Ascendant by Michael Miller (Songs of Chaos #1)
554 pages
High Fantasy
5/5*
Formats available: Book
“Holt Cook was never meant to be a dragon rider. He has always served the Order Hall of the Crag dutifully, keeping their kitchen pots clean.
Until he discovers a dark secret: dragons do not tolerate weakness among their kin, killing the young they deem flawed. Moved by pity, Holt defies the Order, rescues a doomed egg and vows to protect the blind dragon within.
But the Scourge is rising. Undead hordes roam the land, spreading the blight and leaving destruction in their wake. The dragon riders are being slaughtered and betrayal lurks in the shadows.
Holt has one chance to survive. He must cultivate the mysterious power of his dragon's magical core. A unique energy which may tip the balance in the battles to come, and prove to the world that a servant is worthy after all.”
What draws me to fantasy? Neil Gaiman recently said it best in his interview with Phil Moreheart on ilovelibraries.org,
“You know, you start out reading, and you're reading books about mermaids; you're reading Snow White; you're reading about the Pied Piper of Hamelin and so forth. You read The Wind in the Willows. You read Alice in Wonderland. And you want more of whatever that is, that feeling of wonder, that feeling of escape, that feeling of being able to get away from this world and visit others.”
Reading, for me, is an experience that creates deep connections. I love being invested in people and in worlds that grow with me as a reader and transform as I do. When a book makes me deeply attached to it, it has accomplished the ultimate thing for me. Ascendant by Michael Miller is a story of bonds, deep connections, and life. You could categorize this as a coming of age, high fantasy world building with an intricate magic system, or simply as a dragon story. I categorize it as PERFECTION.
I wish so deeply that I had this series in my hands when I was so smitten with Eragon by Christopher Paolini because this story does what that could never do for me; it moves me and makes me feel. I also deeply wish that this story wasn’t compared to The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros because it deserves its own separate platform of praise away from that book. (You can all throw tomatoes at me for being the sole human that does not like or hype The Fourth Wing.) Run and grab this book as fast as you can if you are ready for an action ride that also breaks your soul in the best way possible. Grab this up for the dragons. Grab this for the magic. Grab this for the tears and for the thrill ride. Grab this and root for the guy who’s just like you and me. Grab this and enter a brand new world.
I am more than happy that I found this book and this amazingly talented author. I know that you will not be disappointed! Just go ahead so you can add another five star and top book of all time to your completed list this year!
For more book recommendations please tune in to Off the Books with B&S Podcast on any of your preferred podcasting platforms; new episodes air every other Thursday.
Bethann