Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Legend of the Touched by JF Jenkins Series: The Dragons Saga #3
Published by CreateSpace on May 28, 2012
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 355
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon
Darien and Tai Oceina have not been married for long, but already they have one of the most complicated relationships. He is a dragon and the leader of a nation. She is carrying their first child who is supposed to be “the answer”. As Darien dives further into the politics of his people, a wedge is driven deeper between him and his wife.
Twin brothers Jason and Matthias Inero were always inseparable. For the first time in their lives they are apart from each other. Matt continues to do the will of their father, the corrupted Dragon Lord of the Inero, while Jason has fled with his bride to an island where he can forget about everything. Or try to. Being possessed by a demon makes that hard to achieve, and as the creature fights to control his body, Jason discovers a lot of shocking truths about his lineage and destiny.
The two worlds of fire and water collide as both dragon tribes prepare for war with the other. Matthias is determined to crush Darien's people. Only an ancient spell will give Darien enough power to fight back and have any hope at winning. The spell is complicated however and requires all four dragon tribes to work together in harmony. Something that is a lot easier said than done.
Lately, I’ve returned to a series I haven’t touched in years so I have been delighted to participate in Series on Sunday which helped get me properly motivated. The Dragons Saga, a Young Adult fantasy series caught my attention back in 2012. I read the first two books when they released and was jazzed to score a copy of Legend of the Touched and succeeding series books when they came out shortly after. I can’t remember why I stepped away from the series, but I want to say I got distracted by other book gems and also got out of the mood for the genre.
I’ve waited so long that I notice the original publisher closed, the books are out of print, and the author has changed her author name. I can’t say I’ve suddenly developed a craving for YA fantasy, but I am determined to return to the series and finally see how things end. I’m taking a gamble that I can remember enough to press forward with book three, Legend of the Touched.
Legend of the Oceina Dragon introduced the Dragons Saga world. Dragons with affinity to the elements live side by side with unsuspecting humans in their kingdoms. The Oceina are associated with water, of course, and follows as young Darian Oceina and his forced mated human bride Kai have to figure out their relationship and face a shocking betrayal that rocks the kingdom. In Legend of the Inero Dragon, the focus turns to the fire dragons and the ambitious plotting of their king who hopes to use his gifted twin sons to advance the Inero cause and destroy the Oceina.
Things are coming to a head and war is imminent between the Oceina, the Inero and the Inero allies, the Terrans. Legend of the Touched is grander in scope because it follows both the previous storylines: Darian and Kai, Jason and Gwen, and Matthias and Kat. In fact, each chapter rotates the narrative between these six characters. All the males are ‘touched’ dragons with more power (there are no female dragons) and all the couples are newly mated and figuring that out, too. Political intrigue, relationship drama, and building to war and the Great Dragon prophecy kept things moving forward.
This is very much Young Adult though all the couples are mated and some even expecting children. The characters think and act like older teens and college age kids though they have the fate of the world on their shoulders. I admit that the teen drama was distracting, particularly coming off Kai and Kat because they were both pregnant and ramped up the hormonal responses to everything. Kai keeps saying she got over the forced mating, but she’s constantly moaning and groaning about losing her old human life even though she claims she had been a recluse and not that into it. Two nations are going to war, but Kai and Kat are more put out when hubby can’t hang out or go to parties with them. Kai’s flirtation with a guy at school bore close on cheating and though she didn’t, she sure made a big stink of Darian’s rightful request to quit it.
But, in spite of the teen angst, the political intrigue and mystical dragon elements were still a huge draw. Legend of the Touched wraps up a series arc in a slow build suspense to a climax moment. In truth, the build-up promised more than the climax actually delivered. It happened, but I didn’t feel any visceral reaction because it wasn’t as taut as earlier rising action. Now, there is a foreshadowing as the next books look to future generations. I’m definitely curious to see what comes of the choices and events of this one.
All in all, it was a moderately good time returning to this world. There was enough packed into the early chapters to remind me of what came before in the two previous books and get me up to speed. Very YA, but also a well-drawn modern fantasy world with minimal magic and dragons until the end.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I might have to check this one out.
Yes, the dragon world was interesting, Mary! 🙂
I think the teen angst would drive me nuts. Happy to hear the fantasy and political plots were enough to have you enjoying the story. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series!
Yeah, I think if I’d kept reading this series years ago, I might have been more inured to the teen drama. Definitely good to have the other elements being so good.
O.o I have a few of those series I was really into and stepped away until they were complete to just never make it back. I love this idea, maybe it is time to bite the bullet on a few of them, hope I remember enough and carry on.
Series on Sunday has definitely given me the boot up the butt to dust off unfinished older series. Maybe it would work for you, too, Robin. 🙂
Good think you got the books before they went out of production. Hopefully you will continue to enjoy them until the end!
LOL, yes! Who knows since I have a ton of languishing stories on my Kindle shelves. I’m glad I went back for this one. When I was deciding on what series to try to finish, this one niggled at me because I always wanted to know what came next in the dragon war.
It’s always fun to get back into a series you stopped for a while. I have a few of those that I need to get into
Yeah, I’m glad for the series challenge which forces me to cull through all those older series books and get moving on them.
I have so many YA series I say I’m going to go back and finish, just don’t know if/when I will. Sounds like you were able to at least enjoy this one a little!
Yeah, if this were only the one I have let languish. Yes, it had some definite strong points.