Lightningborn by Julie Kagawa – a Review

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Description:
In a world in the clouds where only the rich own dragons, a poor boy named Remy finds a wild baby dragon—believed to be extinct—and becomes the focus of an evil pirate’s vengeance.

REMY spends his days trying to survive the mean streets of Cutthroat Wedge—one of the many islands floating in the gravitational pull of the magical Maelstrom raging below. But his life changes forever when a violent storm brings a baby dragon to his doorstep, and he feels a bond he has never felt with anyone. Remy names the dragon Storm and vows to protect this new friend, no matter the cost. 

GEM longs for the day when she call herself a true mage. That is, if she can convince her teachers and peers that just because she’s a princess doesn’t mean she’s lazy and spoiled. But when Gem learns that the floating islands that make up her kingdom are rapidly sinking into the Maelstrom, she makes it her mission to save her world. Against the king’s wishes, she accesses forbidden research and discovers the secret to saving humanity may lie in a True Dragon—a dragon capable of intelligent thought and able to cast and use magic. But True Dragons are extinct . . . aren’t they?

Remy’s and Gem’s lives will never be the same when their fates collide, thanks to Storm. With an evil pirate mage named Jhaeros determined to claim the rare dragon for himself, the two must learn to trust in each other as they team up with a shifty pirate captain and her crew, stand together against impossible odds, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Review:

Lightningborn by Julie Kagawa is the first book in her new Storm Dragons series. The story revolves around two main characters; Remy, a street urchin who survives the dangerous streets of Cutthroat Wedge and Gem, a princess, who lives a life of privilege.

We meet young Remy, who has no family left, living in the family’s small poor house, and finding ways to to survive. He often hangs out at the local pub and talks to Bart, an old storyteller who shares his stories about dragons. Remy’s life will change forever, when a powerful magical storm will drop a baby dragon by his doorstep. He names the baby dragon, Storm, and quicky he feels a bond and will do everything to protect the dragon.  But Remy needs to hide Storm, as an evil pirate, Jhaeros is turning the town upside down to find the dragon.

Gem, is a princess, who attends the College of Magic, hoping to become a true mage. She overhears that the floating islands that make up her kingdom are slowly sinking. While in the library, Gem finds some details about Ancient Ones, which could help restore the magic. Determined to get more information, Gem, without her father’s approval goes in search to find Sir Bartello, the last person who had contact with a True Dragon. Can Sir Bartello help fix the storm crystals to save the kingdom? Gem takes her white dragon, Cloud on an adventure to seek help.

Remy does his best to help hide Storm, and his constantly finding food for him. Bart will find Remy and Storm, and decide to help them, bringing them to his home, which has caves to hide Storm.  But with the pirate Jhaeros offering large sums of money, the danger escalates, and when Remy learns that the pirate is going after Bart, he knows he has to save him, which would mean giving up Storm.

Gem is heading for Cutthroat Wedge with Cloud, and when a terrible storm hits, a pirate ship beckons her to come to safety, where she will meet Captain Cutlass.  The Captain (a lady pirate) is very fair, and is willing to help Gem find Sir Bertello, knowing who Gem is (princess) and her help will get her some gifts, after this adventure is over.   When they get to the island, they learn that Jhaeros has captured the baby dragon as well as Bart (Sir Bertello), as they just left. Gem begs Captain Cutlass to follow the ship, Windshark, and Remy who is nearby, offers his help, as his bond can help find Storm.

What follows is an exciting, intense and wild ride to rescue Storm and Bart.  Gem and Remy will slowly trust each other, to save Storm as well as Bart.  Together with Gem discussing with Captain Cutlass a plan for Remy and her to get on the ship, while the Captain finds ways to distract those on the Windstark.  It was a wild ride, that had us holding our breath.  To say too much more would be spoilers, as you need to read this book to see what happens.

Lighningborn was an exciting start to the first book in the Storm Dragons series; it was fast paced action and suspense throughout.  I did like Remy; but I liked Gem even more; she was not only brave, determined with a strong personality.  I loved Storm. Lighntingborn was so very well written by Julie Kawaga. I look forward the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher