting for the next book in the series. Highly recommended for epic novel lovers, scifi/fantasy fans, and lovers of true romance, because there's some of that here too. Lovers of time-travel novels, this is a must read. I immensely enjoyed it!

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received a gifted copy and couldn't pass up reading.

[Austin Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm currently reading the Top 125 of the "Best Science Fiction" List.

106 of 110 have ratings of 17,000 or more (the one legit literary example that doesn't qualify for this statement is #105's CS Lewis' Trilogy with 6,600 rankings), the other three books ALTAS, Starshine, and Dragon Dawn (#85, #92, and #110) have 1,000 1,000 and 150 reviews. I doesn't take a genius to see that these books are artificially being pushed in order to rank high on the "Best Science Fiction" list.

If it were up to me, I would have removed these books. I'm not saying they're bad books, just that they shouldn't be on the Top 100 knocking down Gene Wolfe's Shadow of the Torturer (#116) and Asimov's The Naked Sun (#118).

Despite my obvious biases against these three books, I went ahead and decided to read them anyway. I purchased a physical copy of Dragon Dawn on Amazon.

It starts off very well, with two Acts taking up the first half of the book: an oppressive dinosaur civilization, and then humans exploring Mars. However the second half of the book just drags and was in dire need of a more strict editor (There are better ways to show the Russians as Russian besides "Nyet, Nyet, Nyet", and after the 10th time the French dude started a sentence with "Oiu!" it was just painful to read). The ending was good and exciting. I actually liked this book more than Dragonflight (which I gave 1-star) but it was still amateur in my eyes, so I'm giving it a 2-star rating.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rich detail in this sci-fi fantasy both feed and starve the underlying mystery at the heart of the story. Across time, space, and species, things are comforting and familiar— yet eerily different.

Dawann-dracon finds herself intimately connected to divergent potentials, straddling both worlds without belonging in either. Her need for answers to settle the gnawing disquiet inside her leads Dawann to peel back the layers until she learns even she isn’t who she seems. Stirred to respond, she risks it all for an outcome that’s far from assured.

If sci-fi fantasy is your genre, don’t miss this.

[Erin Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-rate Science Fiction Debut! Being a fan of time-travel and light science fiction, I was instantly drawn into the exciting and imaginative worlds Deborah O’Neill Cordes created in DRAGON DAWN. From Moozrab (Mars) to a slice of modern Arizona to the Cretaceous period of Earth, the author enthralls the reader.

Interweaved in the unfolding story between pre-historic Earth and Moozrab are two impeccably drawn species: humans and dinosaurians. My favorite character was Dawann-dracon. I loved her fierce innocence and curiosity as she discovers surprising and mysterious things about herself and her world…thoughts and emotions that belong to someone else. Underlying the time-traveling mystery is an enticing and malevolent being called The Keeper, who moves the beings around these worlds and time periods like pawns on a chessboard.

DRAGON DAWN is a multifaceted and fascinating mix of science fiction, history, and fantasy. It was obvious that Ms. Cordes spent a great deal of time researching planet Earth and its various time periods, pre-historic dinosaurs, the solar system, Mars, even DNA! Her expert research, awe-inspiring details, and lush descriptions (whether real or fictional) brought the story to vivid life from manufactured life on Mars, to the dinosaurs and verdant Cretacean period and even on a dig site in present-day Arizona. I can’t wait to read what happens next with Dawann-dracon, Dawn, Gus and the crew of the Destiny. First-rate plotting, research, characterization, and writing will make DRAGON DAWN a story for your keeper shelf!

[Stephanie Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I opened Dragon Dawn, I felt myself being drawn into this mystical world like none other. Long after I closed the book I found myself haunted by the characters. The Keeper is beguiling yet deadly. He seemed to bathe in a particularly gruesome kind of cruelty that gave his skin and his regime a chilling sheen. Dawann/Dawn is the perfect heroine terrifically torn between two worlds and two lives. Her dilemma and her decisions make her one of my favorite heroines of all time.

I marvel over Deborah O'Neill Cordes' ability to create two worlds and weave them so effortlessly together. It isn't often that I compare an author with another, but in this case Dragon Dawn has matched the skill and the wonder of CS Lewis and his beloved tales of Narnia.

Mystical, Ethereal, Lyrical, Beautiful.

While I was gifted with an uncorrected galley for an honest review, I was so moved by the story that I actually purchased a copy for my kindle. I look forward to the next installment of this instant classic! Excellent work!

[Terri Herman-Poncé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Crichton Meets Carl Sagan

Where to begin…where to begin…there aren’t enough things to say about this story to do it justice. Complex, vividly drawn, and fantastical, Dragon Dawn weaves together a time travel tale that, in my opinion, is so much more.

Multiverses, paleontology, evil forces, and action all play a part in Deborah O'Neill Cordes’ intricate but very believable tale that mixes the suspense-filled dinosaur genre penned by Crichton with the scientific suppositions presented by Sagan. More than that, it’s clear that the author has done her homework and has a true love for science fiction – to the point that one can’t do anything but imagine this book playing out on a big screen.

Give this one a ride. Dragon Dawn will take you on a trip beyond your wildest dreams.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting story. I especially appreciated the scientific background and accuracy portrayed here. It was also a great concept and I enjoyed reading it, it was quite beautiful.

I must say, I connected more strongly to the dinosaurian set of characters than to the human ones and ended feeling a little odd that Dawann is so eager to help the humans when it basically means committing pre-emptive genocide on all the people she knows from her dinosaurian life. Interesting conundrum, I really hope there is more of her in the next book - I missed her when this one switched over to the humans' story.

[Peggy Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never been much of a big sci-fi fan unless Jean-Luc Picard was involved until Deborah O'Neill Cordes and her other persona Morgan O'Neill turned me into a time traveling sci-fi fan. This book is one of the reasons. The world created here, where dinosaurs survive to create a civilization and humans travel to Mars and both species move back and forth in time is well researched, beautifully written and fascinating to read. It's a must read for sci-fi fans as well as for readers like me who might pass it up but shouldn't.

[Becky Lower · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a ton of sci-fi, so I'll let others describe the plot. What struck me was the incredible amount of research that went into this book. Wormholes, DNA, Marconi, the list of what the author had to go through to create an accurate book boggles my mind. I am a sucker for time-travel, though, and once that kicked in, instead of being only hinted at, the book really soared. Ms. Cordes has done sci-fi fans a favor by writing this book. Can't wait for the next one.

[Bethany-Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well-written, with a captivating plot that is not only thought-provoking, but interesting as well. The author kept my attention the entire way through, to the point where I was nearly skipping pages in my attempt to just ... find out.

The amount of research that went into this story is also amazing. The cover is beautiful.

And frankly, I want a copy of the paperback version, too, so then I can have it in my library.

I'm on edge waiting for the next in this series.

[Ruby Madden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had high hopes for this one, but the author really doesn't do justice to the plot via the writing voice. It's a 'tell-all' instead of a 'show-all'. Too much sub-plot is revealed and the buy-in level is a bit predictable. So, I stumbled after the first 1/3rd and set aside. When I went back to it, I have to agree with other reviewers that the last 2/3rd's of the book 'reads' better.

[Nate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was, unfortunately, a mess and rather dull. I was really looking forward to this one. :/

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cross between star gate, planet of the apes and jurassic park. Gets better as you read on. Likably far fetched.

[Azri · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF a few chapters in
I was open to the premise but the author doesn't know how to ease into things and allow tension to build as a story develops. Sometimes a flurry of action from page 1 can suit and aid in drawing a reader in, not so here. The author just blurts everything from the get go and makes it impossible for even a willing reader to sink into the story. Disappointing. Made it impossible to take seriously.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book because I love time travel books and dinosaurs are fun. Unfortunately, this book just didn't live up to my expectations. I had trouble keeping interested in the story. Don't get me wrong, there were some parts that were interesting but then it would get wordy and boring again. It just wasn't for me.

[Joanna Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and malevolent reptilian being, The Keeper, awaits his reawakening to change the course of history. His goal is to enable the evolution of a race of intelligent dinosaurian creatures over whom he will rule.

A beautiful, cloned dinosaurian female, Dawann Dracon, has been created as the consort of the Keeper, who rules the planet Moozrabian (the old Mars). However, she has been implanted with the soul of a human, Dawn, and Dawn's memories start to return to her. She is now compelled to risk death by attempting to regain her memories as a human and find the only secretly cloned human still in existence.

Dawann/Dawn's journey takes her back through time, to the Cretaceous period before a massive comet collides with Earth bringing an end to the age of the dinosaurs and threatening the lives of Dawn and her fellow astronauts, stranded on Earth at the time.

I cannot begin to give a simple précis of this novel. It is so complex, fascinating and incredibly well researched, the story had me riveted from the first page to the last. In my opinion it takes a brilliant mind to create a story of this magnitude. I am in awe of this author's ability to present science fiction bolstered by robust facts, vivid characters and superbly intricate plots. Deborah O'Neil Cordes takes the reader into two completely different worlds - a cretacean world of lush, green vegetation and dangerous, predatory creatures, and a future world of manufactured climates and cloned inhabitants - both equally believable. Even the fictional dracons with their pale green skin, feathered heads and golden eyes are presented in such rich detail, their images are graphically implanted on my mind.

I am an avid and eclectic reader, reading up to four books a week - not many books remain vividly in my mind unless they are exceptional. This book is just that.

[Leslie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Dragon Dawn, Deborah O’Neill Cordes creates an amazingly intricate story in which intelligent dinosaurs evolve in a manner that parallels human evolution, but changes its course significantly. I’m not a dinosaur person; I’ve never watched Jurassic Park all the way through, never thrilled to the time travel that introduced me to the cumbersome and stupid reptiles of the B movies.

Dragon Dawn, on the other hand, captures the imagination and asks what would have happened if reptiles, not mammals, had risen to rule planets, travel through space, and dictate the course of history.

Dawann-Dracon, the Royal Consort, wakes from submission and acceptance as The Keeper’s mate to question her existence—from the memories of a human past to an understanding that the Keeper’s rule is unjust and cruel, denying a real life to the residents of Moozrab, known to humans as Mars. She risks her life to make connections to her human counterpart, Dawn, and to understand Dawn’s love for the human Gus.

In epic books such as Dragon Dawn, I have trouble limiting all I want to say—there’s so much. I love the characters, with their unique histories and purposes. Dawn and Gus struggle for love that is snatched away—this first book focuses on establishing the worlds and motives of the players, and not on romance, although love exists in all worlds, and is not absent either on Moozrab/Mars or Shurr/Earth.

The past and future worlds that the author creates are incredible in their detail. The reader doesn’t need to ‘suspend belief’; he or she is just there, in the moment. In the excitement,or the devastation.

Hollywood has optioned a number of Deborah O’Neill Cordes’s previous works. They should not pass on this big screen novel!

[Elizabeth Meyette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heart-pounding Sci-fi Thriller
Dawann feels a restless knowledge of another world and another existence, but will this awareness endanger her life with the Keeper? In her quest for answers, she becomes aware of another consciousness—Dawn. Defying the Keeper’s directives, Dawann delves into the mystery of this other life that possesses her mind, and she encounters the unimaginable.
Dawn and Gus resist their feelings for each other in compliance with NASA regulations, but it gets more difficult when their mission turns perilous and their time together is threatened. Dawn meets the Keeper and thus the enigma of these parallel worlds begins to unravel.
Whether you love futuristic space sci-fi or ancient eras, Dragon Dawn has something for you to enjoy. Deborah O’Neill Cordes provides description and details that will make you drool. Her characters come off the page and grab your heart. And her research is impeccable. Follow Dawann and Dawn through the twists and turns of time travel, space exploration and prehistoric times as survival becomes more difficult and the reason to survive more imperative.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Cait O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like time travel, or so I thought. Turns out I love it :). Dragon Dawn is a multi-layered and complex book that is nigh on impossible to put down. The descriptions of life on Mars and a Cretaceous Earth were evocative and spell binding, the characters (both humans and other-wordly) immediately likeable, the premise totally believable. I have often wondered about the K-T event and how it would've looked, now I need wonder no longer as Ms O'Neill Cordes has placed great images in my mind. No mean feat to pull off, that, and no doubt had Ms O'Neill Cordes not already established her expertise throughout the book through the use of extensive archaeology, paleo-archeology (I'm sure I'm missing an 'ology' here!) and scientific knowledge and vocabulary, then perhaps the climax wouldn't have been so credible. As it was, it was perfect!! Very much looking forward to the next installment.

[Juli Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no mean feat to make time travel believable. Until now, only Diana Gabaldon's books made me not only believe it, but wish I could do it. After reading Dragon Dawn I now add Deborah O'Neill Cordes' name next to Ms. Gabaldon's! The depth of detail in this book is what brings the story to life. The author's vast knowledge of the Cretaceous period is woven so skillfully throughout the book, making the adventures of the crew of the Destiny vivid and real. No less vivid are the descriptions of Mars, and I particularly enjoyed the parts of the book dealing with the lives of the Saurians on that planet. Dawann-dracon is such an intriguing character, and I loved seeing her growth as she realized what she was ... and had been ... and would be! And speaking of intriguing characters, The Keeper is one that will stay with you long after you've put the book down. I'm really looking forward to finding out more about him as this series continues. Highly recommended!

[Brenna Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawann-dracon, groomed from birth to be the royal consort of the Keeper, the ruler of the saurian world, Moozrab, knows what’s expected of her. So when she begins to have strange visions and dreams, she is naturally afraid, but, in keeping with her character, also curious. When she begins to suspect who she really is and where she belongs, she begins a dangerous quest to discover the truth. I can’t begin to describe how thoroughly engrossing this novel is. I read most of it in one sitting. The premise is intriguing, to say the least, and imaginative. The world building is solid and immersive, the heroine is likeable and sympathetic, the villain is undeniably fierce and frightening, and the plot has enough twists to keep you guessing what’s happened and why. And the writing itself is top notch. Dragon Dawn is absolutely breathtaking novel by a truly talented writer. Don’t miss it!

[Rowena May O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! What a fantastic tale Deborah O'Neill Cordes has woven and I want more. I so want to find out what happens next. Be prepared to be swept into a complex time-travel all the way back to the early dawn of time to the intelligent life form of dinosaurs, wormholes and a disaster that could possibly change history as we know it. This is a tale that is includes well researched science, history and evolution. The astronauts, including Dawn and Gus, the protagonists in this story are swept into an alternate universe to another place and time, with a thread of romance woven seamlessly into the plot. I need to find out what happens to them and will be waiting anxiously to read the next book. The story is entertaining and informative from beginning to end. I love a bit of science fiction, history and time-travel. If you do to, then read this book. It's fabulous!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn into this book and couldn't put it down. With all of the news about Mars, rovers and the like, this novel takes space exploration to a new level and back in time to our own planet. The time travel/alternative universe element is uniquely woven with astronaut and dinosaur characters. What if the dinosaurs did not become extinct due to their intelligence and diligence? What if human explorers prevented this catastrophe and alternate history? Incredible research into scientific principles, quantum theory and dinosaur life are woven into a fast-paced plot complete with an arch enemy, budding romance and a beautiful, likable female dinosaur. I was disappointed that it had to end and eagerly anticipate the next volume in this series!

[Liv Rancourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dragon Dawn, the author does a fine job of mixing past and future, creating an intriguing story of science fiction. She supposes a race of sentient dinosaurs who are controlled by an alien Keeper. The Keeper's consort, Dawann, is a cloned female who possesses the soul, and increasingly the memories, of a human woman, Dawn. Their stories are interwoven to create a plot that picks up speed as it moves along. Dragon Dawn contains strong worldbuilding with lots of juicy scientific detail tweaked just enough to make it fresh, along with a touch of romance, and it's a solid foundation for a series.

[Serena Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Dragon Dawn is smart, complex, wondrous and absolutely fascinating – I loved it. Deborah O’Neill Cordes weaves an amazing tale that encompasses paleontology, space travel, history, paleobotany, time travel, zoology, romance and more. It’s rich in scientific detail, without for a moment weighing the story down. From the biggest of big picture stuff, to the intricacies of human (and dinosauroid) relationships, this magical, thought-provoking book carried me along effortlessly, leaving my head spinning in the best possible way. It would make an incredible movie - but in the meantime, I can’t wait for book two!

[Diane Jewkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah O'Neill Cordes takes 'what if' to a new level in the first book of her Dinosaurian Time Travel series. What if dinosaurs hadn't become extinct? What if they were able to achieve a high level of society and technology? And what if human astronauts discover this anomaly of time and space? Dragon Dawn takes you there and delivers a tale of one soul and two lives; human and dinosaur.
The story draws you in and begs you to ask 'what if' along with it.
I look forward to the rest of the series.