Dragon Slayer: Beginnings

The Dragon Slayer Chronicles #1

by Carey Green

Dragons have been forgotten,

relegated to the realm of legend and myth. But tales of horror circulate among the common people. Rumors of their attacks float on the night wind. They are a fearsome presence that haunts the memories of the old and the nightmares of the young.
They are forgotten, but they are not gone.

The dragon masters wait, a dark force lurking in the shadows of every land.

They will have their opportunity. They will rise.

A young boy is stripped violently from his family and thrust into the conflict between dragon masters and feudal lords. Through tragedy and loss Hon is swept into the conflict while battling the fear and pain that grips his own soul.

Dragon Slayer: Beginnings is a story of life and the growth of faith in the midst of loss. It’s about the battle every person goes through to become more than their past has destined them to be.

He is the first. He will be the best. He is the Dragon Slayer.

Genres: Fantasy

257 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2014

About the author

Hi, I'm just a small-town Texas kid who's been really, really blessed. From the time I was 4 I was reading almost anything I could get my hands on and eventually turned to fantasy/sci-fi fiction (Poul Anderson, Piers Anthony, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis ). That, along with a short stint of playing "Dungeons & Dragons" got me hooked on the genre.

My Dragon Slayer series is written as fantasy fiction, but with a bit of a twist. I don't create talking dragons, magical beings, and wizards. Instead, I'm trying to write what life in that era would have been like if dragons really did exist (and I think it's a very possible "if"). So... in that sense it may not be true fantasy, but there's really no place else to put it!

I am married - very happily - to my best friend and partner and together we have the blessing of 5 children and at least one grandchild (Who knows when you're going to read this?).

I'm a retired Pastor, marriage and family coach and counselor, and Christian life coach, as well as an internet entrepreneur. Yep, I'm pretty busy.

Reviews

[Miriam Simut]

DNF @ 10%

I gave it a shot but this story isn't for me.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Comments
Wow, what a story! We meet the dragon right away as it attacks a small village in the middle of the night. Then it kidnaps little Hon (short for Honor) leaving him barely alive several days distance away from his home. When Hon awakens, everything has changed and he is filled with grief. Hon’s father and a few other brave volunteers agree to search for Hon and find the dragon, they’re determined to bring justice about for the savage way their land and families were ripped from them. They will learn to trust God in new ways on their journey.

Since we’re not given a chance to love the characters that die in the beginning of the story, it’s only a little sad what happens to them. The story really centers around Hon, many strangers are compelled to help him and he is only 6 years old when he is attacked by the dragon. As the years go by, Hon turns into a capable man in need of knowing who Christ really is.

Even though there is violence in the book, I didn’t consider it to be gory or inappropriate. The dragon is a scary creature, but it has weaknesses and I didn’t consider it to be the main villain. The main villain of the story is Silas/Simon. He is ruthless, cunning, and has his own wicked agenda from the start, but he is sly about his intentions. Only the pure of heart can see through him. He is an “old man that shows himself to be aggressive, malicious, and capable of the most sinister forms of treachery.” He is one of a group of dragon masters who are ruthlessly set on destroying villages and tormenting innocent lives.

There were two heroes in this story for me that help Hon become the man he is destined to be…..one is Rowan, an ex soldier who trains Hon and other villagers to protect their families. He never stops believing in Hon and becomes like a father to him for a time. The other hero is Lord Kendrick. After learning the true identity of Simon, Kendrick spends a decade hunting the man down to no avail. When Hon and Lord Kendrick meet, they bond instantly and form a group that will seek out the truth no matter what dangers it brings along.

There is so much suffering in this story, but there is also no doubt that justice will prevail for those who trust in Christ. There was also one scene I truly enjoyed when, after YEARS of anger and nightmares, Hon gets a revelation that Christ wants to heal his pain. God was not the one that caused so much destruction, but He does have a purpose for Hon in all of it. That’s when Hon really discovers the love of God and is able to let go of his past.

There are VERY few parts with the dragon, but its terror is felt throughout the plot. The dragon is both fascinating and dangerous by all who witness it. Two children will spend a decade separated from their families, but I was grateful they are reunited before the book ends. The ending implies that that a sequel or series will be coming about, but I considered Dragon Slayer a standalone read since many unknowns are revealed. The story didn’t really grab my attention until about halfway through, but I was satisfied with what happens to the main characters despite the heartbreak they go through. It was apparent to me that even though the dragon causes so much destruction in just a few parts of the book, it’s the wicked men of the land who are the true beasts of the story. I have no doubt that Hon will put an end to their plans and he will do so with God’s strength and provision.

This is indeed a tale of bravery, suffering, forgiveness, healing, betrayal, destruction and going forward, faith, and finding one’s destiny is a great one despite having a painful past. Evil is difficult to destroy, but fighting for God’s justice is worthwhile no matter how difficult the situation seems.

I want to thank the author for the review copy provided. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerfully impacting, masterful work of pure originality and epicness!

“Dragons have been forgotten…
relegated to the realm of legend and myth. But tales of horror circulate among the common people. Rumours of their attacks float on the night wind. They are a fearsome presence that haunts the memories of the old and the nightmares of the young.
They are forgotten, but they are not gone…
The dragon masters wait, a dark force lurking in the shadows of every land.
They will have their opportunity. They will rise…

Simply exquisite, lyrical prose and vivid imagery create such a vibrant image within your mind. The metaphorical narrative that’s wonderfully atmospheric and very descriptive, is reminiscent of Tolkien and other classic-style fantasy writers who focus on in-depth setting and specifics. The young boy Dragon Slayer reminded me so much of Eragon; as a main protagonist/ hero who plays such a crucial role in the events yet to unfold within the book and continuation of the series. This is the beginning of something BIG and I am incredibly excited as to what is to come, for Carey Green’s novel is founded on such substantial premise. Due to the vast, intricately woven world building of extraordinary scope this tale is so realistic and utterly believable.

What adds to the uniqueness of Dragonslayer is the author’s singular approach to writing and including within the content of his book, strong links to Christian themes and messages which add such weight to the tale. The author is able to pull real-life personal struggles into the lives of his characters, so as to humanize them and transform the narrative into something very personal to him. Likewise, the truth of scripture is deftly interwoven within the plot so as to make the reader think about deep, personal issues by applying god’s teachings to their lives. As a Christian myself I found this element within the story most impacting, as it enhanced the thought-provoking and truth-drawing narrative.

This is a fantasy story that takes you on a journey of faith and reflection - -that is truly unforgettable!

I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy of his remarkable debut novel to read and review. This was an unbelievably surprising story that exceeded all expectations by being utterly brilliant, and so I would highly recommend it to fans of fantasy fiction and Dragon stories {i.e. Paolini, MaCaffrey etc.}.

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author who found my blog from a Google search. I liked what I saw from the description he provided and from the author's background. Going to Dragonslayer book website Dragonslayer and on the Author page I read what Green considers that makes his writing unique:

My biblical counseling experience enables me to pull real-life personal struggles into the lives of my characters.

My biblical teaching experience enables me to weave the truth of scripture into those struggles.

The wide range of authors I’ve read has helped me learn different ways of creating memorable characters.

Christian fiction isn’t just a way to make a living to me, it’s a tool to push people to think about deep, personal issues and apply God’s truth to their lives.

I’m committed to being a down-to-earth author. I want to hear from my readers and help them along in their journey of faith."

I decided I had better get reading and see for myself!

Plus this is his debut novel, and I like to review debut novels to give the new author some promotion and encouragement.

The other reason I decided on this book was that from reading other fantasy novels from Christian authors, I have found that Christian/biblical themes set in a fantasy world seem to make a successful marriage. I feel they lend to each other really well.

Such is the case here with Dragonslayer: Beginnings. Green has developed those characters concerned with the main character, Hon, with faith in the Creator being evidenced in their lives, they are not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word as the Bible encourages, and this is evidenced by the way these characters seek to find Hon after he is kidnapped by the Dragon. There is one poignant scene where Hon's father, Stewart, shows his faith in action while searching for his son:

"My, my, my," the old man muttered, "a terrible thing. At such times one wonders what the Almighty is thinking, to permit such things to be done to innocents like your boy."

At that, Stewart raised his head for the first time. Looking Silas in the eye, he spoke strongly with great assurance. "Though the Lord has allowed this painful thing, and I am greatly tempted to fault Him, I will not. As you said yourself, His ways are a mystery. For us to question Him is like the ants who scurry at our feet to wonder at our actions. They do not and cannot understand. Neither can we."

The old man looked at him, clearly surprised by his answer. "That is quite an attitude," he spoke. Ï'm pretty certain it would not be the mine, were I in your boots."

From this example, I can see that Green has employed his experience from his "..biblical counselling experience to pull real-life personal struggles into the lives of (his) characters" and his "..biblical teaching experience to weave the truth of scripture into those struggles".

Another example is when Hon expresses some built anger as to why God allowed his parents to die by the dragon:

"God is God, right? He's all powerful, right? He could have stopped that beast with a word, but He didn't!"My mother and father are dead because He did nothing"

Green answers that age old question that if God is God and all powerful, then why did He not stop bad things from happening and where is He in suffering? Other authors can fall into the trap of this explanation being a preachy dialogue from a character who has not experienced this suffering but Green delivers this explanation from a character, Abigail, who has experienced first hand what Hon has so she is qualified to let him know what it is like and what she learnt about God. She speaks from her heart and the reader can relate to this because this testimony is from Abigail's personal experience:

"God is not to blame....God is God. His ways are beyond our puny understanding. I have leaned that He will not make himself subject to our scrutiny or examination...... one day I will know the reason and on that day....I will say the He has done what is right, in every case. Even mine.....We know what it's like to hurt, and to cry, and to be angry... we know what's it's like to bear the weight of such powerful emotions. But Hon, we also know the peace that comes from knowing that the same God who could have stopped the tragedy, is powerful enough to heal our broken hearts, and that He longs to do it."

These two examples also show Green's attitude that Christian Fiction is "...a tool to push people to think about deep, personal issues and apply God’s truth to their lives."

From this point on I knew I was on a winner! When an author uses real life experience depicted in a plot event to connect with a reader in this way, the reader is connected not just to the story but also to the author. In the examples above, Stewart's faith in action and Abigail's experience in loss and her reaction to it from a faith point of view, I could relate to 100% as I had the same faith response to a major personal event over 2 decades ago. I never questioned why God would allow that, but just accepted that this was His way and His will for us, and I had to accept this knowing He is in control and I was not abandoned in that event or that He does not care about me in that event.

Green has created a land that is set in a medieval type era and culture. He describes it well, and you are instantly transported there. I could easily picture this land as he describes it. It is one of those reading experiences where you have to take minutes to re-acclimatise yourself to reality every time you stop
reading!

I loved the mystery and suspense elements in this novel. Who is Silas really, what are his motives, how can he be so sinister, ruthless, deceitful, cunning and despicable? It does not take the reader long to dislike or even get anxious when he makes another entrance into the plot of this novel! Is there a demonic influence or possession controlling and empowering him? Who are the dragon masters? What is the secret sect that they belong to and what is their agenda? You can see how the remaining books in this series will answer these questions and generate many more.

Green depicts Hon as the poor little orphan boy very well to such a degree that your sympathies are with him from the moment he discovers his house on fire in the opening pages of Chapter one. I must confess, while Hon was under the care of Lord Thurmond, I was getting very anxious as I continued reading expecting Silas to extend his evil intentions on Hon just as he did with Lords Thurmond, Kendrick and the others in Stewart's search party. I was very relieved when this did not happen!

As Silas weaves his treachery and evil across the lands and puts more of his agenda into play, Hon grows up to be the definition of his name: Honour. God has His hand on him and uses Rowan, Abigail, Victoria, Hampton, Lord Kendrick and Gerrard to mould him into this strong, God-fearing and yes, honourable young warrior. Towards the end of the novel, we see Hon coming more into his own and accepting the destiny that God has placed on him: destroy the dragons and rid the land of this secret sect that is gaining power and dominion over the lands.

Green has a natural ability with the English language. His writing flows well and to read this is to be like a boat on a gentle current, enabling you to take in all that is around you at a satisfying pace. His characters are not two dimensional; there is depth to them, and they are very relational. You find yourself liking them and getting fond of them. Abigail for her motherly care towards Hon and being a spiritual mother to him, Rowan for the father figure/mentor/warrior and example of manliness and masculinity for Hon to follow, Gerrard for the older, wiser, almost grandfather type figure that positively impacts on Hon. Even Lord Kendrick takes on a humble and royal role as a kind, fair benefactor of his realm and that of the inhabitants of Newton and a great ally for Hon, Rowan, Gerrard in the quest to rid their lands of this dragon curse. On the other side of the coin you find yourself despising characters such as Silas for the traits mentioned previously. Even Lord Thurmond, at first you dislike him for his greed, selfishness, manipulation and how his unresolved grief over the loss of his wife and child to the dragon distort his thinking and behaviour but towards the end of his role in this novel, you find yourself understanding where all this is coming from and see him as a broken and hurt individual and have become more sympathetic towards without excusing or condoning his destructive behaviour.

Green ties up loose ends very nicely. There is one event towards the end that I am glad has a positive outcome and was not to be carried over into the next book. This gives the ending of this novel and well rounded feel. Having Kendrick, Rowan, Hon and the other two of this troop finally discover the extent of the dragon threat and the sect behind them prepares the way for the next instalment and adds to the heightened anticipation for Book 2, Dragon Slayer: Rising.

This is one well written, thought out, engaging and enthralling tale from a writer taking the plunge into Christian fiction and he has dived in very proficiently. I can look back at this novel and say to myself (and to this author) that he has successfully set out to achieve all those five points mentioned above that make his writing unique.

Highly Recommended.

[Donovan Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review for Dragon Slayer

I received an electronic copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Well done! looking forward to the next book in the series.

My first Impression of the book was great. The book has dragons for Pete's sake! I assumed, and rightly, so that it was a coming of age book where at some point a hero confronts one of the most powerful of mythical creatures, a dragon. What makes this story especially nice is the Christian worldview that permeates its pages. It is refreshing to read fiction that acknowledges the existence of God in general and Jesus in particular and looks at how the characters lives are influenced by their faith.

Characters

There are multiple characters within the book. The central figure is the young man Hon of which the story revolves around. But surrounding him is a cast of both likable characters and a chief antagonist who help bring the story to life. I enjoyed the author’s portrayal of the characters in the books. The interchange between the antagonist (Simon) and the two kings is simply superbly written, and believable.

World Building

The world in Cary’s book is filled with kings, rival kingdoms, markets and soldiers. All the standard fair that one would expect in such a book of fantasy. However, the book lacks a lot of history of the world that the characters inhabit. We know little of how the kingdoms came to be. A world map although not required to understand the story would have been an extra benefit.

What was conflicting for me was the use of the scriptures and Jesus in the story. (Hear me out) In the world of this story Jesus is a historical figure. The scriptures also historical in that they are actually alluded to exist and are referenced in the book. Yet the book also contains ‘real’ dragons within its world. I found this hard to reconcile. To merge both the historical figure of Jesus and the actual Bible with a mythical beast even in a fictional setting was hard to get past for me. It had the effect of taking me out of the story. As a reader I am already asked to suspend belief and for a moment live in the authors world. A world where both Jesus and Dragons are considered historical was hard to for me to get past.

When the references to Jesus and the scriptures come; it removed me from the fictional world the author had created and brought be jarringly into the real world. My belief was suspended for a period as I read, but then I felt I was plopped back into reality when Jesus was mentioned. I couldn't figure out how to reconcile that somewhere after the death and resurrection of Jesus there were dragons. In my mind it made me try to locate the time frame of the story and its possible location, which again had the effect of taking me out of the authors story.

It took me a while to get back on board with the tale as I was wondering if I was going to get that "location" my mind was looking for. For me this became the weakest point in the novel, but I totally understand why some might enjoy the merging, or simply not care that a writer has done this. It's also ironic on some levels since its a christian fictional story.

Essentially, the book ceased to become allegorical for me because instead of an Aslan, which to me would have been consistent with this fantasy world where dragons exist. The author chose to use the real historical Jesus. Imagine The Chronicles of Narnia where Jesus is the character instead of Aslan and you will begin to get why I am saying what I am saying. It does fit...but then again it doesn't.

Eventually, I just came to accept that this was the fictional world I was being asked to accept (that a literal dragon and a literal Jesus could exist,) and I moved on. Like I said. For some readers this will simply not be an issue for them. I hope the author in the subsequent books delves more into the lore/history of the kingdoms and the origins of the dragons in the story. I would love to see if this "issue" gets tackled in subsequent works.

Writing style

The writing style was wonderfully done. The author did a great job of vividly capturing the life of the people he described, and their highs and lows. It was an easy read. There were minor grammar or formatting errors but I emphasize that they were minor and did not detract from the book. I would say the overall style was written for someone in middle school or higher. I enjoyed the authors descriptions and the dialogue in the book.

Editing/Formatting

There were minor editing or formatting issues. Nothing that drew me out of the story. Overall, the book was formatted well.

Cover design

The cover doesn't do the book justice. Although there is absolutely nothing, wrong with it. I would have liked to see something that captures more the image of a dragon being slayed. I like my fantasy covers to 'pop' more. :-)

Christian World View

The author shines here. His biblical counseling background becomes evident and I found myself taking away various precious gems that one can use in helping others work through grief or challenges when life is difficult to understand. There is clearly a biblical affirmation that God exists, he is in control, we have to choose how to respond to him and our suffering, and there is a positive affirmation of both scripture and the person of Jesus. You will not wonder if this is a Christian work of fiction. Although, I personally believe unbelievers can enjoy this speculative work. Some might feel the work a bit preachy. I give this area 5 stars.

Overall the book is a great introduction to this new fiction author and I am looking forward in continuing to read the stories he puts forth in subsequent works. I would recommend this well written book, especially to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction and its appropriate for younger children as well.

Characters 5
World Building 4
Writing style 5
Editing/Formatting 4
Cover 3
Christian Worldview 5

I give it an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very exciting new series! Dragon Slayer: Beginnings was enjoyable to read from start to finish. The author has created a realistic society, set in a time long ago. It is clear from the beginning of the book that at least one dragon does indeed exist and has brought destruction to at least one village.

As we follow the lives of the various characters in the book, we discover treachery and plots from evil men bent on destruction. We also watch as those that the evil has touched work to balance the idea of an almighty God allowing bad things to happen. The author has done an excellent job of creating characters that are real. Their questions are valid and they must work to understand their place not only in the world but also their heart attitude toward God and others. They must learn to see how God’s plan is woven throughout their lives, even amidst the suffering they endure.

I am really looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. I was pleased that this first book ties up loose ends in the story, yet clearly points us in the direction the next book will be taking.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...

[Jennifer Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice blend of fiction and theology

This on the surface is a simple adventure story of both wise and evil characters, fearsome beasts and engaging plot twists. But Mr Green weaves in some very nice theological truths into situations that are relatable and therefore memorable. It is a nice way to be reminded of some great verses while enjoying a good story. Looking forward to the next one!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, and characters. However, I was left wanting more.

[Gracevera Sam-Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was definitely an interesting story, it caught and held my interest right from the start. Loved it!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I thoroughly enjoyed Dragon Slayer: Beginnings! What a great first novel in what is sure to be an epic series!

From the very beginning Carey had me hooked and captured my heart with little Hon! From then on suspense, humility, fear, humbleness, and other amazing qualities flowed throughout all of the novel!

I was slightly hesitant on what kind of Biblical message this book would have, but there was so many that I was stunned! Carey really shows what it means to be a man after God's own heart and what God's role is for these men in the family as well as community! Plus, he really portrays the beauty of God being God in our lives and that deep love He has for us! I was so humbled by many scenes with Stewart and Hon because they were discovering this in a very slow, painful journey!

The story itself is fantastic! The description of the places really made me feel as if I was there! I felt like I was just a random outsider sitting in with the characters while they talked about dragons or were encouraging one another! However I will mention that at first it can be a little confusing because there is no set one main character for the duration of the book! I didn't personally mind this because I enjoyed seeing what was going through different character's minds throughout the novel, but I wanted to mention it!

If your into fantasy don't miss this one! It is not only filled with action and suspense, but there is a deep Biblical foundation that does not go unnoticed! I was not only entertained, but greatly inspired and encouraged! I can't wait for book two this fall!

I give Dragon Slayer: Beginnings a 5 out of 5 stars!

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.*

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves the idea of dragons and knights, so I was immediately drawn towards this new series. I liked the fact that although it is definitely a Christian book, the characters are very genuine with real life struggles. They are definitely not perfect, goody-goody types. Even the characters who are now role models have things in their past that they struggle with or are trying to put behind them. The characters understand that their life experiences make them who they are today. For some of them, it’s those bad life experiences that allow them to draw on their faith today.

Beginnings is the first book in the Dragon Slayer Chronicles series, and it grabbed my attention and left me wanting to read the next book in the series. There is death, suffering, and evil in this book, but it’s balanced nicely with hope and faith. The story is true to real life struggles placed in a time of real dragons.

[Jodi Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of "Dragon Slayer: Beginnings" by the author, Carey Green, in exchange for an honest review. Wow, loved it! Another great Christian author. Now I can't wait for the next one! A wonderful story of heartbreak, sorrow, hope! Good writing, good character development and an inspirational story. Good for audiences of Jr High age and up. I give it a solid 5 stars. Well done.

[Delynn Gordzelik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Hated for it to end. Waiting anxiously for the next installment!

[Velvetink]

Kindle

[Lynnette Loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This is a good story. Fierce dragons. Fair damsel in distress and handsome hero. What more could you want. Try this one.