Review: The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond
Blurb:
Kill the dragon. Find the blade. Reclaim her honor.
It’s that, or end up like countless knights before her, as a puddle of gore and molten armor.
Maddileh is a knight. There aren’t many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she’s a knight, and made of sterner stuff.
A minor infraction forces her to redeem her honor in the most dramatic way possible, she must retrieve the fabled Fireborne Blade from its keeper, legendary dragon the White Lady, or die trying. If history tells us anything, it's that “die trying” is where to wager your coin.
Maddileh’s tale contains a rich history of dragons, ill-fated knights, scheming squires, and sapphic love, with deceptions and double-crosses that will keep you guessing right up to its dramatic conclusion. Ultimately, The Fireborne Blade is about the roles we refuse to accept, and of the place we make for ourselves in the world.
Review:
"Another dragon book?" If that was your first thought, you wouldn't be alone. While I love the dragon rider books I've read, I also reached a bit of a point in thinking "Ooookay, maybe not more dragon books?" But The Fireborne Blade sits out the outside of a typical dragon book. In fact, it kind of reminded me of Skyrim.
In this world, dragons and humans are enemies. Nothing revolutionary there. But the knights we hear about or their adventures are all about the dragons being killed. These little excerpts are known as The Demise and Demesne of Dragons. I really enjoyed these sprinkled between the chapters. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the different effects of each dragon death. It wasn't the same for each one we get the record of. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the dragons’ deaths themselves actually were quite sad. "Right but it's a dragon. You know it would eat you?" And??? What am I bringing to the table that's so important?
As to how we get the records, that touches on the magic accessories of the world. Largely this seems to be orbs. Light orbs, chronology orbs, record orbs, they basically do all the things you'd expect from a flashlight, clock and camera but as orbs. Which in a world of mages, knights and dragons, I can get behind. You've got an orb that records sight and sounds for later viewing? Sure, why not.
Onto the actual story. We have Maddileh on a quest for The Fireborne Blade and we get to learn what this is while she's stalking through the caves and tunnels with her not very good squire, Petros. I really enjoyed the story within a story. It was short and sweet, and I liked it. Why is she on a quest for a mysterious blade in a dragon’s tunnel? Besides just being what knights do in this world, she punched her ex (I think it was her ex) in the face. We have Maddileh's flashback of his parting words to her and you know, I get why she was throwing hands.
Now, I'll admit I wasn't over the moon with the story or anything but there is a moment in the caves when all is said and done that is very good. I knew I didn't trust her squire, not least because we're given that vibe the whole book as Maddileh hates magic, but I didn't know why I didn't trust him. And again, that was VERY good.
The novella is packed full of dragons, knights and touches of magic, the back and forth of events in Maddileh's life to what she is progressing through in the cave is done well. I'd probably say I felt a bit of a dip and the end, chapter 22 if I'm being specific but the epilogue brought it right back. Which I appreciated, because again, the dragon deaths made me sad.
The Fireborne Blade is available from 28 May 2024.
