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Dragon Seeker #1
The Hidden Academy
In the Malabar Empire, young people can be bonded to Legendary Beasts and gain their powers. They are called Seekers. There are Seekers of tigers, lions, monkeys – all the creatures under the sun.
But a Seeker of the Dragon? Such hasn’t been seen for centuries.
Until Jaden of Lessertown.
Jaden dreamt of his Legendary Beast on the morning his life changed forever. Enlisted to become an Imperial Seeker and serve the cruel Emperor, he is thrown into an initiation ceremony that is brutal beyond comprehension. But it doesn’t last for long, because there are others who wish to train Seekers, rebels from within the mysterious Hidden City.
It is in this Hidden City where Jaden will learn how to control his magic and find a cause worth fighting for. But being the first Dragon Seeker in centuries brings attention, and not all of it is good…
But a Seeker of the Dragon? Such hasn’t been seen for centuries.
Until Jaden of Lessertown.
Jaden dreamt of his Legendary Beast on the morning his life changed forever. Enlisted to become an Imperial Seeker and serve the cruel Emperor, he is thrown into an initiation ceremony that is brutal beyond comprehension. But it doesn’t last for long, because there are others who wish to train Seekers, rebels from within the mysterious Hidden City.
It is in this Hidden City where Jaden will learn how to control his magic and find a cause worth fighting for. But being the first Dragon Seeker in centuries brings attention, and not all of it is good…
- GenresFantasy
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2022
326 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 12, 2022
not bad just not for me, I lost interest which is disappointing. Hopefully it was just my slump because I don't think this books is sad
March 27, 2022
Yet another dragon book. This book kept me entertained throughout, but I won't be reading book two. I've read so many books with a similar story that I simply cannot get myself to start book two.
It had great grammer, I never had a point where I had to go back and re-read to figure out what was happening (a good thing), and an adequete ending that leads into book two.
It was a good book, but wasnt all that unique. Unless this is your 15th dragon book, I doubt you would notice the similarities.
I rated it 4/5.
It had great grammer, I never had a point where I had to go back and re-read to figure out what was happening (a good thing), and an adequete ending that leads into book two.
It was a good book, but wasnt all that unique. Unless this is your 15th dragon book, I doubt you would notice the similarities.
I rated it 4/5.
May 7, 2024
Nothing particularly special about the story. Likely will not continue reading the story
February 16, 2024
It's entirely likely that this book is intended for a younger audience than myself, but there were reactions from characters that just irked me, or descriptions that were hyperbolic for no reason, and I just couldn't stand it. I got about a third of the way into the book.
As an example, the dormitory that was inside a living tree housed "thousands" of animals in the ceiling. The city had "thousands" of spoke roads that radiated away from the city center. No, neither of those numbers would be in the thousands, not even the hundreds. I'm not even sure the number of spoke roads in a city could number more than twenty. If each road is ten feet wide (and I'm being conservative here) and the space between each road for a building is only 100 feet, then for there to be 1000 roads at the center of the city meeting in a ring around a central plaza/forest/whatever then that ring road is 20 miles long and the plaza in the center has is six and a half miles across. The entire city of Huntsville, AL would fit inside with room to spare.
Not to mention that the hidden city is so well hidden the only way to get there is to blindfold yourself and ride a horse that has already been there. No, that's ridiculous. I don't even care if magic is involved, there's no way this would ever work unless the city was [i]literally[/i] not physically located in the world, because you'd have to know you were close to the city in order to blindfold yourself (a day and a half on horseback is only about 40 miles). You can't convince me that no one from the city has ever either (a) left the city without blindfolding themselves or (b) tried to enter the city without blindfolding themselves over the course of [i]over two hundred years[/i]. Heck, just the knowledge of when to blindfold yourself is enough to locate the city on a map, even if that region is a very large region, it's still small enough to grid-search. There's an implied "it can move" because the city is a creature, but that just makes me call bullshit harder.
Then you have the field of purple flowers with the statues in it with the belief that if you walk into the flowers you'll turn into a statue too. "Has anyone ever tried it?" "No." Bullshit. If anyone had, either (a) there would be a statue of a guy tentatively entering the flowers or (b) the rumor is false. There is a distinct lack of (a) as evidenced by the description of the field that all the statues are frolicking about in the center of the patch.
You can wave your hands and say "magic" all you want, it's still a lampshade. Ten bucks says the main character dares to enter the flower patch within a month and nothing happens, but he's too spooked to tell anyone. Oooh, how mysterious~
Oh, and then there's Lyra apparently existed to greet the new arrivals and take them to the dorm (she's introduced, takes them through some sightseeing, and then turns them over two two other guys, before exiting stage left, having said maybe 50 words the entire time, some of which is to explain the coach that doesn't need a driver because the horses know where to go; you know, [i]like how you entered the city blind folded[/i]), during which there's a fountain/statue in an area that boosts your magic powers. And she [i]forgets to tell them to not get too close to it[/i] for their own safety. You had [b]one job[/b], Lyra, and you fucked it up.
As an example, the dormitory that was inside a living tree housed "thousands" of animals in the ceiling. The city had "thousands" of spoke roads that radiated away from the city center. No, neither of those numbers would be in the thousands, not even the hundreds. I'm not even sure the number of spoke roads in a city could number more than twenty. If each road is ten feet wide (and I'm being conservative here) and the space between each road for a building is only 100 feet, then for there to be 1000 roads at the center of the city meeting in a ring around a central plaza/forest/whatever then that ring road is 20 miles long and the plaza in the center has is six and a half miles across. The entire city of Huntsville, AL would fit inside with room to spare.
Not to mention that the hidden city is so well hidden the only way to get there is to blindfold yourself and ride a horse that has already been there. No, that's ridiculous. I don't even care if magic is involved, there's no way this would ever work unless the city was [i]literally[/i] not physically located in the world, because you'd have to know you were close to the city in order to blindfold yourself (a day and a half on horseback is only about 40 miles). You can't convince me that no one from the city has ever either (a) left the city without blindfolding themselves or (b) tried to enter the city without blindfolding themselves over the course of [i]over two hundred years[/i]. Heck, just the knowledge of when to blindfold yourself is enough to locate the city on a map, even if that region is a very large region, it's still small enough to grid-search. There's an implied "it can move" because the city is a creature, but that just makes me call bullshit harder.
Then you have the field of purple flowers with the statues in it with the belief that if you walk into the flowers you'll turn into a statue too. "Has anyone ever tried it?" "No." Bullshit. If anyone had, either (a) there would be a statue of a guy tentatively entering the flowers or (b) the rumor is false. There is a distinct lack of (a) as evidenced by the description of the field that all the statues are frolicking about in the center of the patch.
You can wave your hands and say "magic" all you want, it's still a lampshade. Ten bucks says the main character dares to enter the flower patch within a month and nothing happens, but he's too spooked to tell anyone. Oooh, how mysterious~
Oh, and then there's Lyra apparently existed to greet the new arrivals and take them to the dorm (she's introduced, takes them through some sightseeing, and then turns them over two two other guys, before exiting stage left, having said maybe 50 words the entire time, some of which is to explain the coach that doesn't need a driver because the horses know where to go; you know, [i]like how you entered the city blind folded[/i]), during which there's a fountain/statue in an area that boosts your magic powers. And she [i]forgets to tell them to not get too close to it[/i] for their own safety. You had [b]one job[/b], Lyra, and you fucked it up.
June 29, 2022
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2024
The Hidden Academy is the first book in this series, and while it's (kind of) a dragon story, that's only secondary in this book. I suspect the dragon will not be secondary in other books in the series, but for now, .... In any case, if you like typical academy type stories, then this one will suit you just fine, especially if you're a fan of dragons as well. The story works well, but it's it's ability to stand out amongst the crowd of academy/dragon books of today isn't really a big featuring, but it's a decent story nonetheless, and it is certainly worth the read, so feel free to add it to your read list.
March 28, 2022
Interesting, and a Good Beginning
The storyline follows a classic underdog theme, with an actual “rise from the sewers” waif becoming the story’s main hero. The narrative is supported with good character development and includes a range of supporting cast members, including the expected nefarious ones. This books ends on a positive note but not yet the end of the story.
The storyline follows a classic underdog theme, with an actual “rise from the sewers” waif becoming the story’s main hero. The narrative is supported with good character development and includes a range of supporting cast members, including the expected nefarious ones. This books ends on a positive note but not yet the end of the story.
May 4, 2022
Fun read for all ages
Fun , just as fast enough to keep your attention. The characters a likeable. The evil is just waiting to engulf them, let the fight between good and evil begain.
Fun , just as fast enough to keep your attention. The characters a likeable. The evil is just waiting to engulf them, let the fight between good and evil begain.
May 15, 2022
Unique story arc about Legendary Beasts choosing humans (Seekers) who then take on the Unique qualities of the Beasts!! We meet Jaden as he learns his Beast and his journey to save the Hidden City and other Seekers from the evil Emperor Kalamin! Great first book, cannot wait for the others!!
September 12, 2023
This book was written for a 12 year old, not an adult. So, I don't think I'll be moving forward with this series. Sorry!
No romance and no swearing whatsoever.
As for the narration: Evan Jordan was pretty good it was just the story that was so boring.
No romance and no swearing whatsoever.
As for the narration: Evan Jordan was pretty good it was just the story that was so boring.
January 28, 2022
Yeah !!
As one of your many fan's a likely one of the eldest, I must say that this has the potential to be your best yet! Really looking forward to the next.
As one of your many fan's a likely one of the eldest, I must say that this has the potential to be your best yet! Really looking forward to the next.
February 18, 2022
Not an awful lot of novelty.
March 8, 2022
Good read
I enjoyed the book and the evolving characters. Book two should really get things moving. I'm looking forward to book two.
I enjoyed the book and the evolving characters. Book two should really get things moving. I'm looking forward to book two.
March 13, 2022
Fantastic
D B King keeps you in his grasp from the momment you start reading one of his books. You do not want to stop reading.
D B King keeps you in his grasp from the momment you start reading one of his books. You do not want to stop reading.
March 23, 2022
Best reading
You are a fantastic writer! Great story lines and full of interest, hard to put down. Interesting from word one to the very end. Can't wait for the next book !
You are a fantastic writer! Great story lines and full of interest, hard to put down. Interesting from word one to the very end. Can't wait for the next book !
April 13, 2022
Interesting story
I enjoyed the book very much. I would love to read the second book. The characters show good development. Keep writing!
I enjoyed the book very much. I would love to read the second book. The characters show good development. Keep writing!
April 17, 2022
Outstanding!
Dante has done it again. Great characters around the great story. I look forward to the rest of this series in any other series he starts to make.
Dante has done it again. Great characters around the great story. I look forward to the rest of this series in any other series he starts to make.
May 20, 2022
Good stort
Wish the story just kept going. One of the best I've read for a while. Keep them coming don't k ow how you think of them all.
Wish the story just kept going. One of the best I've read for a while. Keep them coming don't k ow how you think of them all.
October 5, 2022
Cute
Fairly decent story. Nothing particularly grand, but something to read that isn't junk.its at least original...lacking some depth, but a pretty good story.
Fairly decent story. Nothing particularly grand, but something to read that isn't junk.its at least original...lacking some depth, but a pretty good story.
June 14, 2023
It's a good start
Starts well goes a little flat but picks up the pace. As stated it's a good start that I hope continues to be built upon. Here's to hoping
Starts well goes a little flat but picks up the pace. As stated it's a good start that I hope continues to be built upon. Here's to hoping
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews