“Dragonfyre” by Ian Thomas Curtis

I’ve come to the conclusion of the three-part fantasy series called The Canticles of Audurun, and I’m not ready for it to end. This is one fabulous story. This is Dragonfyre, by Ian Thomas Curtis.

This epic tale of Justias Eventine, a young man barely more than a boy whose village is destroyed by the clerics of the ruling dragons. But he’s not just any boy; he’s the anointed one, the one selected by the One God to slay the dragons and free humanity from their control. Justias is to be king.

At the end of the second book, Dragonmarch, however, there’s a problem – Justias has been killed through treachery by people he trusted. His body lies in state, and he is undoubtedly dead. But things happen. And battles are looming – the war of the Dragon Clerics’ army, led by Julias Darkmayne, against the much smaller forces of the Old Nobility at the city of South Deep. The aim is to destroy the city and the inhabitants. And behind the clerics is the army of the Gorgons prepared to destroy the clerics and the Old Nobility of South Deep. Treachery within treachery.

Hopelessly outnumbered, the defenders of South Deep prepare to fight to the last. And the battles begin. Looming in the background is Gildaryss, the chief dragon, desperately desiring the complete annihilation of humanity. She’s especially outraged with Justias, the young king who has slain dragons.

As the initial battle gets underway, the great walls of South Deep are pounded again and again, and begin to crumble. Outnumbered and surrounded, the city’s defenders fight men, beasts, and machines of war. It is what could be the final battle in the final war in the fight to save humanity.

It is a fabulous story, and an epic story, full of excitement and betrayal, loyalty and determination. The character of Justias demonstrates repeated faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds. He is determined to fulfill the mission he has been called to – to break the power of and destroy the dragons.

The novel is filled with Christian imagery, but it’s not overdone. Curtis maintains a tight control over the narrative, with its numerous plots and sub-plots and broad array of characters. He masterfully weaves the main story with the side-stories, and delivers one thoroughly enjoyable read.

This is the kind of book, and series, that I want my sons and grandsons to read, to encourage them to stand for what’s noble and right.

Related:

Dragonsong, the first novel in the series.  My review of Dragonsong.

My review of Dragonmarch, the second novel in the series.

My 2011 interview with Ian Thomas Curtis: Part 1 and Part 2.

Canticles of Andurun on Facebook. 

Image courtesy of Dark Wallpapers.