Defiance: Dragonics & Runics Part I (Volume 1)

By: A. Wrighton

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Rule #1: Stay the Udlast away from the Dragons. Rule #2: Defy the Council or die trying.

WHERE DOES IT END?

Over a generation ago, the Council ordered the systematic extermination of the magic wielding, Runic Race. In the face of the damning orders, a few Dragonics refused to participate and instead demanded justice. But their call to defiance came too late - no Runics survived.

Now, those against the Council's oppressive reign have long since been outcast to the fringes of society - their numbers and determination dwindling.

Alaister Paine, Commander of the Rogue Dragonics, leads the Resistance with little hope of success, until he deciphers one of his predecessor's logs. Within the cryptic text, Alaister reveals that one Runic - a girl of untold power - was hidden from the Council's grasp. Find the girl, and the Rogues will finally be able to enact a long lost Prophecy to bring freedom back to Solera.

Trouble is... they are not the only ones searching for the last Soleran Runic.

Praise about Defiance: Dragonics & Runics Part I: "I haven't felt this way since I first read Edgar Rice Burroughs..."

For more information on Defiance: Dragonics & Runics Part I and the entire Dragonics & Runics Series, be sure to visit the official website at www.defythecouncil.com

©2013 A. Wrighton (P)2013 A. Wrighton

Rebels against the Council

This story focuses on a group of rogue dragon riders who are seeking out the last (almost) magic user who has been hiding from the council. The council and their own dragon riders are quick to kill off anyone who defies them, pretty solidly establishing them as the evil empire. The magician is the classic spunky young woman who isn't willing to hide and be protected, of course, so she bickers with the men who are trying to keep her safe. It was an interesting story and I enjoyed it overall. I liked the way the populace tried to quietly support the rogues, but I was disappointed that the dragons were just "beasts" for much of the story, with little true comradery shown between the men and their dragon companions.

I started rolling my eyes every time I was told (again and again) that she had "flaxen waves" and there were some places where I was thrown out of the story by the author's odd word or phrase choices...

Kalina's smile lodged angrily in her throat. (Calina? Hard to know spellings with an audio book.)

Alister smiled at Kalina's flaxen waves and found that her lips smiled back.

Kalina stared back at him as best she could. Her lips clung to her shock.

I left a book on the ceiling. (She means outside the building, on the roof.)

He stood and watched until Kalina squirreled away into the gray shadows.

And one that I chuckled at but didn't jot down at the time, was something like: She smiled at him as a smile threatened to escape her lips.