Review: The Faded Dragon by Cameron Michaels

Blurb:

Peace is a frail thing, but the truth is even frailer.
Epic fantasy with a twist of mystery . . .

The old war between the dragons and elves has long been over, and Deerium has entered a new age. The humans have taken hold and the last fragment of days gone by, known as the Takahrn, have been made slaves.
Gahlaia, the Takahrn’s rightful leader, is given a chance to save her people. Borhiim, a man with a confusing past, must choose between his new life and the one left behind. Tirehn, the soon-to-be king, seeks to find his father’s murderer. All the while, the Eternal moves them together to discover the reality of their world, and the one who’s been pulling all the strings.

Review:

This book was on my TBR for quite some time, as it is part of Kindle Unlimited, offering an infinite list of fantasy, science fiction, and even historical adventure novels.

The richness of that catalog is its a huge advantage as well as a small pitfall because it may often be difficult to choose which novel to prioritize. And let's face it, contemporary fantasy and sci-fi literature is so brimming with gems to discover that most of the time I feel like a brat in a bakery (and a flat rate that allows me to gorge on far too many sweets).

Chance, or perhaps fate, however, had a hand in it and helped me make a decision.The author himself, Cameron Michaels, reached out to me on Instagram and generously offered a hard copy of the book. Its handsome design instantly drew me in. As a graphic designer, I'm drawn to well-presented books, and this one was no exception.

I am always infinitely grateful to all authors who take such initiatives, especially since I realize how costly advertising a novel can be. This gesture helped me read the novel earlier than I had planned, but I would have done it anyway. And my review is not influenced by the promotional copy I received. I do not review novels that I do not finish reading. If I read them in full, it is because I liked them.

And now let's go a little deeper into the review.

Despite its relatively short length, "The Faded Dragon" packs a punch with its fast-paced narrative. Divided into distinct parts, the story explores socio political struggles and impending threats, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

The premise is familiar. The first point of view we encounter is that of a slave girl, a half-blood creature who is the daughter of a dragon and an elf and who is about to celebrate an important day, the day when she will reach maturity in the eyes of her people.

There would actually be little to celebrate given her captive status, but we soon discover that our girl has a plan. And that freedom may be at hand (or claw).I have to give kudos to Michaels for the way he has characterized this race of half-dragons, half-elves, who have an interesting culture and aesthetic that I don't think I've mainly seen before.

The other point of view is that of a country boy, who has lost his memory. He has an ordinary life, enjoying the triviality, but the placid flow of days is shattered by a series of events that will upset all his certainties.

There are several other points of view, perhaps even a bit too many for such a short novel, but the ones we will mainly connect to are these two.While the main characters are well fleshed out, some secondary characters feel a bit underdeveloped. Additionally, the storytelling for various perspectives can sometimes blur together, making it challenging to distinguish between them. I must say that this problem eases as the novel flows and as we become familiar with the whole cast.

I greatly appreciated the way the first half of the novel was structured. It is a breakneck race toward a specific event that could change the fortunes of the kingdom, and especially the lifestyle of the half-breeds. The countdown at the beginning of the chapters as the date approaches is exciting.

This event resolves and turns the tables on the social conflict underlying the first half of the novel. Half-breeds are mistreated, exploited, and disenfranchised. The new king may decide to put an end to all that suffering. Will he do so? Read and find out for yourself.

The second half of the story is more traditional. We finally see the villain of the story emerge, and I must say that I appreciated the way he is introduced. More of his qualities as a manipulator are put on display than as a conqueror. Which makes him menacing (and revolting, believe me) in a very unique way.

Note of merit for the battles, which are staged in great detail, are highly dramatic and mostly believable, especially toward the final chapters.

Now, the novel is only the first volume in a series and closes with a painful "to be continued." Although the main plot has its own conclusion, it is obvious that there is much, much more to read and I hope we will not have to wait long.

I know the author is working on a novella connected to this series, so we will probably have more expansions beyond the main story.

Ultimately, "The Faded Dragon" offers an enjoyable read with captivating characters and intriguing plotlines. I'm eager to see how the story progresses in future installments, eagerly anticipating Cameron Michaels' next releases.

If you're in search of a fast paced fantasy novel with political intrigue, look no further than "The Faded Dragon."