Let's discuss The Rage of Dragons | Is it worth the hype?

[@alilbitmads]

yeeess i wanted zuri's pov soo bad! she had such an interesting storyline but she was positioned only to dump info onto tau when the story needed it! i loved the book but i really wanted a bit more nuance since it felt like 300 pages of battle montage, which is great but a bit exhausting to read about.

[@Anesjournal]

exactly

[@crazyace421]

You make a lot of good points about the book that I share (the lack of side character development and attachments) and made a good point about how a Zuri pov could have fleshed out the book and the politics that I didn't even think of. I do think there's an argument that the book is so streamlined and has such a one-track mind on purpose, and expansion in those areas would hurt it's pacing, but it's still interesting to think about.

[@trevormarshall6243]

I would have loved to see more of Zuri's story from her perspective. She seemed like a character with a lot of depth, and that would have been a great opportunity to explore the political side of things, which I completely agree the book could have benefited from. Overall I really loved the book, I read the last two thirds of it all in one day lol

[@chadh.5676]

Great breakdown! Found this book a while back and fell in love with it. Big recommendation.

[@cottrellevans]

Love your accent Love the book Love the review Theories - 1. I think there's more to the Coward Okar's story than meets the eye. 2. I think the Omehi and the Hedeni are essentially the same people. The Hedeni simply arrived on the peninsula centuries prior, probably under similar circumstances. That's why they want the dragons gone from the land. They fear being discovered by the Cull.

[@Anesjournal]

Awesome theories, and yes I got the same feeling as you on the coward thing! I cannot wait to see what the other books reveal

[@TheBookishMom]

I have been really wanting to pick this up. It sounds so great but I love that you really break it down and show the pros and cons of the book. I think I will still pick it up at some point, it still seems really interesting and I really do want to see the hype as well.

[@Anesjournal]

For sure give it a go!

[@yulennivenegaslopez3925]

So I know this was three months ago but I just finished reading this book yesterday and I’m so obsessed with it. I’m usually pretty good with pacing myself reading a book but this book I literally devoured in two days, and I don’t regret the lack of sleep it was so phenomenal. I think you’re right about the cons, I really really want us to have the queen’s pov as a fixed feature or at the very least Kellan’s pov in addition to Tau, because from the glimpses we got from his character he is someone who is more politically conscious and savvy whereas Tau isn’t. I really want to explore their relationship more, I think they’d really get along considering the complicated relationships they have with their fathers and how those relationships have deeply informed their decisions. At the very least I do think it would be very interesting to see how their relationship develops since Tau had originally put him on his hit list. I also really want to get into like what EXACTLY did Tau do when he tried to save Zuri, because it says he drew power from Isihogo but what does that MEAN?? So he was able to draw power while inside Isihogo but can he draw power while he’s in the real world?? Where does that power come from exactly what does the training for that power look like?? I think if he has to train himself to use that power it’s going to be really difficult for him since it’s not like swinging a sword or working a muscle like you can’t see it in the same way. And now he can actually DIE die in Isihogo?? How can he keep training if there’s no real safety net?? What would a safety net even look like?? Knowing him he’s gonna do a very stupid thing but I love it and I can’t wait. Anyways that’s it I fully agree with everything you’ve said, I’m still screaming, and I’m so glad you read it because I need someone to vent to since nobody I know has read it yet lol ok bye

[@Anesjournal]

it's been a while so I may be wrong, but from what Zuri said, anyone can enter and draw power from Isihogo, only the guardians can cloak themselves. The power can only be drawn when they are on the other side, and it was the queen who saved Zuri. I'm so excited to see what stupid situation Tau get himself into with the next book

[@AdamKandel]

I hadn't thought about it before but with Ane and you talking about how Tau will probably train to draw power and use it and you mentioning a safety-net I think that the Queen will help him with the training because she had the power to push people out of Isihogo (hope I'm remembering that correctly) so I think she will be his safety-net and when he is training/fighting with the power and is about to be killed from the monsters she'll push him out :)

[@QandTG]

This was a fantastic review. We just read it a couple weeks ago & are looking forward to the sequel. Your breakdown was excellent & I enjoyed your POV. Subbed.

[@Anesjournal]

Thank you!

[@ThistleVerse]

Enjoyed your review. I've heard good reviews from friends, so I plan to pick it up at some point. I don't read many military/ political dramas, so this will be a change of pace for me.

[@Anesjournal]

For sure give it a try!

[@lucytan8606]

I hope this leads to a movie!

[@Anesjournal]

Not sure why I kept pronouncing his name as Winters, so ignore that

[@marquettahaywood9227]

I’m gonna have to check this book and TBR it later

[@Anesjournal]

for sure give it a go!

[@dougjarvis3824]

good review, book bought , hope i like it.

[@Anesjournal]

I hope so too!

[@chelsiesdiamondsandbooks]

I just got this from my brother for xmas

[@Anesjournal]

awesome, I hope you enjoy it!

[@csd8204]

Entertaining review. You seem to be one of those "I like my stories told like this" type of readers. Myself, I read with no expectations and reserve my opinion until after fully digesting the story and getting the payoffs. I had none of the issues you did regarding how the writer executed his story. It was a refreshing change for me. I don't read books or watch movies to see if it's done the way I want. I read and watch to see if "their" way is effective.

[@paulanovotna3442]

I actually don't think the book is worth the hype. It's not a bad book but what I hated was how everyone tried to protect Tau - always help him get out of the mess he got himself into. They always rushed in to help him even though he never did anything for them in return. He was protected even if it didn't make any sense. And he never stopped to think that maybe some of the things that happened to him and the people he cared about might have been his fault (which they mostly were) yet he always seemed to blame anyone but himself. I mean... yes, the caste system was dificult to live in and unfair to the lowborn. And yet, metaphorically speaking, Tau basically smeared meat on his own arm and paraded himself in front of a lion who of course tore off his arm. What did he expect? And yet, he blamed the lion and swore revenge...

[@Youboremenow]

2 things about this book piss me off.... the sex scene should've been done better or just been a fade to black. And the 2nd book has not been released fast enough

[@Anesjournal]

book 2 is out really soon thanks goodness

[@luisavasconcelos1891]

Found your channel recently so I came here to know if we have similar opinions. We do! Subscribed Excellent review!

[@Anesjournal]

💜

[@DarthVenamis]

If you're looking for African inspired fantasy check out Imaro. Classic fantasy. Really enjoyable. Didn't care for this series because the writing was pretty amateur. It reads like YA. Kind of disappointing bc African inspired fantasy is really under utilized.

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

It's so not worth the hype. Starting a book with a battle is very odd as I had no reason to care about any of the characters yet. Then I saw it was set in the past so I think, OK now we'll get some character and world building. No, another battle, and again I had no reason to care about anyone. Top this off with characters I couldn't for a second keep track of in terms of who's who, a class system that is far too complex to be just dumped on you with little to no explanation, zero attempt to explain anything in the world or establish who anyone is. I DNF'd it after 100 pages. Upon reading spoiler reviews it seems things didn't change much going forward so I have zero regrets. I'm happy for those who liked it but once again I was left wondering if I read different words at times.

[@Anesjournal]

Honestly, I can 100% see how people would dislike the constant battles, I enjoyed the book and I could have done without most of them. I'm really hoping that he addresses the issues in book 2

[@Violowrown]

Oh my goodness! You have the same opinions as I do. I just reached 100 pages into the book and I’m so confused. I don’t care about anyone. I don’t understand whose father is who. And I certainly don’t understand what chosen, ingonyama, omehia, savages, heathens, and enervators are. Like am i supposed to know all these things? 100 pages and no explanation 😂😂😂 Are the savages the same as the heathens and why do they even call them savages. Lol anyways, I’m gonna keep reading cuz I don’t like abandoning books I’ve started, but so far it’s not really doing the best.

[@Paul_the_Bookworm]

@@Violowrown I hope it gets better for you. What made me finally give up was doing two long shifts (10 to 12 hours) in a row. So I haf a 45 minute commute each way, two breaks and a dinner each day in which I should have gotten plenty of reading done. And instead I looked online because I couldn't bring myself to pick the book up. I spent about 4 days not reading and decided that I wasn't interested anymore.