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Banshee
Cities Fall. Dragons Rise. War Begins.
The war for earth began in Hell. First came the earthquakes. Then came the floods. Finally, from the darkened mines, caves and pits, the creatures of our nightmares boiled forth to sweep across the planet in a wave of death.
Mankind, on the run and unprepared, is not alone. We have dragons.
Emerging from their slumber, giant dragons select riders to go to war. Their forces strike back at the legions of demons that attack on the night of every new moon. The Killing Moon, as it becomes known, is the proving ground for warriors of skill and heart. Among the riders is Saavin, a brave young woman from the shattered remains of Texas. Her dragon, Banshee, is swift and fearless, but they will need help to fight a trio of monstrous creatures that Hell is using to take cities one by one.
With the help of French Heavener, a warrior of noble intent, Banshee and Saavin will launch a desperate defense of New Madrid, the last city standing. But first, they’ll have to go into the very cave where demons bide their time until the sun fades and the moon is black.
The hope of mankind rests on dragon’s wings and the bravery of Saavin and French.
They have the guts. They have the guns.
They have dragons.
The war for earth began in Hell. First came the earthquakes. Then came the floods. Finally, from the darkened mines, caves and pits, the creatures of our nightmares boiled forth to sweep across the planet in a wave of death.
Mankind, on the run and unprepared, is not alone. We have dragons.
Emerging from their slumber, giant dragons select riders to go to war. Their forces strike back at the legions of demons that attack on the night of every new moon. The Killing Moon, as it becomes known, is the proving ground for warriors of skill and heart. Among the riders is Saavin, a brave young woman from the shattered remains of Texas. Her dragon, Banshee, is swift and fearless, but they will need help to fight a trio of monstrous creatures that Hell is using to take cities one by one.
With the help of French Heavener, a warrior of noble intent, Banshee and Saavin will launch a desperate defense of New Madrid, the last city standing. But first, they’ll have to go into the very cave where demons bide their time until the sun fades and the moon is black.
The hope of mankind rests on dragon’s wings and the bravery of Saavin and French.
They have the guts. They have the guns.
They have dragons.
313 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2015
About the author
Terry Maggert
69 books497 followersLeft-handed. Herder of cats and dogs. Lover of pie. I write books. I've had an unhealthy fascination with dragons since the age of-- well, for a while. Native Floridian. Current Tennessean. Location subject to change based on weather, upheaval, or availability of coffee. Forty-nine books and counting, with no end in sight. You've been warned.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 8, 2015
I loved this book! The dragons were fantastic, their descriptions thorough and inspiring, and the monsters were beyond even my worst nightmares. I thought the plot was wonderful, with a quick pace to keep one turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. The characters were well fleshed out, both the good guys, and the obnoxious protagonists concerned only with themselves. Might be a bit scary for the younger crowd, but I'd recommend for the Teen+ fantasy enthusiasts.
November 3, 2020
Seventy years before the book began, dragons and demon-like monsters appeared. The demons ravaged the world, reducing the twenty-first century society into one of desperation, fear, and death. Only the dragons provided sufficient defense against the creatures. Years later, only various gatherings remain, scattered across the globe. One city, perhaps the last hope for humanity, still stands, but they know something worse is coming and must find a way to defend themselves from both within and without.
All things considered, Banshee by Terry Maggert was an interesting book. It is neither my favorite nor least favorite, but it kept me entertained throughout. I had never read a book quite like this before. The dragons are what drew me and they did not disappoint!
The book was slightly confusing at first. For one thing, every other chapter or so broke from the main storyline to present journal entries of witnesses of the first demon attacks. It took me a while to figure out how to identify them (by the word “Dragons” at the beginning and the year and source at the end) and that they had little to do with the book except background information.
In addition, when characters were introduced, the author gave a full background on each before continuing with the story. All this did is make me confused as to who was who, who was still alive, when events happened, and what it all had to do with the general plot. The presentation reminded me of the style in which books were written in the past rather than the normal presentation of modern-style books; it was a little less personal and more descriptive. I enjoyed the presentation a little, but it was too confusing at the beginning.
Aside from that, the author did a good job with the world-building, character development, and the plot. The demons were often based off of mythological creatures or dinosaurs; the dragons were intelligent and wise. There were bloody battles, politics, and schemes. There was death, love, and victory.
I enjoyed the plot and world-building very much and would recommend this book to those who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction and dragons.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
All things considered, Banshee by Terry Maggert was an interesting book. It is neither my favorite nor least favorite, but it kept me entertained throughout. I had never read a book quite like this before. The dragons are what drew me and they did not disappoint!
The book was slightly confusing at first. For one thing, every other chapter or so broke from the main storyline to present journal entries of witnesses of the first demon attacks. It took me a while to figure out how to identify them (by the word “Dragons” at the beginning and the year and source at the end) and that they had little to do with the book except background information.
In addition, when characters were introduced, the author gave a full background on each before continuing with the story. All this did is make me confused as to who was who, who was still alive, when events happened, and what it all had to do with the general plot. The presentation reminded me of the style in which books were written in the past rather than the normal presentation of modern-style books; it was a little less personal and more descriptive. I enjoyed the presentation a little, but it was too confusing at the beginning.
Aside from that, the author did a good job with the world-building, character development, and the plot. The demons were often based off of mythological creatures or dinosaurs; the dragons were intelligent and wise. There were bloody battles, politics, and schemes. There was death, love, and victory.
I enjoyed the plot and world-building very much and would recommend this book to those who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction and dragons.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2016
This book brought a mix of feelings to me. When recounting facts from the past through the archive texts I felt as if I was in history class with a favorite teacher reading from a historical text. Then you would get into the meat of the story and it was as if I had drifted off into a daydream in some boring class and was imagining the story.
This author has done an amazing job taking the world and tearing it open to unleash hell. Denizens of the deep are released and painted in a picture that is so vivid I couldn't help but almost laugh at a few of the creations he came up with. I originally picked this book up because it was about dragons. Who doesn't love a great dragon book. I was shocked to find that there was so much more to the book than dragons and I loved it. Not to take away from the dragons though. They were awesome, strong, intelligent, and everything you could ask for in a dragon. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
This author has done an amazing job taking the world and tearing it open to unleash hell. Denizens of the deep are released and painted in a picture that is so vivid I couldn't help but almost laugh at a few of the creations he came up with. I originally picked this book up because it was about dragons. Who doesn't love a great dragon book. I was shocked to find that there was so much more to the book than dragons and I loved it. Not to take away from the dragons though. They were awesome, strong, intelligent, and everything you could ask for in a dragon. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
May 13, 2015
In a world torn to shreds by demons, Dragons in all their noble glory, come to the rescue. In the midst of tribulations there are times when humans need a reminder of the courage that can be found within themselves.
Banshee takes you on a journey through time with past accounts and present events featuring demons come to destroy and wondrous Dragons come to save. The Dragons themselves have such individual personalities I found myself categorizing them as if they were people.
I've been reading YA for a while and had to adjust momentarily to Terry Maggert's style. It's as if the reader is taken back in time to a style almost forgotten. A time when you sat by the fire and listened to a storyteller weaving a mysterious tale from his travels.
If you have been hungry for an adventure of epic proportions, look no further!
Banshee takes you on a journey through time with past accounts and present events featuring demons come to destroy and wondrous Dragons come to save. The Dragons themselves have such individual personalities I found myself categorizing them as if they were people.
I've been reading YA for a while and had to adjust momentarily to Terry Maggert's style. It's as if the reader is taken back in time to a style almost forgotten. A time when you sat by the fire and listened to a storyteller weaving a mysterious tale from his travels.
If you have been hungry for an adventure of epic proportions, look no further!
January 19, 2016
The plot of this book was interesting and unique, but I felt it would have been better had it focused on Savaan since the beginning, rather than near the end. There were a lot of characters that I sadly, did not really care for.
It was nice how the author did the world building, but I felt it kind of dragged on. I did like how we got tidbits to the past. Those were fun to read. Another good thing about the book was the author's writing. It was very detailed and made it easy to imagine the story. Though, I think it would have been better hd we gotten more description in what some of the characters looked like, but that is just my opinion.
Overall, the writing style was good and the plot was different than usual dystopian reads. I felt it did have flaws, which made it hard to enjoy the book at times, but overall it was just OK.
It was nice how the author did the world building, but I felt it kind of dragged on. I did like how we got tidbits to the past. Those were fun to read. Another good thing about the book was the author's writing. It was very detailed and made it easy to imagine the story. Though, I think it would have been better hd we gotten more description in what some of the characters looked like, but that is just my opinion.
Overall, the writing style was good and the plot was different than usual dystopian reads. I felt it did have flaws, which made it hard to enjoy the book at times, but overall it was just OK.
April 29, 2018
Please take this review lightly as I can be very picky when it comes to specific stories not written in the Young Adult genre.
Know that I did my best to read this book. I really wanted to love it, because I love dragon stories to death. I really wanted to love this book. I did. I marked this book as DNF at 17% for the reasons listed in this review. I’m not here to be harsh towards the author, as I know every author takes precious time and effort to craft amazing books. Considering that this book before this specific review was getting really good ratings, I’m doing my best to show that I, in no way, am doing this to be mean...
March 27, 2015
Mama’s Thoughts on Banshee:
This was absolutely original, and grabbed my interest straightaway. Of course I’m always up for a good fantasy read, but these days you can never be too sure until you dive right in. Banshee is unlike other epic fantasies in that it’s told through the lens of dystopian fiction. By that I mean, we have an end of world scenario, but instead of zombies or plague, it’s dragons! Maggert has a beautiful prose style that lends a lyrical voice to an often underwhelming genre. 5 stars hands down.
***ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for my 100% honest opinion, which you find here.***
This was absolutely original, and grabbed my interest straightaway. Of course I’m always up for a good fantasy read, but these days you can never be too sure until you dive right in. Banshee is unlike other epic fantasies in that it’s told through the lens of dystopian fiction. By that I mean, we have an end of world scenario, but instead of zombies or plague, it’s dragons! Maggert has a beautiful prose style that lends a lyrical voice to an often underwhelming genre. 5 stars hands down.
***ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for my 100% honest opinion, which you find here.***
September 22, 2015
Primero vinieron los dragones. Y antes de preguntar por qué, los demonios surgieron de las profundidades de la Tierra para devorar todo lo que se le cruce por el camino.
Abandoné en el 5to cap. La narración es tipo crónica, muy poco diálogo, muchos personajes introducidos de forma tal que no sabemos quién puede (o no) ser protagonista. Muchos monstruos, sangre y tripa. Amo los dragones, lo demás me da igual.
Abandoné en el 5to cap. La narración es tipo crónica, muy poco diálogo, muchos personajes introducidos de forma tal que no sabemos quién puede (o no) ser protagonista. Muchos monstruos, sangre y tripa. Amo los dragones, lo demás me da igual.
July 31, 2015
ABR's original Banshee audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
As you may know post-apocalyptic audiobooks with or without zombies, but especially with, are all the rage or maybe they are just getting more coverage these days. Terry Maggert has decided to jump in the flow of the raging river of destruction of the earth and human perseverance. Yet he was able to spin it in a way that I have not seen before. No zombies. Instead dragons and demons. Sounds so exciting right!
Demons rise from the bowels of hell destroying all that humanity has built. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, dragons rise from their hiding places to help defend humanity. We are told various eye witness accounts in documentary style throughout the story. Giving a great insight into the war that ensued that the characters along would not have given us. While it was fascinating that Maggert ventured into the biology of the life that was left in the world, I found it tedious at times. Even though I loved that idea of what life became.
Even though it has been a long long time since I read anything from the world of Pernn, a place that Maggert obviously has a more recent experience with. He was able to pay homage to the classic while creating something of his own. Because in its simplest form here we have the Dragon Rides of Pernn fighting hell on earth.
I applaud Maggert for doing something unexpected and unusual while keep some basic familiarity. If you have become board with all of the similar apocalyptic stories out there, Banshee could be quite refreshing to you. If all you want is a dark fantasy, you will find that here as well.
This was my first time listening to Henry McNulty. He has a very deep voice and a fast speaking pace. I found it difficult at times to follow what he was saying because of the speed that he was going. Do you know what I mean when I say that certain narrators connect with the listeners? Well, unfortunately MCnulty and I did not connect. When I do not connect to a narrator, my mind wonders and my attention fades. However, he has some great characterizations that really helped immerse me into the fantastical world that Maggert created.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
As you may know post-apocalyptic audiobooks with or without zombies, but especially with, are all the rage or maybe they are just getting more coverage these days. Terry Maggert has decided to jump in the flow of the raging river of destruction of the earth and human perseverance. Yet he was able to spin it in a way that I have not seen before. No zombies. Instead dragons and demons. Sounds so exciting right!
Demons rise from the bowels of hell destroying all that humanity has built. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, dragons rise from their hiding places to help defend humanity. We are told various eye witness accounts in documentary style throughout the story. Giving a great insight into the war that ensued that the characters along would not have given us. While it was fascinating that Maggert ventured into the biology of the life that was left in the world, I found it tedious at times. Even though I loved that idea of what life became.
Even though it has been a long long time since I read anything from the world of Pernn, a place that Maggert obviously has a more recent experience with. He was able to pay homage to the classic while creating something of his own. Because in its simplest form here we have the Dragon Rides of Pernn fighting hell on earth.
I applaud Maggert for doing something unexpected and unusual while keep some basic familiarity. If you have become board with all of the similar apocalyptic stories out there, Banshee could be quite refreshing to you. If all you want is a dark fantasy, you will find that here as well.
This was my first time listening to Henry McNulty. He has a very deep voice and a fast speaking pace. I found it difficult at times to follow what he was saying because of the speed that he was going. Do you know what I mean when I say that certain narrators connect with the listeners? Well, unfortunately MCnulty and I did not connect. When I do not connect to a narrator, my mind wonders and my attention fades. However, he has some great characterizations that really helped immerse me into the fantastical world that Maggert created.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
November 6, 2015
Terry Maggert is brilliant to write such a wonderful book.It was long and very fanciful in a way of warrior's and the lands that he paints for you as well as the history of the dragons.He created demons and hell creatures that Satan would be happy to claim as his own. It makes you want to dwell in this world he created just a little longer. This starts as a bit of a documentary or history lesson but is not boring. He opens the depth of the imagination and the plausibility of this world, where humans ride on the backs of the great dragons to fight and defend humankind for the depths of hell spawn trying to destroy the world. We meet French Heavener who is a great and brilliant leader and noblemen.He coordinates the ground troops and dragon warrior's like Saavin and her benevolent dragon Banshee to inflict the most damage to the enemy, the army of demons.This takes place 60 yrs after the apparent's of the first dragons.They are wise and fearless fighters that have awoken their deep sleep to save humankind and fight side by side with them to triumph over evil.Although they had been asleep for hundreds of thousands of years, the Dragons were aware of the history of man. They were able to clarify what the people have forgotten about history. One of the best parts of the book I loved was the Philosophical conversations the dragon had with the old Monks.It was funny to me the way both the Monks and Dragon handled the ignorant townspeople that had seen the dragon fly in and had planned on killing the beast because they were under the belief that dragons were evil.This took place shortly after the dragons first arrived. Another part of the story I really liked was where French had taken Saavin to explore the cave the hell beast came out of. to The creatures Mr. Maggert describes are just amazing. This whole world he created is AMAZING. Well written characters and the landscape he paints, wow.
November 11, 2016
A different spin on Post-Apocalyptic Books
3.25 out of 5 stars
The narration for this is interesting. I won’t say bad because I’ve heard bad narration before. But the performance was great at times and left something to be wanted at others. Henry McNulty has a deep and harrowing voice which works for parts of this, but for others, it just felt too deep and dark. The production quality was great, though. I didn’t notice any issues.
When I first saw this book, I had my doubts. I’m not a huge fantasy fan. Honestly, I usually dislike it (other than player Elder Scrolls, and even then I barely use magic). When I was reading the description of the book, I had one thought. This is different. Different can be good, and different can be really bad. But, Banshee was kind of in the middle.
Sure, this is a post-apocalyptic book. But it’s also a fantasy book with dragons in it. And not “these things were mutated from x-and-y” dragons. But real, “I must believe in you” dragons. My inner voice had a really hard time with this. But, if you enjoy that sort of thing then this review is not for you, but I’d bet this book is.
As a post-apocalyptic book, it was pretty good. I would give it a 4 out of 5 just based solely on that. As a fantasy book, I don’t even know how to rate it. It’s just not my genre.
Maggert’s style of writing is real… proper. It made this book feel a little long winded at times. But overall, the dark and ominous tone mixed with the language used left me wanting a little more. Readers who are looking for “real” post-apocalyptic descriptions and reactions will be a little disappointed.
I’m not usually one to point out the shortcomings of novels, but I just had to warn people that are looking at this from a purely P-A standpoint, you might want to move on. If you enjoy dragons and post-apocalyptic novels, then this book is definitely for you.
3.25 out of 5 stars
The narration for this is interesting. I won’t say bad because I’ve heard bad narration before. But the performance was great at times and left something to be wanted at others. Henry McNulty has a deep and harrowing voice which works for parts of this, but for others, it just felt too deep and dark. The production quality was great, though. I didn’t notice any issues.
When I first saw this book, I had my doubts. I’m not a huge fantasy fan. Honestly, I usually dislike it (other than player Elder Scrolls, and even then I barely use magic). When I was reading the description of the book, I had one thought. This is different. Different can be good, and different can be really bad. But, Banshee was kind of in the middle.
Sure, this is a post-apocalyptic book. But it’s also a fantasy book with dragons in it. And not “these things were mutated from x-and-y” dragons. But real, “I must believe in you” dragons. My inner voice had a really hard time with this. But, if you enjoy that sort of thing then this review is not for you, but I’d bet this book is.
As a post-apocalyptic book, it was pretty good. I would give it a 4 out of 5 just based solely on that. As a fantasy book, I don’t even know how to rate it. It’s just not my genre.
Maggert’s style of writing is real… proper. It made this book feel a little long winded at times. But overall, the dark and ominous tone mixed with the language used left me wanting a little more. Readers who are looking for “real” post-apocalyptic descriptions and reactions will be a little disappointed.
I’m not usually one to point out the shortcomings of novels, but I just had to warn people that are looking at this from a purely P-A standpoint, you might want to move on. If you enjoy dragons and post-apocalyptic novels, then this book is definitely for you.
April 20, 2015
Terry Maggert creates a truly dismal outlook for humanity in his novel, "Banshee", save one thing--Dragons.
"Banshee" starts off much like a documentary with accounts from eyewitnesses about various (horrible) events. Demons rise from the depths of the earth and overtake cities, destroying most of mankind. Some people survive and provide first hand stories of the horrible slaughter that unfolds all over the world. Storyline follows these accounts, at first as a sprinkle and then become more and more important as the story progresses. "Banshee" is exciting and very "Tolkein-esque" novel to me. To me, Terry's book is an epic tale of war, dragons, and survival, but it is just like Tolkein's stories where they are a "meal" to read. It takes awhile to digest, especially since I have been reading more YA books lately, but Banshee is definitely a great story!
"Banshee" starts off much like a documentary with accounts from eyewitnesses about various (horrible) events. Demons rise from the depths of the earth and overtake cities, destroying most of mankind. Some people survive and provide first hand stories of the horrible slaughter that unfolds all over the world. Storyline follows these accounts, at first as a sprinkle and then become more and more important as the story progresses. "Banshee" is exciting and very "Tolkein-esque" novel to me. To me, Terry's book is an epic tale of war, dragons, and survival, but it is just like Tolkein's stories where they are a "meal" to read. It takes awhile to digest, especially since I have been reading more YA books lately, but Banshee is definitely a great story!
December 24, 2015
Fantasy is a unique genre. By nature it not only commands but requires a level of disbelief that other genres can dream of. Banshee compounds this by introducing science fiction elements. Sci-fi is yet another genre that requires more imagination on the part of the reader. Many indie authors aren’t up to the task and fall short of their grand intentions, leaving readers disappointed. As George R.R. Martin has proven, there is a science to character, plot, and world development in fantasy novels.
Thankfully, Maggert delivers.
To read a full review of this excellent book, check out http://horrorfuel.com/book/banshee-by...
Thankfully, Maggert delivers.
To read a full review of this excellent book, check out http://horrorfuel.com/book/banshee-by...
May 10, 2016
I received this book after winning a Goodreads giveaway.
When I started reading this book I didn't know what to expect from it, I only knew that there were going to be dragons and a war. I oove not knowing what to expect as that leads to pleasant surprises like this one. I really enjoyed the story and the characters and how it all developed. I also liked the way that bits if chronicles were embedded between chapters. This added new and interesting information and facts about the story that completely changed and improved it.
When I started reading this book I didn't know what to expect from it, I only knew that there were going to be dragons and a war. I oove not knowing what to expect as that leads to pleasant surprises like this one. I really enjoyed the story and the characters and how it all developed. I also liked the way that bits if chronicles were embedded between chapters. This added new and interesting information and facts about the story that completely changed and improved it.
April 25, 2015
Completely different!
This book was a breath of fresh air! Completely different from all of the other dystopian stories out there. Instead of nuclear war, death by illness , or zombies decimating the population- you have demons and dragons! If you want to read something completely different from everything out there, read this book!
This book was a breath of fresh air! Completely different from all of the other dystopian stories out there. Instead of nuclear war, death by illness , or zombies decimating the population- you have demons and dragons! If you want to read something completely different from everything out there, read this book!
January 3, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.The story is about how humans are trying to survive in a world invaded by demons.Dragons unite with humans to fight against their oppressors.I thoroughly enjoyed this unique mix of characters.The authors work fits into the fantasy genre of J.R.R. Tolkein and Terry Goodkind.I
December 11, 2015
An interesting variation on a theme.
While most of us have read books detailing the end of civilization, Mr. Maggert has thrown us a curve ball with a new variation, death by demon. An interesting new theme, interesting and highly readable. I look forward to sequels, as the ending is open, and recommend the book.
While most of us have read books detailing the end of civilization, Mr. Maggert has thrown us a curve ball with a new variation, death by demon. An interesting new theme, interesting and highly readable. I look forward to sequels, as the ending is open, and recommend the book.
April 25, 2017
I met author Terry Maggert at LibertyCon several years ago, snagged by the tagline for his then-latest book: “Come for the waffles. Stay for the magic.” Unfortunately, despite combining two of my favorite things in the world, Halfway Dead had not yet released, so instead I opted to try the next best thing, which was “the apocalypse but with dragons,” a.k.a. Banshee.
The reason why this is review is so late is 1) life, which required me to 2) read it twice, which I needed to do anyway because my first reaction was *excited pterodactyl noises.* This is the kind of reaction every author hopes to elicit, but unfortunately it does not make for an articulate review.
My now-articulate response: Banshee is a must-read for fans of dragons, apocalyptic fiction, vividly realized worlds, and competent, capable characters.
Of all the characters, Saavin is the most nondescript, but this is largely because she’s so defined by her role as a dragon rider who gets stuff done—because in this world, if you don’t get stuff done, you die, even if you have a dragon on your side. The more clearly-realized French is equally as competent as she is, though in a different way: A product of Appalachia, French knows how to survive in coarse conditions, especially in terms of gathering and organizing resources, but he’s far from the stereotypical hillbilly one might expect. He carries the novel and keeps most of the cast alive through sheer planning alone, and it was refreshing to read about a “hillbilly” who was not only more than a caricature, but an admirable leader. I’m not sure that I’d follow him into the hell cave, but I’d definitely follow him elsewhere.
Outside of Saavin and French, the cast is huge, but just as well characterized. None of the characters are the bombastic badasses one might expect of a novel like this, but many are badass in realistic ways, from the Paddy-Macs, a family of sharp-shooters, to Harriet Fleming, a New Madrid leader who knows she’s dying from terminal illness but still does her job, despite both internal and external odds. Of course, humans wouldn’t be human without some politics, which is where Colvin Watley and his lackeys come in. He’s a charismatic, folksy type well suited to the personality of his surroundings; he’s also a manipulative, useless a-hole who wants power and influence in New Madrid but doesn’t have the skills to merit it. Still, that hasn’t stopped him from gaining some traction against French, and the conflict there is nearly as intense as the conflict against the demons—perhaps more so, since a Watley victory implies the inevitable loss of the last human outpost, all because of local politics. The balance of apocalyptic conflicts and relatable conflicts are half of what make this novel work so well.
The other half is the world. While I love dragons in all situations, I especially like when authors place them in modern settings because there’s no way for a dragon to make a small impact. A creature as huge and epic as a dragon irrevocably changes the society around it, and it’s always fun to see how authors choose to express those changes. (Well, fun for the reader. In Banshee’s case, humans face so much hellacious crap that, well, the apocalypse happens. But in their defense, the dragons were trying to stop that.)
That said, Banshee is primarily a world-building novel. The circumstances and history of the setting are as much a part of the novel as the characters attempting to survive it, and though the characters are interesting and the plot moves at a steady pace, it’s frequently interrupted by records from the Bulwark Archival Materials, which provide a look at what’s going in the world outside (or before) the main characters’. On my first read-through, I found these a little jarring, as they slow the momentum of the plot and sometimes don’t contribute to the narrative immediately surrounding them. However, on my second read, I actually enjoyed them quite a lot. They provide flesh to a world that would have been a mere skeleton had the novel dedicated itself to a straightforward storyline, and though not all are strictly necessary to the plot, they season it nicely, providing glimpses of the resources derived from the demons, the origins and personalities of the other dragons, etc.
The cast of dragons is pretty huge, too, and I regret not being able to spend more time with them, especially Banshee. Despite his name being the title of the book, his significance never seems to be greater than that of the other main characters, and I spent the novel hoping for that special detail or scene that would make him stand out above the rest. It doesn’t happen, but then, all the characters are pretty epic anyway, so it’s not much of a loss.
My only other gripe has to do with the minor character Orontes, who pops up to catalyze the story, disappears to the background for most of the rest, and then pops up at the end again for an unexpected twist that I couldn’t justify even after my second reading. However, it is a twist that demands a sequel, to which I say PLZ TERRY MAGGERT I NEED MORE DRAGONS.
In the meantime, now I can start on Halfway Dead.
The reason why this is review is so late is 1) life, which required me to 2) read it twice, which I needed to do anyway because my first reaction was *excited pterodactyl noises.* This is the kind of reaction every author hopes to elicit, but unfortunately it does not make for an articulate review.
My now-articulate response: Banshee is a must-read for fans of dragons, apocalyptic fiction, vividly realized worlds, and competent, capable characters.
Of all the characters, Saavin is the most nondescript, but this is largely because she’s so defined by her role as a dragon rider who gets stuff done—because in this world, if you don’t get stuff done, you die, even if you have a dragon on your side. The more clearly-realized French is equally as competent as she is, though in a different way: A product of Appalachia, French knows how to survive in coarse conditions, especially in terms of gathering and organizing resources, but he’s far from the stereotypical hillbilly one might expect. He carries the novel and keeps most of the cast alive through sheer planning alone, and it was refreshing to read about a “hillbilly” who was not only more than a caricature, but an admirable leader. I’m not sure that I’d follow him into the hell cave, but I’d definitely follow him elsewhere.
Outside of Saavin and French, the cast is huge, but just as well characterized. None of the characters are the bombastic badasses one might expect of a novel like this, but many are badass in realistic ways, from the Paddy-Macs, a family of sharp-shooters, to Harriet Fleming, a New Madrid leader who knows she’s dying from terminal illness but still does her job, despite both internal and external odds. Of course, humans wouldn’t be human without some politics, which is where Colvin Watley and his lackeys come in. He’s a charismatic, folksy type well suited to the personality of his surroundings; he’s also a manipulative, useless a-hole who wants power and influence in New Madrid but doesn’t have the skills to merit it. Still, that hasn’t stopped him from gaining some traction against French, and the conflict there is nearly as intense as the conflict against the demons—perhaps more so, since a Watley victory implies the inevitable loss of the last human outpost, all because of local politics. The balance of apocalyptic conflicts and relatable conflicts are half of what make this novel work so well.
The other half is the world. While I love dragons in all situations, I especially like when authors place them in modern settings because there’s no way for a dragon to make a small impact. A creature as huge and epic as a dragon irrevocably changes the society around it, and it’s always fun to see how authors choose to express those changes. (Well, fun for the reader. In Banshee’s case, humans face so much hellacious crap that, well, the apocalypse happens. But in their defense, the dragons were trying to stop that.)
That said, Banshee is primarily a world-building novel. The circumstances and history of the setting are as much a part of the novel as the characters attempting to survive it, and though the characters are interesting and the plot moves at a steady pace, it’s frequently interrupted by records from the Bulwark Archival Materials, which provide a look at what’s going in the world outside (or before) the main characters’. On my first read-through, I found these a little jarring, as they slow the momentum of the plot and sometimes don’t contribute to the narrative immediately surrounding them. However, on my second read, I actually enjoyed them quite a lot. They provide flesh to a world that would have been a mere skeleton had the novel dedicated itself to a straightforward storyline, and though not all are strictly necessary to the plot, they season it nicely, providing glimpses of the resources derived from the demons, the origins and personalities of the other dragons, etc.
The cast of dragons is pretty huge, too, and I regret not being able to spend more time with them, especially Banshee. Despite his name being the title of the book, his significance never seems to be greater than that of the other main characters, and I spent the novel hoping for that special detail or scene that would make him stand out above the rest. It doesn’t happen, but then, all the characters are pretty epic anyway, so it’s not much of a loss.
My only other gripe has to do with the minor character Orontes, who pops up to catalyze the story, disappears to the background for most of the rest, and then pops up at the end again for an unexpected twist that I couldn’t justify even after my second reading. However, it is a twist that demands a sequel, to which I say PLZ TERRY MAGGERT I NEED MORE DRAGONS.
In the meantime, now I can start on Halfway Dead.
July 20, 2015
Just dragons, that is all.
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