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Dragon Prince

(Dragon Prince #1)

Melanie Rawn

3.95 · Rating details · 15,267 ratings · 453 reviews

The Dragon Lord—
When Rohan became the new prince of the Desert, ruler of the kingdom granted his family for as long as the Long Sands spewed fire, he took the crown with two goals in mind. First an.d foremost, he sought to bring permanent peace to his world of divided princedoms, realms hovering always on the brink of war. And, in a land where dragon-slaying was a proof of ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 574 pages

Published December 6th 1988 by DAW Books (first published December 1988)

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Apr 01, 2012 Zackery Arbela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Gather round children, and cast your minds back to the ye old days of the late 80's/early 90's, when fantasy was still very much an underground thing, most stories were tedious Tolkien retreads or Dungeons and Dragons sessions put down on paper, and writers of the feminine persuasion were notably light on the ground. Which makes this book and the various series it spawn so interesting....

Nowadays, female fantasy authors are a pretty common sight, so it's a bit shocking to consider just how ahead ...more

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Jan 09, 2012 mark monday rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-60s-70s-80s, all-fucked-up

read during my College Years

I Remember: completely overlong, bloated... some surprisingly good writing at times... a trashy epic... spousal abuse... rape rape rape rape rape rape... rape for both genders!... some actual dragonslaying... a bizarre soap opera filled with machiavellian intrigue... completely unappealing protagonists... continued reading just to see how bad it would get... helped me to dismissively reject the Fantasy genre during college (glad i got over that).

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Mar 06, 2013 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller rated it liked it · review of another edition

I read this book sooooo long ago, I could probably only tell you a couple of things about it. The problem is, even a few weeks after reading it, I doubt I could have come up with much more. It was one of those books where the concept was interesting as all get-out, but I found myself struggling with the execution. At the time I thought it was a lack of concentration, but now that I'm a little more well-read in the genre, I think it was just a little dry. Not quite boring, but on the cusp if you ...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Bookwraiths rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy

Really enjoyed this story. Sure, there were some eye rolling moments, a bit too much telling rather than showing, but gradually I grew attached to this place and these people and can’t wait to read the next installment of the series.

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Apr 25, 2015 Wyrdness rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: lets-forget-this-happened, fantasy, shelf-of-awful

I feel rather betrayed by one of my favourite authors (Grace Draven) giving this 5 stars. I can understand why she likes it so much, it is well written and manages to weave several character threads in to an involved story without giving too much focus to any one in particular. Yet I found myself disliking most of the characters by the end of the novel and for me personally that always leads to a bad rating. Add that to the problems I had with the events near the end of the book and, well, it wa I feel rather betrayed by one of my favourite authors (Grace Draven) giving this 5 stars. I can understand why she likes it so much, it is well written and manages to weave several character threads in to an involved story without giving too much focus to any one in particular. Yet I found myself disliking most of the characters by the end of the novel and for me personally that always leads to a bad rating. Add that to the problems I had with the events near the end of the book and, well, it was not going to end well...

For me this book was going quite well up until somewhere around the 70% mark, then it fell over a cliff and never managed to redeem itself in my eyes. Up until that point I'd been enjoying the (not so subtle) intrigues and how the characters felt like they truly influenced events around them, but I'm sorry, the entire concept of one of the protagonists I'm supposed to be sympathetic to hate-raping the daughter of his enemy is a massive big read X for me. Nope, just no, I am done.

(view spoiler)

The amount of character twisting involved in these events completely robbed me of any enjoyment I was having, which is really a shame because I otherwise very much liked the world this was set in.

If you are unbothered by rape-y bits and can overlook the hypocrisy of the main characters becoming just like the evil, abusive enemy they fight so hard against (which could have been cool if it showed any signs of being intentionally done), then perhaps you will enjoy this more than I did. ...more

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Jan 08, 2008 Rachel rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: People enjoying depraved acts and suchlike

Recommended to Rachel by: nobody

Shelves: fantasy, love, worst

Back in the 90s, I was helping by volunteering to set up a book sale at the local library with my mom. We also got first pick of the books there. I saw these books and they had nice covers, and an intriguing back. I asked my mom if I could buy them (being young myself). Ironically, it was from the box(es) of books we'd donated! And so, we bought back our own books, so that I could read them. (My mom swore she'd never donate books without running them by me first again.. not sure if she's held to ...more

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Aug 27, 2007 Nicola O. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

One of my favorite series. Owes quite a bit to Dune, I think, but creative enough on its own merits. In series like this, you often get either great characters or great plotting, but this has both. Heroes with dark sides, villains with layers, love and family and politics and magic twine together to keep your interest through several generations.

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Feb 23, 2011 Terri rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: high-fantasy, fantasy, adult, dragons

The story is very political, which is fine and normal in fantasy literature. It was the characters who disappointed me. Rohan's first few chapters introduced him as smart, capable and calculated. He wanted more for his kingdom than constant war, and seemed set to be a great literary hero. Unfortunately, his love for Sioned was not so beautiful. Like most of her male characters, Rohan's carnal urges overwhelmed his reason throughout the entire novel. His lust, or "Fire," for Sioned (and hers for The story is very political, which is fine and normal in fantasy literature. It was the characters who disappointed me. Rohan's first few chapters introduced him as smart, capable and calculated. He wanted more for his kingdom than constant war, and seemed set to be a great literary hero. Unfortunately, his love for Sioned was not so beautiful. Like most of her male characters, Rohan's carnal urges overwhelmed his reason throughout the entire novel. His lust, or "Fire," for Sioned (and hers for him) seemed to be the driving factor in their relationship. Only a few times in the book did the characters think fond thoughts of each other that had nothing to do with their sexual relationship. That's fine and good for a married couple, but their relationship should have been based on more than sex. At the end of the book, I still don't really feel I know the characters and more worrisome, I don't like what I do know.

Rohan is eventually kidnapped by Ianthe, Roelstra's oldest daughter. Roelstra, despite his mistresses, has not been able to get a son, and Ianthe wants to conceive one with Rohan. Before he marries Sioned, she sneaks into his tent and he realizes while groping her that she's not Sioned and kicks her out. This time, Ianthe drugs him and convinces him that Sioned has come to rescue him, and succeeds in doing the deed with him, hoping that he has gotten her pregnant. Then Rohan wakes up, is furious and starts beating her, and then rapes Ianthe. Meanwhile, Sioned has gone to rescue him, been put in the dungeon by Ianthe, and been raped by her men. Rohan and Sioned are allowed to leave because hey, Ianthe got what she wanted, and they hide in a cave when their horses get away. Sioned spurns Rohan's advances so he gets mad at her, and then all of a sudden, a few chapters later they're fine and lusting after each other like always. Ianthe gives birth to Rohan's son and Sioned steals him, killing Ianthe, intending to raise the boy as their own. Nevermind everyone in the kingdom could see she wasn't pregnant and is probably wondering where the kid came from.

Dragon Prince is nearly 600 pages long, and during the last 100 pages, Rawn kept interrupting the action with long chapters full of strategy and soliloquy by secondary characters. That was fine during the first half, but not during the height of the action. I actually skipped around until I found the parts where the action continued and ignored the political ramblings in between. I still understand what happened at the end of the book, so it obviously wasn't that important.

All in all, this book was okay. The action, basic structure of the plot, and the world-building were great, but the characterization sucked big time. There are more books in the series, and I won't be reading them. Too bad I bought this at Barnes & Noble instead of getting it from the library. ...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Stefan Yates rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The Dragon Prince is the story about a young prince who is unexpectedly thrown into the seat of power at a very young age. Throughout the story, Rohan struggles with balancing his ideals for peacefully ruling his desert kingdom and the unavoidable need to wage war against those who would threaten that peace. As much as it is about Rohan, it is equally about his wife, Sioned. She is a magic user, called a SunRunner, who's considerable powers are forbidden to be used to kill. However, as a princes ...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Justin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: g_fantasy, read_2017, meta_author_female, format_available, g_fantasy_grimdark, format_owned_phys, meta_top_fivepercent, read_2014, format_owned_ebook, g_fantasy_epic

Dragon Prince is quite different from most of my favorite series, but it's stuck with me for over 20 years as a cut above most things that I've read. It is far less action-focused than lots of fantasy, instead focusing more on politics, relationships, the nature of leadership, power, and the value of questioning norms.

Unlike most 'political' fantasy this one still has quite a bit of excitement and action as well. Unlike many 'relationship' focused stories this one highlights the fact that all of ...more

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Feb 25, 2010 Ban rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm giving this book a 5 star rating but you must understand I read this book a long time ago and in my mind it has always been 'The Book'. Melanie's world was so rich, alive and beautiful - even her 'bad guys'. I realize that is a tad idealistic but I loved it. I loved the way she described her characters, as if each of them was dear to her. Everything in that book felt loved.
It is the book that first first made me want to create worlds and characters of my own. I'd read fantasy and sci-fi boo ...more

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Mar 21, 2020 John Adams rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn

I was a teenager in Sixth Form when this book was first published, so in deference to my sensibilities and the author's, let's just say 'we are none of us getting any younger' and pass swiftly on.

This is straight up fantasy romance of the best kind. There are battle scenes, but later, much later. In the meantime, plenty of the nigh on 600 pages (a standard length in this subgenre) are devoted to the blossoming relationship between Sunrunner Witch Sioned and the new p Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn

I was a teenager in Sixth Form when this book was first published, so in deference to my sensibilities and the author's, let's just say 'we are none of us getting any younger' and pass swiftly on.

This is straight up fantasy romance of the best kind. There are battle scenes, but later, much later. In the meantime, plenty of the nigh on 600 pages (a standard length in this subgenre) are devoted to the blossoming relationship between Sunrunner Witch Sioned and the new prince of the desert, whose father has just died. Zehava's passing has catapulted Rohan into a new level of responsibility, and he's uncertain about his ability to fill those boots. But he's also keen to put his own stamp on being a ruler, in particular the possibility of a better relationship with the dragons his father was determined to exterminate.

Sioned's her own woman, too, as are Rohan's sister Tobin and aunt Andrade, who leads the sunrunner order of which Sioned is a member. The presence of empowered, confident women (young and old) gives this tale of romance a special warmth to it and contrasts pleasingly with the portrayal of controlled, passive feminity exacted by Rohan's archrival, High Prince Roelstra from his family - with dreadful consequences when Roelstra's womenfolk try to break free from his control.

This is a tale of two halves - the obstacles in the way of Sioned's match with Rohan and then the consequences of her infertility six years later. I found the jump a bit of a shock, but once you lean into it the leap gives plenty of fresh impetus to an almost totally separate story in part two. And the action there leads nicely into the rest of the series, since this is just book one.

As in any fantasy tale, the layering of detail upon detail to establish the everyday lives and heritage of the various kingdoms is key, and this is done convincingly here. Particularly deft is the portrayal of Sioned's gifts as sunrunner, coupled with the romantic details of life - jewels, flowers, strolls in moonlit gardens and so on - essential to this subgenre.

The only drawback I felt was that Roelstra's side were almost irredeemably villainous, whereas Rohan's were almost too good - but there's every sign that a weakening of that dichotomy will occur in subsequent books, and it didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment of one of my favourite books of fantasy romance.

Enjoy!

...more

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Jul 26, 2013 Amanda R rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, favorites, fantasy-sci-fi, old-friends, re-reads

When I was 15 and going through a very hard time, a girl I worked with handed me three tattered paperback books and told me that they would help me to feel better. She then cautioned me that I couldn't keep them, though - they'd been handed down four times by that point, and the condition was that I had to read them, love them, and then pass them on.

That was 17 years ago, and those books are still sitting on my shelf. Oops. My one defense is that I got the author to sign them (four years after ...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Aldi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-the-feelings, made-of-undiluted-win, dragons-dragons-dragons, fantasy, all-time-favs

I honestly thought that, rereading this for the first time in about 15 years, I'd have more trouble with some of the cheesier bits, but honestly? I still adore it. Cheese included. I love this world. I love how coming back to it always feels like coming home, and how encountering these characters is always like reconnecting with old friends. I love the richness of the magic. I love the dragons. My perspective on some of the characters has shifted somewhat (for example, I'm much quicker now to ca ...more

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Jul 16, 2008 Ishpeck rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: People who like soap operas and hate good literature

Melanie Rawn writes total garbage. One or two good ideas littered with shallow characters, nonsensical plots, and anticlimactic endings. This book almost makes me wish I was illiterate.

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Aug 06, 2008 Jonathan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good set piece start, drifts away to rubbish. Has a positive review from Anne McCaffrey, the patron saint of lackluster writing.

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Jun 09, 2017 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017

Actual rating: 3.5 to 4 stars.

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Apr 11, 2011 Ken Badertscher rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011

Romantasy or Fantamance?

Dragon Prince, Melanie Rawn’s first novel, was ahead of the fantasy/romance genre curve in 1988. Rawn decorates an epic fantasy core story with romantic trappings, and it works, most of the time. The early medieval fantasy world of Dragon Prince comes to life in vibrant Sunrunner magical colors. The environments, especially the desert, are depicted in fine detail, capturing the reader with sensuous descriptions. The book has a few minor issues: recurring emotional imagery Romantasy or Fantamance?

Dragon Prince, Melanie Rawn’s first novel, was ahead of the fantasy/romance genre curve in 1988. Rawn decorates an epic fantasy core story with romantic trappings, and it works, most of the time. The early medieval fantasy world of Dragon Prince comes to life in vibrant Sunrunner magical colors. The environments, especially the desert, are depicted in fine detail, capturing the reader with sensuous descriptions. The book has a few minor issues: recurring emotional imagery and a lack of depth to many of the secondary characters.

The main characters are vividly drawn, but the spotlight on them is a bit tight. Everyone seems a little dim compared to Rohan and Sioned, and I suppose that is the novel’s romance side coming to the fore. The reader may get too much inside the head of the characters at some points. A lot of the narrative is filled with the internal monologue and deeply felt emotions of the characters. This tends to give the plot a stuttery feel as conflicts arise, characters ponder, then swoon or glower at each other, then ponder some more, then something else happens.

The story is interesting, but not very complex. There is mostly one main thread of plot throughout, though there are many brief branches and callbacks. I think the story could have used a bit of pruning, especially since the general focus is so strong on the main characters. Any time a secondary character comes to the fore, it’s not very rewarding, as they tend to be more sketchy and predictable. The frequent callbacks and rehashing of characters’ feelings can be distracting, too. Although worded differently and often approached from different angles, some themes are visited repeatedly.

Despite these issues, the plotting of the princes and the romance of the main characters is engaging enough to keep the pages turning. Dragon Prince is not for everyone, as it has far more romance and politics than action and adventure. Though few, the action sequences are lively and stimulating. I’m looking forward to checking out some of Melanie Rawn’s other books set in the Dragon Prince world, as I have a feeling that the later novels may be even better. ...more

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Apr 10, 2014 Dorian rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: other-ebooks

I'm not sure how I didn't read this back in the late 80s or early 90s, when it was new and I was reading fairly indiscriminately through the fantasy genre, or as much of it as I could get my hands on. But somehow I didn't.

It bears its age pretty well, I think (unlike, say, Jennifer Roberson's Sword-Dancer, which I found almost unreadable on returning to it recently). Some aspects, mainly the depiction of the romance between the two protagonists, do feel very dated, but most of it still felt very I'm not sure how I didn't read this back in the late 80s or early 90s, when it was new and I was reading fairly indiscriminately through the fantasy genre, or as much of it as I could get my hands on. But somehow I didn't.

It bears its age pretty well, I think (unlike, say, Jennifer Roberson's Sword-Dancer, which I found almost unreadable on returning to it recently). Some aspects, mainly the depiction of the romance between the two protagonists, do feel very dated, but most of it still felt very fresh.

It's basically a coming-of-age story - the coming of age of Rohan, who inherits the Princedom of the Desert at the start of the book; of Sioned, a Sunrunner and Rohan's destined wife; of their world, a conglomerate of Princedoms still mostly ruled by the sword rather than the law, something they aim to change.

There's a plethora of interesting and complicated characters, on both the protagonists' and the antagonist's sides. And if the antagonist's motivations are a bit simplistic (power, power and more power), at least both he and those around him are real characters and not just ciphers. It's also pleasing to note that at least as many of the viewpoint characters (of which there are many) are female as male. (And how depressing that 26 years after this book was first published, I still feel the need to note that.)

I liked the magic too; the Sunrunners seem to be some kind of religious-based mages - at least they train at the Goddess Keep, though we don't learn anything much about said Goddess. Anyway, they can travel mentally on light to see things far away, or to communicate mentally with each other. And they get really, really sick on water, which makes crossing rivers interesting. And you can prevent them from using their powers by locking them up in the dark.

The story does sag a bit in the middle, I thought, and doesn't really pick up again until about the last quarter, but it didn't quite lose my interest.

Overall it's a fairly light read, despite some fairly gruesome bits; it doesn't have the gritty feel of some more recent fantasy, which I liked. ...more

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Aug 26, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Melanie Rawn writes epic fantasy that keeps me invested in the story. Her characters are not perfect people, even if they are idealistic--reality won't allow for idealism and they are forced to make decisions and break their own codes of honor time and again.

I enjoyed all of the political maneuvering in this book. That's 90% of the book. Because the entire thing is about power--not wanting it, wanting it, wanting more of it, how it can be a burden, wanting to secure it. But it's also about love ...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Mike (the Paladin) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Another series of books I wanted to like, I was looking for something to read.... It didn't matter, and it didn't work. The books just didn't interest me they couldn't pull my interest in, much less hold it.

I know a lot like these, I see the good ratings, but they're just not something I wanted to read, didn't finish the first. ...more

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Jan 03, 2009 Stephen rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, to-re-read, 1980-1989

2.5 stars. It has been a long time since I read this and I have it on my list to re-read so my review may change at some point. My recollection is that this book was VERY SLOW and wasn't interesting enough to make me want to read the next book in the series. ...more

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Sep 06, 2017 ~Cyanide Latte~ rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: ABSOLUTELY NOBODY EVER.

Shelves: what-a-letdown, dnf-d, i-actually-hated-this, tw-rape-sexualassault-orabuse

DNF'd this one at 74%. It doesn't deserve any damn stars at all.

I once tried reading this when I was sixteen years old. From what I could remember of this book, it bored me immensely with the constant politics and heavy focus on everything being driven by sex/libido, and I wound up DNFing it then too. I had recently picked up a secondhand copy for 15¢, hoping to give the book a second chance as I'm less likely to be bored to tears as an adult.

I could not finish it again, this time because of ins ...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Jinxsa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is huge! What I thought was the first SERIES was the first book.The is a great sweeping book that is inspired in it's scheming and politicing.

I'm re-reading both series (6 books total). I can't remember which book had what in it so I'll go through it again and rate aptly. It's taking me ages as DBF is visiting and I'm not getting much kindle time. ...more

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Sep 27, 2014 Bridget Coila rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

For me, this was an ok read...I finished it, but I probably would not read it again and it isn't staying on my shelf (its heading to the used book store next trip that direction.)

At the time it was written, I'm sure it was innovative to have a strong female character as one of the main characters in the book and the departure from "dudes on a quest" style fantasy was a big deal...but in the intervening decades, there are series that are wayyyy more impressive in terms of characterization and plo ...more

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Nov 06, 2007 Omly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: adult readers

This was a re-read, although since I hadn't read it in many years I had forgotten most of the nuances of plot. Due to violence, addiction, sexual situations and rape, I would recommend this to more adult readers.

This story is set in a world of princes ruled by a High Prince. It is filled with politics among princes, among mistresses, among Sunrunners (those with the ability to send their thoughts and observations anywhere the sunlight goes) and even about the hunting of dragons. Sometimes the qu ...more

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May 11, 2010 Celeste rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Melanie Rawn's fantasy world full of Sunrunners, Princes and Dragons is one of the most beautiful creations I've read about. The Sunrunners are people who can send their thoughts out over sunlight to communicate or view things over long distances. They learn, inadvertently, that dragons possess this same power. Meanwhile, warring Princes and overly ambitious religious leaders make this story feel more like a political intrigue than a fantasy novel. And just a friendly warning: Rawn isn't afraid ...more

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Aug 24, 2008 Lisa rated it did not like it

Recommended to Lisa by: Alex

Shelves: did-not-finish, 2008

What an awful book. The writing is competent, which is what kept me involved for so long. But after the time jump (post-plague), I could see that we weren't going to be making much progress, plot and character wise. What miserable people. ...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Noura Noman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Bought at 99p at a bookstore in London, I could not believe what a GREAT fantasy it turned out to be. Melanie Rawn is a wonderful creator of worlds and characters.

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Dec 28, 2007 Tess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

This is a fantastic fantasy series and I am surprised I hadn't found it sooner! The characters and plots are a blend between David Eddings and Anne McCaffrey, but still very unique in many ways.

This takes place in a world where there is no "magic" persay, but there are Sunrunners that can use sunlight and moonlight to view far away places, speak telepathically to eachother, and even create fire and illusions. They are used as messengers, advisors, and spiritual leaders and are held in high regar This is a fantastic fantasy series and I am surprised I hadn't found it sooner! The characters and plots are a blend between David Eddings and Anne McCaffrey, but still very unique in many ways.

This takes place in a world where there is no "magic" persay, but there are Sunrunners that can use sunlight and moonlight to view far away places, speak telepathically to eachother, and even create fire and illusions. They are used as messengers, advisors, and spiritual leaders and are held in high regard. There are also the Princes, who rule with the power of land and people, and are advised by the sunrunners. And there are dragons.
At the time of this book, there is a High Prince who is only concerned with his own ambitions, and a prince-heir Rohan whose Prince father is known for his bravery in battles, and for uniting his subjects. When Rohan becomes Prince in his father's stead, he vows to oust the evil High Prince and rule fairly, lawfully, and justly. Then there is a very talented and skilled Sunrunner, Sioned. She has seen Rohan in a firey vision as her husband and they will be rulers together.

This was a great first book, and the first trilogy (Dragon Prince, Star Scroll, and Sunrunner's Fire) are wonderful reads. The second trilogy, Dragon Token, takes place shortly after Sunrunner's Fire. They continue the story when the continent is under attack from foreign invaders.

I loved the idea of using sunlight to carry messages, and that the sunrunners are peaceful and exalted people. The laws that Rohan strives to make create interesting politics that are easy to follow.

The few down sides I have found is that there are so many names. In several of the books Ms. Rawn has a character glossery in the back, which helps. I was also a little disappointed by the time jumps - sometimes decades go by, and other times many chapters cover just a few days. Her dating system was confusing to me too, until I realized that some chapters took place earlier in time but later in the book to tell what was happening at the same time, different places.
Over all the first 2 books were my favorite, and I started disliking some of the main characters in the later 4 books.
I still recommend it highly however, and am eager to read other series by Melanie Rawn! ...more

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About Melanie Rawn

Melanie Rawn

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Melanie Rawn received a BA in history from Scripps College and worked as a teacher and editor before becoming a writer.

She has been nominated for a Locus award on three separate occasions: in 1989 for Dragon Prince (in the first novel category), in 1994 for Skybowl (in the fantasy novel category), and again in 1995 for Ruins of Ambrai (in the fantasy novel category).