Rating: 
Summary: exciting conclusion to Dragon epic fantasy
Review: Arlian was the only survivor of the dragon assault on his village, but during his escape he was captured and sold as a slave. Escaping, he swallowed a mix of human blood and deadly dragon venom that turned him into an almost invincible hybrid dragon-human. However, the curse of his transformation is that he constantly will turn less human until the day he dies.Arlian wants revenge on those who killed his family and friends, harmed him and turned him into what he is today. Though Arlian has no support from his hybrid peers, he knows how and when to kill a dragon. While the dragons hibernate during the middle of winter, Arlian begins a genocide slaughtering of the beasts in their lair. However, for every action there is a reaction and in this case, new evils from the no longer checked malevolent wizards and monsters attack. Desperate to right what he has wrought Arlian experiments on animals to see whether the elixir that transformed him will create other magical beings. His hybrid comrades and the surviving dragons will kill him to stop him. The final entry of Lawrence Watt-Evans' Dragon trilogy (see DRAGON WEATHER and DRAGON SOCIETY) is an exciting epic fantasy that works when Arlian struggles with moral dilemmas that symbolizes modern science leading readers to ponder the issue of where to draw a line. When the story line turns to action-packed sorcery skirmishes, fans of the author will take delight, but a strong entry could have been superlative if the ethics question remained front and center throughout rather than in and out. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: exciting conclusion to Dragon epic fantasy
Review: Arlian was the only survivor of the dragon assault on his village, but during his escape he was captured and sold as a slave. Escaping, he swallowed a mix of human blood and deadly dragon venom that turned him into an almost invincible hybrid dragon-human. However, the curse of his transformation is that he constantly will turn less human until the day he dies. Arlian wants revenge on those who killed his family and friends, harmed him and turned him into what he is today. Though Arlian has no support from his hybrid peers, he knows how and when to kill a dragon. While the dragons hibernate during the middle of winter, Arlian begins a genocide slaughtering of the beasts in their lair. However, for every action there is a reaction and in this case, new evils from the no longer checked malevolent wizards and monsters attack. Desperate to right what he has wrought Arlian experiments on animals to see whether the elixir that transformed him will create other magical beings. His hybrid comrades and the surviving dragons will kill him to stop him. The final entry of Lawrence Watt-Evans' Dragon trilogy (see DRAGON WEATHER and DRAGON SOCIETY) is an exciting epic fantasy that works when Arlian struggles with moral dilemmas that symbolizes modern science leading readers to ponder the issue of where to draw a line. When the story line turns to action-packed sorcery skirmishes, fans of the author will take delight, but a strong entry could have been superlative if the ethics question remained front and center throughout rather than in and out. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: The pace built until I could not put it down
Review: Dragon Venom is the third and final volume of the story which Lawrence Watt-Evans began with Dragon Weather and The Dragon Society. Although it begins a trifle slowly for my taste, the pace picks up until the last third is a page turner that I could not put down. I complained that Arlian relied far too much on luck and allowed events to move him in the earlier work, but the older (and wiser) Arlian in Dragon Venom takes control of his life and the life of human society. The solutions to the problems besieging the Lands of Man are complex and Arlian's journey (literal and figurative) to find those answers is enthralling. Arlian and many of the others are three dimensional characters that don't always do what we might wish, but are true to themselves and the story. This story could easily be read and enjoyed without reading the preceding novels, but you will want to read the earlier 2/3s and savor the whole story.
Rating:
Summary: Caught Between the Dragons and the Wild Magic`
Review: Dragon Venom is the third novel in the Obsidian Chronicles, following Dragon Society. In the previous volume, the Aritheians were successful in curing Lady Rime of her venom contaminated blood; she was no longer a dragonheart. When the dragon spawn was killed, the parent Dragon felt it and came to take vengeance on Arlian. Toribor volunteered to lure the dragon within range of the newfangled spear-thrower and was enveloped in the dragon's venom, but Arlian triggered the machine and hit the dragon with four obsidian-headed spears, yet did not kill it. He then leaped on the dragon and, hanging by one hand, shoved a spear in deeper until it penetrated the heart. In this novel, Arlian has been appointed as the Duke's warlord and for the past fourteen years has been searching out and killing dragons in their lairs during the winter, when they are asleep and dormant. After cleaning out yet another lair, Arlian decides to return to Manfort for a while. Releasing the campfollowers at Crackstone, leaving most of his men in Ethinior, and sending Rolinor on ahead to Manfort, Arlian and Black return home together. In Manfort, Arlian learns from Isein of disturbances along the southern border. After a good night's sleep, Arlian sends word of his return to the Duke. He visits the Old Palace and Lady Rime while he awaits word from the Duke, but becomes impatient after three days and drops in on the Duke unsummoned. The Duke informs Arlian that the Southern borders have suffered encroachments of wild magic and suggests that the death of so many dragons may have led to a weakening of the barrier to such magic. Arlian has to agree, especially after a messenger from the Dragon Society confirms this news and offers a truce with the dragons. Under the circumstances, he promises to not kill any more dragons without the Duke's permission. However, he wonders how the dragons have fended off the wild magic and determines to travel south to find some answers. In this story, Arlian learns even more about magic of all kinds. He meets magicians, wizards and the thing in Tirikindaro. Then he performs some experiments with dragon venom. This volume satisfactorily concludes the story arc, although it leaves open the possibilities of future sequels. The author does still have some fascinating magical concepts to play with and a whole new cast of characters being born. Oh, the possibilities! Highly recommended for Watt-Evans fans and for anyone else who enjoys stories of magic, dragons and heroes with a slightly different slant.
Rating:
Summary: Caught Between the Dragons and the Wild Magic`
Review: Dragon Venom is the third novel in the Obsidian Chronicles, following Dragon Society. In the previous volume, the Aritheians were successful in curing Lady Rime of her venom contaminated blood; she was no longer a dragonheart. When the dragon spawn was killed, the parent Dragon felt it and came to take vengeance on Arlian. Toribor volunteered to lure the dragon within range of the newfangled spear-thrower and was enveloped in the dragon's venom, but Arlian triggered the machine and hit the dragon with four obsidian-headed spears, yet did not kill it. He then leaped on the dragon and, hanging by one hand, shoved a spear in deeper until it penetrated the heart. In this novel, Arlian has been appointed as the Duke's warlord and for the past fourteen years has been searching out and killing dragons in their lairs during the winter, when they are asleep and dormant. After cleaning out yet another lair, Arlian decides to return to Manfort for a while. Releasing the campfollowers at Crackstone, leaving most of his men in Ethinior, and sending Rolinor on ahead to Manfort, Arlian and Black return home together. In Manfort, Arlian learns from Isein of disturbances along the southern border. After a good night's sleep, Arlian sends word of his return to the Duke. He visits the Old Palace and Lady Rime while he awaits word from the Duke, but becomes impatient after three days and drops in on the Duke unsummoned. The Duke informs Arlian that the Southern borders have suffered encroachments of wild magic and suggests that the death of so many dragons may have led to a weakening of the barrier to such magic. Arlian has to agree, especially after a messenger from the Dragon Society confirms this news and offers a truce with the dragons. Under the circumstances, he promises to not kill any more dragons without the Duke's permission. However, he wonders how the dragons have fended off the wild magic and determines to travel south to find some answers. In this story, Arlian learns even more about magic of all kinds. He meets magicians, wizards and the thing in Tirikindaro. Then he performs some experiments with dragon venom. This volume satisfactorily concludes the story arc, although it leaves open the possibilities of future sequels. The author does still have some fascinating magical concepts to play with and a whole new cast of characters being born. Oh, the possibilities! Highly recommended for Watt-Evans fans and for anyone else who enjoys stories of magic, dragons and heroes with a slightly different slant.
Rating: 
Summary: A book I wanted to like . . .
Review: For the first half of _Dragon Weather_, Watt-Evans basically rehashes one of my favorite books, _Count of Monte Cristo_. However, he doesn't do it quite so well as Dumas did. Of course, that's a high standard, and any book, in my mind, would suffer from a comparasion with Dumas.
There were several problems with this book. First of all, there was the writing. It was not very well paced. Several important plot points were virtually glossed over in sentances, where as a few were mentioned ad nauseum.
Secondly, Arlian has very, very hypocritical ethical standards. He bases his wealth on a series of burglaries, but he justifies it because the nobleman he robs holds slaves and hurt some of Arlian's friends. While slavery is wrong, it is not right to steal from someone. He is shown as being persistant in taking his revenge, but he takes it to such extremes. He does feel some remorse for some of the actions, but it's almost an afterthought. Compared to Edmond Dantes, Arlian leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Thirdly, I did not feel that the world of Dragon Weather was very well developed. It didn't really seem to have very good underpinnings. All of the characters use nicknames, sometimes several. The reason is mentioned offhandedly, but is not really delved into. Aside from the nicknames, not much information is given about the culture.
Finally, an inordinate amount of the story relies on heavy, heavy coincidence. For example, several of the looters who find Arlian and sell him into slavery can recognize him. Arlien also convinces one man to leave his job to teach him to swordfight, in just a matter of minutes of meeting the man. Arlien and the leader of the looters belong to the same secret society. This type of thing goes on throughout the book, and it's really hard to ignore.
I would only recomend Dragon Weather if you are interested in some light bedtime reading. It is ultimately a forgettable novel. Science Fiction Chronicle decribed it as the best fantasy novel of the year. If that's the case, 1999 was a "ho hum" year for fantasy all around.
Rating:
Summary: drgagon veenom is a wicked awsome book
Review: I am a 12 year, advanced reader and I finished the third book in the Obsidian chronicles (Dragon Venom) on October 18, this year. This book was written by Lawrence Watt-Evens and is part of a three book sires. The other two novels are Dragon Weather and The Dragon Weather. The book has a thick plot that is not to complex, if you plan on getting one you might as well just buy the other two with it cause there is no human, "or dragon" that can go with out reading them all. All the books play into the next so you're going to have to read them in order or your going to be seriously confused. After you read these books they're going to kick the crud out of your old favorites. This is a science fiction novel with just a little bit of politics worked into it. The story begins in the little peaceful glass making village on the Smoky Mountains, but no for long. In the village a young boy named Arlin, or later as Lord Obsidian is about to be the only survivor from that village. A case of hot, dark, think weather is about to revel three powerful dragons. After he survives he is sold into slavery by the vicious Lord Dragon. He has now taken an oath upon himself of vengeance agents the all dragons, especially the dragons that destroyed his home and the looters who sold him in to years of slavery. I loved this book and it is my all-time favorite. This novel proves that one man can do a bit of good and receive Justus.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent finale to a powerful series
Review: I wasn't familiar with the author's work when I read Dragon Weather (first book in this trilogy), but now that I've finished this series I'll be seeking out more of his books. This is an exciting, challenging story. Each book builds until you find yourself reading compulsively. Everything here is top-notch: characters, setting, moral dilemnas, plot. Buy it. You won't regret it. Do it right now. Click the button. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Master piece
Review: Lawrence Watt-Evants Dragon series has proved to me that he is truely a master writer. I have enjoyed his books books for years and I beleive this is the best I have ever read. All three books grab your attention and hold onto it, but it is a rare author who's final book in a series is better than all the rest. I've waited years for this story to come to a conclusion and I am no sorry for the wait. This is truely a master piece!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent finale to a powerful series
Review: LWE delivers, big time. I was curious as to how he'd wrap up this series, and LWE catches me off guard with a suprising little twist. Lots of morality issues here, but the most important aspect in this series, namely, the quality, was stellar. Obsidian is a great character--easily one of LWE's best (although Gar from Lords of DUS was quite good), and Obsidian does not disappoint this book either. Bravo.
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