Daughter of the Serpentine by E.E. Knight – a Review

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Description:
As a young dragoneer moves through the ranks of the prestigious Serpentine Academy, her challenges grow greater and her time grows short to draw out a series of deadly threats, in this thrilling coming-of-age fantasy novel.

Sixteen-year-old Ileth is now an Apprentice Dragoneer, with all of the benefits and pitfalls that her elevation in rank entails. But her advancement becomes less certain after a she’s attacked by an unknown enemy, and Ileth begins to suspect that someone deadly may be hiding within the walls of the academy.

Outside of the walls there is a different challenge. The Rari Pirates are strangling the Vale Republic. What they lack in dragon firepower, they make up for in the brutality of their ever-expanding raids, making hostages or slaves of the Republic’s citizens. Surrounded by enemies, Ileth will need to learn what kind of dragoneer she wants to be. And as she makes decisions about her future, Ileth will have the chance to uncover the secrets of her past. Both will irrevocably change the course of her life.

Review:

Daughter of the Serpentine by E.E. Knight is the second book in his fantasy Dragoneer Academy series.  Daughter of the Serpentine picks up shortly after the last book left off, and continues to follow our heroine, Ileth’s,  journey into this magical world of dragons.  Ileth’s earned the respect of her peers in the last book, and is now an apprentice to a dragoneer, which has some pitfalls; she also continues to help with her dancing group. 

Ileth finds herself meeting new friends, as well as keeping her old ones.  When a request comes from a Lord claiming to be her father, she is forced to leave the academy and spend time with her powerful and wealthy father and his wife, which changes things for her (having grown up poor). But in time, her friend Santeel will visit, and together they work on the father to allow Ileth to return to her training to become a dragoneer.   

Ileth continues to be a wonderful heroine, who is smart, savvy, loyal and always willing to go beyond. I loved how she made friends with Aurue, a young Dragon, who befriended her.  I hope in future books, perhaps in time she will become his dragoneer.  But it was great to follow her journey, meeting new friends and dragons, as well as riding one of the dragons back home.   With a war on the horizon, Ileth will have to step up to help, proving how good she has become, even at the age of 17.

Daughter of the Serpentine was an excellent story line, with a wonderful heroine, very good secondary characters, dragons, exciting and action packed.  As I had said in my previous review, I thought there was a bit too much details that slowed down the story a bit. I did enjoy the book and look forward to finding out where EE Knight is going to take us in the next book.  If you enjoy fantasy, dragons, training, and a wonderful young heroine, I suggest you read this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by  Publisher