The Last Dragonlord

Rating:
Summary: A Good Beginning -- we all have to start somewhere...
Review: I gave this book a 4 at first thought, but then moved it to a 3, though a very high 3. As a first work from a lady who to my knowledge received no formal training or schooling in literature, this is a very enjoyable writing. I had been away from books for some years and this was the one that drew me back to chewing through a novel a week. I found it's pace easy going, as one other mentioned a good afternoon read, and the temper good. The characters presented here seem very real, and you quickly find yourself identifying with their conflicts. Such is key to involving any reader in any novel.

It has been noted by some that the style of writing leans towards teenagers, and that the level of wording may not have been appropriate for them. I strongly disagree as I am a good 15 years older and found this most enjoyable, not to mention in the middle of the Fantasy section of my local Borders book store.

On her first effort I commend Joanne Bertin, not only for putting a book such as this forward, but for weathering the not so constructive critics of her work. Well done, I look forward to your sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: This book is one of the most outstanding books I've ever read. I do agree with other critics when they say it is for the younger reading ages, meaning in there teenage years. I am in that age range and enjoy reading books like this one. The characters are well thought out and the suspense of the book makes you cling the the edge of your seat. While reading you can actually feel the emotions the characters are going through. I found myself crying every once and a while. I can't wait buy the sequel and see what happens to Linden and Maurynna. If you buy any book this year make it the unbelievably,realistic debut novel from Joanne Bertin, The Last Dragonlord!

Rating:
Summary: You are drawn into the story from page 1!
Review: If you like dragons and magic, this is the book for you! I'm normally not one to read books on dragons, until one of my friends read a part of this book to me, the part where one of the dragonlords initiated Change from human to dragon. This alone caught my attention and I absolutely HAD to get this book.
There are great moments in the book. It's called the Last Dragonlord because one of the dragonlords is, indeed, the last. He has no soultwin and has to spend the rest of this long years alone.
Most of the book is about his search for his soultwin. And the story itself will keep you guessing until the very end. If you love magic, dragons, mystery, romance, edge of your seat suspense, it's all in this book.
And if you think this is good, get the next book, Dragon and Phoenix! ^_^

Rating:
Summary: You virtually fall into the story...
Review: The book is about Dragonlords, who are humans who have two souls within... a human's and a dragons. These noble people have been allowed to be the watchers of humans and are greatly respected throughout the world. But more importantly, each Dragonlord has a twin soul... two Dragonlords share the same dragon's soul (which acts as true love), but Linden Rathan (the main character) cannot find his own. He is considered to be the last Dragonlord... meaning that he will never have a twin soul....

The story is filled with both teenage-like lust... which makes this book more for those who enjoy reading love novels where the outcome is obvious. Even in Harry Potter, does he not get the girl he desires (well, at least not in the first four books). That may make this book a bit tedious for some readers. However, I read this when I was 15 and I loved the book. I fell in love with the story and I ended up finishing the book in less than a week. I love it when an author introduces a new idea, and that is what joanne Burton does with The Last Dragonlord and their sharing of souls and twin souls. It was nice to be able to see from the villain's point of view. It really adds depth to the story, allowing you to truly see the plot from a third person's point of view.

I would truly recommend this book to any serious teenaged reader... no questions asked... but, once you've reached 20 or so, it's plot becomes too childish for one to pick this book out of other great novels.

Rating:
Summary: Dragons in a new light
Review: This book is a fun, and original new view on Dragons. Linden Rathan is a WereDragon in search of a soultwin (read mate). He's the youngest, even at six centuries, at six centuries, and is called to sort out human problems. The humans, however, have other plans. They want to capture a DragonLord, find out all their secrets so the weredragons can be destroyed. This is a tale of adventure with a twist of romance, and a must read for any fantasy guru.

Rating:
Summary: Hearts and Flowers Fantasy
Review: This is the literary equivalent of cole slaw; somebody shoved a Harlequin romance and a fantasy novel through a shredder and mixed in some book paste at an attempt at cohesion. It's a pity the plot is so overdone and melodramatic because after the intial chapters, where the author; feels the need; to put semicolons; in every other sentence; the style itself lends itself to being enjoyably devoured.

Lindan Rathan, with his long girly locks and freakish 6'5 frame comes off more like Frankenstein and Fabio's lovechild than a heroic figure. His soultwin (a concept that still leaves me gagging) is, naturally, tall, beautiful, with long raven-colored hair and, of course, unlimited supplies of bravery. Maurynna is supposedly so wonderfully clever that she's sped through the ranks to become ship's Captain at a young age, fighting off storms and hordes of pirates, but she doesn't have the sense the gods gave her. After her initial introduction there isn't a chapter that goes by where she isn't crying, sobbing or weeping about how she misses the boyfriend who's done nothing but lie to her from the moment he's met her. The stuff of timeless romance indeed.

Romantic elements never ruined a good fantasy but here it overwhelms every other plot. All the behind the curtains plotting about the succession, the machinations of the Fraternity of Blood, even the prince's poisoning, become secondary to the lovebirds. Even more unforgivable, Lindan's early dalliance with Sherrine is far more believable, more entertaining, and far less sickening than that between him and Maurynna. At least with he and Sherrine there was a flirty coyness and intelligent repartee that made them seem like a three-dimensional couple. There is absolutely zero chemistry between the soultwins; when they aren't kissing they're professing or being adoring. It's like witnessing the nauseating public displays of a teenage couple at a mall and not being able to escape. Not only do they never actually stop to get to know each other, Linden spends the better part of the time withholding vital information about her own life from her 'for her own good'. The final straw for me is when he finally beds his ladylove; knowing what he does could very well kill her, he lets his hormones get the better of him and then has the audacity to justify what he's doing by saying she should have protested. Wow, what a catch!

The supporting cast has little else to do in the interim but coo over their cuteness or warn Linden what he's doing could endanger Maurynna's life and then laughingly shrugging it off when he does it anyway. Maylin is the only character with any sense in her when it comes to this man and you wish she'd just knock her cousin unconscious and tie her up in a closet so you could get back to reading the story that is actually supposed to be at the forefront. I found myself taking Sherrine's side more often than not, she's got a horrible mother and too many brains to fit in at court and when she seduces a man she winds up clicking with he throws her over for some bubble-headed nitwit he's only attracted to because of the dragon sleeping inside of him. That's gotta hurt more than the 'we can still be friends' line.

Griping aside, I did eat this book up at every free moment I had because the pacing and the few non-mushy moments were well done. I don't particularly like cole slaw but I ate this up by the warm, squishy cupful. Two and a half stars for the characters that didn't set my teeth on edge, the structure, and the potential for better things the author shows. Just please, Ms. Bertin, abandon Linden and Maurynna in sugar-cube happiness valley and lay off reading the love stories.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent story
Review: I found this book quite by accident, and was immediately drawn into it. The characters are believable and very likable. One can instantly sympathize with Linden Rathan, a Dragonlord who has been searching for his soultwin for centuries. All he longs for is the close relationship the other Dragonlords have with their soultwins, a bond closer than anything.
In the story, he is sent with two other Dragonlords to oversee the debate over a new ruler following the mysterious death of their Queen. Evil begins to surface as an old faction known as the Fellowship comes back to life. They not only threaten Prince Rann, a small child, but the life of Dragonlords. During this time, Linden falls in love, and suspects his love may be a Dragonlord too, even though the truedragons have not sensed any new Dragonlord. The Fellowship hears rumor of this new Dragonlord and are determined to get control of her, whoever she may be, so that they have their own Dragonlord puppet.
A really good book, with lots of little twists. The "good guys" are good, though they have their faults and you may want to hit one or two of them. ;) The evil doers are really evil, but believable as well. The ending may be a bit predictable, but it's the ending you want anyway, and it's lots of fun getting there.

Rating:
Summary: The sory is incomplete
Review: While this book was certainly enjoyable, I felt it was too incomplete. There are many references to characters and events that we, the reader, have no idea about. Obviously these references are things that molded the characters into their current personalities, but we never learn more about them. I finished the book hoping to find out more about them, but never did.

Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT!
Review: This is the first book about Dragons I have been tempted to pick up. And once I picked it up I couldn't put it down!!! I've lost count of how many times I've re-read this book. This story is so magical, romantic, sad, lonely, mysterious and joyous all in one

Rating:
Summary: Wow...
Review: After finding this random book at the library, I couldn't put it down! I've always found Dragons interesting, but combine dragons with handsome heroes, and that's a combination you can't beat! A world with part human and part dragon souls with the ability to change at will and magic mixed into it. One word comes to mind: Wow! I just had to read the second book when I was done with it, though the library didn't have it. I can't wait to start on the next one!